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UML wrote:more importantly...for such a costly project we have a short maintenance contract?
In cross-examination Dr. Rowley accepted that at least from November 2006 proposals for NAPA did include the hotel element and that the hotel was included within the proposal laid before Parliament as part of the budget debate.
rfari wrote:UML wrote:more importantly...for such a costly project we have a short maintenance contract?
what was the maintenance period for the property? quote sources
UML wrote:Minister blames poor Chinese workmanship
NAPAs falling apart
Published:
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Gail Alexander
The Northern and Southern National Academies for the Performing Arts are almost “falling down.” Both cultural institutes are in a state of deterioration requiring repairs, says Arts Minister Lincoln Douglas, who says this is due to low grade inferior materials and bad workmanship involved in the original construction. Various items needed to be replaced have to be sourced from China, three months away in terms of ordering and shipping, and therefore light bulbs, for instance, take three months to change.
Douglas detailed the situation in the Senate yesterday but ran out of the allocated reply time since the number of issues affecting the institutions was so long. He said he was holding one list of 19 issues concerning Port-of-Spain and San Fernando, on which a more complete analysis had been done, had over 300 problems.
Douglas said certain repairs for the Port-of-Spain facility have cost $20 million so far and it would cost almost $100 million to make it functional. The ministry has not started dealing with San Fernando facility yet, he added. The minister said the contractor who built the facility in Port-of-Spain was Shanghai Construction, and added: “NAPA is showing some signs of deterioration, in some cases, significant signs of this.
“Tiles are falling off the building, plumbing is failing due to inferior grade sanitary ware and fittings, the fountain is failing in terms of design and filtration systems. The moving stage shows major defects and continues to be a big problem. It isn’t functioning now.” He said leaks were appearing along the steel pipes, indicating a breakdown of pipes on the assumption inferior pipes were used by the contractor.
He added: “Valve controls are not working and it is impossible to shut off the water. In some cases, all valves have to be replaced. Doors, which are of inferior quality, are also deteriorating. “Numerous light bulbs have blown and it takes approximately three months to get the bulbs as they have to be imported from China. We suggest they be replaced with some kind that is more accessible. “Electrical voltage is below what is required and a thorough inspection and upgrade of the system is needed.
”The ‘chill water’ air-conditioning unit has also deteriorated and needs urgent repairs.” Douglas said it might be argued that was due to lack of maintenance “but technicians have indicated this is an inferior system and may have to be replaced.” External glazing and glass panels have cracked and a few have fallen off, most related to manufacturing faults, he added. “These also have to be imported from China.” he said. Douglas said there was an agreement with the original contractor over a period and that had expired.
“We are still going though the list of things that are wrong with that building before we can even begin to address the repairs of the building. It’s significant,” he added. Speaking to reporters after, Douglas said: “Both buildings have been left with a significant amount of bad workmanship. Some of the functional problems are inconsistencies. Both NAPA and Southern NAPA stairs have different heights and anyone can fall.”
Douglas said the overall NAPA buildings were functional but from an operations standpoint for the arts, it was a problem. He said the front and two other segments of NAPAs walls were cleaned, though that was a delicate, difficult process. Cleaning of the glass panels was also cost-significant due to polishing required, he added. Douglas said Shanghai Construction was supposed to do maintenance for a period and that expired.
He said there was also a contract with the company but that also ended and there was a small transfer of skills but no real training in how to run the building. He said NAPA was closed from December to March to fix various issues. He said the ministry would be dealing with getting funding for repairs for both. “We are doing a comprehensive analysis of both to see what is needed to bring them up to full functional standards,” he added.
Douglas agreed that would be learning experience for T&T, especially with the Couva Children’s Hospital being built by Chinese expertise.
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2014-04- ... ling-apart
so only the chinese could change these bulbs. Nice work PNM
UML wrote:where do u buy ur bulbs?
why should we have to buy bulbs from china and stock them..why cant we just buy from local suppliers and support our local industry?
why should we have to put out money to stock bulbs and wait until they blow (god knows when) when that money could be used elsewhere and on other things?
i eh saying yuh wrong...but is nonsense and should not happen if the PNM so GREAT and this nonsese will PREVAIL!!!
about making changes to sapa...if the infrastructure already in place and the bulbs "stocked" as u want and we done far past the design stage and already have cost overruns...what you want dem to do?
lso iirc, sapa was completed under the pp govt. no? if so then the defects liability period of the contract would have allowed for the pp govt to get these problems rectified at the cost to the contractor. why wasnt it done?
PNM paid $21m for 'non-study'
Jack targets Manning, Rowley:
By Ria Taitt Political Editor
Story Created: Oct 8, 2010 at 11:46 PM ECT
Story Updated: Oct 8, 2010 at 11:46 PM ECT
Works Minister Jack Warner revealed yesterday the People's National Movement (PNM) government paid $21 million to international firm Parsons Brinckerhoff for a transport study and no study was done.
"Aaahha? Aaahha? None was done," he told the House of Representatives as he contributed to the debate on a motion to consider legislative proposals to provide for procurement and disposal of public property.
"In the first place, how was the contract awarded? On what basis...? Did any other company get a chance to bid for this study? We paid $21 million for a non-study," he said.
"You all ran this country worse than a parlour," he thundered.
Stating Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar would not condone corruption in her Government, Warner warned: "Anyone on this side caught stealing from the public purse will face the full brunt of the law. Whether yuh white or black, Canadian or Trinidadian, you would pay. We shall not look the other way. And that is why this motion is here. That is what our Prime Minister stands for. And that is what we stand for."
Warner trained his guns on former prime minister Patrick Manning.
"What of the former prime minister, (who is) sleeping there? He is the one who, for over eight years, led the philosophy that a government without procurement could fool the people and for eight years, he did that. Today, we are serving the people—with this motion... The Member of San Fernando East did not speak in the budget debate. He sits and lets his eyes roam all over, hoping that we, the country, would forget his heartless/Hartless reign of terror on this country."
Stating the issue of a procurement policy had been in the public domain since September 26, 2005, Warner asked: "Why didn't we have any bill for five years? There were calls from us (the then opposition), from the construction sector, Mikey Joseph, and those guys were begging for it, Emile Elias begging for it, Transparency International begging for it.
"For five years. Nothing at all. Look at them (on the PNM bench), shameless! And it takes a Government of four months to come here with procurement legislation. And you coming to tell us about procurement?"
He added, "They knew about all the deficiencies in the system and what did they do? Nothing! In the debate on the budget 2005-6, the former prime minister promised to introduce procurement measures in that fiscal year. In 2006-7, the same prime minister, San Fernando East, promised again. What did he do? Nothing!
"In June 2007, in a public address, the then prime minister, Patrick Manning, said that the procurement regime cannot be implemented in its present form. But if it can't be done in its present form, give us any form. But 2007, 2008, 2009, and part of 2010, nothing! And you coming here to tell us about procurement?"
"In 140 days, this Government is doing what you haven't done in ten years," Warner quipped.
He said the Uff Commission said the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT) made and broke its own rules.
"What did Manning do after (Calder) Hart broke all the rules? He defended Hart "once, not twice, but 45 times," Warner said, pointing to a newspaper photo of Manning, Hart and President George Maxwell Richards toasting with champagne.
"Look it here; if yuh open yuh eye, yuh would see it," he said.
"In case yuh wake up, look it here," Warner said to laughter from the Government benches.
Warner said Imbert called a boat after his wife, MV Su, which he said was a shortened form of "Suzette".
"If yuh want to give yuh wife a gift, get her a gift. But not with taxpayers' money," he said.
He said Rowley's statement the People's Partnership Government should not talk about corruption because one day, it would be corrupt, too, was downright foolishness.
"He has to deal in a subtle way with the poster boy of the PNM, sitting on the side; a man who now has taken a vow of silence...who wouldn't talk on nothing, but who has the country where it is today. And we mustn't talk about corruption?"
Warner told Rowley he would never act as prime minister.
"In all your years, you never acted as prime minister. In all your years. She (Vernella Alleyne-Toppin) just come and acting as prime minister. In all your years, there was never an acting prime minister from Tobago; from Monday, there would be. In all your years, you never had blue lights. Lenny Saith, Joan Yuille-Williams (acted during the PNM years). Who voted for them?" Warner asked.
Warner said it was good to hear Rowley admit there was rampant corruption in the PNM government, of which he was a part and in whose name he campaigned. He said Rowley had embraced all the arguments about corruption presented by the People's Partnership, for which he has offered no denial.
Noting Rowley said the PNM must take some responsibility for the corrupt state of affairs, Warner said the PNM must take all the blame for the corruption of the past ten years. He said Rowley has to walk a fine line because he has to convince people the corrupt elements in the PNM are gone.
"He has to prove himself to be the new 'dodo darling' of the PNM but not too much, so as to increase the credibility of the former leader... He said after the election, there would be time for court martial. He wanted to pose as the new Popeye on the block, the new sailor to steer the ship. The ship has been there four months now, dwindling and sinking. And I ask when would the court-martial process start, Warner said.
Warner said the time had come to "cure procurement".
"And our track record speaks for itself," he added.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/PNM ... 16649.html
UML wrote:AG reports FCB share sale to police, DPP
By Andre Bagoo Friday, April 11 2014
ATTORNEY General Anand Ramlogan has recommended that the First Citizens Bank (FCB) initial public offering transaction involving a bank official be referred to the Police Service, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and to the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) for investigation.
Ramlogan disclosed recommendations drawn up after a review of the transaction — which saw former FCB Chief Risk Officer Phillip Rahaman purchase $12 million in shares, later resold — at the post-Cabinet press-briefing held at the Office of the Prime Minister, St Clair. FCB fired Rahaman when questions arose about the share transaction.
The Attorney General did not make any findings of fact or come to any conclusions over whether any offences had been made out, but stated the matter should be reviewed by the appropriate authorities in his view.
Ramlogan said the matter should be referred to the Office of the DPP and the police “for them to consider whether there is justification to lay several criminal charges arising out of violations of the Securities Act”.
He also recommended the matter be referred to the SEC, “as a matter of urgency” as it is the body established by Parliament with the responsibility “to ensure fair and equitable dealings in securities to protect the integrity of the securities market against any abuses arising from market manipulation, insider trading and any improper practices”. He said it would be up to the SEC to take “appropriate action under its expanded powers pursuant to the amendment piloted in 2012”.
Another recommendation was for the Ministry of Finance to review the relevant documents entrusted to the divestment secretariat to strengthen its expertise and capacity to oversee IPOs.
He highlighted several offences under the Securities Act which may be relevant to the lines of inquiry to be adopted, but did not come to any conclusion that these offences had been made out. The relevant offences, he said, were Sections 91, 94, 95, and 99 which ban false, misleading, artificial or deceptive trading practices. These offences attract stiff penalties, ranging from a fine of $2 million and five years in prison and $5 million and seven years in prison.
With respect to the role and position of the board of FCB, Ramlogan said it was clear the board did not take part in the day-to-day running of the bank and was not involved in the administration of the IPO.
“I think it is abundantly clear from the evidence and the documents submitted that whilst the comments made by the chairman (Nyree Alfonso) were clearly injudicious, premature and perhaps somewhat prejudicial, she made those comments based on the facts that were available at the material time and the board really played no role in the day-to-day administration and execution of the IPO which was the responsibility of the divestment secretariat and the executive management,” Ramlogan said.
Alfonso is reported to have suggested the share transaction was above board when questions first arose about it.
Asked if any action would be taken in relation to the board, Ramlogan twice stated the issue did not arise.
“The issue does not arise, we can find no evidence of misconduct,” Ramlogan said. “The board is not involved in the administration of the IPO.”
Ramlogan stated, however, there were concerns over controls and called on FCB to conduct its own review of its internal processes and control mechanisms.
He disclosed apparent policy breaches which took place at FCB.
“The first is that the Chief Risk Officer Mr Rahaman failed to file a declaration of commitments at other financial institutions and that form was required by the bank’s own internal policies,” the Attorney General said. “He did not, in fact, file the related documents with the human resources department as required by their policies.”
Ramlogan further stated, “the second matter is that the bank breached Rule 604 of the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange — Reports of Trading by Directors and Senior Officers by failing to notify the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange of the sale of 634,588 shares in FCB by the Chief Risk Officer on January 14, 2014”.
“This is a matter that ought not to have happened and therefore the bank will have to undertake a review of these shortcomings in terms of the management of the bank with a view to ensuring there is appropriate action and strengthening of its procedures.”
Ramlogan said Rahaman, as a bank employee, had a right to purchase the shares. He said the issue was rather whether those shares were purchased really for the benefit of non-employees.
“It is clear from all that has transpired that Mr Rahaman, by virtue of a series of loans which were taken, was able to purchase shares which raise a strong inference that the shares were perhaps held on trust and purchased on trust with the beneficial ownership for certain family members,” Ramlogan said. He did not come to a view on this matter. Ramlogan gave details of the transaction saying it bore several features.
“The first would be the fact that the offer to purchase was submitted on the very last day of the IPO; the second is the position he held and the fact that information may have come to his knowledge in that capacity that could be deemed insider information and relating specifically to the under subscription in the category called employees,” Ramlogan said.
He noted further, “the five one-page loan agreements which were unsecured; the amounts which were in proportion to the shares purchased and the re-purchase which occurred thereafter – in fact, the loan amounts were $58 short of $14 million – and of course, the fact that there were no other purchases of shares save and except for these shares offered up by Mr Rahaman”. However, Ramlogan also stated, “It was in fact a matched transaction.”
Ramlogan stated, “based on those features that pertain to this transaction, the issue would be whether it was in fact a device to cloak what was essentially a transaction whereby persons who are not employees of the bank and were therefore not entitled to purchase shares in that category were allowed to do so indirectly.”
On the role of Bourse Securities, if any, Ramlogan said that would be a matter for investigation by the SEC.
“Not enough information is known to make any finding one way or the other because there are salient facts that have to be ascertained including whether a commission was paid and what was the precise role played by Bourse Securities so that matter will of course be investigated, but on the information and the documents that were provided to me, it would not have been possible to make a finding and indeed it would not be my function to make a finding but rather to highlight and see whether there were potential violations and refer the matter to the appropriate authorities.” Bourse handled the purchase of the shares for Rahaman.
http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,193189.html
UNLIKE
Andre Monteil. Lok Jack and Tesheira scandals
Camille’s fertility bill
By NEWSDAY REPORTERS Monday, May 21 2007
The Cabinet of Trinidad and Tobago did not know when it approved funding for “medical attention” for Planning and Development Minister Camille Robinson-Regis to receive at a fertility clinic in the United States, a Cabinet source said yesterday.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the source added that Cabinet had indeed approved funding for gynaecological treatment, but had no knowledge that this was to include sessions at a fertility facility.
“We did not approve anything for fertility treatment. Nobody knew anything about that,” the source underscored yesterday.
Cabinet’s disclaimer yesterday came a few days after COP MP, Ganga Singh, speaking in the Lower House last Wednesday quoted from a report of the Comptroller of Accounts which contained details of contraventions of the Government’s individual (Visa Gold) travel card by 29 senior officials, including Robinson-Regis and seven other ministers. Singh said on Wednesday that according to the Comptroller of Accounts’ report, Robinson-Regis had a credit card overdraft of $174,000.
Singh claimed that the money was used to buy jewelry, clothing and light fixtures, among other things. There were also several visits to a US fertility clinic, newspaper reports revealed yesterday. In an immediate response to Singh last week, the Minister said the monies were for medical purposes and had Cabinet approval.
But sources yesterday said that under normal circumstances, fertility treatment is considered to be an elective procedure. Sources added however, that Robinson-Regis, who had twins in January this year, sought treatment for a range of gynaecological problems and that a number of procedures — including fibroid surgery — were recommended and done.
“It was a combination of gynaecological treatment for a medical problem she had been having over a period of time,” some sources noted.
According to a First Citizens Bank statement, Robinson Regis made two payments of US$1,000 (TT$6,304.52) each to American Fertility Service in New York on June 5, 2006. Another payment of a minimal US$100 (TT$630) was made on June 9, followed by two more US$1,000 payments on June 13.
Government sources also said Robinson-Regis believed that the details of her medical history were a private issue and she did not reveal them to the Cabinet, nor to persons very close to her. However, several of her colleagues yesterday attested to the fact that she had medical problems and that her doctor had suggested a range of treatments to deal with these problems which were also designed to preserve her childbearing capacity.
Under the terms and conditions outlined by the Salaries Review Commission (SRC), ministers, their spouses, and unmarried children under the age of 18, are entitled to medical attention/treatment and prescribed drugs at any health care facility under the Regional Health Authority. “Where such treatment is not available at such health care facilities, the cost of any other hospital, institution or nursing home in Trinidad and Tobago is to be met by the State,” the SRC said, in its most recent report.
Opposition sources yesterday questioned the use of the Government credit card to pay for personal items such as jewelry and hair pieces. There was also speculation yesterday, as to whether Robinson-Regis’ candidacy for the Maloney/Arouca seat would be in jeopardy. Maloney/Arouca is the only constituency for which nominations have been called, but for which there has been no screening. Robinson-Regis is the only nominee. The date was set for screening twice, but was cancelled. Robinson-Regis, considered one of the PNM’s strong cards, has been viewed as one of its more competent speakers in Parliament and on the platform. She was at first the Legal Affairs Minister but was “promoted” to the Planning and Development Ministry in October 2003.
According to the revelations made by Singh last week, Robinson-Regis incurred two large payments — of approximately $26,000 and $176,000 — on her Government credit card in May and August of last year. The statements also show:
* Purchase of jewelry at Christies Sothers (New York) for US$6,420 on June 1, 2006
* Purchase of clothing at Max’s Better Dresses (New York) for US$259 on June 9, 2006
* Purchase of items at Bitz N Pieces (New York) for US$607.81 on June 9, 2006
* Purchase of items at Lighthouse Lighting Corp (New York) for US$3,118.99 on June 13, 2006.
Cabinet, according to Minute 2412 of August 26, 2004, approved the card for official overseas travel and local entertainment expenses for 120 government officials and holders of certain offices under the Salaries Review Commission.
The card has a limit of US$10,000 for government holders, and is issued by First Citizens Bank.
Sources also revealed yesterday that FCB officials have been concerned by the disclosures relating to the minister’s Government-issued Visa Gold Credit Card. Robinson-Regis is exploring her legal options, sources said.
About AFS
The American Fertility Services (AFS), located in Midtown Manhattan between Park and Lexington Avenues, was opened in March 2004 offering a range of services including in vitro fertilisation (IVF), sperm and egg freezing and sex selection of offspring.
The AFS also has an office at Washington Avenue, New York.
The 9,000-square-foot facility has four exam rooms and according to information on the Internet boasts of “cutting-edge IVF embryology laboratory, cryogenic facilities for sperm, egg and embryo freezing, and ambulatory surgical centre, all of which are outfitted with the latest technologies to ensure the best possible clinical outcomes for our patients.”
Laparoscopic hysterectomy and excision of severe endometriosis, ovulation induction, assisted hatching are offered at the facility.
New equipment and procedures provide advanced IVF services including sperm separation for sex selection, cryopreservation (sperm, eggs, and embryos) and on-site blood hormone analysis.
The facility is staffed by three fertility physicians, specialists in maternal fetal medicine, urology and psychiatry, two embryologists and a nurse practitioner.
http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,57466.html
UTT seeks $10.9m from former directors
Published:
Sunday, April 13, 2014
The University of T&T (UTT) is seeking $10.9 million in compensation following a High Court ruling against its former president Prof Ken Julien and six former directors. On Friday, Justice Vasheist Kokaram dismissed an attempt by Julien and the six former directors to have a lawsuit filed against them by the university struck out.
In September 2012, the university started legal action against the seven men seeking to recover money it claimed had been lost due to Julien and the ex-directors’ alleged involvement in accommodating Reverend Juliana Pena, a spiritual adviser to former prime minister Patrick Manning, at UTT’s guest house in Aripo.
The lawsuit involved two transactions in which UTT claimed Julien and his board breached their fiduciary duty and failed to exercise due diligence in the sub-leasing of the guest house for a five-year renewable lease at a monthly rental of $50,000, as well as accommodating Pena.
Following the ruling, UTT issued a press release stating that the particular loss and damages suffered amounted to $2.85 million in rent for the period February 1, 2006, to October 31, 2010. The university also claimed it incurred losses of $1.48 million in annual operating costs together with capital expenditure of $1.2 million. “As a result, the board of governors is seeking compensation in the sum of approximately $10.9 million,” the release stated.
Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, whose office initiated legal proceeding against the former UTT board, said the matter must now proceed to trial. “We have been awarded legal costs which are likely to be substantial, having regard to the involvements of so many senior counsels who were retained by the defendants,” he said.
http://guardian.co.tt/news/2014-04-13/u ... -directors
G-PAN SCANDAL
AG accuses Prof Copeland of selling steelpan for own gain
By Ria Taitt Political Editor
Story Created: Jul 9, 2011 at 1:02 AM ECT
Story Updated: Jul 9, 2011 at 1:02 AM ECT
A scandal of "major proportions" has broken out over this country's treasured steelpan—specifically, this country's latest inventions, the Genesis (G) pan and Percussive Harmonic Instrument (PHI) pan.
Attorney General Anand Ramlogan announced yesterday that Government is taking legal action against Prof Brian Copeland, chairman of the Steelpan Initiative Committee (SIC) and Steelpan Initiative project (SIP), and three associates for registering the PHI pan as their own, for selling the G-pan and for "virtually hijacking these inventions ...for their private commercial gain", in breach of the law. Copeland, a Dean of Engineering at the University of the West Indies (UWI), won the nation's highest award in 2008 for his contribution to steelpan development.
Ramlogan stated at a news conference at his Port of Spain office yesterday: "The enquiries and the advice (I received) have identified what appears to be a considerable prima facie case and evidence of breach of trust by Prof Brian Copeland and, I daresay, borders on outright fraud on the people of this country. The enquiries reveal that as chairman of the committee set up to safeguard the intellectual property rights in the steelpan and, particularly, in the G-pan and any new inventions and innovations that arise out of that, instead of protecting those rights, Prof Copeland has himself, I am advised, sought to take away those rights by claiming personal ownership and seeking to personally benefit from these instruments, including profits of the PHI pan, which was invented using Government's money".
"The enquires also reveal that in breach of his position of trust, he has registered himself, Marcel Byron, Phillip Earl and Keith Maynard as the owners of the property rights in the PHI pan," he said.
Ramlogan said he was startled at the level of breach of trust. Copeland was the chairman of this committee, directly tasked with the development of such steelpans. The committee was expressly mandated to secure the intellectual property rights for the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. Copeland himself emphasised this objective at a meeting held on November 3, 2005 at UWI. He said the project was funded by the people of this country to the tune of $34.5 million.
"How can a chairman, appointed with terms of reference to safeguard the interest of the people of this country and to act in good faith, so blatantly ignore his terms of reference and claim ownership rights when those rights he was intended ...to protect and preserve for the people of Trinidad and Tobago?"
Ramlogan said the "blatant disregard for this fiduciary responsibility and trust" took place earlier when Copeland registered the Genesis (G) pan as his own. However, he subsequently had to assign it to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.
"However...he subsequently marketed the G-pan without the permission of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago...to profit from it...and furthermore, has not accounted for the proceeds of such sale which, in my view, were illegally conducted," Ramlogan stated.
He added that money belongs to the Government and people of this country and, therefore, action is coming for the recovery of those funds.
Ramlogan said he was advised Government has a right to pursue, under Section 59 and 60 of the Patents Act, actions for the revocation of patents granted to Copeland and his associates for the PHI pan and to take such action as is necessary to secure the interest of this country for the recovery of the intellectual property rights and ownership of the PHI pan and for any income that may have been lost to the people of Trinidad and Tobago by their (Copeland and others) "illegal" act.
"As to why the previous administration, given the publicly known relationship between Patrick Manning and Prof Brian Copeland, did not attempt to stop this, whereby the steelpan and the initiatives and innovations, funded by the people of this country for the benefit of this country; why they didn't put a stop to the intellectual property rights being frittered away and being commercialised and exploited by Copeland and his associates remains a mystery that perhaps only those in the former administration can answer," Ramlogan stated. "I am amazed that this has been going on for years," he added.
Ramlogan said in an April 2006 draft agreement to the permanent secretary in the Prime Minister's Office, Sandra Marchack, submitted by Copeland, he acknowledged the Government had "reserved onto itself for its exclusive use and benefit in the (SIC) project, and all research and concept, design, improvement and development and further inventions, whether patentable or not, in connection with this project".
"So he well knew and fully understand that the Government's intention...was that it would claim intellectual property rights in the G-pan and further inventions," Ramlogan noted.
The SIC and SIP were mandated to develop steelpan and technology and protect these property rights for the Government and people of this country, the Attorney General noted.
He said the minutes of a meeting held on October 26, 2005 between the then prime minister, Patrick Manning, and members of the SIC, of which, among others, Prof Brian Copeland was a member, at Whitehall, Port of Spain, which dealt with the invention of the Percussive Harmonic Instrument, spoke about the "award of a patent in the name of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago for the development of the steelpan described and for all intellectual property rights arising from the development and research activities leading to the creation of the new instrument". "That was the clearly expressed intention at the time that the SIC was set up," he said.
The probe team which uncovered this "scandalous state of affairs" was led by Vincent Nelson, QC.
Attempts to reach Copeland for a comment yesterday proved futile.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/G-P ... 55699.html
Hart to return for $500m lawsuit
Published:
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Shaliza Hassanali
Attorney General Anand Ramlogan yesterday warned that former executive chairman of the Urban Development Corporation of T&T (Udecott) Calder Hart will be hunted down and arrested if he fails to return to T&T for criminal and civil suits in which he is a key figure. The AG said Hart has given a commitment to testify in court. He said “by this week or next week” Hart’s matter will come up for “case management with directions to be given for a trial.”
Hart has been living in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, since he resigned from Udecott and left the country in 2010. Ramlogan said one claim by the State is for $500 million for the mismanagement of the Brian Lara Cricket Stadium at Tarouba. Civil proceedings started after the Uff Commission of Enquiry report, which called for the police to probe Hart for allegedly misspending billions of dollars in Udecott projects across the country.
Defendants in the case include Hart, former Udecott deputy chairman Krishna Bahadoorsingh, former financial manager Ricardo O’Brien and former corporate secretary Neelanda Rampaul. “Mr Hart has in fact been located and has been communicating through his lawyers, and at the appropriate time, will have to come to testify and be cross-examined in court,” Ramlogan said.
The AG said on every occasion that the matter has come up before Justice Andre des Vignes, Hart’s attorneys have communicated with the judge and State attorneys. He is being represented in the matter by Dr Lloyd Barnett QC of Jamaica. Ramlogan said Hart has indicated through his legal team that “he is available and will not evade the jurisdiction of court and will submit himself for cross-examination when the trial begins”.
He said the decision on how soon the matter will start lies in the hands of the judge who has to set a trial date.
“But I made a plea to the judiciary to treat these matters with the urgency they deserve because they involve serious allegations of misuse and corruption of public funds,” Ramlogan said. “My only worry is that the judicial process is very slow. This matter should be given priority.”
Ramlogan said when the trial starts, should Hart evade the jurisdiction of the court, “we will invoke the procedures to compel him to present himself before the court, including asking for his arrest if necessary, but that is academic because thus far he has been communicating through his legal team.”
When the matter comes up on the next occasion, Ramlogan said, the judge will give directions for filing of witness statements, following which he will give a date for trial. Hart will then have to appear in court to testify and be cross-examined. The AG said he is confident of the State’s chances of success in this matter.
http://guardian.co.tt/news/2014-04-13/h ... 0m-lawsuit
de_dougla_smurf wrote:How about
OPTION 1
OR
OPTION 2
OR
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=561987&start=0
OR
Anand Ramlogan's Range Rover dealership
etc and so forth.
that guy uml. for bloggers like uml, they seek a boogeyman to tie all this stuff to. Unfortunately for them, this boogyman was exposed and slayed by growley for the most part. The uff commission is public record to the fact that growley, while in the manning cabinet, fought for transparency and good governance for the ppl.
rfari wrote:Why we double posting dan?
PNM Papers wrote:‘No role in award to Sacha Singh’
NP board defends contract
Story Created: Apr 13, 2014 at 10:40 PM ECT
Story Updated: Apr 14, 2014 at 10:17 AM ECT
The board of State-owned National Petroleum (NP) said it did not have a hand in the award of a $60,000 contract to Sacha Singh, the ex-girlfriend of former tourism minister Chandresh Sharma.
Singh, a businesswoman who owns three companies, reported Sharma to the police over an alleged altercation in the car park of Grand Bazaar, which led to his resignation as a minister.
The glass-cleaning contact was raised in Parliament by St Joseph MP Terrence Deyalsingh, during debate on the Finance Bill on April 4. Deyalsingh had questioned whether Singh had benefited from State contracts through her relationship with Sharma.
In a press statement issued on Friday, NP said Deyalsingh’s comments were “adverse…”; and maintained that the company has “always acted within the ethical boundaries of propriety and probity. The company utterly refutes allegations of corruption made by MP Deyalsingh.…”
“In the matter of the contract for cleaning windows, the board of NP was not involved. The supplier was selected by the then CEO and the contract was awarded in accordance with NP’s Tender Procedure Guidelines for Works and Services under the CEO’s limit. The award of all contracts of the value of $100,000 or below falls under executive management purview only and not under the NP board of directors,” it stated.
NP’s former chief executive Kenneth Mohammed was dismissed.
NP observed that Deyalsingh’s claim that “corruption allegations have not ended with an alleged attempt to award a contract to a particular trucking company…”; ignored the fact that the company was cleared by the Integrity Commission.
“During its entire 42-year-old history, NP has provided the best possible goods and services to the people of Trinidad and Tobago and will continue to do so using the most ethical of business practices in achieving its objectives and increasing its contribution to our national development,” it said.
pete wrote:The NP CEO changed in the past month? Or she was being paid to shut up since last year?
desifemlove wrote:Seeing Anand on Hema jus now lol.. Saying how PNM agents "bringing de government down"...
nah, i does tink people "going down" on Ministers "bringing down de government" lol..
Maybe it jus my computer screen, but boy he was looking rel dark hehe..
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