PNM in Gov't (2020-2025)

[Supra GT-FOUR]

You guys forgot the Pricesmart pumpkins that were imported for Halloween.Trinis don't deserve nice things

Did they really import pongkin, good fkn lord.

I though they had local suppliers for sheit like that

US shortage? What is this US shortage of which you speak.

[hover11]

Shipping lines are turning away from T&T as ongoing industrial action by workers continues at the Port of Port-of-Spain.

For more: https://www.guardian.co.tt/news/pressur ... bed21296ca
.

I Thought Rohan said everything honky dory on the port

[timelapse]

aren’t those more for decoration than eating?
you see them on ppl doorsteps outside homes in usa

They can be eaten.
If one would enjoy eating them, is an entirely different matter

My point being :
We as a people encouraging the nonsense. There are people that will buy these and try to appear superior to their neighbours.
Attach the word 'Imported' to anything and watch your sales go up.
Government nonsense aside,we as a people import way to many unnecessary things and we don't have enough exports to balance our forex. I have literally seen a guy order frozen pizza off the internet in Trinidad.Before the 'freedom of choice' defenders chime in, remember the saying ; Because you could, doesn't mean that you should.
















;

[zoom rader]

You guys forgot the Pricesmart pumpkins that were imported for Halloween.Trinis don't deserve nice things

Did they really import pongkin, good fkn lord.

I though they had local suppliers for sheit like that

US shortage? What is this US shortage of which you speak.

Nine years i said there was never a shortage, i get cuss from PNM bloggers.


PNM hoodwinked idiots as usual on a fake shortage

[The_Honourable]

So Imbert loses to the Auditor General Jawantie Ramdass at the Privy Council


Privy Council dismisses Finance Minister's appeal in Auditor General impasse

THE Privy Council has dismissed an appeal filed by the Finance Minister Colm Imbert and the Cabinet challenging the Appeal Court's decision to allow Auditor General Jaiwantee Ramdass to pursue her lawsuit objecting to a probe of her approach to auditing the 2023 public accounts.

The ruling means her lawsuit will go ahead in the local high court.

On November 7, five Privy Council law lords – Hodge, Sales, Stephens, and Ladies Rose and Simler – gave their decision.

Two hours into submissions by the State’s lead attorney, Douglas Mendes, SC, the law lords took a break, returning about ten minutes later to say they did not need to hear from him further.

They said because of the importance of the matter, they would give their decision now and provide their reasons as soon as practicable.

“The Court of Appeal’s order stands,” was the Privy Council’s ruling on the State’s appeal.

They said Mendes, as he acknowledged in his opening submissions, needed a “knockout blow” to show the Appeal Court was wrong to permit Ramdass to advance her case. They said this was not shown.

The matter was decided without the law lords hearing oral arguments from Ramdass' legal team, led by Anand Ramlogan, SC.

On June 21, the Appeal Court gave Ramdass the green light to pursue her lawsuit against the Finance Minister and the Cabinet.

However, the State appealed to the Privy Council, asking the apex court to determine if Ramdass should be permitted to review the May 7 decision of Finance Minister Colm Imbert, who was then acting prime minister and the Cabinet to investigate her and her office.

The dispute between Ramdass, who became Auditor General in November 2023, began in April after the ministry sought to deliver amended public accounts to explain and rectify an error in which the government’s revenue was understated to the original sum of $3.4 billion and subsequently to $2.6 billion.

The statutory deadline to provide the accounts was January 31. Ramdass was given the first set of accounts for 2023, which was audited but not yet submitted, when she was told by the ministry the first accounts had been understated by $2.6 billion.

By statute, the Auditor General has to annually audit the public accounts provided by the ministry.

On April 16, the ministry sent new accounts which allegedly were backdated and contained a significantly higher statement of revenue figure, as claimed by the Auditor General.

Ramdass initially resisted accepting the second set of accounts since her office had completed the audit but did so after legal action was threatened. In her legal challenge, she alleged she felt bullied into accepting the amended accounts.

Ramdass’ office audited the second set of accounts but said her audit team could not reconcile the increase in revenue reported by the ministry. This was noted in the audit report submitted to Parliament on the 2023 accounts.

On May 7, the Ministry of Finance announced the appointment of the investigative team to probe the understatement of revenue for the 2023 financial year. The team, led by retired judge David Harris, was selected to look into Ramdass’ response to the second accounts, her audit report statements and any related matters, while making findings and recommendations.

On May 16, Ramdass’ legal team sought permission to have the court review the decision to appoint the Harris team, arguing it was tainted by apparent bias and breached her constitutional protections. Her legal team, led by Ramlogan, argued that neither Imbert nor the Cabinet had the jurisdiction to probe the conduct of the Auditor General.

On June 21, Justice Westmin James refused her application. This was overturned by the Appeal Court in June. Ramdass was permitted to pursue her challenge before another judge. The investigation of Ramdass and her office was also stopped. However, the Harris team was allowed to continue all other parts of their terms of reference.

In his ruling, James held that Section 116(6) of the Constitution, which insulates the Auditor General from being under the direction and control of any other power or authority, could not apply to investigations such as the one ordered by the Cabinet.

He also stated that Ramdass failed to prove bias by Imbert as he noted that the minister and his ministry were also subject to the probe.

However, Appeal Court judges Mark Mohammed, Peter Rajkumar and James Aboud held that the threshold for granting leave in such a case was low.

“Leave will therefore be granted because as a matter of law, the low arguability threshold has been attained,” Rajkumar ruled.

https://newsday.co.tt/2024/11/07/privy- ... l-impasse/

[death365]

even the "norms" coulda see that coming... was of court time and resources ...


but yuh done kno ... grate iz d PNM ...

So Imbert loses to the Auditor General Jawantie Ramdass at the Privy Council


Privy Council dismisses Finance Minister's appeal in Auditor General impasse

THE Privy Council has dismissed an appeal filed by the Finance Minister Colm Imbert and the Cabinet challenging the Appeal Court's decision to allow Auditor General Jaiwantee Ramdass to pursue her lawsuit objecting to a probe of her approach to auditing the 2023 public accounts.

The ruling means her lawsuit will go ahead in the local high court.

On November 7, five Privy Council law lords – Hodge, Sales, Stephens, and Ladies Rose and Simler – gave their decision.

Two hours into submissions by the State’s lead attorney, Douglas Mendes, SC, the law lords took a break, returning about ten minutes later to say they did not need to hear from him further.

They said because of the importance of the matter, they would give their decision now and provide their reasons as soon as practicable.

“The Court of Appeal’s order stands,” was the Privy Council’s ruling on the State’s appeal.

They said Mendes, as he acknowledged in his opening submissions, needed a “knockout blow” to show the Appeal Court was wrong to permit Ramdass to advance her case. They said this was not shown.

The matter was decided without the law lords hearing oral arguments from Ramdass' legal team, led by Anand Ramlogan, SC.

On June 21, the Appeal Court gave Ramdass the green light to pursue her lawsuit against the Finance Minister and the Cabinet.

However, the State appealed to the Privy Council, asking the apex court to determine if Ramdass should be permitted to review the May 7 decision of Finance Minister Colm Imbert, who was then acting prime minister and the Cabinet to investigate her and her office.

The dispute between Ramdass, who became Auditor General in November 2023, began in April after the ministry sought to deliver amended public accounts to explain and rectify an error in which the government’s revenue was understated to the original sum of $3.4 billion and subsequently to $2.6 billion.

The statutory deadline to provide the accounts was January 31. Ramdass was given the first set of accounts for 2023, which was audited but not yet submitted, when she was told by the ministry the first accounts had been understated by $2.6 billion.

By statute, the Auditor General has to annually audit the public accounts provided by the ministry.

On April 16, the ministry sent new accounts which allegedly were backdated and contained a significantly higher statement of revenue figure, as claimed by the Auditor General.

Ramdass initially resisted accepting the second set of accounts since her office had completed the audit but did so after legal action was threatened. In her legal challenge, she alleged she felt bullied into accepting the amended accounts.

Ramdass’ office audited the second set of accounts but said her audit team could not reconcile the increase in revenue reported by the ministry. This was noted in the audit report submitted to Parliament on the 2023 accounts.

On May 7, the Ministry of Finance announced the appointment of the investigative team to probe the understatement of revenue for the 2023 financial year. The team, led by retired judge David Harris, was selected to look into Ramdass’ response to the second accounts, her audit report statements and any related matters, while making findings and recommendations.

On May 16, Ramdass’ legal team sought permission to have the court review the decision to appoint the Harris team, arguing it was tainted by apparent bias and breached her constitutional protections. Her legal team, led by Ramlogan, argued that neither Imbert nor the Cabinet had the jurisdiction to probe the conduct of the Auditor General.

On June 21, Justice Westmin James refused her application. This was overturned by the Appeal Court in June. Ramdass was permitted to pursue her challenge before another judge. The investigation of Ramdass and her office was also stopped. However, the Harris team was allowed to continue all other parts of their terms of reference.

In his ruling, James held that Section 116(6) of the Constitution, which insulates the Auditor General from being under the direction and control of any other power or authority, could not apply to investigations such as the one ordered by the Cabinet.

He also stated that Ramdass failed to prove bias by Imbert as he noted that the minister and his ministry were also subject to the probe.

However, Appeal Court judges Mark Mohammed, Peter Rajkumar and James Aboud held that the threshold for granting leave in such a case was low.

“Leave will therefore be granted because as a matter of law, the low arguability threshold has been attained,” Rajkumar ruled.

https://newsday.co.tt/2024/11/07/privy- ... l-impasse/

[The_Honourable]

Why is Imbert not being investigated? asks law lord

WHY is the conduct of Finance Minister Colm Imbert not also being investigated over a $2.5 billion understatement in this country’s 2023 public financial records?

This was one of the questions asked yesterday by Lady Simler, one member of a five-judge panel at the Privy Council, in London as the British law lords unanimously dismissed an appeal brought by Imbert and the Cabinet against Auditor General Jaiwantie Ramdass, related to the understatement.

During the hearing, Lady Simler questioned Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes on why Ramdass, but not Imbert, was being investigated, suggesting that the investigation was one-sided.

Lady Simler said to keep the investigation “even-handed,” Imbert’s conduct should also be investigated.

She did so as Mendes, lead attorney for Imbert and the Cabinet, was making submissions. Mendes did not give a direct answer to the question but as the proceedings progressed, on a few more occasions, Lady Simler said she was finding it difficult to understand the logic behind why Imbert’s conduct did not form part of the investigation.

She, along with Lords Hodge, Sales, Stephens and Lady Rose, were hearing the appeal brought by Imbert and the Cabinet against the local Appeal Court granting leave to Ramdass to file a claim for judicial review against the setting up of an investigative team to probe the circumstances of the understatement.

Following about two hours of submissions from Mendes, the law lords briefly stood down the hearing.

When they returned a few minutes later, Lord Hodge announced the decision.

Senior Counsel Anand Ramlogan, who leads a team of attorneys on behalf of Ramdass, was not required to make any submissions in response to Mendes’ submissions.

Lord Hodge stated that in the board’s view, the local Appeal Court was correct in granting leave to Ramdass to file her claim.

He said given the importance of the matter to Trinidad and Tobago, the board felt it necessary to deliver its ruling immediately and would provide written reasons at a later date.

Given the ruling, there is now nothing standing in the way of Ramdass filing her claim.

Ramdass claims bias

The investigative team that is headed by retired High Court Justice David Harris was appointed by the Cabinet based on Imbert’s advice.

Imbert and the Cabinet were seeking to have the British law lords declare that the Court of Appeal had gotten it wrong when a three-judge panel comprising Justices Mark Mohammed, Peter Rajkumar and James Aboud granted leave to Ramdass in June to file her judicial review claim.

On the same day of the Appeal Court’s ruling, Imbert announced via a media release that he had instructed attorneys for the State led by Mendes to further appeal the matter at the Privy Council.

The local judges had ruled that High Court Justice Westmin James made an error in law when he refused at first instance to grant Ramdass permission to file the claim.

The Appeal Court had also ordered that the matter be remitted for hearing before another judge at the High Court.

Ramdass, through her legal team, argued that Imbert’s recommendation to Cabinet to initiate the probe, select the investigation team, set its terms of reference and have it report directly to him, were biased against her.

She also complained that the Harris team was mandated by Imbert and Cabinet to make findings on her conduct and that Imbert was responsible for the team’s remuneration.

Appearing alongside Ramlogan for Ramdass were attorneys Ganesh Saroop, Kent Samlal, Natasha Bisram and Aasha Ramlal, while Simon de la Bastide, SC, Jo-Anne Julien and Sonnel David-Longe appeared along with Mendes for Imbert and the Cabinet.

Background

The impasse over the $2.5 billion understatement first began in April this year after the Finance Ministry sought to deliver amended public accounts to the Auditor General to explain and rectify it.

Initially, the Government’s revenue was understated by the sum of $3.4 billion but later this figure was reduced by the ministry to $2.5 billion.

Because the statutory deadline to provide the financial records was January 31, Ramdass had refused to accept the amended public accounts when the ministry sought to deliver it to her office in April. She was given the first set of accounts for 2023 prior to the deadline date, which was audited, but not yet delivered at the time when the ministry sought to deliver the second set, that were allegedly backdated.

Even though Ramdass initially refused to accept the updated accounts, her office eventually did so after being issued a pre-action protocol letter. In her legal claim, Ramdass is contending that she felt bullied into accepting the amended accounts.

While the second set of accounts was audited, Ramdass stated that her audit team was unable to reconcile the increase in revenue reported by the ministry.

On May 7, Imbert announced the appointment of the investigative team to probe the understatement.

About a week later, Ramdass’ attorneys approached the High Court seeking permission to file judicial review against the decision to launch the probe against her. They argued before Justice James that neither Imbert nor the Cabinet had the powers to investigate the Office of the Auditor General.

The following month, however, the judge refused the application, stating that Ramdass’ claim would have an unrealistic prospect of success if it was allowed to proceed.

The judge said then that the Auditor General had failed to convince the court that Imbert was being biased towards her when it came to the appointment of the investigative team.

The judge further stated that Section 116 (6) of the Constitution, which insulates the Auditor General from being under the direction and control of any other power or authority, could not apply to investigations such as the one ordered by the Cabinet.

https://trinidadexpress.com/news/local/ ... d43ae.html

[daxt0r]

where dem rowley bamcee lickers wing, habit, joe et al, defend this waste of taxpayer dollars na
while ppl cya get 200usd, PNM lawyers being well fed in usd to defend stupid claims.
dunce pnmites do you believe impsbutt should be investigated for his conduct? Or kamla do this too?

[wing]

PNM lawyers being well fed in usd to defend stupid claims.


You said it right there. Is the AUD Gen that brought the action. Also bamsee licking is the expertise of the UNC MPs and Political leader.

[MaxPower]

where dem rowley bamcee lickers wing, habit, joe et al, defend this waste of taxpayer dollars na
while ppl cya get 200usd, PNM lawyers being well fed in usd to defend stupid claims.
dunce pnmites do you believe impsbutt should be investigated for his conduct? Or kamla do this too?

dax,

We cannot use politics and investigations in a sentence. The outcome is always as we know it.

[daxt0r]

PNM lawyers being well fed in usd to defend stupid claims.


You said it right there. Is the AUD Gen that brought the action. Also bamsee licking is the expertise of the UNC MPs and Political leader.

So my illiterate lil bamcee sucker, you do know they lost the case locally right.
Why carry it such a frivolous matter straight to privy council when, not me or a dunce pnm say this, they didn't even have a case other than to feed the PNM lawyers. Just like the EMBD case its just to feed at the trough.
At least admit that persons much more schooled in law than anyone here AND the law lords said both endeavors were a waste of taxpayers dollars which did nothing more than make filthy rich PNM lawyers richer., can you bare to remove your head from so far up PNM ass to at least admit that fact.

/*
So, it’s baffling why, in litigation thrown out summarily by the Privy Council on November 7, the minister sought to block Ms Ramdass from pursuing legal action of her own in relation to her office’s independence and the implications of the probe.
That the law lords cut short oral submissions by the state’s attorneys and did not find it necessary to hear from Ms Ramdass’s legal team suggest this appeal was a frolic at citizens’ expense.
*/

Imagine all that money spend and d lords didn't even have to hear her lawyers, PNM, its AG, former AG really is some shithong eat ah food lawyers boy; if yuh ever like me an end up b4 d courts stay far from dem bro, make sure an hire one ah dem tiefin unc lawyer eh!

[daxt0r]

EMBD Law Lords response in case you missed it, ah know d PNM blogs don't post these things so keeping you up to date on the wastage that happening now, not just the 2010-2015 period, blame kamla, UNC this that etc.

/*
The law lords were scathing. They noted nothing in the EMBD’s defence rose beyond the “fanciful or speculative.” A request for disclosure could not be supported, given the “inadequate quality of the evidence.” No expert testimony was advanced. There was nothing beyond one lawyer’s assertion. A key audit report never materialised. The charge of fraud was “wholly insufficient.” And there was “no substance” behind the reasoning of the EMBD.
This was the case which Attorney General Reginald Armour, SC, incredibly described in the following terms on October 30: “This was not a frivolous appeal by the EMBD. This was a serious appeal. There were serious issues of law.”
Even if there were some interesting points to be resolved (and the law lords declined to do so, simply applying the law to the facts) it should have been obvious that this was a woefully inappropriate vehicle for such academic explorations at taxpayers’ expense.
*/

[16 cycles]

Plan for mass deportation of undocumented trinis in the US?

[shake d livin wake d dead]

Sooooo how all of a sudden, it's important for the govt to reopen the refinery?? Then why tf allyuh shut it down in the first place??!

[wing]

Sooooo how all of a sudden, it's important for the govt to reopen the refinery?? Then why tf allyuh shut it down in the first place??!

The only ones braying about the refinery are the kick out the PNM idiots.

[hover11]

Funny enough when kamla said she would reopen the refinery they laughed at her but here they are doing the very same thing they ridiculed her for. This election coming will be one where ppl will vote out their comfort zones , everybody is affected by the mismanagement of this entire economy.

[screwbash]

Gather in woodford square an call for a GE. Enof is Enof. We cannot allow black baldhead to carry we out to sea without a paddle. Your children will pay the price.

[shake d livin wake d dead]

Sooooo how all of a sudden, it's important for the govt to reopen the refinery?? Then why tf allyuh shut it down in the first place??!

The only ones braying about the refinery are the kick out the PNM idiots.

Funny you said this, guess you didn't see the meeting where imballs actually said it is costing the country to much USD to import gas and it is imperative that the refinery be reopened ASAP!

[hover11]

Why isn't imbert resigning over the auditor general's situation, he know he was wrong trying to muzzle her but rather waste taxpayers money and carry it all the way to the privy council for the lords to say he in the wrong.

[wing]

Sooooo how all of a sudden, it's important for the govt to reopen the refinery?? Then why tf allyuh shut it down in the first place??!

The only ones braying about the refinery are the kick out the PNM idiots.

Funny you said this, guess you didn't see the meeting where imballs actually said it is costing the country to much USD to import gas and it is imperative that the refinery be reopened ASAP!

Seems like I missed it really. If so, good news for the pointe a Pierre community as well as the contractor pool. Forex earnings will begin at least a year after repairs.

[wing]

Why isn't imbert resigning over the auditor general's situation, he know he was wrong trying to muzzle her but rather waste taxpayers money and carry it all the way to the privy council for the lords to say he in the wrong.

We keep going round and round. He acts with impunity because the political fallout is very minimal. The weakness of the opposition is to blame, because come election day, the PNM will be voted back in. Politics and governance are two different concepts. You all can insult all you like, but the PNM knows how to win elections, because they have won the vast majority of them.

[hover11]

Why isn't imbert resigning over the auditor general's situation, he know he was wrong trying to muzzle her but rather waste taxpayers money and carry it all the way to the privy council for the lords to say he in the wrong.

We keep going round and round. He acts with impunity because the political fallout is very minimal. The weakness of the opposition is to blame, because come election day, the PNM will be voted back in. Politics and governance are two different concepts. You all can insult all you like, but the PNM knows how to win elections, because they have won the vast majority of them.

Wing you really think PNM going back given the current economic climate if PNM isn't the answer now how the hell they will be the answer for the next 5 years?

[88sins]

aren’t those more for decoration than eating?
you see them on ppl doorsteps outside homes in usa

They can be eaten.
If one would enjoy eating them, is an entirely different matter

My point being :
We as a people encouraging the nonsense. There are people that will buy these and try to appear superior to their neighbours.
Attach the word 'Imported' to anything and watch your sales go up.
Government nonsense aside,we as a people import way to many unnecessary things and we don't have enough exports to balance our forex. I have literally seen a guy order frozen pizza off the internet in Trinidad.Before the 'freedom of choice' defenders chime in, remember the saying ; Because you could, doesn't mean that you should.

Bro, you forget, this dependency and preference for imported goods is a state encouraged behavior, always was. Notice, you will NEVER see a minister buy a personal vehicle from a local dealer, neither luxury nor economy.
Big man, if we in a position where we HAVE to import upwards of 90% of our food, even the things that we can grow right here, what makes you think that we won't be importing literally everything else?

[MaxPower]

Plan for mass deportation of undocumented trinis in the US?

I hope so.

[wing]

Why isn't imbert resigning over the auditor general's situation, he know he was wrong trying to muzzle her but rather waste taxpayers money and carry it all the way to the privy council for the lords to say he in the wrong.

We keep going round and round. He acts with impunity because the political fallout is very minimal. The weakness of the opposition is to blame, because come election day, the PNM will be voted back in. Politics and governance are two different concepts. You all can insult all you like, but the PNM knows how to win elections, because they have won the vast majority of them.

Wing you really think PNM going back given the current economic climate if PNM isn't the answer now how the hell they will be the answer for the next 5 years?

I think they will do what is necessary to win the election. What they do in government is another matter. The opposing parties need to realize what is needed to win, just look at what trump was able to achieve.

[zoom rader]

Joe wey de money ?

but study license plates for Kwame & lalchan

[pugboy]

boy is a never ending list of crap this govt has made a mess of
both deliberately and not
them really had no clue about running a country

[zoom rader]

Fixing crime by with dumb measures that will never slove crime. All these years of ticketing laws, littering laws, traffic wardens and a whole heap of punitive laws has not sloved crime

After all these measures murder rate is forecaster to 600 plus.

Trinidad has a corrupted system from the President, Prime Minister, AG, MPs, CJ, integrity commission, judges, COP, Police, Armed forces, 1%, Businessmen .


But continue as u all are

[zoom rader]

boy is a never ending list of crap this govt has made a mess of
both deliberately and not
them really had no clue about running a country

Yeah,

But Joe focus is on Licence plates

[sMASH]

*Imf enters the chat