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zoom rader wrote:UML wrote:“We don’t even get any aid funds so I don’t understand how the issue could have incorporated Trinidad and Tobago,” he said. Dookeran said the two countries had a technical assistance cooperation agreement but that the last time there was any activity on this was way back in 2001.
Dude, PNM people does get fool all de time
pete wrote:To me it seems that the difference is that now many people are getting millions of dollars when before a few people were getting billions.
eliteauto wrote:MILLIONS OVERPAID
2012 Auditor General’s report shows Govt contract employees got unaccounted paymentsThe Auditor General’s report on Trinidad and Tobago’s public accounts for Government’s financial year 2012 (October 1, 2011 to September 30, 2012) has revealed that Government ministries paid millions of dollars in overpayments to contract employees.
There was a lack of documentation to verify million-dollar expenditures at certain Government ministries.
There was also failure in many instances to respond to requests for more expenditure information despite ballooning budgets, the Auditor General’s report showed.
Dated April 29, 2013, the report was signed by Auditor General Sharman Ottley and was submitted to Speaker of the House Wade Mark that day.
Ottley noted that the examination of records and documents showed that in many instances there was non-compliance with financial instructions, financial regulations and other financial directives while reports on appropriation accounts were not received from 13 accounting officers by the Auditor’s General Office up to January 31, 2013.
And up to April 15 this year, ahead of the report’s submission to Parliament, there were no responses from 19 permanent secretaries or heads of departments.
The Auditor General took issue with:
1. The lack of inventory controls at the various ministries.
2. Signed lease agreements were not produced for several properties for which rental payments were made—three locations at the Ministry of National Security for a total monthly rental of $1.2 million; one location from the Ministry of the Attorney General for a monthly rental of $486,774.60; five locations for the Ministry of Food Production for a total monthly rental of $606,473.74; and two locations for the Ministry of Tobago Development at a total monthly rental of $92,000 a month.
3. Signed contracts were not provided for a number of contracts paid.
Eight contracts at the Ministry of National Security amounting to $5.9 million were not seen; 17 contracts at the Ministry of Education amounting to $4 million were not seen; four contracts at the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure valued at $6.8 million were not seen; as well as five contracts at the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service which amounted to $2.3 million.
“Replies were received from 26 permanent secretaries/heads of departments indicating that amounts totaling $224.4 million were paid to 2,239 persons employed in contract positions during the financial year ended 30th September, 2012. The audit highlighted that duly-executed contracts were not produced for several of these officers and as such the various terms of engagement could not be verified,” the report noted.
4. Overpayments. In the 2011 appropriation accounts, 5,280 cases of overpayment totaling $20,370,970.62 were reported, of which $8,472,896.04 was recovered. In 2012, 4,531 cases of overpayment totaling $21,465,110.05 were reported of which $8,008,976.50 was recovered.
5. Outstanding commitments—Several ministries made expensive commitments for goods and services but have not paid (up to time to audit). Among them are the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure and the Ministry of Energy and Energy Affairs.
6. Cases of theft and reported losses—For the financial year 2012, there were 45 cases of theft and losses of State property totaling $682,966.88.
This figure comprised 24 cases under $5,000 totalling $58,463 and 26 cases totaling $641,142.
There were five cases in the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, 18 cases in the Ministry of Education, seven cases in the Tobago House of Assembly and six cases in the Ministry of Food Production.
7. Errors/omissions from appropriation accounts—the Auditor General noted that in several ministries as well as the Office of the President, the Parliament and the Office of the Prime Minister, there were typographical errors as well as omissions in certain appropriation accounts submitted for audit.
In seven ministries, there were increases in expenditure by more than 50 per cent from 2011 to 2012.
1. In the Ministry of Sport, expenditure moved from $28.786 million in 2011 to $395.884 million in 2012—a variance of $367.098 million or a 1,275 per cent increase.
2. In the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, expenditure moved from $514,999 million in 2011 to $2.4 billion—a variance of $1.9 billion or 378 per cent.
3. In the Ministry of Transport, expenditure moved from $218.585 million in 2011 to $1.1 billion in 2012—a variance of $843 million or 386 per cent.
4. In the Ministry of Planning and Sustainable Development, expenditure moved from $62.8 million to $208.6 million—a variance of $145.7 million or 232 per cent.
5. In the Ministry of Justice, expenditure moved from $126.5 million in 2011 to $408 million in 2012—a variance of $281 million or 222 per cent.
6. In the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Child Development, expenditure moved from $46 million in 2011 to $137.5 million in 2012—a variance of $90.9 million or 194 per cent.
7. In the Ministry of Housing, Land and Marine Affairs, expenditure moved from $1 billion to $1.9 billion—a variation of $924 million or 90 per cent.
And certain ministries or institutions that receive State funding fell under the title “Individual Areas of Concern”.
Among them are:
Office of the Prime Minister: In the appropriation account, there was an allowance for 195 persons on contract which totaled $9.7 million in expenditure.
However, when the Auditor General sought further clarification, it was indicated that “only 55 people were engaged on contract in respect of which expenditure totaling $689,131 was incurred”.
Ministry of Transport: “Errors, omissions and inconsistent presentation of information among the various sections of the appropriation account were noted to be prevalent. The underlying records were also not maintained properly in all instances. These errors/inconsistencies have affected the accuracy of the financial statement to some extent.”
The report noted that $55 million in cheques were not presented to the Auditor General, as well as $108.8 million from the Treasury Card.
There were also inconsistencies in the information and sums paid to contract employees. According to the appropriation contract, employment cost $2.4 million but in response to questions by the Auditor General, the sum paid for contracted employees was valued at $19.3 million.
Ministry of Sport: A total of $31.7 million in cheques was not disclosed in the appropriation account as required by the Comptroller of Accounts.
The Auditor General noted that there were weaknesses in the verification procedures for certain payments.
Some instances were:
• Two payments totaling $11 million were made. However, the statement provided with that payment totaled $5.6 million--a difference of $5.3 million
• A payment of $2,579,920.94 was seen to be supported by an expenditure statement of $2,449,950.94 (a shortfall of $129,970.00).
• Payments totaling $180,737 were made under the Non-profit Institutions note as the ministry’s contribution to funeral arrangements for one individual.
• Four equal amounts totaling $1,996,400 were seen to be paid in one cheque to a company for the “Taking Sports to Rural Areas” project for four regions.
This total exceeded the permanent secretary’s authorised limit of $1 million according to the Central Tenders Board Regulation.
Separate tender documents, recommendations, requests for approval and payment vouchers with similar dates and information were seen for each of the amounts. According to the vouchers seen, the payments related to ten grounds in each region—a total of 40 grounds. However, in response to the query from the Auditor General, only 17 grounds were identified and there is no evidence that work was carried out satisfactorily.
Ministry of Works and Infrastructure: From the sample of 52 contracts, nine contract files for contracts totaling $5.9 million were not presented for audit.
From a sample of 19 payment vouchers for the supply of asphalt, destination information was omitted from nine vouchers and delivery location information differed between delivery notes and cartage receipts in ten instances.
Trinidad and Tobago Police Service: Audit surveys carried out during May 2012 at 12 police stations revealed that records necessary for control over counterfoils, inventory, firearms and vehicles were not properly maintained.
A number of discrepancies were noted in the recording of overpayments. Contract files and related documents necessary to verify expenditure of $1.2 million were also not provided.
Ministry of National Security: There was no documentation to support a $3 million outstanding commitment under the Development Programme. Cabinet approval for the rental of two properties at a cost of $234,6000 a month was not provided.
Defence Force: The Contract Register for the Defence Force was not provided for audit. As a result, information presented on four contracts totaling $31.3 million was not verified.
Ministry of the Attorney General: In response to questions from the Auditor General, the AG’s office stated that 167 people were engaged on contract for a total expenditure of $23.8 million, while the appropriation account for contract employment for the Attorney General was $23,354,772.
Ministry of Food Production: Cabinet approval for the rental of four properties with payments totaling $1.9 million was not produced. As a result, it was not determined whether there was proper authority for the rental of these properties and if the relevant terms and conditions were followed.
The Auditor General’s report noted that recommendations have been made to various ministries for tighter controls.
The full report can be accessed on Auditor General’s website at
http://www.auditorgeneral.gov.tt
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/MIL ... 09041.html
pete wrote:Hey, I expressed outrage at that whole fire truck thing eh. Once it reaches into 7 digits you have my attention.
Ramlogan: E-mails fake
By Anna Ramdass anna.ramdass@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Jun 8, 2013 at 10:18 PM ECT
Story Updated: Jun 8, 2013 at 10:58 PM ECT
In his statement to the police on the e-mailgate scandal Attorney General Anand Ramlogan has attached reports from two Information Technology (IT) specialists who stated the controversial e-mails were faked.
On May 20, Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley, during his motion of no confidence in the Prime Minister and Government in the Parliament, read from a document containing some 31 e-mails purportedly exchanged between Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Local Government Minister Suruj Rambachan, National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister Gary Griffith and Ramlogan.
The content of the e-mail thread allegedly exposed a criminal conspiracy by high office holders to discredit and physically harm a journalist; to plant bugs in the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP); to have the DPP removed from office; and to accept payment from an unnamed person in exchange for freedom in relation to the Section 34 fiasco.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Mervyn Richardson is leading the probe into the matter.
Rowley has also called for an independent investigation into the issue.
He said that the information was provided to him by a whistle blower and was not a fabrication.
Sources close to the investigation told the Sunday Express yesterday that Ramlogan sought the advice of Roger Sealy, Information Technology manager, Ministry of the Attorney General and independent IT specialist Terrance Mohan.
The Sunday Express obtained a copy of both reports which concluded that the e-mails were not authentic.
Mohan’s report stated that the e-mail trail was filled with technological deficiencies.
“I am of the view that this document does not reflect a genuine exchange of original and authentic e-mails,” stated Mohan.
“To my mind, this document was simply typed out using some text editor to give the appearance of a record of printed e-mails. Expert analysis and closer scrutiny reveals that the e-mail trail is fake,” he added.
Mohan stated that the vital information and essential characteristics were omitted during the course of typing and it was clear that the document was not authentic.
Sealy’s report dated May 21 arrived at the same conclusion.
Sealy went through all of the 31 e-mails and highlighted technological errors.
He stated that the e-mails were not in fact e-mails but that someone took the time to type them.
“My analysis of this document leaves me in no doubt that this is not a genuine exchange of e-mails that were actually sent and received,” he stated.
He said that apart from the inconsistencies found in the e-mail, some things were simply not possible in the cyberworld and the document appeared to be tampered with.
“On the balance however, based on the analysis pointed out above, I am of the opinion that these are not a series of e-mails but rather a possible type-written document,” he stated.
Sealy stated that if the e-mails had appeared to not be tampered, it would be easy to verify their authenticity, as all e-mails had a digital footprint or e-mail trace.
“All e-mails have hidden information found in a message source that contains pertinent information which traces back to the origin of an e-mail. This can be done by looking at the computer systems and servers involved,” he stated.
Both Ramlogan and Rambachan, through their attorney senior counsel Pamela Elder submitted statements to the police.
The Sunday Express understands that in their statements, both men reiterated their denial of sending the e-mails and indicated their willingness to meet with the police.
Persad-Bissessar has also said that she is willing to provide the police with whatever information or electronic devices they require from her with respect to the probe.
Griffith met with the police and in addition to his statement, handed over his cell phone and computer hard drive.
On May 28, Richardson and his team met with Rowley who said that he was willing to cooperate with the police and also hand over his computer once the request was put in writing.
Below is a condensed version of the Sealy report which was attached to Ramlogan’s statement and sent to the police:
Date: 21st May, 2013
Subject: Analysis and Comments of Series of E-mails
I have been asked to review and analyse a document which appears to be a series of e-mails. I have been informed that this document was provided by the Honourable Leader of the Opposition, Dr Keith Rowley and that it was read out in Parliament on Monday 20th May, 2013.
The document has been the subject of widespread media coverage. It has been portrayed as an exchange of e-mails between the Attorney General, the Prime Minister and other Government Ministers.
The AG and Prime Minister have both publicly denied ever sending and receiving any of the alleged e-mails. Similar denials have been made by the other Government Ministers and official mentioned. In this regard, I now submit the following analysis and comments. For ease of reference, I have manually inserted numbers on the top right hand corner of the document.
Conclusion
My analysis of this document leaves me in no doubt that this is not a genuine exchange of e-mails that were actually sent and received. Apart from the inconsistencies noted above, some things are simply not possible in the cyber world as it relates to the series of e-mails identified in the document. The findings above illustrates that the document appears tampered and therefore the document’s authenticity remains extremely doubtful. On the balance however, based on the analysis pointed out above, I am of the opinion that these are not a series of e-mails but rather a possible type written document.
If the series of e-mail had appeared to be not tampered, it will be easy to verify its authenticity, as all e-mails have a digital footprint or e-mail trace. All e-mails have hidden information found in a message source that contains pertinent information which traces back to the origin of an e-mail. This can be done by looking at the computer systems and servers involved.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions or concerns.
Roger Sealy, MSc.,
BSc., CSIH (CERT)
Information Technology Manager
Ministry of the
Attorney General
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Ram ... 24921.html
UML wrote:FUEL FRAUD
Ministry probe: 30 boats, 3 gas stations named in bunkering racket
By Irene Medina Associate Editor
Story Created: Jun 8, 2013 at 10:01 PM ECT
Story Updated: Jun 9, 2013 at 1:38 PM ECT
Three service stations in south Trinidad and as many as 30 boats have been identified as being involved in the multi-million dollar illegal trafficking of diesel fuel, recent investigations by the Ministry of Energy and the National Petroleum Marketing Company of Trinidad and Tobago (NP) have found.
Major players allegedly involved in the illegal trade, according to the report, include officials attached to the Trinidad and Tobago Customs and Excise Division, NP, Unipet, retailers, peddlers, the State-owned petroleum company Petrotrin as well as trawler operators.
Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine could not be reached for comment yesterday despite numerous attempts by the Sunday Express to reach him on his cellphone. A text message to him also went unanswered.
The 22-page March report, which also includes photographs of a network of trucks and boats allegedly engaging in the illegal sale of fuel, also identified a soca artiste as being among the players.
During its investigations into one of the suspected service stations in Point Fortin, both Customs and Ministry of Energy officials requested the closure of the station as they sought to investigate the presence of a 4,000-gallon offsite storage tank located on premises near the station.
The property where the tank was located is owned by relatives of an official attached to the station.
The investigators were told by the official that the tank was used to store diesel for his part-time trucking business.
Further investigations revealed that the gas station official was in possession of two trucks fixed with “covered IBC plastic tanks used to transport diesel”, the report stated.
Tax invoice books bearing the name of the contracting company were also found in his possession.
“These bills had the number plates of vehicles transporting fuel and also the value of diesel purchased by him over a period of time,” the report stated. It added that receipts obtained linked the station’s employee to the supply of fuel to a company which is alleged to be linked to a vessel which was also under question by the investigators.
In its summary of findings involving the Point Fortin station, investigators found that between August and October 2011, the station sold approximately 113,712 litres more diesel than it purchased from NP. It also found that the service station was in breach of Part II and III of the Petroleum Act 62:01 and Article 13.1 of the NP Sale of Motor Fuels and NP supplied Products Agreement.
The report also pointed to two vessels which were under surveillance by the Police Service on August 29-30 at National Fisheries, Sea Lots.
It was alleged that the non-functional vessels Mary K (Papa K) and Sea Swan were being used to store fuel. According to the report, the Mary K was trading under two different names and was not in compliance with the authorised diesel quotas for vessels.
In November 2012, another gas station in Fyzabad was shut down after allegedly carrying out illegal activities and investigators found that the station was in breach of the Motor Fuel Supply Agreement between NP and Dealer as well as breaching the Petroleum Act and Bureau of Standards rules.
Also in November 2012, at King’s Wharf, San Fernando, another station was shut down for also being allegedly involved in the illegal trade.
A deportee from the United States with close links to a company which bought a vessel from the US is also alleged to be “aiding and abetting” the illegal sale of diesel to trawlers and to the other islands.
Investigators have linked three employees from Trinmar, one of whom is also a private businessman.
Another operator, who has multiple addresses, including Maracas, St Joseph and Freeport is reputed to be a big player “across the Caribbean” and investigators have detected “multiple property transactions”.
One of the companies, with which he is linked, has approximately “$150,000 per month passing through this company’s account”, the report stated, adding that it appeared as if this major player “incorporated his limited liability company to avoid recovery action in favour of EximBank in the amount of $1.8 million”. Investigations into the company “are ongoing”.
According to the report a relative of this major player, was arrested in 2012 in connection with illegal bunkering and charged for attempting to export 42,642 litres of diesel fuel. He was also charged with knowingly attempting to evade the Customs and Excise Act as it related to receiving the fuel and is currently before the court.
Other investigations reveal that another key figure from San Fernando was linked to a number of businesses which are used as storage sites to conduct their illegal trade.
“Financial information is that he has $1 million in an investment fund. He has a checking account totalling $160,000 and also holds three MasterCards,” the report stated.
It added that this operator is linked to a close relative who has 18 front companies, registered in her name and who “also uses Internet banking facilities to transfer and receive monies to a local account”.
Financial surveillance of this account has detected transactions which can be described as “covert banking transactions, synonymous with drug trafficking networks”, the report warned. Investigations are also ongoing into this dealer.
The report also indicated that on October 22, 2011, the AMS Diver vessel operating as a floating gas station for Trinmar Operations, Petrotrin was allegedly involved in a fuel transfer incident to an unauthorised vessel in Trinmar waters off south Trinidad and the vessel and its crew were immediately suspended from operating within Petrotrin waters.
It also added that another vessel, Nadine M, which was ultimately responsible for the distribution of fuel within Trinmar Operations could not account for 865,756 litres of diesel valued at $2,322,441.85 over the four-year audited period. The company has since gone into receivership but another has since been created.
The report also noted that some of the main operators have criminal backgrounds and possess “a huge arsenal of weapons from sniper weapons to fully automatic AK-47s and grenades”.
It also listed some 30 names of boats given by informants allegedly involved in the illegal trade, which “allegedly take fuel at Power Boats and National Fisheries and sell down the islands and are used as bunkering vessels for other boats”.
The report is calling on the Energy Minister to establish a “team to investigate the illegal sale of diesel within Trinidad and Tobago in order to reduce the subsidy being paid by the government which now stands at approximately $4 billion per annum”.
It also recommended that a team of investigators be established to include a certified fraud examiner, as well as Customs officials, the police, the Petrotrin audit department, NP’s audit department, an attorney-at-law, a private investigator as well as Ministry of Energy officials.
It was only last Friday that the Express made reference to this very report, which fingered a notorious gang leader (who is alleged to be a police informant) as being responsible for the firebombing of the Valsayn home of NP chairman Neil Gosine on Carnival Monday.
The article headlined “Gang leader responsible” also noted that he is reputed to be involved in the illegal fuel trade.
The article noted that chairman Gosine had declared war on the illegal trade and the attack on him by the gang leader could have been as a result of this.
It quoted Energy Minister Ramnarine as saying that he had seen the report and had “since passed it on to the Minister of National Security, Emmanuel George, for his attention”.
Calls to George’s phone also went unanswered yesterday.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Die ... 23621.html
zoom rader wrote:You all mean to say that this fuel racket was going on when PNM was is power and they did nothing about it. Now them same operators crying foul.
Sent from my Z10 using TriniTuner mobile app
UML wrote:Ramlogan: E-mails fake
By Anna Ramdass anna.ramdass@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Jun 8, 2013 at 10:18 PM ECT
Story Updated: Jun 8, 2013 at 10:58 PM ECT
In his statement to the police on the e-mailgate scandal Attorney General Anand Ramlogan has attached reports from two Information Technology (IT) specialists who stated the controversial e-mails were faked.
On May 20, Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley, during his motion of no confidence in the Prime Minister and Government in the Parliament, read from a document containing some 31 e-mails purportedly exchanged between Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Local Government Minister Suruj Rambachan, National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister Gary Griffith and Ramlogan.
The content of the e-mail thread allegedly exposed a criminal conspiracy by high office holders to discredit and physically harm a journalist; to plant bugs in the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP); to have the DPP removed from office; and to accept payment from an unnamed person in exchange for freedom in relation to the Section 34 fiasco.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Mervyn Richardson is leading the probe into the matter.
Rowley has also called for an independent investigation into the issue.
He said that the information was provided to him by a whistle blower and was not a fabrication.
Sources close to the investigation told the Sunday Express yesterday that Ramlogan sought the advice of Roger Sealy, Information Technology manager, Ministry of the Attorney General and independent IT specialist Terrance Mohan.
The Sunday Express obtained a copy of both reports which concluded that the e-mails were not authentic.
Mohan’s report stated that the e-mail trail was filled with technological deficiencies.
“I am of the view that this document does not reflect a genuine exchange of original and authentic e-mails,” stated Mohan.
“To my mind, this document was simply typed out using some text editor to give the appearance of a record of printed e-mails. Expert analysis and closer scrutiny reveals that the e-mail trail is fake,” he added.
Mohan stated that the vital information and essential characteristics were omitted during the course of typing and it was clear that the document was not authentic.
Sealy’s report dated May 21 arrived at the same conclusion.
Sealy went through all of the 31 e-mails and highlighted technological errors.
He stated that the e-mails were not in fact e-mails but that someone took the time to type them.
“My analysis of this document leaves me in no doubt that this is not a genuine exchange of e-mails that were actually sent and received,” he stated.
He said that apart from the inconsistencies found in the e-mail, some things were simply not possible in the cyberworld and the document appeared to be tampered with.
“On the balance however, based on the analysis pointed out above, I am of the opinion that these are not a series of e-mails but rather a possible type-written document,” he stated.
Sealy stated that if the e-mails had appeared to not be tampered, it would be easy to verify their authenticity, as all e-mails had a digital footprint or e-mail trace.
“All e-mails have hidden information found in a message source that contains pertinent information which traces back to the origin of an e-mail. This can be done by looking at the computer systems and servers involved,” he stated.
Both Ramlogan and Rambachan, through their attorney senior counsel Pamela Elder submitted statements to the police.
The Sunday Express understands that in their statements, both men reiterated their denial of sending the e-mails and indicated their willingness to meet with the police.
Persad-Bissessar has also said that she is willing to provide the police with whatever information or electronic devices they require from her with respect to the probe.
Griffith met with the police and in addition to his statement, handed over his cell phone and computer hard drive.
On May 28, Richardson and his team met with Rowley who said that he was willing to cooperate with the police and also hand over his computer once the request was put in writing.
Below is a condensed version of the Sealy report which was attached to Ramlogan’s statement and sent to the police:
Date: 21st May, 2013
Subject: Analysis and Comments of Series of E-mails
I have been asked to review and analyse a document which appears to be a series of e-mails. I have been informed that this document was provided by the Honourable Leader of the Opposition, Dr Keith Rowley and that it was read out in Parliament on Monday 20th May, 2013.
The document has been the subject of widespread media coverage. It has been portrayed as an exchange of e-mails between the Attorney General, the Prime Minister and other Government Ministers.
The AG and Prime Minister have both publicly denied ever sending and receiving any of the alleged e-mails. Similar denials have been made by the other Government Ministers and official mentioned. In this regard, I now submit the following analysis and comments. For ease of reference, I have manually inserted numbers on the top right hand corner of the document.
Conclusion
My analysis of this document leaves me in no doubt that this is not a genuine exchange of e-mails that were actually sent and received. Apart from the inconsistencies noted above, some things are simply not possible in the cyber world as it relates to the series of e-mails identified in the document. The findings above illustrates that the document appears tampered and therefore the document’s authenticity remains extremely doubtful. On the balance however, based on the analysis pointed out above, I am of the opinion that these are not a series of e-mails but rather a possible type written document.
If the series of e-mail had appeared to be not tampered, it will be easy to verify its authenticity, as all e-mails have a digital footprint or e-mail trace. All e-mails have hidden information found in a message source that contains pertinent information which traces back to the origin of an e-mail. This can be done by looking at the computer systems and servers involved.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions or concerns.
Roger Sealy, MSc.,
BSc., CSIH (CERT)
Information Technology Manager
Ministry of the
Attorney General
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Ram ... 24921.html
‘Moonan appointed HDC chairman’
Originally printed at http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Moo ... 19821.html
By Renuka Singh
June 12, 2013
Cross talk between Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley and Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal in the middle of yesterday’s Financial (Supplementary Appropriation) debate revealed that former Caribbean Airlines chairman, Rabindra Moonan, has been named the new chairman of the Housing Development Corporation (HDC).
During Rowley’s contribution to the debate, he “dared” Moonilal to appoint “the failed chairman” to the HDC, when Moonilal replied that he had already appointed Moonan and in turn asked Rowley to dare him “to do something else”.
“It is the Government’s intention to put that individual to chair another billion-dollar enterprise. The key to the whole thing is that he would be very useful to the Minister because the award of contracts is the attraction,” Rowley said.
“I dare this Government to appoint Rabindra Moonan as the chairman of the HDC, I dare you to do that.”
Rowley seemed surprised when Moonilal interrupted him by saying “he is appointed already”.
“You don’t have to dare nothing. Dare me again, dare me again, who else you want to appoint?” Moonilal asked.
When contacted, Moonan said he has not been officialy named the HDC chairman, but believed that it may be soon in coming as it has now been put in the public domain.
“I would like to tell Dr Rowley that it is the Government that makes board appointments, not the Oppostion,” Moonan said in a telephone interview after the Parliament sitting.
PapaC wrote:If God is Trini, lets hope he links an election ASAP.
UML wrote:As the new government settles down many "mark go buss" in the coming days, weeks, years of the former government and the boards of many organizations. So.....
.....Let the games begin!!!
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Sip ... 88331.html
Siparia gets new $56m market
By Sue-Ann Wayow sue-ann.wayow@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Jul 2, 2013 at 10:02 PM ECT
(Story Updated: Jul 3, 2013 at 11:27 AM ECT )
THE $56 million Siparia market has been completed, and vendors have begun using parts of the facility.
However, a date for its official opening is yet to be announced.
The Siparia Regional Corporation is boasting that it is the only one of its kind in the country.
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-07- ... 80%99s-end
$10m Marabella market to open by month’s end
Published: Tuesday, July 10, 2012
The $10 million Marabella market, promised over two years ago, is still incomplete and it may take more than a month for the facility to be completed. This was revealed yesterday by senior engineer of the San Fernando City Corporation, Dennis Albert, as newly installed San Fernando mayor Dr Navi Muradali, continued his Meet the People tour.
The Marabella market, estimated to cost $45 million, was scheduled to begin on May 17, 2010, by the then PNM government but the project was scrapped when the People’s Partnership took office. Local Government Minister Chandresh Sharma announced that the $45 million market was over-budgeted, and instead began construction of temporary market facilities.
SIS gets $36m bus contract
By Asha Javeed CCN Senior Multimedia Investigative Journalist
Story Created: Aug 27, 2013 at 9:24 PM ECT
Story Updated: Aug 27, 2013 at 11:01 PM ECT
Finance Minister Larry Howai has asked the chairman of the National Insurance Property Development Company Limited (Nipdec) Hamlyn Jailal to provide a report on the company’s decision to award a $36 million contract to Super Industrial Services (SIS).
The five-year contract is to supply 35 buses for the Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC).
Nipdec had recommended SIS to its client, the Ministry of Transport, for the contract about a month ago.
However, other companies which tendered for the job have raised objections to Nipdec’s decision.
Those companies, which argue that SIS has traditionally been a construction company and bus procurement company, raised the issue in a meeting with Howai last week.
Howai, in an e-mailed response to an Express query on the subject, explained that while the matter fell under the remit of the Ministry of Transport, “I would have the chairman of Nipdec investigate and provide me with a report on the matter.”
On Saturday, Transport Minister Chandresh Sharma defended the decision to award the job to SIS as Nipdec had done a proper procurement with SIS emerging as the favoured bidder for the contract.
He told the Express that SIS was being victimised because it was a company perceived as a friend of the People’s Partnership.
“That is the problem. I am sure if another company had gotten the contract, it would not have been a story. If there was a breach in the procurement then there are avenues such as judicial review for companies to follow,” he said.
Sharma explained that no ministry can grant contracts and that was why Nipdec was retained by the ministry to procure a contract.
“SIS, like other contractors, has been in business for many years. The People’s Partnership now has more contractors coming on board which is good for business,” he said.
Sharma said Nipdec has very strict rules about how it conducts its business.
Nipdec’s decision that SIS be awarded the $36m contract has not only raised concern among other tenderers but from staff at PTSC who told the Express that SIS, which has been awarded only construction contracts under the People’s Partnership administration, does not have a track record in procuring buses.
Jailal told the Sunday Express last week that Nipdec was in negotiations with the preferred bidder, SIS.
A letter of award was sent to SIS dated June 6, 2013.
“Part of tendering involves negotiations and in these negotiations the prices could come down,” Jailal told the Express without divulging any more information.
The Express was told that the PTSC board was informed of Nipdec’s choice last month.
An informed source at the PTSC told the Express that there were reservations about the Chinese manufacturer for SIS’s buses, Sunlong Bus Manufacturers.
“SIS has no track record in procuring buses so it was interesting to see them tendering for the project. If it was up to the PTSC, I am sure they would not be getting a contract to bring down buses,” the source said.
The source also explained that in contracts such as these, money was made in the maintenance.
“If you choose buses which are not of a certain calibre then you’re going to run into problems as they run the risk of having to pay high maintenance fees as well as provide labour. So apart from the dollar figure amount in the contract, you’re talking about monthly payments from PTSC for maintenance and parts,” the source explained.
The Express was told that unlike other evaluations where a technical person was included in the team which visited the country where the buses were being procured, only Jailal and another Nipdec representative visited Thailand a few months ago to view the proposed buses by SIS.
Disgruntled tenderers told the Express that PTSC was attempting to streamline their brands of buses so it was a surprise the evaluation team would select a manufacturer with which the company has no relationship history.
“PTSC has a mixture of brands. What was understood is that the company was trying to reduce their brands, which was putting a strain on their engineering and inventory system. Every brand comes with its own technology and would require different expertise in engineering. Now, a whole new line of inventory would have to be introduced,” said one tenderer.
Another tenderer, who wanted to remain unidentified, told the Express: “I am disappointed in the whole process. The PTSC should look at aligning a relationship with a manufacturer so they can buy buses to suit specific purposes like rural use, road size and fuel. These buses were supposed to be equipped for CNG use but those Chinese buses are not compatible with CNG.”
Last year, Cabinet approved $100 million to supply 100 buses to the PTSC under former Minister of Transport Devant Maharaj.
However, Maharaj subsequently scrapped the tender which was issued by PTSC and directed that Nipdec handle the procurement for the PTSC.
The Sunday Express was told that the lucrative contract was then divided into three parts for the buses to be secured in three tranches — two tranches of 35 buses and one tranche of 40.
The tender closed last June and it has taken Nipdec over a year to recommend a suitable bidder for the contract.
In January, the Sunday Express reported exclusively that a recommendation was made to award the first tranche of buses to SIS by Nipdec’s Evaluation Committee.
According to the Draft Estimates of Development Programme for the financial year 2013, the money allocated for the buses is $20 million. In 2012, $40 million was budgeted for the buses.
SIS, according to the company’s website, is “primarily as a provider of general contracting services to the companies on the Point Lisas Industrial Estate.”
The 35 buses will be the second multi-million dollar contract to be awarded to SIS under the Ministry of Transport and Minister Chandresh Sharma.
Last November, SIS and its Barbados-based partner, Preconco, were awarded a $232.5 million contract by Nipdec to build the Motor Vehicle Authority (MVA) in Frederick Settlement, Caroni.
Last month, the company issued a full page advertisement denying it was the recipient of special favours by any government or its agencies and it had secured less than one per cent of the contracts awarded state companies for which SIS had competitively and transparently tendered. The company claimed that it had only received $310 million in contracts from 2010 to 2012 from the Education Facilities Company Limited (EFCL), National Gas Company (NGC), Nipdec and PURE.
The 12 companies
that tendered
for the contract:
AM Marketing (US$6.2 million)
D Rampersad (US$5.9 million)
Sterling Service (US$7.5 million)
Higer (US$7.4 million)
BMC Sanayibe Tickrat (US$10.5 million)
Universal Projects (US$4.5 million)
Eagle Transport (US$14.8 million)
Caribbean Power Solution (US$16.6 million)
VMCOTT (US$8.1 million)
Elvis Marketing (US$7 million)
SIS (US$6 million)
Solaris (US$12.6 million)
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/SIS ... 13981.html
Meet Trinidad and Tobago’s technology wizard, 26-year-old Ted Peralta; the man who put United States technology magnate and the world’s second richest man Bill Gates out of work.
Peralta, according to an Asha Javeed report in today’s Trinidad Express, won a $1.3 million contract to service National Quarries’ technological needs. In the process, the local whiz kid beat out a rival bid from Microsoft.
Peralta’s company, Alternica Caribbean, was only registered in 2011. Who would think Peralta would have usurped one of the globe’s most famous technology companies in two years?
Photo: Microsoft founder and chairman Bill Gates is the second richest man in the world. But then Ted Peralta is just getting started.
Photo: Microsoft founder and chairman Bill Gates is the second richest man in the world.
But then Ted Peralta is just getting started.
Probably none of his former classmates or teachers did, since Peralta graduated as a mechanical engineer and has no formal technology training worth mentioning on his Linked-in or Facebook CVs.
Even more remarkably, National Quarries uses Microsoft as its internal technology system. So National Quarries chairman Mitra Ramkhelawan decided that a two-year-old technology company run by a mechanical engineer knows Microsoft better than, well, Microsoft.
Ramkhelawan told the Express that he went with Peralta because he was a young man who “wanted to get job done.” The chairman did not say what Microsoft or any of the other rival companies wanted to do with the job.
To be fair to Ramkhelawan, his selection was not a stab in the dark. Peralta is actually employed by Ramkhelawan’s own company, Trius Medical Sales and Services, as a bio-medical engineer and was also hired by National Quarries as a project engineer consultant.
Coincidentally, Peralta registered Alternica Caribbean at about the same time that his boss, Ramkhelewan, became chairman at National Quarries.
Photo: Ted Peralta has more roles at National Quarries than Tyler Perry has in most of his own movies.
Photo: Ted Peralta has more roles at National Quarries than Tyler Perry has in most of his own movies.
Whoever says Trinidad and Tobago lacks entrepreneurial spirit should scrutinise the contracts awarded by State companies.
Mr Live Wire thinks Peralta’s meteoric rise from mechanical engineering student to million dollar technology contractor and National Quarries trouble-shooter is further evidence that, contrary to Dana Seetahal’s lecture to Beetham Garden residents, our children’s future is not related to their book bags; it is about who is on their My Lime or What’s App list.
Or, to put it another way, not even Bill Gates can get a job in Trinidad and Tobago unless he has a friend on a State board.
Housing Minister Roodal Moonilal yesterday said that in December 2010 the Works Ministry which was at the time led by Jack Warner gave approval to DW Property Holdings Ltd to accommodate the Ministry of National Security on its property.
He was responding to a fiery contribution from Warner in which he blasted the government for “corruption”. Warner’s contribution had preceded his during the post-budget debate in Parliament yesterday.
Moonilal said Warner’s family members benefited handsomely under the People’s Partnership Government.
Warner had earlier said he would go down on his knees and beg for forgiveness every day for having been part of what he described as the most corrupt Government in this country.
But Moonilal countered, “The member for Chaguanas West comes, you can’t trust them, everybody is friend and family. Mr Speaker the very first CEPEP contract given out by this Government was for the sister for the member of Chaguanas West.”
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, seated next to Moonilal interjected “and the second”.
Said Moonilal, “The very second (CEPEP contract) was for the next sister of Chaguanas West.”
Moonilal disclosed that MPs are asked to make recommendations for people whom they think should benefit from Government’s programmes and Warner’s family members prospered.
Noting that Warner’s Independent Liberal Party (ILP) has a public meeting in Gasparillo today, Moonilal said: “When the member goes to talk in Gasparillo he may well want to discuss as well the matter of a rental of a building in Port of Spain, a building that was rented in December 2010, where the property owners were indeed the children of the member for Chaguanas West,”.
Moonilal also disclosed information relating to an issue which was raised by PNM MP Colm Imbert with respect to settlement payments to a former employee of the Airport’s Authority—Ishwar Jadoonanan.
He said a quick check of the records showed it was Warner, during his tenure of the then former transport minister who gave instructions for settlements to be paid out of court.
Moonilal said Warner had written to the former chairman of the Airport Authority board on the issues of settlement of payments of former managers and noted that Ishwar Jadoonanan’s matter was settled out of court for $1.1 million.
Moonilal said further that checks are now being made to see when Jadoonanan was hired at PTSC as a manager and how much he was paid as it is in the purview of the Minister to give such approvals.
Taking to task Warner’s labelling of the People’s Partnership Government as corrupt, Moonilal said, “Under this administration not one member has been arrested, charged, prosecuted for any act of corruption in three and a half years.”
He said many allegations were made based on “bogus information” and the political strategy was to give the perception that the Government cannot be trusted.
Moonilal said Warner sat in the very Government for three years and said nothing about all the issues he was vociferously raising today.
“When the member was on this side we never hear about six house building, we never hear about what car renting and all these kinds of things now suddenly every week is some expose about this or that,” said Moonilal.
Warner, he said, was a big fan of Western movies and was now going about like the character the “medicine man” offering a cure to people.
“Some people believe that and they actually buy,” said Moonilal.
“I want to tell my friend from Chaguanas West that none of us on this side is afraid, we came into office, many of us spent 10 years in Opposition and if it is the will of the people and the will of God that we go back in the Opposition that is fine .... none of us here are begging and grovelling to remain in office, we are here to do a job which we will do,’’ he added.
Noting Warner’s constant threats of exposing members of the Government Moonilal said that “one day everybody will be out, that is the nature of politics and we are not scared”.
He said there were some eight matters he can raise with respect to Warner.
“You won’t go there today,” said Persad-Bissessar.
Moonilal said, “I won’t go there today, Mr Speaker, I will keep all in a file and every week the member comes to Parliament and speaks and attacks this Government on corruption I will come with two, how they ‘swaha’? I will offer two... I will do it every single week until that stops because that holier than thou approach accusing the Government, that, one way or the other, that will stop”.
..Rowley: Worse than Section 34
Story Updated: Sep 17, 2013
COME CLEAN: Member of Parliament for Diego Martin North East Colm Imbert, right, speaks to members of the media during a press conference at Tower D, International Waterfront Centre, Port of Spain yesterday. At left is Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley. —Photo: CURTIS CHASE
The issue surrounding the Loran Manatee field is one that can be worse than the Section 34 debacle as it impacts on the economic life blood of this country, Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley has said.
Rowley and Opposition MP Colm Imbert held a news conference yesterday at Parliament, where they raised concerns over international media reports of an agreement between this country and Venezuela—in Venezuela’s favour with respect to the Loran Manatee field.
Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine has denied an agreement was made to Venezuela’s benefit and that no decision has yet been taken on the issue.
However, Imbert produced copies of international reports from media houses such as NY Daily News, Fox News, Reuters as well as from PDVSA, the Venezuelan state-owned oil and natural gas company, which showed that the agreement was in favour of Venezuela.
“If the minister is right and I am wrong, why have none of the international media houses reported in opposition to this that a pipeline will be built from the gas field to Petrotrin,” said Imbert.
He said when the agreement was signed between Ramnarine and Venezuela’s Minister Rafael Ramirez, the meeting was broadcast live on Venezuelan radio and picked up by international media.
“The international press and I say that a pipeline is going to be built to Venezuela, they say it’s not so...I’m sorry, there’s overwhelming evidence it is so,” said Imbert.
Imbert noted that the NY Daily News reported that 73 per cent of the field was in Venezuela’s territorial waters and 26 per cent in Trinidad and that the building of the pipeline would be carried out from the Venezuelan side.
He noted further that a release from PDVSA itself indicated that the company will build the pipeline from the field to the Venezuelan coast.
Imbert said Trinidad has a problem as its gas supply is limited so that new projects cannot get off the ground and this issue poses difficulty in attracting investors. He said the Loran Manatee field was supposed to be the catalyst to stimulating the sector.
Rowley said the minister needs to come clean on the matter.
“If what has been published and what the Government is not owning up to here is what we think it is then this probably is worse than Section 34 and all we want from the Government of Trinidad and Tobago is the truth and to stop taking us for fools,” he said.
He said there was always the view that the field was vital to this country as Trinidad is closer it and has the physical plant to utilise the gas resources. Rowley said if what was published about the agreement was true then “all Trinidad and Tobago’s expectations to use that gas in Trinidad and Tobago would come to naught”.
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