 |
Tremors in T&T By Jerome Teelucksingh |
The Trinidad and Tobago Transparency Institute (TTTI) has been a pressure group which frequently aired concerns over the levels of corruption. This organisation is a local chapter of Transparency International, a global, non-profit, non-political organisation which "exists to empower civil society to participate in efforts to fight corruption." During the past five years the TTTI has questioned the Government over the awarding of contracts of the new terminal at Piarco International Airport, Government's plans to divest its holdings in Tringen, TSTT and NFM, through the national Enterprises Company Limited. The anti-corruption TTTI awaits answers over the Government's guarantee to InnCOGEN for a US $150 million loan from United States bankers and the 1997 NFM rice scandal in which the Government-run grain company lost TT$30 million on two rice shipments from India.
In June 2001, former Senator and Energy Minister, Finbar Gangar in the U.N.C administration has been accused of taking bribes. This investigation is still underway.
The North West regional Health Authority (NWRHA) has also been under fire. The organization's board recently dismissed four of its senior managers following the recommendations of an investigation and report of the Personnel Management Services Limited (PMSL). It was revealed that one of the NWRHA's senior members signed a TT $ 1.6 million cheque for another member without proper authorization. The former chairman of the NWRHA , Senator Tim Gopeesingh has refused to resign his senatorship and elaborate on the issue.
During September and October, the FIFA Under-17 championships were held in Trinidad and Tobago. The FIFA Vice-President, Jack Warner, has been found guilty of giving contracts to his two sons to assist in the football games. Warner, a multi-millionaire and close friend of Basdeo Panday, does not seem bothered by the public exposure of his underhanded tactics.
Lawrence Duprey, head of Colonial Life InsuranceCompany (CLICO), close friend and adviser of Panday, has been also accused of corrupt practices. In September, the former Attorney General, Ramesh Maharaj, publicly revealed that Duprey's purchase of Tanteak and Caroni (two Government bodies) are null and void. Duprey, branded by some working class persons, as being part of the wealthy, capitalist "parasitic oligarchy" in the country has responded that he is being attacked by "political terrorists". Duprey also has a $US 30 million land deevlopment project in Florida and also owns another wealthy company -- CL Financial.
It was this revelation which prompted Panday to dismiss Maharaj as Attorney General. Interestingly, two other UNC ministers Ralph Maraj and Trevor Sudama, who have been accusing the UNC of being corrupt, resigned their ministerial portfolios.
Prime Minister Basdeo Panday has been targetted in the ongoing saga of corruption. During the Budget debate in September, in the House of Representatives, the Leader of the Opposition party (People's National Movement), Patrick Manning, produced a picture and accused Panday of owning an expensive home in London. Also, during the debate, Keith Rowley, a member of the P.N.M, revealed that Panday received a US$50,000 cheque which was not deposited in the UNC's bank account. Panday responded that the cheque was deposited but Panday's claim was rejected by the UNC's treasurer, Unanan Persad.
Three of the dissident UNC elected members Ramesh Maharaj, Ralph Maraj and Trevor Sudama have "crossed the floor" and held discussions with the P.N.M. This resulted in the PNM having a majority in the Parliament. It is the first time in the nation's and Caribbean's history that a minority government is in power. However, according to the Constitution of country, the Prime Minister can be removed only through a vote of "no confidence" upon which Panday has a choice of either resigning or dissolving Parliament and calling a new elections.
The three dissident ministers voted against legislation introduced by the Government. This action resulted in the Government being virtually powerless in the Parliament. The leader of Opposition, Patrick Manning, planned to meet with President Robinson to discuss the possibility of being appointed Prime Minister as he commands the majority of seats. Panday and his supporters sensed that a "Palace Coup," was evolving if Manning was to be appointed, without an election, as Prime Minister.
Thus, in a strategic move, Panday dissolved Parliament and announced the date of new elections to be December 10th, 2001. In an unprecedented move, President Robinson did not immediately agree and advised Panday to defer the date of elections. Robinson's motive was based on his belief that the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) did not have an updated voters' list. However, the Commissioner of the EBC informed the President and public that the list was ready and that free and fair elections could take place on December10th. Robinson, whose term ends in March 2002, finally bowed to the wished of the Panday Government.
Patrick Manning, who lost twice at the electoral polls, initially announced that his party will not contest the election unless there is a revised voters' list and all the commissioners of the EBC resign. Eventually, the PNM agreed to contest the elections. But as the campaign swings into gear Manning has accused the UNC of planning voter padding in the Ortoire-Mayaro and La Brea areas. Manning's information was allegedly obtained from UNC members who defected to the PNM.
The elections campaign has proven to be very colourful and interesting. There are two factions within the UNC campaigning and fielding candidates. Firstly, a small group, headed by Ramesh Maharaj and the NationalExecutive of the UNC, and secondly, a larger faction controlled by Panday and dubbed as the "loyalists."
But the ELections and Boundaries Commission has warned both factions of the UNC to decide who will use the symbol of the UNC. This has arisen because both Panday and Ramesh Maharaj factions claim to be entitled to use it.
Meanwhile Panday launched a new party "National Unity" with a black humming bird as the symbol. He will use this new party's name and symbol only if necessary and as a last resort.
Thecurrent political climate is so heated that many citizens were neither jubiliant nor interested to learn that V.S Naipaul had won the Nobel Prize for Literature.