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Camille’s bad credit
MIRANDA LAROSE
Wednesday, July 29 2015
The People’s National Movement campaign against Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar was “misogynist and racist” and was being perpetuated, not only its male members, but by women as well, says United National Congress campaign manager Rodney Charles.
Addressing the UNC’s “Kamla 2015” meeting on Monday night at Barataria South Secondary School, Barataria, Charles said that vile remarks made about Persad-Bissessar by PNM party officials in Moruga last week were based on an agenda of her being the first woman Prime Minister.
“Instead they must try to pull down other women who were not restricted in the same manner that they were,” he said.
PNM’s arguments, he said, were not at all based on policy or character, but on sexism and racism, and the reason to criticise a woman’s wardrobe on their platform and refer to UNC supporters as “chattel slaves.”
In her “most distasteful attack” last Tuesday, Charles said PNM Lady Vice Chairman Camille Robinson-Regis claimed Persad-Bissessar, as a former education minister and attorney general, had no positive record, was self-centred, power hungry and “substanceless”.
Charles called on Robinson-Regis to remind the public about a Comptroller of Accounts report which indicated improper use of a credit card given to her as a minister.
He reminded that in 2004, the then Cabinet approved credit cards for official overseas travel and local entertainment expenses for 120 government officials and holders of certain offices under the Salaries Review Commission.
The card had a limit of US$10,000 for government holders and was issued by First Citizens Bank. According to the Comptroller of Accounts report of 2006, he said, Robinson-Regis had an unauthorised credit card overdraft of $174,000.
“The bank statement revealed that she used the money, not for Government business, but for personal purposes,” he said.
The credit card transactions involved, he said, the American Fertility Services at 115 East 57 Street, New York, Bitz n Pieces at Broadway, a wig and hair piece emporia, Christi Sothers, a jewelry store at 109 East 42 Street, New York, and Max’s Better Dress, a clothing store at 851 Second Avenue, New York.
Charles said he had access to State credit cards, but would never ever use them for Viagra or Cialis, or to buy a wig.
Inviting Robinson-Regis to enter into a more respectable age of politics and to stop regurgitating mauvais langue and calling it picong, he said, “In this country, we have advanced to the stage where we can criticise each other freely without resorting to defamation.”
Speaking about the Rowley accountability campaign, he said, it was not an attack on PNM Political leader, Dr Keith Rowley, but it was to challenge him and his party to address their history of wastage, poor governance and lack of vision.
For the first time in TT political history, Charles said that under the Persad-Bissessar-led administration politicians were held to account and those who could not, were sent packing.
“Members of the Opposition were expected to account, too, but instead when we asked them to stand up and be held accountable, they found a million ways to deflect,” he said.
The UNC’s “NoRowley” campaign was not about hate or bacchanal aimed at distracting from issues, as Rowley claims, Charles said.
The campaign, he said, further shows that Rowley has poor judgement and was unwilling to be judged himself.
http://www.newsday.co.tt/politics/0,214838.html
eliteauto wrote:in what capacity does Rodney Charles have access to State credit cards?
Sunday, March 23, 2014
UN ambassador Charles to be UNC campaign chairman for 2015
UN Ambassador Rodney CharlesTrinidad and Tobago's UN Ambassador Rodney Charles is returning home to manage the 2015 re-election campaign for the United National Congress.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar made the announcement Saturday at a special Congress of her party at the UNC's Reinzi Headquarters. Speaking in her capacity as leader of the party she thanked Charles for giving up all the perks of his position to come home for the "battles" ahead.
She called on the hundreds of delegates to work with Charles for victory in 2015. "I ask you to work closely with him and his team. Every member of that team is a loyal fighter for our cause and each has the competence to develop winning programmes. But they need your help," she said.
In a brief address Charles called on party members to be prepared to defend the UNC and let the PNM know that Trinidad and Tobago is not "PNM country."
He said today the PNM is over confident that their time has come and their supporters are behaving as if victory is a certainty. But he said so long as UNC activists and members work together the PNM will get "the biggest surprise" in 2015.
Persad-Bissessar stayed on the same theme in her features address. “Let us work together for the next few months and win again so together we can build a first world country where all of us would enjoy the benefits of a booming economy,” she said.
She said Trinidad and Tobago has room for everyone. There is no UNC country, no COP country, no PNM country - just one country where everyone is equal.
The Congress passed four resolutions supporting the leadership of Persad-Bissessar.
The party’s Youth Arm extended its full support for the political leader for her “stellar contribution to the development of youth” and pledged its commitment to continue to work with the UNC’s National Executive (NATEX) to further the involvement of youth in the political decision making process of Trinidad and Tobago.
The women unanimously resolved to express its “fullest support to the Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar as both Prime Minister and Political Leader of the UNC to continue to lead the country and our beloved party, as she has paved the way for women nationally and internationally.”
The resolution also pledged support the political leader in any internal election called by the national executive.
Jai Parasram at 3/23/2014 12:50:00 PM
http://jyoticommunication.blogspot.com/ ... c.html?m=1
UML wrote:Camille’s bad credit
MIRANDA LAROSE
Wednesday, July 29 2015
The People’s National Movement campaign against Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar was “misogynist and racist” and was being perpetuated, not only its male members, but by women as well, says United National Congress campaign manager Rodney Charles.
Addressing the UNC’s “Kamla 2015” meeting on Monday night at Barataria South Secondary School, Barataria, Charles said that vile remarks made about Persad-Bissessar by PNM party officials in Moruga last week were based on an agenda of her being the first woman Prime Minister.
“Instead they must try to pull down other women who were not restricted in the same manner that they were,” he said.
PNM’s arguments, he said, were not at all based on policy or character, but on sexism and racism, and the reason to criticise a woman’s wardrobe on their platform and refer to UNC supporters as “chattel slaves.”
In her “most distasteful attack” last Tuesday, Charles said PNM Lady Vice Chairman Camille Robinson-Regis claimed Persad-Bissessar, as a former education minister and attorney general, had no positive record, was self-centred, power hungry and “substanceless”.
Charles called on Robinson-Regis to remind the public about a Comptroller of Accounts report which indicated improper use of a credit card given to her as a minister.
He reminded that in 2004, the then Cabinet approved credit cards for official overseas travel and local entertainment expenses for 120 government officials and holders of certain offices under the Salaries Review Commission.
The card had a limit of US$10,000 for government holders and was issued by First Citizens Bank. According to the Comptroller of Accounts report of 2006, he said, Robinson-Regis had an unauthorised credit card overdraft of $174,000.
“The bank statement revealed that she used the money, not for Government business, but for personal purposes,” he said.
The credit card transactions involved, he said, the American Fertility Services at 115 East 57 Street, New York, Bitz n Pieces at Broadway, a wig and hair piece emporia, Christi Sothers, a jewelry store at 109 East 42 Street, New York, and Max’s Better Dress, a clothing store at 851 Second Avenue, New York.
Charles said he had access to State credit cards, but would never ever use them for Viagra or Cialis, or to buy a wig.
Inviting Robinson-Regis to enter into a more respectable age of politics and to stop regurgitating mauvais langue and calling it picong, he said, “In this country, we have advanced to the stage where we can criticise each other freely without resorting to defamation.”
Speaking about the Rowley accountability campaign, he said, it was not an attack on PNM Political leader, Dr Keith Rowley, but it was to challenge him and his party to address their history of wastage, poor governance and lack of vision.
For the first time in TT political history, Charles said that under the Persad-Bissessar-led administration politicians were held to account and those who could not, were sent packing.
“Members of the Opposition were expected to account, too, but instead when we asked them to stand up and be held accountable, they found a million ways to deflect,” he said.
The UNC’s “NoRowley” campaign was not about hate or bacchanal aimed at distracting from issues, as Rowley claims, Charles said.
The campaign, he said, further shows that Rowley has poor judgement and was unwilling to be judged himself.
http://www.newsday.co.tt/politics/0,214838.html
A private lab retained by Super Industrial Services Ltd (SISL) to conduct and approve water and soil testing on the billion-dollar Beetham Wastewater Recycling Project has close links to SIS.
The Sunday Guardian received copies of the lab work which shows that one company—Civil Laboratory & Consultants Ltd—was conducting the requisite testing on the project for SISL.
But this is in direct violation of the FIDIC (Federation Internationale des Ingenieurs Conseils/International Federation of Consulting Engineers) contract rules drawn up between SISL and the National Gas Company (NGC), which state that “an independent testing agency” must carry out the inspection and testing as the $1.4 billion project gets off the ground. The contract also stipulates that if the contractor (SISL) fails to carry out the testing, it falls to the client (NGC) to pay for the requisite independent testing.
According to company registration documents sourced by the Sunday Guardian, Civil Laboratory & Consultants was registered back in 2007 by Cindy Seecharan, who gave her address as 23 Rivulet Road, Couva. Seecharan has been associated with SISL in various capacities, including operations manager and corporate secretary. SISL head office and several of its subsidiaries carry the same address in Couva as the one stated by Seecharan. The telephone number listed on the registration documents also belongs to SISL.
Civil Laboratories and Consultants Ltd, however, is not listed among the companies owned by the SIS group on its official website. According to the registration documents, Seecharan registered the company and listed two people as directors, Gulabchand Maharaj and Rohit Ramkhelawan. Maharaj’s name remained listed as a director at Civil Laboratory & Consultants Ltd up until the last annual return filed with the Ministry of Legal Affairs dated September 17, 2014. By 2015, Maharaj’s name appeared on internal SISL documents as the commercial consultant on the BWRP, including two request documents for payments between SISL and NGC.
On August 2007, four days after its registration, Civil Laboratory & Consultants Ltd had filed a change of address moving its offices to LP 3 Frazer Lane, St Joseph. One year later, in August 2008, the lab sold the majority of its 1,000 shares (which is 600) to a single company, Lincoln Holdings, which carries the same 23 Rivulet Road, Couva, address as SISL.
There is very little information available on Lincoln Holdings other than the shared address with SISL.
Two years after that, by August 30, 2010, Civil Laboratory & Consultant Ltd changed its address again to 50 3rd Avenue, Isaac Development, Couva. It is from this address that the testing on the water and soil associated with the BWRP took place.
Result sheets
The Sunday Guardian obtained the result sheets for three density tests carried out in July, August and September, 2014. Two of them were signed off by lab administrator Ivana Ramsaran, while the third was signed by lab administrator Renisha Humphrey. The Sunday Guardian attempted to contact both women on the two cellphone contacts listed on the laboratory letterhead, as there was no landline listed.
A man answered one of the numbers and said that Ramsaran no longer worked for the lab. The Sunday Guardian was able to contact Humphrey through the Sevilla Consultants Ltd, another unregistered lab testing facility. Searches at the Ministry of Legal Affairs company registry department showed no company listed by that name.
In a brief interview, Humphrey confirmed that she worked for Civil Laboratory & Consultants but refused to comment further on the lab.
“I suggest you talk to someone else,” she said.
When asked who was in charge of the lab or who the Sunday Guardian should direct its questions to, Humphrey said “I don’t know” and quickly disconnected the call.
According to information obtained by the Sunday Guardian and from Ramsaran’s LinkedIn profile, she attended the Waterloo Secondary School from 2005-2010 before attending the Upper Level Institute to study “computers.” Ramsaran listed her occupation as “secretary at the Couva/Tabaquite Regional Corporation” from May 2011 to present. The Sunday Guardian contacted that corporation but was told that there was no one there by that name; the newspaper then attempted to make contact with Ramsaran on Facebook and LinkedIn without success.
Two of the three lab reports forwarded to SISL was signed by Ramsaran in August and September 2014.
Humphrey, meanwhile, listed her current occupation as a lab administrator attached to SISL from April 2014 to present.
This would mean that one of two people responsible for authorising the contractually obligated soil and water testing at a billion-dollar waste water recycling plant was four years out of high school.
The highly scientific testing included three density tests on the red sand, red and grey clay and the limestone crusher attached to the design, build, operations and maintenance of the Beetham Water Recycling Plant, together with the associated pipelines and water storage facilties, including field tests results. However, the contract calls specifically for the testing to be carried out by “suitably qualified and experienced staff.”
Sant: Water quality meeting standards
Contacted about the quality of the output at the project, NGC communications manager Roger Sant said on July 21 that the “quality of the water is meeting the requirements of the contract.”
However, when asked the name of the company contracted to provide that test information, Sant seemed to change his tune on July 24. “There is no company contracted to do the water testing at the Beetham Wastewater project. The testing will be done by NGC as the seller and by WASA as the buyer,” he said.
Civil Laboratory & Consultants
Ltd has conducted three density and water content testing for the project according to test sheets obtained by the Sunday Guardian.
It’s a severe conflict of interest—Joseph
Industry heavyweight T&T Contractors’ Association director and former president Mickey Joseph spoke out against the lack of independence in the way the testing is being carried out.
“Of course, there is severe conflict of interest,” Joseph said in an interview with the Sunday Guardian.
Joseph said the conflict arose specifically in this case because quality assurance is an important component of this project.
He said even if the tests were up to standard, there was the perception of conflict that immediately painted the results as conflicted.
“I am not aware of this happening with any other project ever,” he said.
SIS silent
Several attempts to contact SIS through its listed telephone numbers were unsuccessful. The Sunday Guardian attempted to contact SISL chief executive officer David Lumsden but was routed throughout the company when the call was transferred several times.
One person, who refused to be named, also gave a second office number to contact Lumsden, but when the Sunday Guardian called that number security directed all calls to the first office number again.
UML wrote:UML wrote:UML wrote:UML wrote:UML wrote:Wah bout the Debates Commission controversy?
Sabga, Father Harvey and other known pnm supporters in key positions
DC facilitating the date of the PNM over the PPG
A secret panel deciding on questions to be asked (why the secret is the panel from Balisier House?)
How are we to trust that the PNM is not given the questions in advance? Seeing the blatant bias in the DC
Debate mistake, storm in tea-cup
By Andre Bagoo
Saturday, July 18 2015
THE TRINIDAD and Tobago Debates Commission (TTDC) yesterday confirmed it had issued a letter to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s negotiating team stating that it was decided that a debate will take place on July 30, however this was done in “error”.
At the same time, the error was not made in representations by the Commission to the Opposition over the scheduling of the debate.
“There was an error in the wording of the letter,” said the TTDC chairman Andrew Sabga yesterday at a press conference held at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Westmoorings. “The letter that went out to the People’s Partnership (PP) said we had decided on 30th July. In the letter that went out to the PNM, it said that it was proposed, which was the right wording. There were many different issues that still needed to be handled prior to confirming any date in July. In fact, there was no consensus on that date. There was an error of wording which may have been misleading.” At the same time, he said the matter was a “storm in a tea-cup”.
Sabga did not say which officer had issued the letter or account for the discrepancy between the wording of the letters to the PP and the PNM. He said the error was only picked up by the Commission after the Prime Minister’s negotiating team went public with the date. He confirmed that the TTDC booked air-time for July 30 at CNMG, but said this was one of many provisional bookings.
While it entertained talks for a July debate, the TTDC chairman said it was now reverting to its “original criteria” which would see a debate take place in August. He said the July debate would have been separate from an August debate.
“We are going back to the original criteria that has been accepted by most of the participants,” Sabga said. “We are still hopeful that we will get all the players to the table. The door is not closed as far as we are concerned.”
Sabga said the Prime Minister’s negotiator, attorney Larry Lalla, had proposed the Mondays of the month of July as possible dates and the latest Monday, July 27 was initially identified, but shifted to July 30 given that the date is the anniversary of the 1990 terrorist attack on the Parliament and the media.
“We tried to secure consensus from the other side, who had already agreed to the August dates,” Sabga said. “It was very difficult to get us to get them to shift from those dates.”
At the same time, Sabga chided Lalla for making public the communication from the TTDC in which it was stated that July 30 had been decided.
“We realised that the error was made when Mr Lalla went public and announced the date, to our horror,” the chairman said. “In our discussion with all parties we have kindly asked them to kindly keep the negotiations that we are having with them out of the public eye until things are finalised and settled. How the July 30 date got derailed is because one party went public before it was decided.”
Sabga continued, “Whether rightly or wrongly so, whether there was an indication or belief that it was decided rightly or not, the fact that it went public before it was secured created a lot of anxiety. We need to appreciate that the stakes are very high. This is a very heightened and heated election.” The members of the TTDC are: Sabga (chairman); Ronald Harford; Fr Clyde Harvey; Moonilal Lalchan; Kiran Maharaj; Angella Persad and Professor Rhoda Reddock. The project manager is Lorraine O’Connor.
Lalla yesterday evening said all faith in the Commission was now lost.
“Unfortunately, we have lost faith in the so-called Debates Commission,” he said in a media release. “Are they really so careless that they don’t double check the correspondence which they send to the representative of a political leader on such an important matter? If their explanation is true that they wrote to the me and stated that the 30th July date had been “decided” but wrote separately to the PNM and said the date was only “proposed” then it brings their impartiality into serious question.”
Lalla further stated, “I regret their false claim that the notion of a 30th July debate originated with the People’s Partnership. The record in the public domain shows that such date originated with their email which stated a decision had been taken to hold a debate on that date.”
The attorney further said, “I regret too their demonstrably false claim that in some way I broke an agreement of confidentiality. To so state is offensive and wrong. I gave no undertaking to keep the date confidential. In any event, if the date was meant to be kept from the public, Ms O’Connor’s email to me would have said so. It did not.”
Sabga said the TTDC will not step aside and a debate will take place once two or more persons participate.
Reddock said the estimated $1.5 million cost for the debate is in order to produce a “quality debate” and covers costs such as advertising, live TV production, venue rentals, air-time costs, communications, administration, secretariat and support staff costs. The proposed debate would see a secret panel of four choose questions. Questions sent by the public to the leaders would be shifted by this secret panel.
http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,214300.html
DC "storm in a tea cup comment" very similar to Rowley’s and highlights their PNM arrogance and bias!!!
What would you do?
So I was right about the possibility of the PNM getting the questions in advance of the debate...seeing that the PM requests were "leaked"
I so know the nastiness of the PNM it not funny.
The TRUTH about PNM Financiers and the Debates Commission!!!!
*snort* *snort*
UML wrote:Coast Guard gets three vessels
Government’s newly-acquired coastal patrol vessel (CPV) CG 25, interceptor (vessel) and supply vessels for the Coast Guard are due to conduct their first coastal patrol training offshore from today, having completed yesterday a period of theoretical training onshore.
The CPV and interceptor along with two supply vessels to aid in border security, were delivered early last month .
The vessels were manufactured and delivered by Damen Shipyards in Holland and are currently docked at the Coast Guard headquarters, Staubles Bay. They will be formerly commissioned on August 27.
Trade, Industry and Communications Minister Vasant Bharath, who in the company of National Security Minister Brigadier Carl Alfonso yesterday toured the CPV, said the vessels were part of the People’s Partnership Government’s plan to strengthen border security and stop the illegal flow of guns, ammunition and drugs into the country.
The illegal activities, he noted, has put the country at risk.
Three more CPVs are to be delivered by year end, Bharath said.
However, another CPV will be delivered by August 20. That vessel will be commissioned via the internet since plans are in train to have it brought to TT from Holland by a Trinbagonian crew.
Lieutenant Commander Torinio Tracey, who conducted the tour, sailed with the Damen Shipyard crew that brought the first CPV to TT.
Along with the purchase of the naval vessels is a maintenance support system provided by the ship builders for a five-year period.
At present, a resident engineer from Damen was on board to assist with maintenance and to train locals to hand over the tasks at some point in time, Bharath said. The Coast Guard, he said has indicated that they were integrally involved in determining the specifications of the vessels that were bought.
“This is not what have been foisted upon them. This is something they believe will assist in the safety and security of the nation,” he said.
The total cost for the new fleet of 12 vessels that were ordered by the Government, he said, will cost $1.2 billion.
The entire fleet, he noted, will cost half of what was being paid for three Offshore Patrol Vessels ordered by the previous People’s National Movement administration and which were stopped by the current Persad-Bissessar-led administration.
http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,215404.html
No bidders for MV Su
Monday, August 10 2015
Efforts to sell, in recent years, the MV Su that was bought by the previous People’s National Movement administration to ply the Trinidad to Tobago route, have failed according to Communications Minister Vasant Bharath.
The MV Su, which never sailed the route and which is currently docked at the Coast Guard’s Headquarters, Staubles Bay, Bharath told the media yesterday, was not sea worthy.
Asked about Government’s plans for the vessel, he said, “No decision has been taken.
” Coast Guard Commander Wayne Armour, in a brief remark said, “There were attempts to auction it off, but no prospective buyer seem to want to commit themselves to that.”
Noting that the previous administration spent over $50 million to make the vessel seaworthy, Bharath said, “that is a reminder for us of how we must use taxpayers’ money in a responsible way.”
The MV Su was bought under the tenure of then Works and Transport minister Colm Imbert at a cost of $25 million, after which another $27 million was spent on “repairs” which failed to correct the boat’s many defects.
http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,215405.html
UML wrote:Yes Rory you and your pnm Propaganda..... with no evidence.
You can see the difference between a UWI trained compared to a UTT trained even here.
You want names? Or are you going to be full of shit like ZR and call for names and then do nothing with them?UML wrote:Yes Rory you and your pnm Propaganda..... with no evidence.
You can see the difference between a UWI trained compared to a UTT trained even here.
Napa faces closure over health, safety concerns
Richard Lord
Published:
Friday, August 14, 2015
The National Academy for the Performing Arts, Port-of-Spain, will be shut down indefinitely and evacuated as health and safety concerns have made it uninhabitable, says Arts and Multiculturalism Minister Lincoln Douglas.
The building, which was constructed by Chinese construction firm Shanghai Construction for $500 million in 2009 had begun to show significant signs of deterioration over the last couple years, with tiles falling off the building, plumbing failures and the foundation began failing, in terms of its design and filtration system. There is a similar facility in San Fernando, the Southern National Academy for the Performing Arts, but there have not been any reports of defects.
Responding to questions during yesterday’s post-Cabinet news conference at the Office of the Prime Minister, St Clair, Douglas said the students at the UTT Campus on the premises would be relocated. He said the ministry had done a full engineering evaluation of the facility and a report was sent to Cabinet and subsequently to the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure for further evaluation and determination.
He said the Works Ministry had advised that “the whole building of Napa be shut down.” Asked when was the recommendation made, he said: “That has been an issue (for) a while now. We are working with various ministers (and others) to provide the process by which that closing strategy should be done.”
Asked if the facility was still being used after the recommendation to shut it down was given, Douglas said: “Well there is a school there (UTT school).
That is the main part of the building that is being used and so we have to exit gradually.”
Questioned on the plan thereafter, Douglas said: “The plan is to go into the fixing of all the infrastructure (at Napa).” He said he would arrange a detailed news conference on the matter, adding that the questions “came out of nowhere and I am not in a position to bamboozle you, anyway. I will make (have) a formal press conference on the state of Napa, based on the results of the report and what is needed in order to rectify that building.”
In response to further questions on the occupancy of the building in the wake of a recommendation to shut it down, Douglas said: “The facility is still open because it is being used. There are students in the school and we are looking and working to find ways to move them out.
“I mean, it is not like immediately urgent but it is as a result of health and safety concerns that (Napa) cannot be occupied over a long period of time.”
Douglas said the decision to shut down Napa was based on problems with the “air quality and the physical structure.”
http://m.guardian.co.tt/news/2015-08-14 ... y-concerns
UML wrote:Napa faces closure over health, safety concerns
Richard Lord
Published:
Friday, August 14, 2015
The National Academy for the Performing Arts, Port-of-Spain, will be shut down indefinitely and evacuated as health and safety concerns have made it uninhabitable, says Arts and Multiculturalism Minister Lincoln Douglas.
The building, which was constructed by Chinese construction firm Shanghai Construction for $500 million in 2009 had begun to show significant signs of deterioration over the last couple years, with tiles falling off the building, plumbing failures and the foundation began failing, in terms of its design and filtration system. There is a similar facility in San Fernando, the Southern National Academy for the Performing Arts, but there have not been any reports of defects.
Responding to questions during yesterday’s post-Cabinet news conference at the Office of the Prime Minister, St Clair, Douglas said the students at the UTT Campus on the premises would be relocated. He said the ministry had done a full engineering evaluation of the facility and a report was sent to Cabinet and subsequently to the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure for further evaluation and determination.
He said the Works Ministry had advised that “the whole building of Napa be shut down.” Asked when was the recommendation made, he said: “That has been an issue (for) a while now. We are working with various ministers (and others) to provide the process by which that closing strategy should be done.”
Asked if the facility was still being used after the recommendation to shut it down was given, Douglas said: “Well there is a school there (UTT school).
That is the main part of the building that is being used and so we have to exit gradually.”
Questioned on the plan thereafter, Douglas said: “The plan is to go into the fixing of all the infrastructure (at Napa).” He said he would arrange a detailed news conference on the matter, adding that the questions “came out of nowhere and I am not in a position to bamboozle you, anyway. I will make (have) a formal press conference on the state of Napa, based on the results of the report and what is needed in order to rectify that building.”
In response to further questions on the occupancy of the building in the wake of a recommendation to shut it down, Douglas said: “The facility is still open because it is being used. There are students in the school and we are looking and working to find ways to move them out.
“I mean, it is not like immediately urgent but it is as a result of health and safety concerns that (Napa) cannot be occupied over a long period of time.”
Douglas said the decision to shut down Napa was based on problems with the “air quality and the physical structure.”
http://m.guardian.co.tt/news/2015-08-14 ... y-concerns
CONSTRUCTION has begun on the Children's Hospital in Couva, which is projected to cost one billion dollars.
Yesterday Minister of Housing Dr Roodal Moonilal visited the site off the Solomon Hochoy Highway near the Couva interchange.
He was accompanied by chairman of the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT) Jearlean John, and officials of the Shanghai Construction Group, the company that will build the hospital.
The sod-turning ceremony for the hospital took place on March 1 and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said then work would have begun at the site within one month.
Moonilal said the project, expected to be completed in 2015, will cost $1 billion.
The children's hospital will be able to accommodate 230 beds. It will be outfitted with emergency and surgery departments, a pharmacy, laboratory and helipad to provide helicopter access for emergencies and separate emergency entrances for adults and paediatric patients. A hotel, shopping mall, and a guest house will be developed as a second phase of the project to promote health tourism.
Moonilal told reporters the first major task would be to build access roads, and construction began on a four- lane road that should be completed in a few weeks.
He said, "Financing is in place. The Chinese government is financing the project and they choose the contractor—Shanghai Construction Group. But citizens will get an opportunity to work on the hospital."
Moonilal said, "Previously with government-to-government arrangements, there were no contractual obligations on foreign contractors for local content. We are happy that this contract we are executing with the Chinese government provides for 40 per cent local content. That means $400 million of goods and services will be for Trinidad and Tobago business enterprises and labour."
Moonilal added there will be no cost overruns.
"We are not expanding as we go along...we have a fixed approach to this and it is done through a certain financing arrangement that cannot be changed that way," said Moonilal.
An estimated $1.5 billion is being spent on the construction of the Couva Children's Hospital which is nearing completion.
This according to Health Minster Dr Fuad Khan who said the staffing of the facility has begun.
The hospital is one of the large projects being undertaken by the People's Partnership Government, and is located at Indian Trail, Couva off the south-bound lane of the Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway.
In giving a status update on the construction, Khan told the Express: "It's not yet one hundred per cent completed. Still waiting on equipment."
He said the hospital is expected to be fully completed by the end of September. And upon completion it will be one of the most advanced medical facilities in the country. Khan said that the multi-training facility will be digital, with doctors and other staff having access and using tablets and smart phones in performing their duties.
Khan also said that the ministry will be partnering with regional and international hospitals for treatment and care of patients.
He said, "I'm hoping to get a specialist children's management company or hospital management company to run it and staff it and deal with the hospital but Cabinet will have to make the decision."
When asked if the hospital will be staffed with local and international health-care professionals, Khan said: "Yes, it would have to. We are working on staffing right now."
Specialised services which will be offered by the hospital will include paediatric care, diagnostic and imaging, cardiology and a burn and plastic unit, pharmacy, out-patient unit and laboratory.
The hospital is located on 60 acres of land formerly owned by Caroni 1975 Limited.
QUERY ON ROWLEY *Integrity Commission writes Opposition Leader on 2004 Declaration
Published on Aug 22, 2015, 9:08 pm AST By Ria Taitt
OPPOSITION Leader Dr Keith Rowley is questioning the timing of a letter he has received from the Integrity Commission, seeking information on his 2004 Declaration (of Income, Assets and Liabilities) which had been filed with the commission ten years ago.
In its letter, dated August 13, 2015, the commission gave Rowley 14 days to provide the information sought, with the warning that failure to do so would ultimately result in court action against him.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20150822 ... -on-rowley
UML wrote:Wasn't Udecott the overseeing party?
We all know the corrupt Udecott under the pnm and lack of controls and quality conformance.QUERY ON ROWLEY *Integrity Commission writes Opposition Leader on 2004 Declaration
Published on Aug 22, 2015, 9:08 pm AST By Ria Taitt
OPPOSITION Leader Dr Keith Rowley is questioning the timing of a letter he has received from the Integrity Commission, seeking information on his 2004 Declaration (of Income, Assets and Liabilities) which had been filed with the commission ten years ago.
In its letter, dated August 13, 2015, the commission gave Rowley 14 days to provide the information sought, with the warning that failure to do so would ultimately result in court action against him.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20150822 ... -on-rowley
Wasn't Panday jailed and his name dragged through the mud because failing to declare to the IC.
Let's see if it is the same for Rowley
rfari wrote:U start back with that wile talk again bredrin?
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