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Numb3r4 wrote:nervewrecker wrote:Kid looks familiar though.
Not bashing him or anything but men seems to have gotten too comfortable when they landed a job in there. Its always wise to never stop diversifying your skills. Many employees branched out into other things when they were there.
Poor guy maybe feel like his world ended.
That was/is kind of the sad part, their were genuinely guys who were good and wanted to make something, however they only saw themselves dedicating their effort to one particular company, they genuinely thought that they would be able to have one job or at least a long term one, sadly they didn't see the need to consider other options.
Many folks fed the young guys the hope that Petrotrin was a "good" company, or "yuh go get through man" or "dey need peeple"...
Folks probably doubted their own sense of good judgement, even when I was there it was common the hear, if you asked folks about the state of the company or about whether or not the company needs people many would have said yes, or "a lot of dem fellas set to retire...so they hirin' dem young fellas".
Reality and personal experience has since proved otherwise.
But back to the original point he probably planned his career/life trajectory on the now false hope that there was a long term job there, got wound too tight in expectation, the social network around the job and probably planned his life around it as well, thus when the bottom fell through well....
Another point to make is how many of the former employees older ones in general are suffering health complications on account of the added stress. It's easy to say that they lead an inflated lifestyle and that they should now bring it to a more realistic one.
I know adjustments have to made but in today's fast paced world how?
The crux of it all is that all the wrong folks are paying too high a price for the past mis-deeds of the guilty few, then again that's life.
The_Honourable wrote:Like the guardian photographer get a raise...
PM's friend Baksh freed of criminal charges
THE CEO of A&V Drilling, Haniff Nizam Baksh, who is also a close friend of the Prime Minister, has been freed of criminal charges of assault and malicious damage arising out of an alleged attack on a media photographer in 2017 .
He was charged along with his son-in-law Billy Ramsundar.
The cases were set for trial in the Siparia Magistrates' Court yesterday but witnesses were a no-show and senior magistrate Margaret Alert dismissed all four charges. The police were not ready to proceed and though a state attorney requested a final adjournment to put its house in order, Alert said people cannot make a mockery of the criminal procedure rules which govern the criminal court system.
Former attorney general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, SC, leading attorneys Prakash Ramadhar and Michael Rooplal for Baksh and Ramsundar, said since the charges on September 15, 2017, they had been called before the magistrate for hearing on more than eight occasions .
Baksh is Rowley's friend and Ramsundar is the husband of former People's National Movement senator Allyson Baksh.
Baksh was charged with occasioning actual bodily to Guardian Media Ltd's photographer Kristian De Silva. The charge against Ramsundar was that he damaged a Guardian Media Ltd camera valued at US$1,600.
The charges stemmed from an incident at A&V Drilling's compound at Nazim Avenue, Penal, where media personnel tried to interview Baksh about Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar's disclosure on the political platform of a so-called "fake oil" confidential report on the now defunct state-owned Petrotrin.
Yesterday when state attorney Ambay Ramkelawan, asked for a final adjournment, Maharaj said not even the police witnesses were present. Despite the magistrate having set the case down for trial yesterday, De Silva, the victim in the case did not appear either and no representative from Guardian Media was present.
Maharaj asked Alert to dismiss the charges.
Alert asked Baksh and Ramsundar to stand, and saying that the criminal rules were there for a purpose, she told both that the charges were dismissed.
Ramsundar is an inspector of police.
Numb3r4 wrote:Serious question here for those in the know.
Has anyone heard that the pension plan for the Petrotrin folks may be in jeopardy as the government has not or may not continue its obligation to the plan?
I have heard that since many of the workers were put on early retirement, the existing plan is not being withdrawn faster.
It was said that older retirees were on a different plan and as such they were "safe", however since the closure both the current set that were given early retirement and the older retirees' plans have been co-mingled so to speak and as such it may be in trouble. Mention was made that the cover for the pension is now significantly reduced.
nervewrecker wrote:Numb3r4 wrote:Serious question here for those in the know.
Has anyone heard that the pension plan for the Petrotrin folks may be in jeopardy as the government has not or may not continue its obligation to the plan?
I have heard that since many of the workers were put on early retirement, the existing plan is not being withdrawn faster.
It was said that older retirees were on a different plan and as such they were "safe", however since the closure both the current set that were given early retirement and the older retirees' plans have been co-mingled so to speak and as such it may be in trouble. Mention was made that the cover for the pension is now significantly reduced.
From what I understand its some 20 billion or so in that reserve. So where did it all go?
Nobody making a scene, nobody asking anything.
kstt wrote:Anyone notice a new white stack when passing on the highway? Or was that always there?
Curtms wrote:GTL
cnc3 wrote:A&V seeks $1 billion in damages
Date:
Sunday, October 6, 2019 - 05:45
Senior Counsel Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj is seeking $1 billion in damages on behalf of his client A&V Drilling when the matter goes before an Arbitration Tribunal in January next year.
Accompanied by a battery of lawyers which included attorneys Michael Rooplal, Prakash Ramadhar, Jagdeo Singh and Ronnie Bissessar, Maharaj made his intentions clear as he addressed members of the media during a press conference at his office in San Fernando on Saturday.
As he had done many times in the past, Maharaj reiterated "that Petrotrin had wrongfully terminated A&V's contract and will be liable to pay A&V substantial damages."
The Tribunal which comprises a panel of arbitrators including former president of the Caribbean Court of Justice Sir Dennis Byron, former judge of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council Lord Hope and retired Justice of Appeal Humphrey Stollmeyer, will meet in January 2020.
Maharaj said the Privy Council did not determine the case of wrongful termination of the contract by Petrotrin noting that it is through the Tribunal that A&V's chief executive officer, Haniff Baksh will get justice.
"A&V did not have a right of appeal to the Privy Council. lt had to get leave of the Privy Council to appeal. In order to get leave, it had to show that the appeal concerned a point of law of general and public importance. The Privy Council held that there was not a point of law of general and public importance," Maharaj said as he sought to explain how the matter ended up before a Tribunal.
He said apart from suffering from defamation of character and loss of business, A&V has not been paid for crude oil supplied to Petrotrin since June 2017.
Predicting a victory at the Tribunal, Maharaj said, "I am 150 per cent sure that there could be only one result in this case. Lord Hope is not going to tolerate unfairness and injustice."
Owner of the Sunshine newspaper and former Works Minister Jack Warner who attended the press conference asked Maharaj whether arbitration was the final step.
Maharaj responded, "There is a school of thought that says if there is an error of law the Court of Appeal has jurisdiction, but only if there is an error of law." Maharaj noted that no contractor replaced A&V in the Catshill field after the contract was terminated. "As Baksh's lawyers we're very aggressively opposed to this and if this was done, damages would have been heightened."
He noted that the Tribunal can make an order for damages.
When asked how much damages they wanted, Maharaj said, "Damages in terms of one billion dollars." Asked whether he was fighting Baksh's case pro bono, Maharaj responded, "I don't think that question should arise. I feel strongly about this case. I feel it's an injustice to me. I have an extreme passion for this case and I will ensure that Baksh gets justice."
He said lawyers for A&V had several reports from Petrotrin's experts that the oil wells operated by A&V at the Catshill field had the oil reservoir capacity to produce the volume of oil that A&V produced and sold to Petrotrin. He said the Petrotrin records showed the pump also had the capacity as well as proof that the measurement system used by Petrotrin was flawed and could not be relied upon. He also said the treatment meted out to Baksh only served to hamper public investments.
"State companies must not use the courts for the purpose of delaying payments to the private sector. State companies which employ that strategy are not only dishonouring their contractual obligations but are also engaging in action which negatively impacts on private sector investment," he added.
Maharaj noted that the independent Kroll report which Petrotrin used to terminate A&V's contract had kept hidden from A&V lawyers. However he said this report could not save Petrotrin at this time as there were many other reports available which proved that Baksh was wronged by the company.
- Radhica De Silva
sMASH wrote:now for the matter that really matters, the a&v millions that was swindled :
http://www.cnc3.co.tt/press-release/av- ... A.facebookcnc3 wrote:A&V seeks $1 billion in damages
Date:
Sunday, October 6, 2019 - 05:45
Senior Counsel Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj is seeking $1 billion in damages on behalf of his client A&V Drilling when the matter goes before an Arbitration Tribunal in January next year.
Accompanied by a battery of lawyers which included attorneys Michael Rooplal, Prakash Ramadhar, Jagdeo Singh and Ronnie Bissessar, Maharaj made his intentions clear as he addressed members of the media during a press conference at his office in San Fernando on Saturday.
As he had done many times in the past, Maharaj reiterated "that Petrotrin had wrongfully terminated A&V's contract and will be liable to pay A&V substantial damages."
The Tribunal which comprises a panel of arbitrators including former president of the Caribbean Court of Justice Sir Dennis Byron, former judge of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council Lord Hope and retired Justice of Appeal Humphrey Stollmeyer, will meet in January 2020.
Maharaj said the Privy Council did not determine the case of wrongful termination of the contract by Petrotrin noting that it is through the Tribunal that A&V's chief executive officer, Haniff Baksh will get justice.
"A&V did not have a right of appeal to the Privy Council. lt had to get leave of the Privy Council to appeal. In order to get leave, it had to show that the appeal concerned a point of law of general and public importance. The Privy Council held that there was not a point of law of general and public importance," Maharaj said as he sought to explain how the matter ended up before a Tribunal.
He said apart from suffering from defamation of character and loss of business, A&V has not been paid for crude oil supplied to Petrotrin since June 2017.
Predicting a victory at the Tribunal, Maharaj said, "I am 150 per cent sure that there could be only one result in this case. Lord Hope is not going to tolerate unfairness and injustice."
Owner of the Sunshine newspaper and former Works Minister Jack Warner who attended the press conference asked Maharaj whether arbitration was the final step.
Maharaj responded, "There is a school of thought that says if there is an error of law the Court of Appeal has jurisdiction, but only if there is an error of law." Maharaj noted that no contractor replaced A&V in the Catshill field after the contract was terminated. "As Baksh's lawyers we're very aggressively opposed to this and if this was done, damages would have been heightened."
He noted that the Tribunal can make an order for damages.
When asked how much damages they wanted, Maharaj said, "Damages in terms of one billion dollars." Asked whether he was fighting Baksh's case pro bono, Maharaj responded, "I don't think that question should arise. I feel strongly about this case. I feel it's an injustice to me. I have an extreme passion for this case and I will ensure that Baksh gets justice."
He said lawyers for A&V had several reports from Petrotrin's experts that the oil wells operated by A&V at the Catshill field had the oil reservoir capacity to produce the volume of oil that A&V produced and sold to Petrotrin. He said the Petrotrin records showed the pump also had the capacity as well as proof that the measurement system used by Petrotrin was flawed and could not be relied upon. He also said the treatment meted out to Baksh only served to hamper public investments.
"State companies must not use the courts for the purpose of delaying payments to the private sector. State companies which employ that strategy are not only dishonouring their contractual obligations but are also engaging in action which negatively impacts on private sector investment," he added.
Maharaj noted that the independent Kroll report which Petrotrin used to terminate A&V's contract had kept hidden from A&V lawyers. However he said this report could not save Petrotrin at this time as there were many other reports available which proved that Baksh was wronged by the company.
- Radhica De Silva
Dave wrote:Have to admire ppl who know how to work the system and then milk it for what it's worth!
NP loses US$500,000 in bad deal
Renuka Singh
State-owned National Petroleum Marketing Company Limited (NP) lost over US$500,000 in a bad deal on the sale of bunker fuel on the international market.
There are very few details of this deal available in the public domain, but Guardian Media understands that NP was dealing with a company named Black Gold on an international deal which soured and NP was left nursing a million dollar loss.
The deal was the subject of an internal audit which named operatives within NP as culpable but according to one NP insider, it appeared to have been swept under the carpet.
The limited information on the deal is contained in an internal “goodbye” email written by the outgoing chief executive officer at NP, Bernard Mitchell.
The email was sent to staff of January 14, one day before Mitchell’s tenure ended.
The email listed a series of questionable decisions taken at the State organisation and seemed to infer that the board was aware of the growing discord within the company.
Mitchell’s email to his former staff was entitled “until we meet again” and in that email, he outlined the “Black Gold fiasco” that cost the company over US$500,000 but which was never properly addressed by the board.
“The lack of sanction/accountability for the Black Gold fiasco which resulted in a loss of over US$500,000 for the company, although clear culpability could be determined from the Audit Report and General information known among staff,” Mitchell wrote.
While the letter did not say much more on that matter, NP insiders told Guardian Media that there was no proper due diligence conducted before NP decided to pursue the Black Gold matter.
“The requisite Board approvals were not obtained and that they could not find the principals of the company initially engaged,” the insider said.
“Our finance and legal staff were totally against the transaction but were directed to participate but this did not come out in the audit,” the source said.
“What is required is a forensic audit. There was also a report on this recently completed by the Ministry of Finance,” the insider said.
Mitchell’s letter also said that there was a “unsubstantiated delay” for over 10 months in hiring a chief procurement officer.
“Given that the shortlist of candidates to be interviewed was finalised in February 2019 and which is now impacting the company’s state of readiness and ability to adopt and comply with the requirements of the procurement legislation,” Mitchell said.
He also questioned the executive decision to replace three directors “for no plausible reason” and the unilateral suspension of Board and Committee meetings for over three months from May to August 2019.
“Despite having a fully and duly constituted board of directors, this delaying decisions and the progress of the company,” Mitchell said in the letter.
Under the heading “exposures”, Mitchell listed three main concerns including the limited progress of the company Capital Projects, delays in executing key projects and initiatives and NP’s inability to enhance operating efficiencies.
Mitchell said that NP was unable to execute its capital projects because it lacked engineers. He said NP failed to execute the key projects because it lacked a Project Management office.
“I championed this with limited success because of the restrictions in hiring the required quality resources,” he said.
“My concern is that the real losers in this debacle are NP, the employees of NP and the stakeholders by extension,” Mitchell wrote.
“The work to ensure the long-term survival of the company had now started to gain momentum and the skills required to see it through are not available in abundance,” he said.
“If not properly addressed NP will become just another casualty enterprise that we read about daily,” Mitchell wrote.
Guardian Media contacted Mitchell yesterday on the matter of the email, but while he confirmed that it was his email to staff, he declined to comment further.
Guardian Media also contacted NP chairman Sahid Hosein who also declined to comment.
Hosein said he would address internal matters at NP at a later date.
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