.::The Official General Election 2015 Thread::.

[j.o.e]

Habit what if after the feasibility study that this thing costing too much money, too much electrical lines overhead to remove and put underground, too much houses to buy out etc? And say sorry we can't do this because our infrastructure not developed enough for this thing what then?

You just ask all those questions based on a hypothetical 'if'?

[Daran]

EFFECTIC DESIGNS,

I've seen some of the more detailed surveys done for this. It's quite ludicrous that PNM is saying this will cost $10B when back in 2009, they estimated $20B for the first phase.

The building this rail requires the relocation of so many utilities, so much land acquisition and significant disruption and as PNM is infamous for...significant project delays.

TriniTrain Consortium estimated the project at US $7.36 billion btw

[EFFECTIC DESIGNS]

EFFECTIC DESIGNS,

I've seen some of the more detailed surveys done for this. It's quite ludicrous that PNM is saying this will cost $10B when back in 2009, they estimated $20B for the first phase.

The building this rail requires the relocation of so many utilities, so much land acquisition and significant disruption and as PNM is infamous for...significant project delays.

Is after I did a research on this and how they actually build these things, I understood its just a big easy promise to sell. The odds of this thing even lifting off the ground is like winning the lotto, its going to be big racket. Too be honest I rather see that money spend on more serious issues we face in this country, on projects where corruption is less likely to happen. But after my research I won't waste another second on this pipe dream rapid rail. Trinidad is simply just not developed enough and will take decades before we can consider something like this a reality rather than a pipe dream.

[j.o.e]

I have no problem if the PP is against the rapid rail plan .... I would just like an alternative plan from them that makes sense..... And more buses is not a plan, so I'm still waiting.

[EmilioA]

In Sando west they have a problem

Seepersad Bachan was non existent and early on ...after election disconnected from her supporters.

So the PARTY has little goodwill footprint now.Maybe negative.
So to further switch back to a 'no name' (AFAIK) and switch back to the UNC is a mistake... makes it hard for someone to ignore the individual and vote party.

The COP knew since local GE that they had work to do in Sando West....they did not.
Faris has legacy ties and plenty goodwill in Sando.... palatable amongst the same demographic that voted COP...that is now disenchanted with the performance of the PP UNC.

And the strange thing is that the PP has at least two good potential candidates --Navi Muradali and Marlene Coudray. Why pick Razia ?

As for Tunapuna, that's much more difficult, but i'd shift Vasant to Tunapuna , Prakash to St Joseph and put whoever in St Augustine.

Habit what if after the feasibility study that this thing costing too much money, too much electrical lines overhead to remove and put underground, too much houses to buy out etc? And say sorry we can't do this because our infrastructure not developed enough for this thing what then?
]

I'd say our problem is the opposite. Our infrastructure is too developed . You would need to remove too much to build this thing.--at least in North. Central may have the space for this

[rfari]

Yup. I thought muradali would have been chosen for sando west

[Habit7]

Between ED and Daran the pooling of ignorance is enough to offer consultancy to WASA.



The route deliberately takes a path of least resistance where it is going state lands and Caroni lands, and in the EW corridor it will be elevated along the highway. If we could move ppl and cap wells for the Point Fortin H'way why not the same for the train? The current h'way cut through communities like Barataria, Aranguez, Curepe, Tunapuna, Guayamare, Chaguanas

BTW since 2007 the price was >TT$10 billion, the UNC misinformation of $60 billion is rubbish

Rapid rail contract awarded

Tuesday 21th August, 2007
BY ASHA JAVEED

Trinitrain, led by Bouygues Travaux Publics, has been awarded the contract for the construction of the $7 billion Rapid Rail project.

Prime Minister Patrick Manning made the announcement as he explained the Government’s plans to alleviate the country’s traffic woes as he delivered the 2007-2008 budget in

Parliament yesterday.

The Government and special interest groups have been engaged in a war of words over the project which lead to the establishment of a Ministerial

Committee to oversee the procurement process. The Ministerial Committee was supported by a technical team comprised of senior public servants and technocrats.

Manning pointed out that the process has taken over a year with the final two companies being Trinitrain and T3 Group led by Vinci Construction.

He said after a thorough examination by the National Infrastructure Development Company and the Technical Team including technical considerations, price and contractual terms and a review by the Ministerial Committe, the Trinitrain offer was accepted.

Bouygues is the contractor in charge of the billion-dollar waterfront project and has recently been awarded the contract to build the 26-storey Transcorp Credit Union tower on South Quay, Port-of-Spain.

“The project is to be implemented through the National Infrastructure

Development Company and will be developed through a Design Build Operate Maintain contract. The first phase of the project will commence in the new fiscal year and will be completed in five to six years time,” said Manning.

“Mr Speaker, suffice it to say that the rapid rail system will provide unparalled mobility and will be the backbone of Trinidad’s transportation system when completed,” he said.

http://legacy.guardian.co.tt/archives/2 ... ness4.html

[The_Honourable]

In Sando west they have a problem

Seepersad Bachan was non existent and early on ...after election disconnected from her supporters.

The COP knew since local GE that they had work to do in Sando West....they did not.
Faris has legacy ties and plenty goodwill in Sando.... palatable amongst the same demographic that voted COP...that is now disenchanted with the performance of the PP UNC.

And the strange thing is that the PP has at least two good potential candidates --Navi Muradali and Marlene Coudray. Why pick Razia ?

As for Tunapuna, that's much more difficult, but i'd shift Vasant to Tunapuna , Prakash to St Joseph and put whoever in St Augustine.

Habit what if after the feasibility study that this thing costing too much money, too much electrical lines overhead to remove and put underground, too much houses to buy out etc? And say sorry we can't do this because our infrastructure not developed enough for this thing what then?
]

I'd say our problem is the opposite. Our infrastructure is too developed . You would need to remove too much to build this thing.--at least in North. Central may have the space for this

Living in San Fernando, Seepersad-Bachan was a total waste. The only time you would hear about her is in COP bachannal. You get more action from the present and past Mayor than her. Muradali would have been a great choice but I figure as the COP screw up their opportunity, UNC decide to run for the seat instead.

I agree with you on Prakash and Vasant.

About the railway, lets say you decide to move people and infrastructure, we need to know how the project is going to be funded, especially since the local and world economy fragile right now. Colm Imbert says it will cost about the same as the Point Fortin highway... i HIGHLY doubt that.

[Daran]

It will cost, exponentially more than the highway......Habit7....trust me, TT $7B will not even cover the logistics for utility re-locations, land acquisition and infrastructure required to support this project.

[j.o.e]

Loss of family time , loss of recreation time, loss of manpower hours, a frustrated workforce , reinforcement of a culture of tardiness (boss it had traffic dis morning). Allow the costing of a solution to take place and then we'll see what is possible/practical. We can't continue selling cars and grid locking the country. It's affecting our competitiveness

[j.o.e]

A traffic solution should not be politicized, none of the ministers have to deal with the traffic, they have their sirens and police escorts. It's we, our significant others, children, suppliers, customers have to suffer. I want a solution.... On a island this small I should not have a daily commute of 5-6 hours back and forth. Don't tell me what can't work give me a viable alternative.

[Habit7]

It will cost, exponentially more than the highway......Habit7....trust me, TT $7B will not even cover the logistics for utility re-locations, land acquisition and infrastructure required to support this project.

Panama City metro 16km: 1.9 billion USD
San Juan tren Urbano 17km: 2 billion USD
Santo Domingo Metro 14.5km: 0.7 billion USD


Trini train 54km: 2 billion USD

[Duane 3NE 2NR]

Gypsy, Cadiz, Stacy not selected!?

http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/print,0,215633.html

COP backs down to UNC
By SEAN DOUGLAS Saturday, August 15 2015

THE Congress of the People (COP) failed to introduce any candidate for either of the two key marginal seats of Tunapuna and San Fernando West, both of which have former COP MPs, respectively Minister of Foreign Affairs, Winston Dookeran, and Minister of Public Administration, Carolyn Seepersad- Bachan.

It was a second night of uncertainty over candidate selection, following on from the inconclusiveness of talks among the leaders of the member parties of the People’s Partnership (PP) last Thursday night at the Diplomatic Centre, St Anns.

Last week COP leader Prakash Ramadhar had publicly named Tunapuna constituency UNC chairman, Hamlyn Jailal, as the COP candidate for the seat, and last Tuesday defended his choice at a function to launch his own candidacy for the St Augustine seat, amid rumours of disquiet at this choice amongst some COP members.

Jailal was not presented as a COP candidate last night at Trinity College East, Trincity, and it is uncertain if Jailal attended the United National Congress (UNC) meeting of candidates at Rienzi Complex, Couva. Last Wednesday, three persons had attended a UNC screening at Claxton Bay for San Fernando West, the former COPheld seat - Dr Marwan Abdulla, Bishop Jankie Ragoonanan and Marcus Girdharie.

Ramadhar presented eight COP candidates, last night, but when asked by reporters about the absence of a Tunapuna candidate, he replied that there are “still issues to sort out”, even as he advised reporters to await Sunday when the People’s Partnership holds its joint Presentation of Candidates rally at Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.

The eight COP candidates presented last night were Ramadhar, Ashaki Scott (San Fernando East), Rodger Samuel (Arima), Dr Lincoln Douglas (Lopinot/ Bon Air West), Patricia Metivier- Cedeno (D’Abadie/ O’Mara), Avonelle Hector (Diego Martin West), Wendell Eversley (Arouca/Maloney), and Cleveland Garcia (Port-of-Spain South).

Garth Christopher, previously chosen for Laventille East/Morvant is no longer a COP candidate.

Otherwise, yesterday talks to finalise PP candidates to face the polls on September 7 were said by top party officials to be continuing into last night.

Works Minister, Dr Suruj Rambachan, a deputy political leader of the United National Congress (UNC), told one radio station that talks were indeed set to continue yesterday.

Earlier yesterday COP deputy leader and screening committee chairman, Dr Anirudh Mahabir, declined to comment on how yesterday’s sessions had gone. Asked if a PP nominee for the key marginal seat of San Fernando West will be among the line-up of candidates due to have been presented at last night’s COP meeting, Mahabir replied, “No comment”. UNC chairman Khadijah Ameen, contacted on her way from the launch of the Couva Children’s Hospital and heading to the Rienzi Complex, Couva, yesterday played her cards close to her chest, simply telling Newsday that the latest developments would be announced by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar later last evening at Rienzi Complex where she was due to address UNC candidates, officials and activists.

PM’s shake-up Last night, Persad- Bissessar announced an unknown economist Wayne Munroe for Tunapuna and former Senate President Raziah Ahmed for San Fernando West.

Among former MPs who did not get reselected were Stacy Roopnarine, who has been replaced by Vidia Gopeesingh for Oropouche West, campaign manager Rodney Charles will run for Naparima, having been chosen over Nizam Baksh, the last MP. And Winston “Gypsy” Peters was not selected for Mayaro.

He has been replaced by Roger Morales.

While Christine Newallo-Hosein will contest Cumuto/Manzanilla, over Colin Partap and Fazal Karim was chosen over Stephen Cadiz for Chaguanas East.

[pugboy]

any proper mass transit will be a long term project,
certainly more than a 5 year election term
politicizing such a project will cause it to never be completed properly

when you look at other countries, eg Miami, the road works around the airport etc
have been going on 10+years independent of political parties

[j.o.e]

It will cost, exponentially more than the highway......Habit7....trust me, TT $7B will not even cover the logistics for utility re-locations, land acquisition and infrastructure required to support this project.

Panama City metro 16km: 1.9 billion USD
San Juan tren Urbano 17km: 2 billion USD
Santo Domingo Metro 14.5km: 0.7 billion USD


Trini train 54km: 2 billion USD

I don't know about the rest but I personally know Panama's Metro has about 7 kms underground similiar to NYC.... so dunno how much that would've impacted cost.

[Habit7]

It will cost, exponentially more than the highway......Habit7....trust me, TT $7B will not even cover the logistics for utility re-locations, land acquisition and infrastructure required to support this project.

Panama City metro 16km: 1.9 billion USD
San Juan tren Urbano 17km: 2 billion USD
Santo Domingo Metro 14.5km: 0.7 billion USD


Trini train 54km: 2 billion USD

I don't know about the rest but I personally know Panama's Metro has about 7 kms underground similiar to NYC.... so dunno how much that would've impacted cost.

Yeah most of the other regions commuter rails are underground. So all our rails are aboveground thus reducing the cost.

[desifemlove]

Who on earth is Wayne Munroe ?


Anyway here is the candidates so far.

The UNC candidates named so far are:

San Juan/Barataria: Dr Fuad Khan
Caroni East: Dr Tim Gopeesingh
Chaguanas West: Ganga Singh
Chaguanas East: Fazal Karim
Couva North: Ramona Ramdial
Couva South: Rudy Indarsingh
Cumuto/Manzanilla: Christine Newallo-Hosein
Diego Martin North East: Garvin Nicholas
Fyzabad: Lackram Bodoe
La Horquetta/Talparo: Jairam Seemungal
Mayaro: Roger Morales
Moruga/Tableland: Clifton de Couteau
Naparima: Rodney Charles
Oropuche East: Dr Roodal Moonilal
Oroupouche West: Vidya Guyadeen-Gopeesingh
Port-of-Spain North/St Anns West: Eli Zakour
Pointe-a-Pierre: Dr David Lee
St Anns East: Don Sylvester
St Joseph: Vasant Bharath
San Fernando West: Raziah Ahmed
Siparia: Kamla Persad-Bissessar
Tabaquite: Suruj Rambachan
Toco/Sangre Grande: Brent Sancho
Tunapuna: Wayne Munroe


COP candidates
Arima—Dr Rodger Samuel
Arouca/Maloney—Wendell Eversley
D’Abadie/O’Meara—Patricia Metivier
Diego Martin West—Avonelle Hector
Lopinot/Bon Air West—Dr Lincoln Douglas
Port-of-Spain South—Cleveland Garcia
San Fernando East—Ashaki Scott
St Augustine—Prakash Ramadhar


TOP candidates

Tobago East -Joseph Frederick.
Tobago West - Natasha Ann Second

eight more seats? Munroe I believe in a laywer. Wonder if the Oropuche West candidate is any relation to Dr. Tim (in law).

[bluefete]

Election was always going to be close ... But feels like everyday it swings a little more to the red side.

There will be a huge swing towards the red side. Unfortunately, that will not help us in the next 5 years.

Prepare for pressure.

[bluefete]

Rodney 'pnm mc' Charles yes

Rodney Charles in a safe seat for the next five years...Kamla hadda be on jones.

The man has been and will be the most unsuccessful campaign manager in such a short time, but Kamla keeps elevating him

I do not know if Naparima will be such a 'safe' seat now!

[Lance]

I knew a Wayne Monroe that was a part time teacher at UWI St. Augustine at the Management Studies Department.

He served briefly as a UNC senator a few years back I believe. If this is the guy then he's a complete waste.

[bluefete]

With respect to the rapid rail: The PNM's history for projects is all about cost overruns. Do not expect anything different with the RR.

It was costing about TT$10 million just to lay down 1/4 mile of track in 2007. Can you imagine the cost today?

Worse yet if Colm Imbert is put in charge of it.

If the 2015 price is TT$30 billion expect it to reach at least TT$60 billion by completion. That should be enough for Colm Imbert to buy another boat (fast ferry from San Do to POS) named after his wife and have some change left over.

[bluefete]

Stacy was sacrificed at the altar of corruptive expediency!

[desifemlove]

With respect to the rapid rail: The PNM's history for projects is all about cost overruns. Do not expect anything different with the RR.

It was costing about TT$10 million just to lay down 1/4 mile of track in 2007. Can you imagine the cost today?

Worse yet if Colm Imbert is put in charge of it.

If the 2015 price is TT$30 billion expect it to reach at least TT$60 billion by completion. That should be enough for Colm Imbert to buy another boat (fast ferry from San Do to POS) named after his wife and have some change left over.

what's alternative? bus? car?

[Lance]

With respect to the rapid rail: The PNM's history for projects is all about cost overruns. Do not expect anything different with the RR.

It was costing about TT$10 million just to lay down 1/4 mile of track in 2007. Can you imagine the cost today?

Worse yet if Colm Imbert is put in charge of it.

If the 2015 price is TT$30 billion expect it to reach at least TT$60 billion by completion. That should be enough for Colm Imbert to buy another boat (fast ferry from San Do to POS) named after his wife and have some change left over.

what's alternative? bus? car?

I dunno. Probably a well functioning existing PTSC service?

We can't even manage this but want to jump into the implementation of a significantly more complex transportation service.

Pure cart before horse.

[eurotuner]

PNM getting myvotttttttttte
*dude in the middle spoil it tho*

[Ted_v2]

Yay @fyzo new candidates

[bluefete]

With respect to the rapid rail: The PNM's history for projects is all about cost overruns. Do not expect anything different with the RR.

It was costing about TT$10 million just to lay down 1/4 mile of track in 2007. Can you imagine the cost today?

Worse yet if Colm Imbert is put in charge of it.

If the 2015 price is TT$30 billion expect it to reach at least TT$60 billion by completion. That should be enough for Colm Imbert to buy another boat (fast ferry from San Do to POS) named after his wife and have some change left over.

what's alternative? bus? car?

I am not against the RR per se. Just how the project will be managed under any administration. Remember we spent TT$500 million just on a paper feasibility study for this thing under the PNM.

[bluefete]

With respect to the rapid rail: The PNM's history for projects is all about cost overruns. Do not expect anything different with the RR.

It was costing about TT$10 million just to lay down 1/4 mile of track in 2007. Can you imagine the cost today?

Worse yet if Colm Imbert is put in charge of it.

If the 2015 price is TT$30 billion expect it to reach at least TT$60 billion by completion. That should be enough for Colm Imbert to buy another boat (fast ferry from San Do to POS) named after his wife and have some change left over.

what's alternative? bus? car?

I dunno. Probably a well functioning existing PTSC service?

We can't even manage this but want to jump into the implementation of a significantly more complex transportation service.

Pure cart before horse.

Agreed. But a well functioning existing PTSC system we will never see. I remember a senior manager telling me many years ago that the PTSC does not run on time but on capacity. When they have plenty people in the line they will send a bus because it cost $ to run an empty bus on time.

[Redman]

What I would like to see is a fakin PLAN....and a study that gets our current situation and uses the development plan for the country to decide what kind of capacity we need and where???
We justifying the RR on what??

if we bigging up the ICT ranks...does not that imply that more people will tele commute?

If we diversifying wouldnt that mean a higher proportion of jobs will migrate away from POS?

Some one tell me how much xs capacity does POS have?

[Kewell35]

Stacy thief out enough money. It's time to give others a chance.