BREAKING NEWS Herbert Volney Fired Over Section 34 Fiasco.

Herbert Volney Fired as
 Minister of Justice

In a lengthy address to the nation tonight, Prime Minister, Kamla Persad Bissessar broke her silence about early proclamation of Section 34 of the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) Act.

She indicated to the nation that the bill was first passed in the House without the infamous clause 34 and then amended and passed in the Senate with the support of the Independent members as well as the Opposition members.

"As a Cabinet, we must take collective responsibility" she said, however, every Minister must correctly and accurately informed the members of cabinet so that informed decisions can be made. She further noted that Volney had erred in this regard to accurately inform the members of the Cabinet, thus failing in his ministerial responsibility in presenting the note which gained the approval for the proclamation of Section 34. As such,  she has advise the Acting President Timothy Hamel-Smith that his appointment be revoked. 

Volney is to be replaced by Tobagonian Attorney at Law Christlyn Moore, who would take the position as a Senator and as the Minister of Justice.

Stay Tuned More to Come in This Story.

PM BREAKS SILENCE

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar will finally be breaking her silence today after almost two weeks of public outrage over the early proclamation of Section 34 of the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) Act.

Persad-Bissessar yesterday walked around Laventille and environs where she met and encouraged residents to keep the peace.

Almost three hours later after the walk, when pressed by the media on the Section 34 issue, Persad-Bissessar responded: "I will be making a statement tomorrow after Cabinet."

Later, a release was issued by the Office of the Prime Minister stating that the Prime Minister will be issuing a full statement on the matter today after Cabinet is concluded.

The Prime Minister stated in the release:

"Soon after Section 34 was proclaimed, the Director of Public Prosecutions expressed concerns to the Attorney General regarding the implications and consequences of the event. The Attorney General sought an immediate audience with me and, having examined the matter myself, I was satisfied that the consequences and far-reaching implications of this section were not consistent with Government policy.

"In the circumstances, I gave instructions for the Parliament to be convened immediately to consider a Bill to repeal Section 34. I also summoned the Cabinet to an emergency meeting to discuss the matter. The Government therefore moved swiftly to successfully reverse the ill-effects and unintended consequences of this section.

"Apart from taking immediate and necessary action to repeal Section 34, I chose to remain silent on the issue of its early proclamation because a premature commentary on the matter before all information became available to me would have been injudicious. Since then I have been personally enquiring into the circumstances that created the situation before us today and will be issuing a full statement on the matter tomorrow, Thursday, September 20 after Cabinet is concluded."

Section 34 of the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) Act, 2011 was proclaimed by the President on August 30, thereby giving accused persons a legal avenue to apply to a judge to throw out a case if more than ten years had passed since the commission of the alleged offence and if the trial had not yet started.

On the heels of the proclamation, businessmen Ishwar Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson, as well as other accused, applied to the High Court under Section 34 for their freedom.

The UNC financiers are accused of bid-rigging and conspiracy to defraud the Government of Trinidad and Tobago during the period March 1, 1997 to December 21, 2000, in the construction of the Piarco International Airport Terminal.

Last Tuesday the Prime Minister held an emergency Cabinet meeting and instructed that Parliament be reconvened to repeal Section 34.

On Wednesday and Thursday, the House of Representatives and Senate met respectively and Section 34 was repealed.

Early last Friday morning, the President signed the Proclamation Order repealing Section 34 which he had proclaimed just two weeks ago on August 30.

The furore continued, however, with Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley calling on citizens to march against the Government's handling of Section 34.

The Opposition argued that it had supported the Act because assurances were given that it would not be proclaimed until the legal infrastructure was put into place.

On Tuesday, Rowley led a march from the Red House to President's House where he presented a petition bearing 25,000 signatures to acting President Timothy Hamel-Smith which called on the Prime Minister to explain the section 34 fiasco and also revoke the appointments of Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and Justice Minister Herbert Volney.

On the same day that Rowley and thousands marched, Congress of the People (COP) political leader Prakash Ramadhar publicly apologised for his part in the Section 34 fiasco.

Ramadhar urged his own Government of which he is a partner, to come forward and explain the details that led to the passing of the contentious section.

Not only did the DPP take issue with the proclamation of Section 34 but the Criminal Bar Association and Law Association also stated that they were not consulted on this particular section.

Chief Justice Ivor Archie also spoke out on the issue at the opening of the 2012/13 law term, saying the implementation of any legislative policy to eliminate preliminary enquiries could not realistically have taken place before the first quarter of 2013.

Today, the country will hear from the Prime Minister herself why her Cabinet took the decision to proclaim Section 34 and whether anyone will be held accountable.

Strange Appearance" Prime Minister and Ashworth Jack featured in "50 Meets 50"

Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar
and Minority Leader, Ashworth Jack
in  50 meets 50 last night.

In a surprise to patrons last night, Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar and Minority Leader of the THA, Ashworth Jack appeared at the 50 meet 50 concert held at Canoe Bay-Tobago. In true political style, and public relation gimmick they both walked out from backstage holding raised hands to the crowd.

The  surprised crowd showed mixed emotion to the their appearance. Some cheered while they both waved with smiles to the crowds, while others grunt and murmured with disapproval. Their appearance came at the end of Taurus Riley's performance. 

"50 Meets 50"  was promoted as a mega show in which the two countries celebrating their 50th anniversary were featured. Artists represented from Jamaica were: Sizzla, Baby Cham, and Taurus Riley, while Artists from Trinidad were: Machael Montano and the HD family, shal Marshal, Tc, Ravi B and Karma, Roy Cape featuring Denise Belfond and Blacks.

Call for Tassa Drums to be Second National Instrument: Ridiculous !

Tropical Power Country Boys Tassa Group

Something which would have surfaced with a mephitis attached from the la basse of thoughts, is the description for the plea made by Tassa Association of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT), to incorporate Tassa drums as the second National instrument. Information reaching the public domain indicates that the TATT have made calls to the Prime Minister  Kamla Persad Bissessar to make Tassa drums the second National instrument. Wendell Eversley, vice-president of the Association, indicated that the call for tassa to be made the second national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago came from a historical perspective.

Wendell Eversley arguments are based on false premises. Citing that the pan we use are imported, and that the drum was here from the beginning (which was cited as slavery) was nothing short of man who seemingly missed the mark. There is little doubt that Mr Eversley failed to comprehend that the 'SteelPan' is not a barrel filled with oil. Rather, it is an instrument created by the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago chromatically pitched and tuned in such a way that it provides harmonic notes on a musical scale. On the contrary,  research have indicated that the tassa drum dates back to 4000 years ago, to the Persian region of Karbala which is now known as present day Iraq. Over the years the drum was associated with present day Afghanistan, Pakistan and finally India where many of the rhythms of tassa originated.

Try as I may to disassociate this from a subtle ethnic overtone, research has unearth data which supports that the Tassa Drum was brought here by indentured workers to the Caribbean in the 19th century somehow flourishing in Trinidad within the Muslim Hosay festivals. And although Pan may be viewed primarily as an 'African' instrument, the fact remains unequivocally,  that steel pan is not an African instrument neither is it an East Indian instrument, it is a Trinidad and Tobago instrument, made, claimed and appreciated by all of its people. 

By all means, tassa drums and its rhythms are part of our culture, it is part of our heritage and as such must be preserved. However, to ask to be placed as equal to that of an instrument invented by its people is too ask to much and a slap in the face of the people who've worked hard and tirelessly to have it recognized as it is today, and a slap in the face of the people it represents. 

This idea of a second national instrument, (which was taken by Mohammed back to India after the wars with the Persians), is outright preposterous, and frivolous. It bears no National significance other than it was brought here by indentured immigrants, and quite frankly should not be esteemed higher than a grand piano. Is it an 'Indian time' request that seemingly would augur well with our Indian Prime Minister and Administration? Why wasn't this brought to the table over the ten (10) years reign of the other regime? Is it another way to glorify race pride? The answers to these questions I cannot give, as such I must leave them to the court of public opinion. 

Our golden jubilee anniversary is almost here, let us suggest ways that can stem the current trends. Let us suggest intelligible ideas which can serve as a catalyst to enhance integration of all sections and ethnic groups. Let our ideas indicate to the world that our nation have matured, that our nation is  ready to seen as stronger, more integrated, more united and a more cohesive unit.  

And may God bless our Nation.

Keshorn Walcott Welcome Home:- Receives Trini Goodies

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar have Officially welcome home Keshorn Walcott, Gold Medalist in the Men's Javelin London 2012. A jubilant young man was all smiled as the massive crowd gathered at the Piarco Airport to welcome him. 

The Prime Minister presented him with a replica  plane of Caribbean Airlines and then announced that he would receive among other things:

1. Renaming of the Toco Light house to Keshorn Walcott light house

2. Twenty thousand (20000) sq ft of land in his hometown

3. 1 Million in cash

4. A House in Federation Park
5. An open scholarship to the University of Trinidad and Tobago