Moontown

Arthur Lok Jack, chairman of Guardian Holdings Limited.- File

International Finance Corporation (IFC), a World Bank affiliate, has taken a 13 per cent equity stake in Guardian Holdings Limited (GHL).

In return, the IFC will pump new capital into the insurance comglomerate, a Trinidad-based operation with holdings across the region, including Jamaica, and convert an existing loan to equity.

The transaction is valued at US$75 million (TT$473 million), or TT$16 per share - a one dollar premium on Friday’s closing price of TT$15.

Guardian, in a stock market filing posted Friday, said that it would advise shareholders in due course of what the transaction means for its operations going forward.

regional expansion

Shareholders will have to approve the deal. The transaction also has to be agreed to by the GHL board.

“The investment in GHL will strengthen its capital base and will support the company`s strategic regional expansion,” Guardian said.

The agreement includes converting the US$50 million IFC subordinated loan on the insurance company’s books to common equity.

The other US$25 million will be new capital. (Jamaica Gleaner)

business@gleanerjm.com

Marlon Samuels is back. Even before hitting a ball in a match, any match, the Jamaica selectors have called him into action, and after a disappointing day at Sabina Park his fans are ecstatic.

The right-handed batsman is right now in Florida representing Jamaica, and despite his long absence from the game, his fans are hoping that he will walk into the West Indies team for the Test matches against South Africa.

The return of Samuels, however, was not without controversy.

With Melbourne believing that the suspension was up on May 9 and welcoming back their star batsman at two Friday evening functions, with the media announcing his return to the game, Samuels was selected to represent Melbourne Kangaroos versus Kingston Tigers at Sabina Park last Saturday and Sunday (May 15 and 16), and the fans turned out to see their ‘big bat’ in action.

Samuels, however, did not play. The Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) stepped in at the last minute and told the club that he could not play.

According to the JCA, in an email over the signature of its acting secretary, Ian Brown, and dated simply May 2010, in the email received by the club’s secretary, Rudolph Scott, at 4 p.m. on Friday (May 14), the JCA told the club that Samuels’ suspension ends on May, 16, 2010, not on May 9, and therefore he could not play.

talking point

That was the talking point all day Saturday at Sabina Park as fans, and especially those who had come to see Samuels in action, vented their feelings.

Without knowing the facts, or all the facts, some blamed Melbourne, some blamed the JCA, and some blamed the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

According to the manager of the Melbourne team, Donald McNaughton, he had sent an email to the JCA, to the cricket operations officer, Curtis Francis, on April 23 requesting that the JCA check with the WICB to find out when the ban on Samuels would be up and when he would be available to play, as he would like him to represent Melbourne in the Super League.

McNaughton received a response which said that “Marlon Samuels’ ban is up on May 9, thus he is eligible to represent Melbourne after that date in any competition under aegis of the JCA.”

McNaughton then sent another email to Francis asking when Melbourne could register Samuels and the immediate response was “seven days prior to the first match that he is eligible to play”.

McNaughton, in his own words, was shocked when he received a copy of the email sent to Scott on Friday, May 14.

There were other twists.

According to a few members of the JCA, Samuels was barred from playing because of the seven days rule on registration. In other words, the suspension was up on May 9, according to them, the registration could not have been made before May 10, and seven days from May 10 would take the date to May 17, which would have been the day after the match was completed.

nothing with the order

According to Paul Campbell, the president of the JCA, who was in Antigua at the time, the registration had nothing to do with the order stopping Samuels from playing in the match.

According to Campbell, he heard that Samuels was down to play against Kingston Tigers on the Friday. On the day before the match, he checked with Dr Ernest Hilaire, the board’s CEO, who told him that as far as he remembered the suspension ended on May 16. They checked it, May 16 was the date, and Campbell called his acting secretary and told him to send an email to Melbourne.

According to Campbell, the document he checked said that although the verdict came on May 9, the judgement was handed down on May 16, and as far as the ICC was concerned, that was the important date.

Based on articles written at the time of Samuels’ suspension, based, according to them, on documents in the possession of Samuels and Churchill Neita, the attorney who led his defence, and based on a number of references to the suspension in the media which spoke about the suspension being “effective from Friday, May 9″, I believed, like some members of the WICB, that the date was May 9.

I also believed that somewhere along the way, regardless of when the suspension was up, that the West Indies board, after getting the OK from the ICC, had to give the all-clear before Samuels could again take up his bat in an official match.

That was confirmed by West Indies board president Dr Julian Hunte, who informed me on Wednesday, May 19, that as far as the WICB and the ICC were concerned, the date the judgement was handed down was May 16, 2008, and the suspension therefore ended on May 16, 2010.

Dr Hunte also told me that according to the agreement the board of the suspended player must apply for permission for the player to return to the game, the board must supply reasons for its application, and the ICC must accept those reasons.

accepting the reasons

According to Dr Hunte, the West Indies board applied to the ICC for the reinstatement of Samuels on Monday, May 17, the day after the suspension was up, and the ICC replied on Tuesday, May 18, accepting the reasons given and welcoming Samuels back into the fold.

It was a very unfortunate situation, and the question is this: who should take the blame?

Before selecting its team, Melbourne not only sought confirmation re Samuels’ suspension from the JCA. It also did so days before and therefore cannot be blamed.

Should the JCA and the West Indies board share the blame?

If the West Indies board is correct, that as far as the board and the ICC are concerned the date was the May 16 and not May 9, then the board, headquarters in far away Antigua, should not share any of the blame, except probably in not informing the JCA, its affiliate, about the need to seek permission for Samuels’ return at the end of his suspension.

As far as the JCA is concerned, however, it is not so easy to absolve them - not after what went on in the week or two before the match at Sabina Park on May 15 and 16; not after all the radio, television, and newspaper interviews with Samuels about his return to the game; not when they must have known that Melbourne intended to play him; and not after an enquiry from the club’s cricket manager to the JCA was answered with an all-clear for Samuels to play.

To tell the club the day before, a few hours before the match, that Samuels was not eligible to play was far from satisfactory.

All’s well that ends well, however, and especially so as far as Samuels’ fans are concerned.

Samuels is not only back; he is back in style.

Samuels is now in Florida representing Jamaica, and despite what his fans may say, somebody up there, it seems, and especially so in Jamaica, obviously likes him.

Two years and more away from the game, more than 24 months without even trying to score a run, and Samuels is back in the Jamaica team - even before stroking a ball for Melbourne, even before the selectors have seen him stroke a ball, run a single, or even run around the field for a session or two in any match.

Maybe the present state of batting in the region, the embarrassing performance of the West Indies batting, and despite his record to date at the international level, the obvious talent of Marlon Samuels and the promising performances just before he was cut down are the reasons for the selectors’ haste in rolling out the red carpet instead of following the norm and allowing him to prove, in a couple of innings at the club level, that two years has not affected his timing, his ability to produce at the highest level. (Jamaica Gleaner)

Golding

Coke

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BRUCE GOLDING, prime minister of Jamaica, shares an intriguing relationship with Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, the ‘President’ of Tivoli Gardens.

The power-sharing framework between the man who formally represents the West Kingston constituency in which Tivoli Gardens is located, and the man who really runs the place, is just as fascinating.

The word from well-placed political sources is that Golding and Dudus are not particularly close.

More than a generation separates them.

While Golding revels in the political limelight, Dudus shirks it.

Why then would Golding sacrifice his political career for a man with whom he is not a particularly close friend?

A Sunday Gleaner probe reveals that Coke was instrumental in Golding’s election as member of parliament (MP) for Western Kingston after he was elected leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) in 2005.

Golding’s predecessor, Edward Seaga, retired from active politics that year after serving as MP since 1962.

golding needed seat

The JLP in 2005 had found itself mired in a similar predicament to the People’s National Party in 1993, when a seat had to be found for Dr Omar Davies after Hugh Small quit as finance minister.

Similarly, a seat had to be found for Golding to enable him to legitimately assume the position of leader of the JLP.

Golding wanted to go back to the Central St Catherine seat he held between 1983 and 1997.

However, Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange was ensconced there, since she defeated Golding on the JLP ticket in 1997, when he ran for the National Democratic Movement that he had formed a year and a half earlier.

An idea took shape in the leadership rank of the JLP.

Grange would be relocated to West Kingston, a constituency with which she was intimately related.

She was even closer to Seaga, her political mentor, considered to be an integral part of Tivoli Gardens.

In the early years, Grange grew in that constituency.

She was introduced to politics by Seaga and remained close to the ‘West’, as it was commonly called.

But there was one major hurdle: Grange’s planned transfer to West Kingston was vetoed by Dudus.

dudus says no to mckenzie

There was another former Seaga loyalist and Tivoli Gardens resident who harboured hopes of representing West Kingston.

Desmond McKenzie was the long-time counsellor for that powerful division.

But the powerful ‘President’ would have nothing to do with McKenzie, and he too was bypassed.

Furthermore, McKenzie had no strong seat to give to Golding in exchange for West Kingston.

In reward for his dedication to West Kingston and the JLP, McKenzie got the job as mayor of Kingston, as well as that of a government senator.

The new JLP leader wanted to formally take over as opposition leader, but the obstacles would not be moved.

Dudus favoured another JLP stalwart, Tom Tavares-Finson, who had shown an interest in the seat.

But he, too, did not have a seat to exchange for West Kingston.

Many of those who are close to Dudus say he abhors politics and avoids politicians, since his brother, Mark ‘Jah T’ Coke, and then his father, Lloyd ‘Jim Brown’ Coke, died tragically in 1992.

They say the grief-stricken young man had always harboured a strong belief that politics had claimed the life of his father and brother.

So when he took over as leader of Tivoli, Dudus distanced himself from the political leadership in the community.

But Coke quickly learned of the unbreakable connections between politics and Tivoli Gardens, frequently referred to as the pulse of the JLP.

Tivoli Gardens’ fierce altercations with members of the security forces created a wild Wild West imagery that refuses to go away.

The community’s involvement in politics was so entrenched that it was dubbed in recent years, after one of its fierce confrontations with members of the security forces, “the mother of all, garrisons”, by Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, before he was appointed commissioner of police under the Golding administration.

shifts between jlp, pnp

Western Kingston, a dreadfully deprived community in the past, shifted from the JLP to the PNP in electoral contests between 1944 and 1962.

Although powerful JLP leaders, including Alexander Bustamante and Hugh Shearer, held the seat at different times, they retreated at the end of their first political tenure, leaving the PNP to claim victory.

Seaga went to West Kingston in 1959 and changed electoral unpredictability to predictability.

He contested his first general election in 1962 and, since then, the JLP has not lost the seat.

Operating in a heavily political atmosphere, Dudus maintained his phantom-like imagery in the shadows of his ‘Presidential suite’ in the heart of Tivoli Gardens and wielded influence over the political life of West Kingston.

Fast-forward to 2005. Seaga, who had built an indomitable political force in Western Kingston for the JLP, was bowing out of politics.

He was still revered in the west.

Many JLP supporters in Tivoli Gardens thought it was time for Seaga to step aside, but none wanted him to be disrespected.

It was desirable that Seaga give his blessing to his successor.

But the relationship between Seaga and Golding had soured since 1995 when many felt that Golding betrayed his leader by siding with a group of dissidents who had moved to displace Seaga.

Golding could not represent Western Kingston in Parliament without the blessing of the two men.

no losers

Dudus hammered out an arrangement to ensure that there were no losers.

Golding would be installed as the next JLP candidate for West Kingston (a shoo-in for member of parliament), while the retired Seaga remained a powerful influential figure in Tivoli Gardens.

Golding finally got a strong seat that would secure his position as the opposition leader in the House of Representatives.

He rushed to Gordon House to challenge former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, who told him in a humorous exchange that he was too eager (to become prime minister).

Word out of the JLP is that Golding has been able to wield more influence over the entire country than he has been able to in the small geographical community that is Tivoli Gardens.

Dudus remains the supreme leader in the area; Seaga comfortably rules the powerful football fraternity there, while Golding is the member of parliament, which ‘gives’ Dudus his place in Parliament.

Additionally, Coke has been able to maintain the ‘order’ in the community.

So, while no losers emerged from the 2005 arrangements, the big winner was Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke.

Golding may not be Coke’s best pal, but he is certainly indebted to him in a big way. (Jamaica Gleaner)

Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke

Members of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) enter the rugged hills of Green Bay in St Catherine for training yesterday. Last week, the JDF called out the National Reserve after residents of West Kingston vowed to defend their ‘President’ - Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke - who is wanted in the United States of America to answer drug-trafficking charges. - Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer

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Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke is not one of those flashy dons who one sees at every dance or nightclub ‘flossing’ with bottles of high-priced liquor and scores of scantily dressed girls in his entourage.

Unlike other dons, such as the late William ‘Willie Haggart’ Moore, Dudus will party quietly, and most times, you won’t even know that he is at the dance.

He is also not one of those dons who crave the attention of the media while flaunting power.

You would not find him following in the footsteps of the incarcerated Donald ‘Zekes’ Phipps, who would pose for the television cameras and boast about what he had done or would be doing.

“You know that I don’t talk to the media,” is the stock response from Dudus on the few occasions journalists have been able to get close enough to ask him questions.

But none of the numerous dons, strongmen or area leaders Jamaica has produced has wielded the influence of Coke - a man people call ‘Shortman’, ‘Presi’, ‘Bossy’, or just plain ‘Dudus’.

business success

A successful businessman, the company, Incomparable Enterprise, for which he was director up to December 2002, received millions of dollars in state contracts annually. His other company, Presidential Click, stages the biggest weekly street dance - ‘Passa Passa’- in Jamaica, plus what is now a dancehall calendar event,’Champions In Action’.

Coke, according to key police sources, manages a network of criminal associates across the island, the Caribbean, North America and the United Kingdom.

Dudus is benefactor to many persons who depend on him to send their children to school, buy food and, most important, settle disputes beyond Jamaican borders.

But the United States authorities say a big portion of the wealth Dudus spends so freely comes from the illegal drug trade, while

many of the guns on the streets of Jamaica are brought here through his criminal network.

“Dudus runs the most sophisticated drug ring in Jamaica,” a senior cop told The Sunday Gleaner, although he could offer no explanation as to why local police had not arrested and charged him in connection with any major crime.

“Dem man deh big and have links on both sides of the political fence, even though you know him support the JLP (Jamaica Labour Party),” said a rookie cop who entered the force with the bright idea that he could be the one to arrest and prosecute some of the island’s crime kingpins.

“The senior man them already tell me say some man bigger than me, so all if me see Dudus with a spliff (ganja cigarette), me fi just mek him gwaan,” added the rookie.

power of the man

That is an indication of the power of the man, and if there was any lingering questions about the reach of Dudus - who is wanted in the United States to answer gun and drug charges - those should have disappeared in the past few days.

The extradition request for Dudus is threatening to put an end to the political life of a prime minister, has already caused the resignation of a government senator, and has led to questions about the credibility of an administration that came to power with great expectations less than three years ago.

In addition, it has reduced commerce in downtown Kingston to a fraction of its regular performance, forced the army to call out the National Reserve, and caused the police to engage in planning an information strategy that has never before been seen by or commandeered the full attention of the entire nation.

If that were not enough, the spin-off from the extradition request has led the US to issue a travel alert for Jamaica, caused Britain and Canada to issue travel advisories for their nationals, and has the international media flooding Jamaica with calls for information.

While widespread rumour has it that CIA operatives have flooded Jamaica on account of the Coke issue, The Sunday Gleaner can confirm that international law-enforcement agencies and national-security partners have been keeping a close watch on the Dudus drama.

outside plea?

The Member of Parliament for West Kingston - the home base of Dudus - Prime Minister Bruce Golding, has appealed to the residents of Tivoli Gardens to remain calm and allow the extradition request to go through the courts.

However, the appeal, delivered from the Office of the Prime Minister on Friday, sounded more like an outsider pleading for cooperation rather than the man in charge of the constituency.

Of note, Golding did not say to the residents, ‘Remove the many fortified blockades that you have erected!, an order that if issued by Dudus, would take place in minutes.

Hundreds of residents of West Kingston took to the streets last week to voice their support for Dudus and, while some joined the crowd out of fear that they would be targeted if they did not participate, many were out because of a genuine love for the ‘President’.

“After God, then Dudus,” read one placard. “Jesus died for us so we will die for Dudus,” read another, and these were not idle sentiments.

The police are hoping that lawyers representing Coke will convince him to turn himself in and if that does not work, the security forces are adamant that they will arrest him. But as that drama plays out, an entire nation holds its collective breath as one man holds a country hostage. (Jamaica Gleaner)

Haydn Gill Antigua

THE first part of the Digicel Series between West Indies and South Africa was shifted from Trinidad and Tobago to Antigua because of a general election in the twin-island republic tomorrow.

If the West Indies cricketers were to face the polls today, chances are they would be voted out of office.

After a third defeat in four days at the Vivian Richards Stadium, some Caribbean fans have lost all confidence in Chris Gayle’s team, who might be hard pressed to save their deposits if they were to go before the electorate.

They lost the first Digicel One-Day International by 66 runs, but even before a ball was bowled, one unkind spectator said the only thing West Indies were capable of winning was the toss.

For the third successive match, Gayle had the luck of the coin call, but West Indies lost everything else on a day that began with morning rain that delayed the start by half-hour and later took off a further 36 minutes.

South Africa, riding on quality centuries by Hasim Amla and AB de Villiers, punished an ineffective attack in marching to 280 for seven from 48 overs on a pitch that was far more suited to this form of the game in comparison to the track two strips away that batsmen didn’t enjoy in the Twenty20 double-header.

The early stages of West Indies’ response seemed to suggest they were still in Twenty20 mode and it was hardly a surprise that they were dismissed inside the distance for 215 with still another 3.5 overs available.

Captain Chris Gayle appeared to have an afternoon appointment elsewhere, playing with a sense of adventure in banging 45 off 39 balls. There were some authentic strokes but there was always an element of risk in his approach.

The left-hander survived chances on eight and 20, the first from a hard pull low to square-leg and the other from a skier running back from mid-wicket. Gayle, however, was not third time lucky and ended up hoisting a catch to mid-on in the 13th over.

By then, Andre Fletcher and Dwayne Bravo were already back in the hut and hopes of a West Indies win were at a minimum, bearing in mind the absence of injured Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

Fletcher, relieved of wicket-keeping duties with the return of Denesh Ramdin, failed again in front of the stumps. When he edged a loose drive to second slip, he fell for his third successive single-digit score and 14th in his last 20 innings in West Indies colours.

Bravo arrived at replace him at No. 3 and like Gayle, scored at better than a run-ball, racing to 15 off ten balls before chopping a ball into his stumps.

After Gayle went, a measure of what is expected in the longer limited-overs version of the game returned with a fourth wicket partnership of 59 between Ramnaresh Sarwan (38 off 59 balls) and Narsingh Deonarine (26 off 48 balls).

Big-hitting Kieron Pollard, who played a few attractive strokes in 44 off 37 balls, and Denesh Ramdin also added 52 for the sixth wicket, but West Indies would have needed two batsmen to play a major role in the same way that Amla and de Villiers did for South Africa.

Amla, appearing in his first match on tour, got South Africa out of the blocks at a good clip, playing neat wristy strokes on the way to his 102 that came from 109 balls and included eight fours.

deVilliers was positive throughout his third successive ODI century and  his run-a-ball 102 contained five fours and two sixes.

Neither batsman was tested by a thread bare attack in which Bravo was the only bowler who posed a threat.

Jerome Taylor was off colour and conceded more than six runs an over, while Darren Sammy wasn’t given the ball again after he was lashed for 25 from two overs.

It meant that Gayle had to give almost everyone a chance and West Indies turned to as many as eight bowlers.

As harsh as it sounds, the high point of their effort in the field was a remarkable one-handed diving catch by Gayle at square-leg towards the end, by which point the damage had already been done.

It came at a time when West Indies had managed to stem the flow of runs to the extent that South Africa managed only 61 from the last ten overs when they were on course for a total of more than 300. (Trinidad Express)

Joel Julien joel.julien@trinidadexpress.com

THE RED ARMY mobilised as the People’s National Movement (PNM), held its final political rally for the 2010 general election campaign at the Eddie Hart Grounds in Tacarigua, yesterday. The area, which falls under the Tunapuna constituency, is expected to be one of the key battlefields in tomorrow’s electoral war.

The Eddie Hart Grounds was not big enough to contain the crowd. The field was littered with supporters from each constituency and the crowd spilled over into the nearby streets.

In the field across the Priority Bus Route from the Eddie Hart Grounds was a second crowd, this one more interested in the two music trucks than the list of PNM accomplishments given by the speakers.

There was a party atmosphere, with supporters hoping that come tomorrow, the celebration would continue at the party’s headquarters, Balisier House, Port of Spain.

’Great is the PNM. Great is the PNM. Great is the PNM. It shall prevail,’ was the battle cry they chanted.

United as one: PNM candidates sing at the end of yesterday’s rally. -Photos: CURTIS CHASE

Yesterday’s meeting was held to present the party’s 41 candidates for the general election.

The standard bearers were seated on a stage at the southern end of the field and were presented to the crowd in four groups.

PNM chairman, Conrad Enill, welcomed the crowd around 3 p.m. Then Senator Mariano Browne, presented the first group of candidates.

PNM’s Princes Town candidate Annwarie Ramkissoon, gave the candidate’s speech for this group.

National Security Minister, Martin Joseph, presented the second group of candidates.

Social Development Minister, Amery Browne, the Diego Martin Central candidate spoke on behalf of his colleagues.

The third group of candidates was presented by the PNM’s Deputy Political leader, Nafeesa Mohammed. Diego Martin West candidate Keith Rowley received the loudest applause when he was introduced.

Information Minister Neil Parsanlal, the PNM’s choice for Lopinot/Bon Air West spoke for this group.

Prime Minister Patrick Manning the PNM’s political leader delivered the feature address.

It was reminiscent of the address he gave the night before at the party’s rally held in Sangre Grande. The crowd seemed unconcerned; they had come to the rally already knowing that they would be staining their fingers for the party’s candidates at the polls tomorrow. (Trinidad Express)

Anna Ramdass anna.ramdass@trinidadexpress.com

Local artistes will become multi-millionaires under a United National Congress (UNC) government as Kamla Persad-Bissessar pledged yesterday that were she to become prime minister, the first prize for major competitions such as Soca Monarch, Chutney Monarch and Panorama will be increased to $2 million.

Persad-Bissessar made the promise to loud cheers from thousands of supporters who packed the Aranguez Savannah to hear the first female prime ministerial candidate in the history of Trinidad and Tobago speak at the party’s final rally yesterday.

’Today, I pledge to you as well that all the competitions which showcase the talent of our land, whether it be the Chutney Monarch, the Soca Monarch, the Panorama finals, in all these competitions…I pledge to you today, that in true equality and justice, that the first prize for all these competitions will be $2 million for every one of those competitions, and that is how we will rise together; every creed and race, we will rise!’ said Persad-Bissessar as the crowd cheered wildly.

Persad-Bissessar praised Congress of the People’s leader Winston Dookeran and named him as the future finance minister of Trinidad and Tobago. He will be the one to ensure Persad-Bissessar’s financial promises are kept.

This year, the first prize for the Chutney Soca Monarch was $100,000, won by Ravi Bissambhar. The first prize for the Soca Monarch was $600,000, won by JW and Blaze, and the top cash prize for Panorama was $1 million, won by Silver Stars.

-WOMAN OF THE HOUR: United National Congress (UNC) leader, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, waves to supporters at the People’s Partnership’s rally in Aranguez yesterday. -Photo: DAVE PERSAD

Persad-Bissessar, dressed in a yellow skirt and blouse, walked to the podium to Mariah Carey’s rendition of ’I’ll be there’ and told the people her cup runneth over from seeing the size of the crowd.

The thousands present hung on to her every word and chanted her name at times.

Persad-Bissessar told the people change was near and a united UNC government stood willing and ready to improve their standard of living.

She said the People’s Partnership government will transform Trinidad and Tobago into a safer country where economic prosperity would be enjoyed by all and where equality and the people’s priorities will come above all.

She stressed a UNC government has a concrete solution to crime and will attack all the root causes to bring about relief to the social degradation and poverty in the country.

To the delight of the audience, Persad-Bissessar charged, ’This is the final chapter of the ’Project Manager’, and it is going to close now, once and for all!’

She vowed a UNC government will get the politics of T&T right and bring an end to the racial divide.

She also pledged that under her reign, the Red House will remain the seat of Parliament and the Coat of Arms will be used only exclusively by the president, and not by the Prime Minister. Prime Minister Patrick uses the emblem on the registration plates of his official vehicle.

Persad-Bissessar reminded supporters at Aranguez that she has a 120-day action plan for when her new government comes into power, which will include the abolition of the property tax, increase old age pension to $3,000, give free laptops for SEA students, review the minimum wage, establish a Ministry of the People, a Ministry of Justice, establish a $100m life fund for sick children and scrap the proposed Revenue Authority of Trinidad and Tobago. (Trinidad Express)

Ria TaittPolitical Editor

“Even if they are likely to see God’s face, which I doubt, the one thing I sure they ain’t seeing is the departure of Patrick Manning!” Prime Minister Patrick Manning thundered yesterday as he dismissed the “Manning must go” mantra of the Opposition.

Speaking before an energetic crowd of thousands in the Eddie Hart Savannah at the party’s grand election finale, Manning said: “They have singled out the political leader (of the People’s National Movement) to vilify. They have thrown…everything they have, plus the kitchen sink at the political leader. And here I am,” he said, with arms outstretched, “still standing. Still standing! Proud to have the opportunity to lead the PNM… And I am asking you, my dear friends, for the opportunity to continue to do it for another five years”.

He gave the assurance the rate of the country’s development was “about to accelerate”. There would be jobs for every man, woman and child looking for one, he promised.

Of the Opposition, he said they didn’t know whether they were coming or going. “All they know is that ’Manning must go.”

Manning said the Opposition had run a campaign based on “darkness and nastiness” while the PNM had run a campaign based on “light”.

REACHING OUT: Prime Minister Patrick Manning greets supporters after his speech at yesterday’s rally. -Photo: JERMAINE CRUICKSHANK

And the PNM would triumph, he said, predicting the party was “poised for its greatest victory in its 54-year history”.

And who would have thought. Eight weeks ago, on March 27, he called on the party to begin the nomination of candidates for the general election, at a time when “the image of the political leader was the lowest that it has ever been”.

“Many people thought that I had done the wrong thing. And while I don’t want to talk too early, when I look at this audience this evening, I have no doubt, my dear friends, that not only have we done the right thing, but we have succeeded in mobilising in a way that no political party has ever mobilised in this country,” an exultant Manning stated.

And he began his famous refrain- “We going to beat them in the east; we going to beat them in the west…”- sending the crowd into a frenzy.

The prime minister said the leader of the People’s Partnership, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, was surrounded by “strong and strangely oriented men… She is going to be a tool in the hands of those gentlemen, however well-intentioned she might be,” Manning stated.

With no plan, policy or vision, there would be “horse-trading, arguments and who could talk the loudest and argue the most is the man whose views are likely to prevail,” he added. Manning returned to his oft-stated criticisms of the People’s Partnership’s leaders- Makandal Daaga’s role in 1970, Errol Mcleod’s alleged desire for a $20 minimum wage (which would make industry uncompetitive) and his “biggest fear”- “that Austin Jack Warner ends up as Minister of Finance”. “You talk about

corruption? That is what you would get. Do not play fast and loose with what you have,” he warned.

Manning’s predictions of gloom and doom with respect to a coalition government, also included his view that when a coalition breaks up, the “biggest casualty is race relations” which “took a beating”. He asked his audience to consider what would happen this time if the coalition collapsed.

Then he poured cold water over the “wild promises” of the People’s Partnership to have a $3,000 pension coupled plus a reduction in the pensionable age from 65 to 60. The only way to pay for that is by slashing the social programmes “that have given the poor the opportunity to be in the same position as those who have”.

Manning said the opposition’s “campaign of “nastiness” had pursued the most “upright”, such as Kennedy Swaratsingh, PNM’s St Joseph candidate.

But Manning said the PNM had presented 41 of the best candidates ever presented by any political party in this country. He said 18 candidates were “of East Indian heritage” and 16 candidates were women, “two of whom are pregnant. Pregnancy, my dear friends, is not an illness,” he said .

Manning said more and more have bought into the PNM’s way forward, recognising that there is nothing that comes close to what the PNM offers.

He urged traditional UNC supporters to take a dispassionate view of affairs.

“What do you know, traditional UNC supporters, about Makandal Daaga? About Errol McLeod? About Austin Jack Warner…a man unacceptable by FIFA standards? Manning said he wanted UNC supporters to examine the “threats” posed by the coalition and “stand up as patriotic citizens and do the right thing”. “If you do…I don’t think you have much option but to vote for the People’s National Movement,” the Prime Minister concluded.

Earlier Diego Martin Central candidate Amery Browne told the crowd that the country had just “two more days to go until we are rid of the People’s Pirate ship that threatens the stability of our beloved nation, the development of the country and the future of our families”. “Is licks they deserve and is licks they will get. Licks like fire, licks like peas!” he declared.

Chaguanas East candidate Mustapha Abdul-Hamid spoke of the social mobility created by PNM policy for descendants of slaves and indentured labourers. He also praised Manning’s leadership, describing him as compassionate, visionary, courageous and composed. “He is the right leader we need to take us forward. I Thank Almighty God for our leader, Patrick Manning,” he said. (Trinidad Express)

by YVETTE BEST
EDWIN IS BACK!

After not competingin Pic-O-De-Crop since 1996, the soca general is throwing himself back into the calypso fray this year.

Speaking to the SUNDAY SUN during the second Soca Lime at the CBC car park last Friday, Edwin said he was ready to return to competition.

“It is something I have always wanted to do.One of the issues of my not entering any more wasn’t somethingthat I had personal against anybody . . . .

“I like to go to win,and if I don’t have a good chance to win, it don’t make sense. I recognised that I was not being properly preparedevery year, because the Pic-O-De-Crop songs aren’t like party songs.

“[With] party songs you can make up whatever you want on the spot, but with a Pic-O-De-Crop song you have to be prepared, and you haveto know the song.And I want to be prepared for that.

“So as long as I could get like a two weeksto prepare for that,then I’m set,”Edwin projected.

While he does not see himself in any better position than previous years, Edwin said he liked to give himself”a good chanceof competing properly”.

Edwin created history in 1995 when he tookthe inaugural Party Monarch title,the Tune-Of-The-Crop and Pic-O-De-Croptitles with Obadeleand Voice InMy Head - a feat that remains unmatched.

Four new songs

With regard to hissoca songs this year,
the reigning People’s Monarch andTune-Of-The-Crop winner said overseas commitments had prevented him from recording any materialso far, but he was goingto be bringing outat least four new songs.

The general has emerged as the soca king over the years, with five Party Monarch and three Tune-Of-The-Crop titles to his name. He has also shared in a road win with krosfyah.

Edwin bowed outof the Party Monarch competition in 2006.

The Celebration Time singer did not indicateif he would be participating in the rebranded Soca Royale, which encompasses the Party Monarch and Sweet Soca competitionsat Bushy Parkon July 25. (Nation News)

CARIBBEAN CATALYST INC., in association withthe BARBADOS BUSINESS AUTHORITY and the Nation Publishing Co. Limited, will be officially launching the prestigious Barbados’ Best Employer Award later this week.

This biennial initiative is the first of its kind

to recognise and honour local organisationswith exemplary human resources practices, policies and programmes.

Barbados’ Best Employer Award will focus on the human resource practicesand climateof organisations andwill showcase groupsthat demonstrate a commitment to their human resources through the adoption of progressiveemployment strategies.

Director of Caribbean Catalyst Inc., Katrina Sam, said it had been proven that therewas a strong correlation between profitabilityand good HR practices.

“We felt that it was an optimal time to recogniseand celebrate those businesses in Barbados which have implemented well designedand sustainableHR programmes.”

Eligible participantsin the Barbados’ Best Employer Award will benefit by having their HR programme and practices independently assessedby a team of HR professionals who willbe able to benchmark their human resource initiatives with other companieson the island.

CEO/Publisherof the Nation Publishing Co. Limited, Vivian-Anne Gittens, saidthe BARBADOS BUSINESS AUTHORITY wasthe leading publicationfor business newsand information and she was happy the publication, and by extensionthe company, was partnering with the Best Employer Award which seeks to enhancethe business environment.

“We are looking forward with great anticipationto highlightingthe exemplary human resource practices of local companies acrossthe island,” she said.

The programme is open to locally based companies of all sizes. (PR) (Nation News)