Letter to CCN from Com. Min.Jamal Mohammed

[eliteauto]

Don't know how many of you have heard or seen the letter and the accompanying news clip by Dominic Kalipersad, what are your thoughts on this, should such an email be sent, does it seem to imply intimidation? When the same CCN group was doing expose after expose led by Sasha Mohammed who parlayed her connections within the intelligence community and the UNC to get info on the then PNM administration it was no issue, so what's the issue now?

The Email:

Mr Kalipersad,

I write these few lines as a citizen of T&T and as a silent observer of all things in the media.

These words are not official Government positions, but just vibes of an ‘Insignificant Muslim Cooli-e’ from San Juan.

I respect your role in the media and the years of effort and sacrifice you have carved in the media fraternity in our country. I may not always agree with your point of views and feelings expressed but you have the freedom to express yourself . I know the importance of the free press and have seen for myself what happens when the media is used and abused.

Something seems to be going on at Tv6 and the Express and its not too nice. A blind man can see that there is total bias at both Tv6 and Express.

On the one hand, items and reports are being presented in the name of investigative journalism and the only rationale for these reports are to embarrass certain individuals. Perceptions are being encouraged, and these perceptions are based on lies and half truths.

It is clear to me that there is a specific agenda to discredit the Prime Minister and members of her Government. Since may 2010 I have seen for myself the deliberate and targeted barrage of accusations and misrepresentations about the People’s Partnership, as if there is an ultimate objective to make the Government fall.

Not withstanding the fact that the Partnership received an overwhelming mandate from the people, Tv6 and the Express have embarked on a journey to discredit and destroy.

To make matters worst, a deliberate programme has appeared on Tv6 and the Express, where the PNM is being re-branded, refreshed and realigned so that it will become a new PNM rhythm for governance in the fall of the People’s Partnership. I have learnt that without exception, there is a perceived problem concerning the People’s Partnership Government , there is always a PNM official ready, willing and able to make a comment. This is most unfortunate.

May I remind you Mr Kalipersad, that I respect the views of Tv6 and Express. If it is the wish of the editorial board to see the removal of the People’s Partnership I have no problem with that. That is their right and privilege to do, as a private company, you have every right to go in any direction. All I wish is that you be fair. Stop the mudslinging and speculation against members of the Government and be willing to let people defend decisions that have been made.

Within the PNM there is a view that no one else has the right to govern this land, and up to today, you often hear that this is a PNM country. There are many other citizens, not of the PNM who are quite capable of offering leadership in this country. We should be willing to change and encourage change. For too long, we have been caught in the backward and dangerous mode of maintaining stupid ways of dealing with others.

Whether we like you or not, the People’s Partnership has given its mandate to change the way we do business in this country. Those who fight to maintain the ‘status quo’ must now give way to meaningful change. Let it not be what we traffic for the PNM or an orgy of embarrassment for the partnership.

The theory of the free press is not that the truth will be presented completely or perfectly in any one instance, but the truth will emerge from free discussion.

Breathe easy brother! There is room for all of us… Jamal

[rollingstock]

Listened to it on i95.5 this morning with Dale and Tony, lmao @ 'Insignificant Muslim Cool-E'

All that demonstrates is that he put a racial spin on the entire e-mail before saying anything. Well we know where his angst is.

[RASC]

When the DoSo campaign was in full swing. No one had issues. Now... Cry Cry Sob Sob... Get real man, it was heavy if not worse under Manning. No Prime Minister has ever been subjected to the levels of media bias against them than Patrick Manning. So lets give it a rest "brother"

[rfari]

3 words: smokescreen
Yes 3.

Minister of communication tryna stir up nonsense just to get some public comment and deflect from the upcoming sh'it storm of section 34.

[pyung99]

^^ this is basically what everyone on radio sayin.

they tryin to deflek from sekshunn tutty fuhh

what a sick nation.

[ilove3]

Its long been seen that this is their normal way of dealing with their short comings; what I dont understand though, is why if he is so sure that "Perceptions are being encouraged, and these perceptions are based on lies and half truths", then why arent these concerns addressed in the court of law?

[VexXx Dogg]

*BS*
They were giving the PNM administration even more heat.
It's what media houses do. Be the watchdog. Keep an eye on the administration and call it as they see it.

[pyung99]

^ this. but i eh think pnm get as much heat as deserved. pnm certainly have the machinery to dish out heat.

[redmanjp]

lol at insignificant muslim coolee

[rfari]

So i have a question. Is mamoo a derogatory word? I always tort it was a bad word until the head of the law association wrote a letter where he mentioned that he can't call hudson-philip a mammo affectionately anymore. Whats the translation of the word?

[maj. tom]

"an ‘Insignificant Muslim Cooli-e’ from San Juan."

Well at least now we understand his that this man has a damaging inferiority complex and how he looks at himself compared to other human beings. Instead of referring to himself as an hard-working and fair person, look where he went, for the entire nation to see what he discusses with his $600/hr psychologist.

[Oleander]

The Honourable Jamal Mohammed once a minister will always have a biased opinion or be perceived to have a biased opinion. So his attempt of

vibes of an ‘Insignificant Muslim Cooli-e’ from San Juan

is in poor taste. Once you're a minister all of your actions are a representation of your administration.. The public is watching you and has expectations of you.

In my opinion, if your administration was acting accordingly, upheld transparency and ethical business conduct, etc., and they were being unfairly criticized then he would have a valid point but why complain anyways...? Take the criticism and use it as point to improve as your role should be service to the people.
This is just another petty tactic employed to disarm the public.

[pioneer]

Well if I said "insignificant muslim cooli-e" I would have had a fatwar declared on my head and my inbox would have been flooded with infidel messages.


for now i'll breathe easy

[shogun]

*BS*
They were giving the PNM administration even more heat.
It's what media houses do. Be the watchdog. Keep an eye on the administration and call it as they see it.

As a matter of fact, this administration got a nice long honeymoon. Just funny that this administration and people that sheepishly support it, all of a sudden have a problem with the media.

Truth is a bitter pill.

[5onDfloor]

i never seen a bunch of thin skin people like this PP government....

[kurpal_v2]

So i have a question. Is mamoo a derogatory word? I always tort it was a bad word until the head of the law association wrote a letter where he mentioned that he can't call hudson-philip a mammo affectionately anymore. Whats the translation of the word?

I think it loosely translate to uncle.


Actually surprised when I hear people say they thought it was bad as I use to to address most elderly folk.

[rfari]

So i have a question. Is mamoo a derogatory word? I always tort it was a bad word until the head of the law association wrote a letter where he mentioned that he can't call hudson-philip a mammo affectionately anymore. Whats the translation of the word?

I think it loosely translate to uncle.


Actually surprised when I hear people say they thought it was bad as I use to to address most elderly folk.

Scn scn. The first couple times i heard it, it was mostly guntas referring to the doubles man in curepe so i say tht it was a bad word. Didnt.want to ask anyone just to avoid longtalk incase it was racist

[zoom rader]

So i have a question. Is mamoo a derogatory word? I always tort it was a bad word until the head of the law association wrote a letter where he mentioned that he can't call hudson-philip a mammo affectionately anymore. Whats the translation of the word?

I think it loosely translate to uncle.


Actually surprised when I hear people say they thought it was bad as I use to to address most elderly folk.

Scn scn. The first couple times i heard it, it was mostly guntas referring to the doubles man in curepe so i say tht it was a bad word. Didnt.want to ask anyone just to avoid longtalk incase it was racist

This just shows how much of a trini you really are. Were you born here? Are you parents Trini?
If you dont know simple bhojpuri hindi words then you cant be a real trini.

Bhojpuri dialects, varieties, and creoles are also spoken in various parts of the world, including Brazil, Fiji, Guyana, Mauritius, South Africa, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. During the late 19th century and early 20th century, many colonizers faced labor shortages and were unable to obtain slaves from Africa due to the abolition of slavery; thus, they imported many Indians as indentured servants to labor on plantations. Today, many Indians in the West Indies, Oceania, and South America still speak Bhojpuri as a native or second language. Bhojpuri speaking people belong to central-eastern zone of India.

The Bhojpuri language has been heavily influenced by other languages in many parts of the world. Mauritian Bhojpuri includes many French, Hindi and English words, while the language spoken in Trinidad and Tobago includes mainly English words

[RBphoto]

Nothing wrong with mamooo... it is uncle. I call both my brother and bro in law that in front of my son. It took a derogatory slant when east indian cricketers on the WI team were refeered to as such to say "mamoo cyah stan up in hot sun" etc. when they were playing crap. Some people use it as a racial slurr in that context, but the word is not bad initself.

[zoom rader]

Nothing wrong with mamooo... it is uncle. I call both my brother and bro in law that in front of my son. It took a derogatory slant when east indian cricketers on the WI team were refeered to as such to say "mamoo cyah stan up in hot sun" etc. when they were playing crap. Some people use it as a racial slurr in that context, but the word is not bad initself.

It is used everyday in trini, but to think we have so-called trinis that dont know what it is used for. It is used as sign of respect for elders in hindi rather that "yo, opps,eah, boss"

[r3iXmann]

Nothing wrong with mamooo... it is uncle. I call both my brother and bro in law that in front of my son. It took a derogatory slant when east indian cricketers on the WI team were refeered to as such to say "mamoo cyah stan up in hot sun" etc. when they were playing crap. Some people use it as a racial slurr in that context, but the word is not bad initself.

It is used everyday in trini, but to think we have so-called trinis that dont know what it is used for. It is used as sign of respect for elders in hindi rather that "yo, opps,eah, boss"

the man admitted he was ignorant as to the origin of the word; why is that a problem? how does that make him less trini? is it trini to sling around words that you don't know the meaning of or if they may cause a slight to person(s)?

[Rory Phoulorie]

. . . .I would have had a fatwar declared on my head and my inbox would have been flooded with infidel messages. . . .

Stop insulting fat people and they in turn would not declare fatwars on your head.

i never seen a bunch of thin skin people like this PP government....

You never really read the threads in the Ole Talk forum then.

[sharkman121]

*BS*
They were giving the PNM administration even more heat.
It's what media houses do. Be the watchdog. Keep an eye on the administration and call it as they see it.

As a matter of fact, this administration got a nice long honeymoon. Just funny that this administration and people that sheepishly support it, all of a sudden have a problem with the media.

Truth is a bitter pill.

My sentiments exactly shogun, this administration got a very long honeymoon period, because nothing happpens overnight... but if you doing sheit, it will be highlighted.

Same thing happened for the PNM, they were not spared. I see no bias.

[RBphoto]

Sound the same but different:

Fyah bun the PP: May the peoples partnership go up in flames

Fyah bun the PP: Altrac has kidney stones

#randomthoughs

[toyolink]

The fact that the present administration/govt is short on experience keeps manifesting itself in all kinds of mis-steps and ill concieved communication.
I certainly believe now is the time to allow for a new politics and new players,but the pain associated with 'breaking-in' novices is real.
Funnily,the public outcry is a little hypocritical in my humble view since the utterances of this minister resembles similar 'tones' seen and heard almost everyday in this land.
The minister and anyone who demonstrates a lack of common-sense to this extent deserve to face serious consequences or this kind of stupidity will now gain a new legitimacy.
BTW,the media today is driven by the imperatives associated with making money and we must accept the 'supreme' social role has for a long time become a myth.

[16 cycles]

2+ years after and ministers still mouthing off without thinking????

shameful

[mamoo_pagal]

I have been observing this from the last election, Where the express/tv6 was operating more like a tabloid than a news service. They went all out on the previous administration and a lot was just sensationalism. The current administration took advantage of that and now it is working against them. TOO bad, they encouraged it!!!
On another note there was something I noticed yesterday on citizen junior on tv6. There was a girl who spoke on Tuesday about feeling safe in her school and her response was "she feels very safe". Yesterday however, the same girl is on and says the complete opposite. How can this be? It seems to be a case of a staged response. Makes you wonder eh......

Oh and mammo by no way is derogatory......

[RBphoto]

I would vote PNM if an election is called tomorrow. Rowley really taking his game up a notch.

[rfari]

Nothing wrong with mamooo... it is uncle. I call both my brother and bro in law that in front of my son. It took a derogatory slant when east indian cricketers on the WI team were refeered to as such to say "mamoo cyah stan up in hot sun" etc. when they were playing crap. Some people use it as a racial slurr in that context, but the word is not bad initself.

It is used everyday in trini, but to think we have so-called trinis that dont know what it is used for. It is used as sign of respect for elders in hindi rather that "yo, opps,eah, boss"

u have this one on me zoom. Use it wisely. Thnx for the clarification fellas

[kevcam]

So first it was

This Electronic Monitoring Bill and this facility, the electronic monitor, we should snap it on all of those we suspect, so we can monitor them 24 hours of every day, so we know exactly where they are," said Mohammed.

Mohammed responded, "Serious! For example...if the police have a suspicion that there is a possibility that a person might be involved in untoward activity...we have to be able to provide the opportunity to monitor and to take a closer look at these people who we might feel, or the intelligence officers in the community might feel, that they have to look at."

"There is an idea out there of where these people are and what they are doing. So we have to be able to be in a position to at least look at them and monitor them, and find some way to find out what we can do to stop them," he continued.

Mohammed volunteered to give the electronic monitoring bracelet a trial run.

"I am willing; I as an ordinary citizen, I am not in any legal problems or anything; I am willing to wear it to try it out to see how it will work because we have to make sure we have it in place and see how it is working. Try it out on ordinary citizens; let us see what will happen," he said.

Then it was

"I mentioned at the beginning that I happened to join the Cabinet the same time as Mr Howai did, the same time as Mr Ganga Singh did, and the same time as Mrs Marlene Coudray did, and we had a recent addition of Mrs Christlyn Moore as Minister of Justice. Forget about me, I am a nobody, I am stupid," said Mohammed. The four Ministers joined the Cabinet during a reshuffle announced in June.

Opposition Senator Penelope Beckles pointed out to Mohammed that his statement will be recorded in Hansard.

Unfazed, Mohammed went on: "I am stupid and I admit that openly even if it is recorded in the Hansard."

Now it's

vibes of an ‘Insignificant Muslim Cooli-e’ from San Juan