Mad Rush for CAL Seats To Tobago For Easter: Extra Seats Added

Caribbean Airlines was forced to add additional flights to Tobago using its widebody aircraft after hundreds of people turned up at Piarco International Airport hoping to get standby seats to the sister island for the long Easter weekend.

Standby passengers and others looking to snag a last-minute ticket to Tobago flooded the domestic service counters at Piarco yesterday afternoon.

The Express was told that several hundred people were rushing to pay for seats on CAL’s usual Tobago fleet of French-made ATR aircraft.

CAL had 17,000 seats available to Tobago this weekend, all of which were sold.

Corporate communications head Clint Williams confirmed that CAL added three standby flights using its widebody Boeing 737 jet aircraft to accommodate additional standby passengers.

Each 737 flight takes 154 passengers.

Williams said CAL’s third 737 flight was scheduled to leave at midnight and all standby passengers had been accommodated yesterday afternoon.

Source:Trinidadexpress

Constitution Reform Commission meets with THA

THA Chief Secretary Orville London
presides at a meeting with members of the constitution commission
and the Assembly at the Calder Hall Administrative Complex on Tuesday.
(26th March 2013)
 

The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) is not making its views known on constitutional reform for Trinidad and Tobago at this point in time.

Chief Secretary Orville London informed the eight members of the Constitution Reform Commission headed by Legal Affairs Minister Prakash Ramadar during a 50-minute meeting on Tuesday (26th March 2013) at his Calder Hall office in Scarborough.

However, London said: "We recognise that it is a very important exercise and of course we pledge the commitment of the Tobago House of Assembly and the people of Tobago recognising that however, just as the Central Government, the Tobago House of Assembly is not going to have a formal position on any of the issues at this point in time."

He said the Assembly will encourage the people of Tobago as the people of the country to become as involved as possible in what was going to be an exercise that can have very far reaching effects.

London added: "We did indicate to the Minister that we are very clear that the issue of internal self government for Tobago is one that should not be embroiled in this particular process."

He said the Assembly had gone a long way and felt that should there be some separation it would have a chance of a successful conclusion in the short term and bring closure to that. He said that might be a catalyst or it might send some signal as to how the other aspect of constitutional reform can in fact be achieved.

London said his team at the meeting that comprised Deputy Chief Secretary Tracy Davidson-Celestine and Senior State Counsel Alvin Pascall were able to share a number of recommendations and suggestions. "We are satisfied that members of the committee are committed to gleaning the views of the people of Tobago and Trinidad and of course ensuring that that forms the basis for their recommendations on constitutional reform," London added.

Ramadar reported that the commissioners had a very successful meeting with the people of Tobago at the Signal Secondary School on Monday night where a lot of potent issues were raised. Two other meetings were carded to be held last night and tonight.

He said the commissioners were a bit disappointed that they did not formally meet with the Assembly.

Addressing London, the Legal Affairs Minister said: "You have spoken words of wisdom to us. We have all gained some insight from your experience in matters of a similar nature. To that end I think that we are Trinidadians and Tobagonians working hand in hand to improve all of our people's lives by constitutional reform, that is something that we must herald and I thank you for that."

Ramadar said the commissioners and himself as chairman were committed to reforming the constitution. He said the commission did not come with any draft but really to hear the views of the population throughout Trinidad and Tobago on the changes they would like to see in the new constitution.

He assured that it was not related in any way to the relationship between Trinidad and Tobago but certainly the issues of referenda, proportional representation, right of recall, fixed election dates, not more than two consecutive terms for a prime minister and the president to be elected by the population rather than an electoral college. "Some of these which we have never considered before we are hearing from the voices of our people so look forward to that," he declared.

Ramadar promised that at the end of the exercise the commissioners would present a report to the population before taking further steps.

Source:THA site

DARYAN WARNER AN FBI WITNESS IN FIFA PROBE

The Reuters News Agency today published a news exclusive, stating that Daryan Warner, the son of former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner, was a witness in an investigation into allegations of corruption in football's governing body FIFA. Jack Warner is a former FIFA Vice President and the National Security Minister of Trinidad and Tobago. The following is the report - 

The following is the report - 

By Mark Hosenball

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An FBI probe into alleged corruption in international soccer has recently intensified after investigators persuaded a key party to be a cooperating witness, U.S. law enforcement sources said.

They said that the witness is Daryan Warner, the son of former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner. The sources declined to further discuss the role of Daryan Warner, who could not be reached for comment.

They also would not say who might be charged, if anybody, or when. While the exact scope of the investigation is not clear, among the matters under scrutiny are two previously reported allegations involving Jack Warner, who is currently national security minister in his native Trinidad and Tobago.

The deepening of the probe indicates that a succession of corruption scandals involving FIFA and other international soccer bodies in the past few years may continue to cast a cloud over the sport for some time.

Jack Warner was formerly head of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), as well as previously being one of a number of vice-presidents of FIFA, soccer's global governing body. He has not been charged with any wrongdoing.

Since at least the summer of 2011, the FBI has been examining more than $500,000 in payments made by the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) over the past 20 years to an offshore company headed by top U.S. soccer official Chuck Blazer. That was a period during which Jack Warner was also head of the CFU, a position he held from the early 1980s until 2011.

The precise reasons for many of those payments is unclear. In 2011, Blazer said that the payments were meant to be repayments to him by Warner of "a significant amount of money" which Blazer said he loaned to Warner in 2004. Warner told the media in Trinidad that the payments were above board.

The Internal Revenue Service has joined in the investigation, which is looking into potential violations of U.S. tax laws and of U.S. anti-fraud statutes, including laws prohibiting wire fraud and mail fraud, law enforcement sources said.

"It's shaping up like a major case," one U.S. official familiar with the matter said.

In a telephone interview from Trinidad, Francis Joseph, a spokesman for Jack Warner, said that neither Jack nor Daryan Warner would have any comment on the investigation. "Nobody will speak to you about that," Joseph told Reuters.

In 2011, Jack Warner told the Parliament of Trinidad: "I will hold my head high to the very end. I am not guilty of a single iota of wrongdoing."

Daryan Warner was first interviewed by the FBI late last year after flying to the United States, a U.S. official said.

PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE

Jack Warner quit his FIFA and CONCACAF positions in June 2011 in the wake of allegations of bribery in a report by a lawyer commissioned by Blazer, a member of FIFA's executive committee and former general secretary of CONCACAF.

The report alleged that Warner collaborated with another FIFA vice president at the time, Mohamed Bin Hammam of Qatar, to bribe Caribbean soccer officials so that they would back a bid by Bin Hammam to become FIFA's president. Bin Hammam and Warner both have repeatedly denied wrongdoing.

Bin Hammam's U.S. lawyer, Eugene Gulland, said that while he had heard that U.S. authorities were investigating CONCACAF issues, Bin Hammam had not been contacted about the probe.

When Warner resigned his FIFA position, the organization declared that "the presumption of innocence is maintained" in his case. Spokespeople for the FBI and IRS had no comment on the investigation.

Blazer, who has announced he will not seek re-election as the U.S. member of FIFA's executive committee and will leave the position in May, said in a telephone interview that he had been advised by lawyers not to make any further comment. "I can't say anything at all," Blazer said.

Bin Hamman was banned for life from all FIFA and soccer activities in 2011 for trying to bribe soccer officials in the Caribbean in the run-up to the election. His ban was subsequently overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on the grounds that while it was "more likely than not" that he was the source of cash distributed by Warner "it is a situation of case not proven."

The ban was then reinstated in December last year for a separate matter concerning "conflicts of interest" while he was president of the Asian Football Confederation.

At one point recently, investigators from the FBI and the IRS traveled to the Caribbean and interviewed a witness regarding the alleged cash payoffs for more than two and a half hours, said a person who was in recent contact with the witness.

Andrew Jennings, a British journalist and author of the book "Foul! The Secret World of FIFA: Bribes, Vote Rigging and Ticket Scandals," said he has had several meetings with FBI investigators working on the case and provided the FBI and IRS with what Jennings describes as confidential documents he obtained related to payments from soccer organization funds to offshore bank accounts.

A law enforcement source confirmed that investigators had held discussions with Jennings.

In an email, FIFA's media department said the Swiss-based organization was "unaware" of any FBI investigation related to the Americas and Caribbean.

The New York-based FBI squad which is conducting the soccer investigation is a squad that specializes in "Eurasian Organized Crime." It is unclear why this particular squad is involved in the probe.

(Additional reporting by John Shiffman in Washington; Editing by Martin Howell and Claudia Parsons)

Source:Trinidadexpress

London: THA will skip hearings

Chief Secretary Orville London

The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) will not participate in the national consultation on constitutional reform at this point in time, says THA Chief Secretary Orville London.

In a release to the press, London stated that he informed Legal Affairs Minister Prakash Ramadhar and the members of the Constitution Reform Commission of this during a 50-minute meeting yesterday at his Calder Hall office in Scarborough.

“We recognise that it is a very important exercise and, of course, we pledge the commitment of the Tobago House of Assembly and the people of Tobago...recognising that, however, just as the central government, the Tobago House of Assembly is not going to have a formal position on any of the issues at this point in time,” stated London.

The Assembly, he said, will encourage the people of Tobago as the people of the country to become as involved as possible in what was going to be an exercise that can have very far reaching effects. 

“We did indicate to the Minister that we are very clear that the issue of internal self-government for Tobago is one that should not be embroiled in this particular process,” said London.

He said the Assembly had gone a long way and felt that should there be some separation it would have a chance of a successful conclusion in the short term and bring closure to that. 

London added that this might be a catalyst or might also send some signal as to how the other aspect of constitutional reform can in fact be achieved.

He noted that members of his team—Deputy Chief Secretary Tracy Davidson-Celestine and Senior State Counsel Alvin Pascal—were able to share a number of recommendations and suggestions. 

“We are satisfied that members of the committee are committed to gleaning the views of the people of Tobago and Trinidad and of course ensuring that forms the basis for their recommendations on constitutional reform,” London said.

Source:Trinidadexpress

$100 Million Cocaine Bust in Central

COCAINE with an estimated street value of $100 million was seized by police officers in Chaguanas last night.

The drug was packaged and ready for shipment, the Express was told. Police raided a house in Endeavour at around 10 p.m and found twelve packages contained in large buckets.

The drug bust came after three days of surveillance by police officers of the Chaguanas Robbery Squad and Criminal Investigation Department.

Police moved on the house after a tip-off that the drug was to be shipped last night. No arrests were made.

The Police Service also issued a news bulletin this morning to report on the seizure of 40 pounds of marijuana.

At around 4:30pm yesterday, a party of officers from the Arouca CID and Task Force under the supervision of Senior Supt David Abraham including Sgt Charles, Sgt Pitt, Cpl Williams and PC Modeste went to an abandoned house at 2nd Hill Kandahar Five Rivers Aroucqa where they found and seized approximately 40lbs of marijuana with a street value of approximately $150,000.

Three men were arrested. 

Source:Trinidadexpress

Tobago death not murder

Despite bruises on the back of Jemma Waldron, murder has been ruled out.

An autopsy on the body of 48-year-old Waldron yesterday revealed she died as a result of an epileptic seizure.

The autopsy was performed by pathologist Dr Hughvaughn Des Vignes, around 10.30 a.m. at the Scarborough Mortuary.

On Sunday, shortly after 7 a.m., Waldron, who is also known as Michelle Jackson, was found motionless outside the door of an apartment building, located at Lighthouse Road, Crown Point, behind ANR Robinson International Airport.

Residents alerted police officials to the discovery.

Corporal Greig of the Scarborough Homicide Bureau conducted investigations into the incident.

Source:Trinidadexpress

NIB Mall To Be Demolished

The discolored back of the NIB Mall in Scarborough
 which is soon to be demolished

One of the island's landmark located in Scarborough would be torn down in the near future. Top management of the NIB has served "quit notices" to their 40 tenants, as they claimed the building's integrity was suspect. 

The NIB Mall was once a premier business hob for the town of Scarborough, however, due to poor maintenance it has lost its popularity yet still managing to retain key businesses from its inception. In recent times the sewer system problems became unbearable with the NIB having to be relocated. 

  

Media sources indicated that the Chief Secretary Orville London is insistent on the welfare of the 40 tenants at the NIB Mall in Scarborough and their customers, and indicated that the National Insurance Board (NIB) should manage the process with extreme sensitivity. 

Top Executives of the NIB met London a week informing to inform him on the structural integrity of the Mall. During the discussions London noted that he insisted that there should be meaningful consultation involving the NIB, tenants of the Mall and other stakeholders and the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) at every stage of the process.

London said in an interview last Tuesday that he was surprised to learn that the NIB had served notices to the tenants to quit the premises by April 30, 2013 to make way for the demolition of the Mall.

He said he was given the assurance that the NIB would take the views of the Assembly quite seriously in their deliberations.

He  further noted that the Assembly had committed itself to having serious discussions with the NIB to ensure that any decision taken was in the interest of the tenants, the welfare of Tobago and the development of Scarborough and Tobago. He said there were safety issues and the Assembly would have to respect them but it would have to be part of the decision-making.

The “quit notices” were signed by the NIB Acting Executive Director Karen Gopaul. A circular which accompanied the notices stated that the NIB had been working from 2012 to improve the infrastructure of the Mall and as part of the exercise it commissioned its wholly-owned subsidiary the National Insurance Property Development Company Limited (NIPDEC) to engage a reputable civil/structural engineering firm to conduct a structural analysis of the Mall.

In its report, CEP Limited stated that there were varying degrees of structural, as well as non structural damage; there was non-conformity with a number of current building codes; the beams and columns comprising the reinforced concrete moment resisting frame of the Mall were overstressed; and the design and detailing of the Mall did not meet all the minimum requirements for life safety performance.

Gopaul told the tenants in her circular that CEP confirmed in a letter of February 20 that the structural integrity of the Mall was severely compromised and posed a serious life threatening hazard to the tenants should a major earthquake occurred. It also concluded that the Mall was unsafe for continued occupation and should be demolished.

10 Year Old Tobagonian Makes History: Passes CSEC Exam

Ivor Smart poses with Sandeera Lewis  in celebration. 

A young and bright protégé, 10 year old Sandeera Lewis, is the youngest student in the Caribbean to write and pass a CSEC exam. This comes on the heels of the CSO study thatv says Tobago’s students are not performing as well as students in Trinidad in both the SEA and CSEC exams.

The student of Scarborough RC School, Sandeera attempted Social Studies and passed with a Grade 3. She says she is very dedicated to her studies and she felt confident enough to attempt the exams, through the guidance of her tutor, Mr. Ivor Smart. Sandeera has been under the tutorship of Ivor Smart since the tender age of three and he recognised that she had something that the other children did not.

“She was rather moved by the idea and hence the reason. Whatever was imparted unto her, she took it seriously and justice was done in the results,” Smart said.

Even though Sandeera is a well-disciplined child, her Standard 5 teacher, Patricia Wafe stated that she is a normal child who loves to play, and is occasionally mischievous.

Her mother, Jillian Lewis, has been her primary support, and had no objections when her tutor, Mr. Smart recommended that she pursue the CSEC exams. She said her daughter is a very industrious, bright and focused child. “To God be all the glory and the praise, and then very humbled because if you lose that sense of humility then you lose focus.” Her mother said.

Sandeera is not stopping here and will also be attempting the HSB and English CSEC exams in four months, as well as SEA exams in 2 months.

She wants to be a minister of religion and a criminal lawyer when she grows older. “I will like to tell everyone that once you have faith in the Lord, he would help you. So you can do anything you put your mind to,” Lewis said.

Reproduced from Tobagonews

Disrespectful and Disingenuous

The TOP and PP leopards can never change their spots. During the months prior to the January 21, 2013 election, they bombarded the Tobago electorate with half-truths and outright lies. They disrespected the Assembly and the other Tobago institutions; they disregarded the duly elected Members of the Assembly and they attempted to bribe and bully the island’s residents. Tobagonians rejected that insulting treatment and that insensitive posture in a decisive manner at the polls and one would have expected that, for some reasonable period of time, the lessons of the election wipeout would have resonated with the Tobago Organization of the People and their People’s Partnership managers.

Recent actions have signalled that there is no hope of any change and disrespectful and disingenuous behaviour will continue to be the order of the day. It must be disheartening to all right-thinking Tobagonians, regardless of their political affiliation, that just five weeks after the election and a mere two weeks after Chief Secretary Orville London and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar would have finally met and discussed issues of concern, that Minister of National Security Jack Warner should come to Tobago to discuss the island’s security issues with Minister for Tobago Development, Delmon Baker to the exclusion of any representation from the Tobago House of Assembly. Ministers Warner and Baker must be reminded that the practice over the years, has been that the Ministers of National Security and the Chief Secretary would collaborate in hosting regular meetings to which the Tobago based Ministers of Government, the relevant Secretaries, Administrators and Heads of Divisions in the Tobago House of Assembly and the Heads of the various units of the Ministry of National Security would be invited. At these meetings, crucial issues would be discussed and decisions could often be made “on the spot” and implemented because all the Stakeholders would have been present. The new approach by Ministers Warner and Baker is not only insulting and disrespectful but counterproductive. The Ministers would have basked in their media moments but, as in so many other situations in the past thirty-three months, the implementation is frustrating because of the refusal of the Central Government to cooperate with the Assembly in a meaningful and productive manner.

The Minister of National Security, in typical Warner style, compounded the insult by asserting that the Minister of Tobago Development is responsible for security in Tobago. This was the same type of argument used to support the claim of a former Minister of Tobago Development that her Ministry was responsible for the Tobago Regional Health Authority. The Minister and her theory have since been discarded but it is tiring for the Assembly to be consistently involved in fighting battles that they thought that they had already won. It is even more frustrating at this time when Chief Secretary Orville London who instead of gloating over his party’s overwhelming victory, extended an open hand of cooperation and goodwill across the waters, only to be met with a clenched fist.

Anslem Richards and his TOP colleagues have also not learnt that the people of Tobago are not easily fooled and that they punish those who try to mamaguy them and insult their intelligence. Still smarting from his unsuccessful foray into representative politics, Anslem Richards deliberately misrepresented information ”spirited out” of the Division of Finance and Enterprise Development to create the impression that the Assembly had distributed 4000 food cards in the two weeks prior to the January 21st election. Faced with documented evidence that in fact, only 143 cards have been distributed over a three-month period and that the process is rigid, transparent and free of interference from the political directorate, Richards does not have the grace to apologize but has now shifted his focus to the relationship between the Assembly and the bank. The Council is confident that the Tobago electorate will continue to remind Anslem Richards that they will not treat kindly with Tobagonians who are prepared to manipulate information in an effort to demean their political opponents and enhance their public image.

Minister Delmon Baker is also not averse to tinkering with the truth in his bid to revive his badly tarnished image. He has now embarked on a ploy to pose with all visiting Ministers and give Tobagonians the impression that the Ministry is responsible for development initiatives in Tobago. His latest claim is that his Ministry is embarking on a programme to introduce Internet Communication Technology in Tobago. Minister Baker omitted to inform Tobagonians that contrary to the impression given by him and his Cabinet colleague, Minister Griffith, the lone Central Government initiated Information Centre at Bon Accord was placed there in 2008, under the previous PNM Administration. It is the Tobago House of Assembly which has embarked on a programme of “setting up” Walk-in Centres around the island and installing computer labs in secondary and primary schools. This programme will be intensified during this term of the Assembly and the Tobago people will be given accurate information on the progress and impact of this initiative.

Disrespectful and disingenuous behaviour can only be counteracted by the dissemination of accurate and timely information. The people have to be informed and involved. The Tobago Council of the People’s National Movement is, therefore, highly supportive of the present Assembly’s threat to democratize the Government process in Tobago. That process will ensure that those who continue to mamaguy and mislead, will continue to be frustrated.

By The Tobago Council People’s National Movement

Christlyn Moore and London in Cordial Meeting

Christlyn Moore, Minister of Justice

Justice Minister Christlyn Moore and Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Orville London held their first meeting yesterday following the heated January 21 THA election campaign.

Both Moore and London agreed that their 90-minute meeting at the Calder Hall Administrative Complex, Scarborough, was "cordial and productive", according to a statement from the THA.

London told reporters they agreed to hold quarterly statutory meetings, which were extremely critical at this time because of the number of projects to be undertaken, including the correctional facility at Hope.

He added that this would require close collaboration between the THA and the ministry.

"From our perspective, we were very heartened by the quality of the discussions and the commitment of the ministry to ensure that the Assembly is involved in a meaningful manner in all decisions emanating from the ministry," London said.

In expressing appreciation for the level of professionalism and commitment which the minister and her team brought to the discussion, the Chief Secretary said this augured well and expected it would be a model for future discussion and future relations between the THA and the various ministries of the central government.

London said it was hoped the new correctional facility to be constructed at Hope in east Tobago would be designed and constructed based on the needs of the people of Tobago and not just a prison and not something that went with a national model.

He said there was recognition that there were peculiar and different challenges, different issues in Tobago.

He said there was no agreement however on how to ensure that the courts in Tobago treated with those issues that were important to the quality of life and retrofit the courts to adjust to that.

Moore said it was quite exciting to be a part of corporate efforts which envision new steps in providing administrative justice services in Tobago.

She said her ministry was moving to establish offices of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board and the Police Complaints Authority to serve the people of Tobago.

She added that the Director of Public Prosecutions was also invited to share space with the ministry so that a large range of criminal justice services were available in Tobago.

Moore said the meeting was very invaluable since it had given her ministry new insights into the justice system in the island.

Source: Trinidadexpress

THA Officials: TOP chairman Should Apologise for Prostitution Remarks

Claudia Groome Duke,
Secretary for health and Social Services

Secretary for Health and Social Services Claudia Groome–Duke has denied claims that female Cepep employees assigned to her division have resorted to prostitution because of late payment of their salaries by the Tobago House of Assembly. On Tuesday, Lionel Coker, chairman of the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) indicated that female Cepep workers assigned to the various divisions within the THA, including Cepep, were forced to turn to desperate measures because they were not paid salaries for four fortnights.

Speaking at the post-executive council news conference on Wednesday, Groome–Duke described the statement as “unfortunate.” She said the comment was made at a time when efforts are being made to eradicate domestic violence and abuse against women. She is therefore asking Coker to retract the statement and apologise.

“We really want to ask him to take back that statement because we all know our women in Tobago,” Groome–Duke said. “Our women in terms of their independence, their resilience, their dignity no matter what they go through in terms of their resilience, our women would stand up for their rights and get ahead. “I therefore see it as defiling the integrity of all women to say that if they are not being paid they would resort to prostitution.”

She said while the Cepep in Tobago went through a period of challenges after a restructuring process and an increase of the labour force in mid-2012, the process has since been computerised and workers are being paid promptly. “Over the past couple of months they have been paid on time and I want to note soon after the increase of the Cepep workers, they were doing those sheets manually and when there is a correction it holds up the sheets and create some challenges,” she said.

“They have now initiated a mechanism electronically and they have been working and creating this environment, giving their all and paying people on time.” 

Source:Guardian

Anil Roberts to Sue Media Houses and COP chairman Over Fabricated Story.

Anil Roberts Sport Minister

Armed with proof—a letter from the Integrity Commission which stated he was not under probe—Sport Minister Anil Roberts yesterday said he will be seeking justice in court against Guardian Media Ltd for false reports, as well as Congress of the People (COP) chairman Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan.

The Guardian reported on Wednesday that the Integrity Commission last week referred Roberts to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), in relation to a complaint of alleged misappropriation of funds at the Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Board of Control.

Yesterday, the Guardian reported further that Roberts was summoned to a meeting by the COP on this issue and that Seepersad-Bachan, as well as former head of the Public Service Reggie Dumas, had indicated he should demit office pending the DPP probe.

Political analyst Bishnu Ragoonath had also commented on the matter in the Guardian report.

Roberts was the lone minister at the post-Cabinet news conference at the Office of the Prime Minister in St Clair yesterday.

He came to clear the air that he was under no investigation, and as a result, he will be taking legal action against a number of persons.

In addition to Guardian Media Ltd and Seepersad-Bachan, Roberts said he also intends to sue Dumas, Ragoonath, COP general secretary Clyde Weatherhead and Ricardo Phillip, former boxing board member, who filed the complaint with the Integrity Commission in 2011.

Other media facing a lawsuit include i95FM and the Trinidad Express. 

The minister said he was willing to forgive Dumas and Ragoonath, should they apologise, as he claimed they were “duped” by Guardian reporter Anika Gumbs-Sandiford.

Roberts said following the Guardian report on Wednesday, his brother Shastri Roberts, an attorney, wrote to the Integrity Commission on his behalf, seeking answers.

The minister said on that same day, at 3.15 p.m., his brother received an e-mail from the commission, from the legal counsel of investigations and compliance, indicating he (Roberts) had not been referred to the DPP for investigation. The commission, by letter dated March 21, also stated same.

Roberts said he shared the e-mail with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who was relieved, and with fellow-ministers who were concerned and, also, Seepersad-Bachan.

“...When I showed that letter to Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan, she was the only one who requested to read it twice; she questioned the veracity of the document and went on to mumble and mutter, ‘But they told me’...at that time, I said, ‘Ma’am, I hope you did not make a statement on something that you failed to get the facts on’.”

Roberts pointed out that Seepersad-Bachan had instructed Weatherhead to call him to a meeting—and this was done after she had already commented on the issue.

While he intends to engage in legal battle with Seepersad-Bachan, Roberts commended COP political leader Prakash Ramadhar for being a “gentleman”.

Ramadhar, he said, discussed the issue with him via phone and did not “rush to judgment”.

Roberts, in response to questions, said he remains in the COP despite his issues with some of the party’s executive members as the COP membership supported him and were happy with his performance.

Roberts also made grave allegations against the Guardian reporter, claiming she never spoke to him yet quoted him in a report.

The minister said he never spoke to Gumbs-Sandiford and challenged her to produce phone records proving otherwise.

He said a pre-action protocol letter was already sent to Guardian editor-in-chief Judy Raymond and Gumbs-Sandiford.

Roberts also disclosed he had inside information on what was going on at the Guardian.

“To Ms Judy Raymond, who congratulated at 10.02 a.m. on Thursday, who congratulated, on the second floor of Guardian Media Ltd, Anika Gumbs-Sandiford for her lead story and told her she is now mandated to get a comment from the minister, who gave no such comment, but Anika Gumbs-Sandiford created, fabricated and published a quote purported to come from me.”

Roberts said he also intends to write Norman Sabga and Jerry Brooks of the Ansa McAl group on the issue.

Source: Trinidadexpress

Seeparsad-Bachan: Anil Must Demit Office Pending Probe by DPP

Sport Minister Anil Roberts must demit office pending a probe by the Director of Public Prosecutions into allegations of misbehaviour in public office levelled against him. This is the view of Congress of the People chairman Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan and former head of the Public Service Reginald Dumas yesterday.

  

The Integrity Commission last week referred Roberts, his permanent secretary Ashwin Creed and special adviser to the T&T Boxing Board of Control (TTBBC), Boxu Potts, to DPP Roger Gaspard, in relation to a complaint of alleged misappropriation of funds at the TTBBC relating to several events, in particular a $1.9 million boxing card put on by Potts’ son Giovanni.

The complaint was filed in 2011 by former TTBBC board member Ricardo Phillip, who was fired two days after he refused to support approval of the card for Potts’ son. Speaking about the development yesterday, Seepersad-Bachan said: “I take very seriously this matter where ministers are required to answer to any charges of corruption or conflict of interest involving their ministries or agencies that report to them.

“In such a case, they ought to step aside to facilitate the investigations, any form of investigations being carried out by the DPP,” she added. Noting that the matter was of a serious nature, Seepersad-Bachan said she consulted with political leader Prakash Ramadhar on the matter yesterday and a party decision was taken to meet with Roberts before any pronouncement was made on the matter. As such, they have summoned Roberts to an emergency meeting tomorrow.

“I have directed the general secretary to send a letter on my behalf to Mr Roberts, requesting him to attend a meeting to discuss the matter by Friday, so that we can hear his side before we make any pronouncement on the matter,” she said. “It is a very serious matter and we cannot have different strokes for different folks. We did have such a situation with former government minister Mary King and you will note what happened in that situation. They moved very swiftly for that one, and we also want to move very swiftly with this one.

“However, in accordance with the principles of natural justice we felt it was important that we gave Mr Roberts a hearing.” Dumas, too, suggested that the appropriate thing was for Roberts to step aside pending the outcome of the probe. “Although the minister has not been charged, and may not be, in the interest of transparency he should step aside until the matter has been dealt with and he is cleared,” he said.

“While there is no legal obligation for him to step aside, it is with keeping in good ethics that he should demit office until all issues surrounding the matter in question are clarified.” On the issue of whether the investigation poses another creditability issue for the Government, political scientist Dr Bishnu Ragoonath said: “Of course, the Government is facing serious other challenges in terms of questions pertaining to transparency and accountability, many of which are left unresolved.

 “Among them are the ways ministers respond to issues, all of which seem to be challenging the Government in relation to credibility issues,” he said. “The issues have all come to the fore and are undermining the stability of the Government and this is yet another issue where a minister has seemingly gone in contravention of good governance practices.”

Ragoonath said in spite of the allegations, he does not expect that Roberts will step down from his ministerial portfolio. “The position taken with all the allegations so far is that no one is voluntarily stepping aside and I do not believe this case would be any different,” he said. “However, because of the moral position the COP has taken I believe the political party would recommend for the minister to step aside until the investigations are completed.”

Anil: I have no case to answer

Commenting on the matter yesterday, Roberts said he was not unduly worried by the referral of the matter to the DPP’s Office, noting he was certain he did not have a case to answer. He also disclosed he was seeking legal advice on the matter. 

Meanwhile, the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday issued the following statement on the issue: “The PM respects the independence and integrity of DPP and Integrity Commission and therefore due process must take its course with regards to the allegations and the investigations into them by both agencies.” Telephone calls and messages sent to Creed were unsuccessful yesterday.

Source:Guardiannews

Chief Secretary calls for urgent Security Meeting

Chief Secretary Orville London 

THA Chief Secretary Orville London is calling on National Security Minister Jack Warner to reconvene the twice yearly meetings of officials of his Ministry and the Assembly to discuss security issues in Tobago.

London reminded Jack in a letter dated March 18 2013 that the last such meeting was held on March 14 2012. He said these meetings which were held twice a year, provided a forum in which all the stakeholders were able to collaborate in the decision making and implementation processes.

The Chief Secretary said there were a number of issues which required urgent attention or on which there was inadequate information from the Ministry of National Security.

London told Jack he wanted the urgent meeting with him and his officials to discuss all relevant issues including the construction of Police Stations at Old Grande and Roxborough; an increase in the number of officers in the Tobago Division; concerns over communication challenges, transportation needs and the availability of essential equipment in the Tobago Division; plans to manage security in the unique Tobago environment; construction of Fire Services headquarters and Fire Stations in Tobago; security concerns at the Scarborough Port and the ANR Robinson airport, adequate patrols and surveillance of other entry points in Tobago, traffic wardens, the role of the Defence Force in Tobago and a consistent disaggregation of the crime statistics for Tobago and Trinidad.

London added: "Meaningful collaboration between your Ministry and the Tobago House of Assembly is essential if we are to create an environment which would comfort the locals and attract visitors."

However, Jack was in Tobago recently to discuss security issues with Minister of Tobago Development Dr Delmon Baker without meeting with THA officials.

Meanwhile Baker will meet London at 10 a.m. on Tuesday (19th March 2013) at the Calder Hall Administrative Complex, Scarborough to discuss security enhancements in Tobago, construction of a CCTV Operational Centre and implementation of a K9 Unit. Dr Baker has also asked that they discuss the proposed integrated university campus, a school for children with special needs and the old Scarborough Regional Hospital at Fort King George.

Minister of Legal Affairs Senator Christlyn Moore will also hold discussions on Friday (22nd March 2013) with London on the relationship between her Ministry and the Assembly.

London and Secretary of Settlements Assemblyman Huey Cadette will meet Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal on Wednesday (20th March 2013) to discuss the Assembly's housing programme.

The Chief Secretary in his February 22 meeting with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar had raised the issues of the relationship between Minister of Government and Secretaries of the Assembly and the fund of Tobago's housing programme.

Source: THAnews

President Carmona: I Have Powers You Do Not Think I Have

President Anthony Thomas Aquinas Carmona began his term with a bang, appearing to throw down the gauntlet to the people of Trinidad and Tobago—both to those who govern and those who are governed.

Giving all indication that he would become an activist President, he declared that while he may not have a "magic wand" and was not an "executive president", the office of the presidency was not impotent.

"Under the Westminster form of governance, there are parameters within which I must operate. Powers you think I have, I do not," he said explaining his limitations. But he added pointedly: "Power you think I do not have, I do." That got a roar of approval from the crowd.

The President referred to Section 81 of the Constitution which "mandates the Prime Minister to keep the President fully informed of the general conduct of the Government, and at the President's request, to submit information which respect to any matter relating thereto."

He was delivering his inaugural address at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo yesterday. The address was a break with tradition because it seemed to lay out a road map for his presidency which would indicate that Carmona would be an advocate for the people while holding the Government to account.

Clearly a man of strong convictions, whose approach to the presidency is likely to be guided by the strength of those convictions, Carmona said as a judge he unflinchingly lived up to his oath "to do right to all manner of people without fear or favour, affection or ill-will."

"As President ... my remit is wider and greater, for I have sworn "to preserve the Constitution and the Law" and to devote myself to the "service and well-being of the people of Trinidad and Tobago. This I shall do without compromise or reservation, holding fast to the following fundamentals: integrity, transparency, inclusiveness and reverence to God Almighty".

The crowd once again roared its approval.

While he had sharp remarks for the rulers and the ruled, the President's softer comments came in the form of a plea to help the underprivileged. "Today, our jails house a disproportionate percentage of young males from depressed communities and we need as a society to devise ways and means of addressing this dilemma. ... For too many years, young men from our depressed communities are being murdered. The manchild is in crisis; and we cannot and must not trivialise the sanctity of human life by indifferently dismissing the deaths of these young persons as "gang-related" he said, to applause.

Carmona's demeanour at the lectern seemed to reflect religious fervour at times. "We adopt the offensive philosophical position that they will eventually all be killed, not recognising that every murder is revenged, and revenge is a race that will never end unless this is genuine intervention."

"We are a nation, we, the Parliament of the people, must no longer engage in tired politics on this issue. Waffle abounds. What is needed is a truly collaborative effort among the stakeholders to address the crisis that is crime," Carmona said.

Adopting a posture and tone which at many times was combative, the President did not only remind the Government of its responsibilities and obligations. He extended it to the people.

"Let me make it clear that being responsible and accountable does not only apply to "people in high places", to ministers of government and other elected officials. ... It is the right and duty of our citizenry to demand that, as leaders, they are responsible and accountable in the exercise of their functions. Yet one cannot justly demand that those in authority be disciplined, responsible and accountable, and not invoke the same standards of conduct in our own daily lives," the President stated.

In a speech in which the words "responsibility, accountability, integrity and transparency" were repeated at least seven times like a mantra, the President stressed that being responsible and accountable was a two-way street. He also emphasised that "honour and integrity do matter".

He called on the nation to regenerate itself. "For many many years the ship called the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago has left its safe moorings of integrity, accountability, responsibility, transparency and inclusiveness. We are good at sound bites and labelling. We can be excellent wordsmiths. But if we are to establish a better, more progressive, more humane society, real change must be invoked," he said. He called on citizens to demand their pound of flesh, but also to give their pound of flesh in productive endeavour.

Carmona, whose inaugural address was punctuated with applause, ended on a note of opportunism as he pointed out that the young persons engaging in criminal behaviour were capable of acting in a responsible and accountable manner.

He cited the successful Bail Boy Project initiated by the San Fernando Court, the Drug Treatment Court instituted under the wise leadership of Chief Justice Ivor Archie and the Rose Hill RC project under Clyde Harvey whom he described as a "giant".

Source:Trinidadexpress

IAN ALLEYNE FINED $30,000

Ian Alleyne, Crime Watch Host

CCN TV6's Crime Watch host Ian Alleyne was today fined a total of $30,000, or serve 72 months in prison, after pleading guilty to airing a video on three separate occasions during his programme in October of 2011, that showed the rape of a 13-year-old girl. 

The sentence was handed down by Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayres-Caesar in the Port of Spain Magistrates' Court, despite an appeal last week by Alleyne's lawyer Om Lalla, that Alleyne not be fined or imprisoned.

Lalla had submitted that Alleyne was not malicious in his intent, and was seeking justice for the girl.

Lalla said that due to the nature of the work being done by Alleyne,

his family was living in the United States, and a severe sentence would affect his ability to travel to see his loved ones.

However, State Prosecutor George Busby countered that the offence that Alleyne was guilty of, had caused mental torture to the 13 year old, who, as a result of the airing of the video, was now known to friends, neighbour and members of the public.

In passing sentence today, Magistrate Ayres-Ceasar said that ignorance of the law was no excuse, and the girl would have to live with the stigma, despite efforts to help her.

Under Section 32 (2) of the Sexual Offences Act, it is an offence to reveal the identity of a rape victim. The legislation reads "A person who publishes or broadcasts any matter contrary to subsection 1 is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine 

of twenty-five thousand dollars and to imprisonment for five years." 

 Alleyne was also charged with resisting arrest but has maintained his not guilty plea.

CNN TV6 is facing the same three charges and six additional charges contrary to the Telecommunications Act. The company has however maintained its not guilty pleas on all nine charges.

When Alleyne reappeared before Chief Magistrate Ayers-Caesar last Monday, Lalla made a plea in mitigation, saying that although Alleyne admitted to broadcasting the video, he did not purposefully identify the girl, and it was the act of an overzealous person reacting to the many cases in which women were being raped and no one was being arrested and prosecuted.

Lalla noted that within 48 hours of the airing of the video, information came to Alleyne and a person was arrested and charged with the rape of the 13 year old. He said the very video was in the hands of police weeks before Alleyne aired it.

Lalla said as a result of the incident, other media houses had reviewed their policy regarding the identification of sexual assault victims.

This morning, Magistrate Ayres-Caesar outlined the factors she considered in arriving at her decision. 

She noted that Alleyne, through the work he had chosen, had been able to achieve some level of success by having individuals arrested.

She said she understood Alleyne's motivation, since many in society saw the police as being somewhat ineffective, and the public did not have much confidence in the ability of the police to apprehend perpetrators.

The magistrate commended Alleyne on the work he was doing to have persons arrested, but said that in the pursuit of justice on behalf of crime victims and families, there was a certain line that could not be crossed.

She said that ignorance of the law was no excuse, and she was sure that Alleyne would have had legal advice before airing the video.

She said that under Section 32 (2) of the Sexual Offences Act, community service as a sentence for Alleyne did not apply. Magistrate Ayres-Caesar said she considered Alleyne's previous good character, but stressed that Alleyne needed to be responsible. 

She noted that Alleyne had taken steps to have the alleged victim of the rape undergo counseling. However, said the magistrate, no amount of counseling could heal the stigma the girl now had to face when she came into contact with peers.

Alleyne was fined $10,000 for each of the three offences, and given two weeks to pay, or serve 24 months in prison for each offence.

Outside the court, Alleyne said he accepted the decision, but that the sentence would affect any plan for him to run for public office.

Source:Trinidadexpress

187 Security Camaras Installed in Tobago

Closed Circuit Cameras

Closed Circuit Camaras are now becoming a normal phenomenon of our daily lives. Each day, citizens movements through out the country is captured, monitored, recorded and review if necessary all by hundreds of cameras. These cameras, usually seen at traffic lights can now be seen everywhere,  at major intersections and in our very own villages. But what are the real purpose of  these cameras? have they aided in the prevention or fight against crime? 

Even though they were here before, most security cameras in Tobago were observed by the average person sometime in 2010. Residents questioned why were they installed, who requested them, who monitors them and who are allowed to access the footage.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Hugh Lovell of the Tobago Police Division told channel five about the Tobago security cameras initiative. It was rumored that TEMA is affiliated with this initiative but Director Mr. Allan Stewart dispelled this.

According to ACP Lovell there are at present 187 security cameras installed throughout Tobago. The monitoring, reviewing and use of these cameras fall under the remit of the police service. He indicated that there are challenges with effectively monitoring the systems simultaneously.

This however does not deter the police from accessing footage to what may have transpired during an incident in a particular area. Most of these cameras were installed in hotspots and they were installed in an effort to aide in the fight against crime as Police officers may not always be present as any given point.

Shame On the Police: Missing Monies result in a Not Guilty Verdict.

35 year old Shane Darren Paynter of Tunapuna, Trinidad, is today a free man after a nine-member jury returned a not-guilty verdict. Paynter was held by police officers in July of 2003, allegedly in possession of US $900 counterfeit notes and TT $6,064. The court was told the US $900 which was previously in evidence by police officials was now missing and only $2300 of the local currency was presented, as $3,764 could not be accounted for by officers. Witnesses for the Prosecution, Head of the Fraud Squad, Acting Senior Superintendent of Police Vincel Edwards and Superintendent of Police-Tobago, Garfield Moore could not present the missing monies to the court. 

The nine-member jury wasted no time in delivering the not-guilty verdict. During questioning by Prosecutor Rihanna Ali, Superintendent of Police Garfield Moore told the court that when he went to retrieve the evidence, the Property room was in a mess.

“Things were everywhere. In 2011, the Property Keeper, Corporal John was charged with misbehaviour in public office because a firearm which was lodged at the Property room ended up in the hands of a civilian. Since then, there was an internal audit of the Property Keeper’s room and several discrepancies were found. The Property Keeper’s register was then taken to Trinidad for further investigations,” Superintendent Moore said.

Attorney at Law Larry Williams in representing his client said Paynter should be freed of the charges as the police could be accused of stealing. He then proceeded to sing a line from calypsonian Leydon ‘Organiser’ Charles.

“The police keep the US and take some of the TT, look the bandit, that’s a bandit,” Williams sang, much to the amusement of the jury. High Court Justice Devan Rampersad later called on the jury for a verdict in the matter and the not guilty verdict was read out.

On July 17, 2003 Paynter was held by members of the Fraud Squad along with three other persons, in a rented vehicle in the Crown Point district. When searched, police reports state US $900 counterfeit bills and $6,064 TT was found in his right front pocket. Paynter was arrested and taken to the Crown Point Police Station. When the matter came before the Magistrate’s Court back in 2009, the evidence was produced and the monies were proved as counterfeit, following forensic testing.

Source:Tobagonews

Chief Secretary: THTI should become University of Tobago

Orville London: Chief Secretary of
Tobago House of Assembly

The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) sees the Tobago Hospitality and Tourism Institute (THTI) as the core for the establishment of the University of Tobago, Chief Secretary Orville London said last Wednesday.

He said the Institute was ideally situated to be the core because it dealt with an area of study that was critical to Tobago’s development. “It already has accreditation, it already has regional and international recognition and it does have the potential to attract students from all over the world. You can do that and build on it by adding other areas of study so that you end up with a university that does not only cater for the needs of Tobagonians in specific areas, but also serve as a tourist oriented product bringing visitors to Tobago over an extended period.”

London told reporters at Wednesday’s post Executive Council media briefing, that the introduction of distance learning made it even more attractive for Tobagonians to source tuition from Trinidad, from the region and from anywhere in the world. He said this was one of the options available to the Assembly as it looked into the setting up of a university of Tobago.

London’s statement followed the disclosure by Secretary of Tourism and Transportation, Tracy Davidson-Celestine, that 50 Nigerian students will soon arrive in Tobago to pursue studies in Tourism, Culinary and Hospitality Management at the THTI in Blenheim, East Tobago.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between THTI and Verasys in April 2012 and a team from the Office of the President of Nigeria visited the institution in January to conduct an evaluation of the curriculum and facilities. The team left impressed and recommended THTI as an approved institution for training.

Davidson-Celestine said 50 per cent of the tuition expenses have already been deposited into the institution’s bank account while their accommodation had been secured.

Source:Tobagonews

Jobs On the Line at TEMA.

The Tobago News news is once again reporting that several employees at the Tobago Emergency Management Agency, in some cases for more than a decade stand is now under the threat of losing their jobs or being demoted. This was confirmed during a meeting with Chief Secretary Orville London at the agency’s head office recently.

In January, Tobago News had reported that staff was being informed by fax that their contracts have come to an end and their services were no longer required. Staff had also complained to Tobago News about the fact that they were not encouraged to apply for vacant positions which were only revealed through advertisements in the media. When contacted, Chief Secretary London referred us to the Chief Administrator, adding that he was unaware of the details of the matter. TEMA falls directly under the ambit of the Office of the Chief Secretary. Since then, several other contracts have expired and employees remained in the dark about their future at Tobago’s premiere emergency response agency. Several long-standing employees have been asked to literally step aside on the job to allow for their youthful replacement. In one case, an employee with almost a decade of experience has been demoted and is now being supervised by a recent high-school graduate.

In the three-hour long meeting with staff, the Chief Secretary, Chief Administrator Dr Ellis Burris and Human Resource Officer in the Office of the Chief Secretary sought to allay the concerns of staff. London’s team explained that the changes were being made because TEMA was being restructured. The employees were informed that the procedure was in keeping with good public relations practice and employees were advised to re-apply for the positions they presently hold or any other position that grasps their interest that is being advertised in the print media by the HR department.

The Chief Secretary outlined to staff that hiring power does not just lie within the HR department. Positions, he noted and the persons filling them are subject to review by the audit and legal departments, hence the minimum requirements for the positions must be met. This is the position that was cause for concern among workers because many of them do not meet the minimum qualifications for their positions after being elevated there based on their years on the job. London could offer no guarantee that present staff would be retained if another suitable candidate applies for their respective positions. The panel relayed to staff that though acting effectively in various professional positions, some staff are under- qualified and are not deemed fit to fill the positions. London admitted that there was some break-down with the communication between the HR department and the staff at TEMA and a conversation between the two parties is imperative.

Despite that meeting, staff remains uncertain as to the direction the restructuring exercise would take, as another round of vacant positions has been published in the print media. London ordered the HR department to set up a meeting with TEMA’s staff to outline the direction in which the restructuring exercise would take. Since the meeting which took place a month ago, the HR department has not communicated with TEMA in that light.

Source: Thetobagonews

T&T in top ten unfriendly tourist destinations

TRINIDAD and TOBAGO has been named among the top ten least tourist-friendly nations in the world, according to the World Economic Forum's "Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report" for 2013.

This country was ranked the eighth least-tourist-friendly destination on the planet.

Under the theme "Reducing Barriers to Economic Growth and Job Creation", The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2013 assessed 140 economies worldwide, based on the extent to which they are putting in place the factors and policies to make it attractive to develop the travel and tourism sector, the World Economic Forum's website, www.weforum.org, stated on Wednesday.

The countries were ranked according to 14 pillars, including safety and security, health and hygiene, and natural resources.

"The WEF's Travel and Tourism Report tosses around a lot of numbers as it tries to rank the success of the tourist industry in every nation on Earth, but the numbers that prove most interesting are the measures of "affinity for travel and tourism", which chart various peoples' attitudes toward foreigners within the context of tourism's economic impact on their countries," an article in the Huffington Post website stated on Wednesday.

"By levelling the playing ground—the "affinity" score doesn't take into account whether there is anything in a country actually worth visiting— the report gives a rare view into which countries actually care about the tourists they attract," the article stated.

"And the countries that rank at the bottom for "affinity" aren't all war-torn or sub-Saharan. A Caribbean beach destination and a European power are among the 20 worst performers," the Huffington Post observed.

The "Caribbean beach destination" referred to was Trinidad and Tobago.

Out of the 140 countries ranked, Trinidad and Tobago placed 133.

On the other end of the spectrum, Barbados placed second in the same category. Jamaica was 27th. Lebanon was ranked number one while Venezuela ranked last.

Haiti was ranked 135 in the affinity for travel and tourism category and was therefore the sixth least tourist-friendly nation in the world.

The top ten least tourist-friendly nations were: Venezuela, Bolivia, the Russian Federation, Algeria, Pakistan, Haiti, Chad, Trinidad and Tobago, Kuwait and Sierra Leone.  

Of the 14 categories considered, this country's highest placing was 13 out of 140 for "price competitiveness in the travel and tourism industry".

In terms of "safety and security", the country ranked 105 out of 140.

The Express was unable to reach Tourism Minster Stephen Cadiz for a comment on the country's top-ten ranking for being a least tourist-friendly nation on Wednesday.

Source:Trinidadexpress