Moontown

Food prices have pushed the rate of inflation in Trinidad and Tobago up again.

Central Statistical Office data released yesterday by the Central Bank showed headline inflation edged up to 9.6 per cent in May from 7.3 per cent in April.

Last December, the rate stood at 1.3 per cent.

Food prices were the main driver of the headline inflation rate.

These prices accelerated on a year-on-year basis to 19.4 per cent in May from 12.7 per cent the previous months, the Central Bank said in a statement.

’The combined effects of the severe drought in previous months and the recent floods have adversely affected domestic crop production and pushed up local food prices,’ the Bank stated.

Prices of fruits and vegetables increased on a year-on-year basis to May by 48.5 per cent and 25.1 per cent respectively, the data showed.

Fish prices also went up by 8.7 per cent in May after recording declines in the four previous months.

Credit growth in the country has also continued to decline with sluggish domestic demand for loans, the Bank said.

’Headline inflation is now approaching a threshold which, in the past, has increased inflationary expectations and complicated wages policy,’ the Bank said, adding the immediate challenge is to reverse the steady increase in food prices.

Since the current availability of agricultural produce is still uncertain, nationwide measures to boost domestic food stocks could help to ease supply constraints, the Central Bank said. (Trinidad Express)

Anna Ramdass with reporting by Aabida Allaham

In order for Justice Minister Herbert Volney to undergo heart surgery at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC), Mt Hope, earlier this week, all other surgeries for heart patients were postponed on that day.

Several doctors at the hospital, who preferred not to be named because of a confidentiality clause in their contracts, told the Express the entire cath lab was cleared, and all surgeries carded for Thursday were postponed until next week.

Volney, a former High Court judge, suffered a heart attack on Tuesday and was rushed to the hospital. On Thursday, he underwent a four-hour quadruple bypass surgery from a Caribbean Heart Care Medcorp Ltd team, led by Prof Giovanni Theodorri of Italy.

One doctor said he wanted to raise the issue because Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar campaigned on bringing change to this country, and he would like to see this manifested in the health sector.

’When Mr Volney came in, everything went smoothly, but when there is no VIP around, the entire place is disorganised and there is a lot of corruption taking place,’ he said.

’I understand that VIPs should get VIP treatment, but there are serious concerns that need to be addressed. Change needs to happen. There is a lot of disorganisation and chaos.’

Volney was still resting at the facility yesterday following his surgery.

The problems at the hospital, another doctor said, stem from poor management. Among some of the problems, the doctor noted, were doctors being asked to work overtime although their overtime pay has been cancelled, the transfer of pharmacists after they voiced their objections to working conditions, and an arrangement with the Johns Hopkins University that needs to be closely looked at. The doctor added private hospitals were also ’making a killing’ because the CT scan and MRI machines were not working.

Relatives of patients who were present at the Mt Hope hospital also complained to the Express about the slow system and lack of resources there.

One patient who was at the hospital on Thursday said she was lying on a trolley for hours because there were no beds available.

’This place sickening. The security, the nurses; people treating us like dogs. Best I did name Volney!’ said a woman who gave her first name as Patricia.

Asked yesterday if surgeries were cancelled to accommodate Justice Minister Volney’s quadruple bypass at the Mt Hope hospital, Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar, at the time attending the launch of the Clean and Beautify Trinidad and Tobago campaign at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Port of Spain (See Page 7), said she was not aware of this and could not comment.

When the Express tried to get some clarification on the matter, corporate communications manager at the North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA) Suszanna Clarke said she could not say because she was unaware of what transpired. However, she said she would look into it and forward an answer as soon as she can.

Francisca Jordan, public relations officer at the Ministry of Health, said she, too, was not aware of what was done to accommodate Volney, and promised to look into it. (Trinidad Express)

Ria Taitt Political Editor

Once again, though on this occasion by unanimous decision, the Parliament has rejected the nominee put forward by the Police Service Commission for the position of Commissioner of Police. Two years ago, Stephen Williams was rejected by the People’s National Movement majority, with the United National Congress supporting his candidacy for the top cop position.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar told the Parliament: ’We have decided to reject the nomination of Mr Neal Parker. [Parker] Having participated as a member of the selection committee in the 2008 process, the public perception of him enjoying an unfair advantage is one that may have some legitimacy. We know the maxim all too well that justice must not only be done, but must be seen to be done.’

The Parliament, however, approved the nominations of Stephen Williams, Maurice Piggott and Jack Ewatski as Deputy Commissioners of Police. Williams and Piggott were unanimously approved, but the PNM abstained on Ewatski, a Canadian.

The law requires that there be a merit list of five candidates for the position of Police Commissioner. Once the Parliament rejects the first ranked person, the Police Service Commission must propose the second ranked person for consideration by the Parliament for approval for appointment by the Commission.

The Parliament meets next Friday to consider the second ranked nominee-Dwayne Gibbs, another Canadian. The Parliament yesterday received the notification from the President for the second name.

OUT: Canadian Neal Parker

But there is a hurdle. Gibbs is likely to be rejected for the same reason Parker was-he participated in the 2008 selection process. See Page 4

And there is another apparent hurdle looming. By the time the Parliament turns down Gibbs’s nomination, there will be no Police Service Commission. The Commission’s term of office expires on Wednesday (June 30).

Under the law, the Parliament has to approve or reject the names proposed by the President for appointment on the Commission in the same way that it approves the appointment of a Police Commissioner and deputy Commissioners.

The House meets next Friday, and by the time the Parliament is ready for consideration of the third nominee on the merit list, the Commission which made these nominations will not be in existence.

Government and Opposition yesterday received the names proposed by the President for membership on the new PSC, Opposition sources confirmed. They are the same members, with the exception of Pastor Clive Dottin, whom the President is proposing be replaced with Kenneth Parker.

Yesterday, in explaining Government’s position on the appointment of a Police Commissioner, the Prime Minister stated that Government and Opposition had found a common ground. Both believed that the process (of selection and appointment) needed to be reviewed.

’We agreed that the current process is costly, cumbersome and complicated,’ she said.

She added that the joint team of Government and Opposition agreed to commence discussions with a view to reviewing the entire process. She said two critical issues warranting attention in this effort were the issue of the use of foreign consultants and assessors, and the need to ensure that ’we as a nation draw on our locals to see whether a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago is suitably qualified for the job’.

In the interim, however, Persad-Bissessar said the process under the current law would continue.

’We cannot delay the appointment of a new Commissioner of Police, but we must also avoid the possibility of protracted litigation and question marks hanging over a Commissioner of Police who may have been appointed in such circumstances,’ Persad-Bissessar said.

’It is my understanding that there may be another candidate who was also a member of the selection committee in the 2008 selection process and is now a candidate after the 2010 selection process.

’On principle, the position of the Government remains the same. If such a candidate were to be nominated for approval by this House, we would not support such a nomination.

’Any person who was involved in the 2008 selection process as an assessor who turns up now as a candidate for the post will be rejected by the Government. And my understanding is that it would be the same from the Opposition benches.’

That does not mean that the country would have to wait for the law to be changed in order to have a Commissioner of Police and deputy Commissioners of Police.

Noting that the law requires the Parliament to go through each of the nominees short-listed, Persad-Bissessar said: ’We have taken the position jointly that we would respect the law and obey the law in terms of the process, until such time as we can change the law.

’We cannot afford that there is no Commissioner of Police whilst another two- or three-year process takes place. So we continue with the existing law, with the view to review that law, but in the interim as we reject the nomination of Mr Parker, we look forward to the notification of the second-ranked person on the (merit) list.’

Yesterday, PSC Chairman Christopher Thomas told the Express he was in ’full agreement’ with the position taken by the Government and Opposition that the process for appointment of the CoP needed to be review. On reports that a second nominee was involved in the selection process, Thomas said: ’We have to look at it. I have to talk with the Commission.’ (Trinidad Express)

Drug Enforcement Administration agents take Jamaican alleged gang leader Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke from Westchester County Airport to a waiting vehicle, on Thursday, in White Plains, New York. - AP

ALLEGED CRIME boss Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke is to return to a court in New York on Monday to find out if he will be kept in custody until his trial ends.

Coke appeared in the Manhattan federal court in New York yesterday where he pleaded not guilty to charges that he ran a massive international drug and gun ring.

Coke was taken to court by United States authorities less than 24 hours after being extradited to the United States to answer to the charges that were laid against him last year.

“As I understand, you are pleading not guilty at this time? That is what your lawyer said,” Judge Robert Patterson asked during the brief court appearance.

“Yes, that is right,” Coke’s lawyer, Russel Newfeld, replied.

Coke remanded

The judge then ordered that Coke be remanded before setting June 28 as the date the former west Kingston strongman is to return to court.

At that hearing, the judge is expected to rule that Coke should be jailed indefinitely, pending trial.

In court papers yesterday, prosecutors said Coke conspired to distribute cocaine and marijuana throughout the eastern United States for more than 15 years.

According to the documents filed by the prosecutors, drug dealers in the US regularly sent cash and goods, including clothing, electronics and firearms, to Coke as ‘tribute’ payments in recognition of his leadership and assistance.

Coke was captured on the Mandela Highway close to the border of St Catherine and St Andrew on Tuesday after a monthlong search.

He was held by the police in a car driven by the popular preacher, Al Miller, who claimed he was taking the country’s most-wanted man to the American Embassy in St Andrew to turn himself over to US authorities.

Miller has since been charged with perverting the course of justice and harbouring a fugitive.

He was offered bail of $200,000 and booked to appear in court next Friday.

Coke appeared in court on Thursday and waived his right to challenge the extradition order before he was whisked out of the country.

Hopes for ja’s healing

In a brief written statement, Coke said he was saddened by the deaths of the persons during the attempt by the security forces to capture him in Tivoli Gardens.

The man his friends and associates call ‘Pressi’ said he hoped his departure would help the country heal.

“I take this decision, for I now believe it to be in the best interest of my family, the community of western Kingston and in particular, the people of Tivoli Gardens, and above all, Jamaica,” Coke said in the statement.

Coke expressed confidence that he would be vindicated and allowed to return to his family. (Jamaica Gleaner)

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By: by Femi Mascoll

Starcom Network yesterday stoutly rejected charges of practising double standards as it explained its decision to part ways with DJ Ricky (Li’l Rick) Reid.
In the popular phone-in programme Down To Brass Tacks, listeners called both to criticise and to congratulate the station over the decision announced on Thursday.
Moderator David Ellis said the incident was bigger than Li’l Rick and Starcom. It related to the role of the media in Barbados’ society.
The fundamental concern should be the role of the media “in reinforcing positive values and behaviour and how various forces are influencing that role,” Ellis said.

Three occasions

In a statement, Starcom Network Inc said on no fewer than three occasions Li’l Rick breached guidelines to prevent the broadcast of material with sexual crudity, social degradation, or poor taste.
Ellis stressed that Li’l Rick’s action last Saturday was the “latest in a string of incidents”. Starcom therefore had taken the “initiative and appropriate action.”
Programme manager of Starcom Network, Ronnie Clarke, indicated that Li’l Rick was disciplined over similar incidents a total of four times during his ten-year stint at the network.
“This one being the most unfortunate and worst of the breaches relative to content,” said Clarke who outlined the series of events which led to the ultimate termination.
“Saturday, June the19th at approximately 12:55 there was a song aired . . . which was the raw, explicit version of one of the songs that is popular by Vybz Kartel. The song was played . . . pulled up. The same version of the song was played. It continued into the second verse. Then the song was stopped.”
Only after this, was the edited version of the song played. Reid did not apologise for this mistake until 1:49 p.m.
Ellis told one caller who raised the issue of a double standard: “If you’re accusing us of a double standard, you need to tell us who  else associated with this station has had that kind of reprimand on as many occasions.”
In response to several callers that Li’l Rick’s termination would have a negative impact on the network’s ratings, Clarke stated the popular Guinness Rush Hour Show and Mackeson Triple Tunes have “enhanced Rick’s popularity and Hott’s popularity”.
Meanwhile, yesterday afternoon Slam FM confirmed that Li’l Rick is now part of its team. (Nation News)

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COU COU understands that there is a four-man team from a registered company making Barbados proud in the Caribbean, and simultaneously raking in about US$18 000 monthly in at least one jurisdiction. And the team is operating in more than one jurisdiction.
This is something that others should seek to emulate – put collective skills together and make hay while the sun shines.
But who are the team members?
One is already known, although he has tried to play down his leadership of the squad, which he shouldn’t, because he is doing nothing wrong or illegal.
Another in the squad is a research man and is credited to have just as much bite as he has bark. He does the “leg work” for the team, as he once did at a political level and was handsomely rewarded for it.
The third man in the squad is one of the most important. He is quite a brain merchant, although he has a propensity for wanting to lock horns with too many people, especially intellectuals.
He has found a new home with his boss who has great faith in him. In fact, he might still prove to be second to his boss one of these days if the unexpected occurs.
The fourth team player is the oldest, and although he often gives the impression that he is about to drop to sleep, his slow, retiring nature should not lull anyone into believing that he is completely over the hill.
He knows what it is to be a leader and was a leader of sorts in his last two occupations.
On the local front, one still has certain aspirations, the brain merchant is still undecided, and the other two are now footnotes on history’s political page.
Cou Cou will continue to follow their glorious exploits across the region.

The final curtain

COU COU can confirm that an individual whose rubber stamp has much authority is now in receipt of an official document that will determine the future of a particular individual.
It seems that those who submitted the document are in agreement that the proposed action take its full course. Now it is up to the person with the stamp.

Public dressing down

MUCH healing will need to be done among members of a certain grouping.
Significant animosity recently came out at an event where damaging salvos were thrown at a female operative.
Although she was successful in achieving what she had set out to do, some of her “friends” and colleagues painted a picture of her of being a spoilt brat.
They accused her of resigning from a certain position because she did not get her way. They charged that she abandoned the cause and went her way because of a false sense of entitlement.
But in very gracious style, she did not fight fire with fire, but used diplomacy well. However, she still described one of her detractors as similar to a submarine that had reemerged after a 20-year absence. And she wasn’t lying about the time span.
Now it is left to see if she can sink her teeth into the job at hand, similar to the effort attempted by her predecessor.

Political dump

PEOPLE at a certain agency are complaining that their work site has become a dumping ground for failed politicians.
And what makes it worse, they are saying, is that the failed politicos are being paid big salaries when they are not bringing anything worthwhile to the table.
The latest is a many-time loser whose company has been hired and is being paid for just existing. It is a situation that is making conscientious managers furious. But to their credit, they have tried to be patient. But that is wearing thin.
The real problem is that the person doing the hiring is also a political operative, although she is only now emerging from the shadows. Staffers say that a coup in the boardroom is perhaps the only way to save face. (Nation News)

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THE BIGGEST GAY PARTY ever took place in Barbados last night.
Pudding and Souse understands that they booked a popular restaurant just outside of Bridgetown for the “do” and the intent was to party until the wee hours of this morning.
We were told that the who’s who of the gay community were expected to be in attendance.
Not only that but we undertsand that several specially invited guests also flew in from other Caribbean countries to participate in the event.
And yes; it was a gay only fete!

Invitation only wedding

TALKING ABOUT GAYS, Pudding and Souse is awaiting an invitation for a major wedding coming up soon between two popular members of the gay community.
We will be patient since we understand that security will be so tight that the venue will only be revealed on the morning of the wedding.
And those guests who think they can sneak a few pictures of the bride and groom with their cell phones – think again – all will be confiscated at the  door.

Diva behaviour

STAFF AT A high end hotel were kept busy this week cleaning up the classiest rooms which were secured by a certain diva for her and her multiple guests.
Apparently she left the room in a disgusting state and the hotel is of course preparing a huge repair bill.
It appears that the classy woman and her guests smoke, drank and partied non-stop in the room.
Security had to be constantly knocking on the door because the smoke alarm would not stop  going off, and from what we understand, a very familiar cigarette odor was detected each time.
Management at the hotel are now contemplating banning this guest from using its facilities.
Apparently a few years ago, they had to send her a huge bill when she and her former  boyfriend also wrecked the place.

Poor funeral management

Staff at a business place are still fuming over management’s behaviour when it came to the funeral of a colleague.
What drove them crazy is that the business did not close early on the day of the burial, and only a few staff were allowed to attend.
Staff want to know where was the respect that was  due to this hard working man, who gave tirelessly to the company for many  years.
They strongly believed that the company should have honoured the man by closing early and allowing everyone to go to the funeral.
And as far as they are concerned, management showed its true colors by demonstrating that it didn’t have the staff’s interest at heart.

How quick we forget

IT WAS certainly not a picture perfect moment when a woman, who thinks of herself as a “nobody” turned “somebody”, behaved in a most uncouth and unruly manner because the camera lens were on the woman whom she waits for on hands and knees.
She had the audacity to call someone “poor” and say they couldn’t afford to be where they were hanging out.
Her despicable behaviour set tongues wagging, and those who witnessed her lower class attitude wanted to know if her best friend’s fame had clouded her mind and made her forget that she came from the ghetto.
They want her to know that at the end of the day she is nothing but a wannabe celebrity maid, and she really showed her true colours.
It really shows that you can take the pig out of the sty, but you can never take the sty out of the pig  LOL!!!!!!.

Fear not

A certain individual has nothing to worry about. Pudding and Souse understands that a file on his management of a certain institution will catch dust and disappear, repeatedly if needs be, before he has to account for anything.
Of greater significance, though, is that from the outset no nexus between him and certain accusations has been determined. And never will be. It was a ruse after all. (Nation News)

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BOA president Steve Stoute presenting a scarf to Princess Haya. Looking on: Monique Archer and Princess Haya’s coach Khan Okur.(Picture by Clifton Henry)

By: by Clifton Henry

JORDAN’S PRINCESS Haya Bint Al Hussein, president of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), flew into the island for a four-hour visit yesterday and met with officials of the Barbados Equestrian Association (BEA).
In a brief interview with the SATURDAY SUN, Princess Haya said it was always her dream to visit Barbados after hearing about the wonderful work of the local federation.
“It is always good to see first-hand what’s happening on the ground in each of the territories, and so far I am very impressed with the enthusiasm and the work the local federation has been doing to advance the sport in Barbados and in the region,” she said.
She also noted that a development task force had been set up within the FEI to see how they could assist smaller nations.
“So for this reason my visit to the Caribbean is more of a fact finding mission to see where the FEI could assist the smaller developing territories in the equestrian sport.”
Princess Haya visited four of the five equestrian centres during her visit, including those at Conga Road, St Philip, Big C Stables at Frere Pilgrim, Christ Church, Whitehall, St Peter, and Caribbean International Riding Centre (CIRC), Cleland, St Andew.
The princess is the daughter of the late King Hussein of Jordan and wife of General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.
She was a bronze medallist in Jumping at the 1992 Pan-Arab Games and the following year was elected Jordan’s athlete of the year. She also competed in the Sydney Olympics.
She is also the first Arab and first woman to ever become Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations World Food Programme.
The princess left here for Trinidad and Tobago before heading back home. (Nation News)

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By: by Heather-Lynn Evanson

A HIGH COURT JUDGE has described the police handling of a gun and ammunition case as disgraceful and has vowed that she will be expressing her displeasure in writing to the top cop and the Police Complaints Authority.
Madame Justice Maureen Crane-Scott’s strong words came as a doctor’s notes revealed severe new bruises to Nybingi Greene’s abdomen, even though police diary entries said he had no complaints or had made no reports of brutality while he was in custody.
This, said the judge, cast Greene’s alleged voluntary confession statement and those diary entries in a totally different light.
“I will be writing the Commissioner and the Police Complaints Authority about this matter. This is disgraceful,” the judge said.
However, the investigating lawmen’s woes do not end there because Greene’s lawyer has indicated he will be suing the police involved in the case.
Attorney Arthur Holder later told the SATURDAY SUN that he would be filing suits against the police as early as next week.
Greene, 28, of Dunlow Lane, Bay Street, St. Michael, was on trial in the No. 2 Supreme Court, having been accused of having a .38-calibre revolver and six rounds of .38-calibre cartridges in his possession on May 11, 2008.
He had pleaded not guilty and was represented by attorney Arthur Holder, while Senior Crown Counsel Roy Hurley prosecuted.
Holder had contested the validity of that written statement, saying it had been induced by force while Greene, in his defence, said he had been “beaten badly” by the police.
Dr Ross Herbert testified yesterday that when he examined Greene the same night he was taken into custody, he found bruises all over Greene’s front abdominal wall.
He said he knew when bruises were old by their colour and those on Greene looked like they had happened “within a 24 hour period.”
“I can’t pinpoint it down to a specific time but the ones I saw looked fresh to me,” he said.
However, entries from the station diary, which were read into evidence on Thursday, said when police checked on Greene, he made no complaints and indicated all was well.
In addition, the first entry in the station diary, relating to Greene, said that lawmen arrived at Hastings station with him after he was arrested, while riding along Bay Street, for having a gun in his possession.
However, lawmen who testified in the trial, said when they stopped Greene on Bay Street, they only found drugs on him. It was when they searched him at the station that they found the gun in his pocket.
Yesterday Madame Justice Crane-Scott referred to both those pieces of evidence and said the diary then had Greene leaving the station, for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, with nothing in the diary to say why he was leaving.
“We have him carried away in a police vehicle where all of sudden a man, who knows nothing about anything in connection with this matter, independently gives evidence that this man has been punched in the stomach, blunt force trauma consistent with fists,” the judge said.
“And therefore all those entries, would you not say, are suspect?” Justice Crane-Scott asked.
“On that type of evidence can this court really say that that statement was voluntary? I don’t know,” the judge said, who later refused to admit the statement and instructed the jury to return not guilty verdicts against Greene. (Nation News)