BAD START:Tobago Records 1st Maternal Death

Scarborough General Hospital 

The Tobago Regional Health Authority has come under heavy criticism once again as Tobago records its first Maternal Death for 2016. Dead is 35 year old Rose Gordon of Charlotteville, Tobago. 

It is being reported that lack of blood was a major problem during her C-section, the baby survived and is in the neonatal unit at the hospital. A Postmortem would be conducted on the body today to determine the actual cause of death.

Tobago Urged to prepare for Financial Limbo due to General Elections

According to the Chief Secretary, Orville London, a September 7 general election means Tobago will be in a state of “Financial Limbo” for an extended period this coming fiscal year.

London made the statement last Thursday as he led off the debate of the Tobago House of Assembly’s (THA) fiscal 2016 budget request, which was presented by Secretary of Finance and Enterprise Development Joel Jack on June 22 at the Assembly Legislature.

According to the Chief Secretary, the election date means the national budget will be presented in “late September for the earliest”, and as such “We will be in a state of financial limbo for even a longer period than in previous years, and, of course, this will present significant challenges for our planning as we move forward".

The Chief Secretary said it is important for Tobagonians to understand the constraints under which the THA has to operate.

Tobago Self Government Discussions Continue

THA Chief Secretary Orville London, left,
exchanges greetings with Arts and Multiculturalism Minister
Lincoln Douglas yesterday following their meeting on
 Tobago Self Governance at Hyatt Regency,
Port of Spain. —Photo: ISHMAEL SALANDY

The people of Tobago must have the right of self-determination, Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Orville London has said.

London was speaking at a news conference yesterday at the Hyatt Regency, Wrightson Road, Port of Spain, following the second Dialogue Meeting on Tobago Self-Governance.

A team from Tobago met with a Cabinet-appointed committee led by Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism Lincoln Douglas, who said a number of critical issues was discussed including the legislative powers of Tobago to make and implement its own laws, budgetary allocations and defining maritime boundaries.

Addressing reporters, London said the meeting surrounded 11 demands coming from the people of Tobago and that it is only a matter of time before there is closure to the issue of self-governance of Tobago.

He said however several points needed to be addressed such as equality of status between Trinidad and Tobago, a definition of the boundaries of each island and an effective law-making authority.

“We need an effective and meaningful law-making authority that cannot, in any way, be frustrated by the Cabinet or the Central Government,” he said.

London said there also needed to be an equitable sharing of the nation’s resources. 

He said Tobago self-governance must not be looked at as a favour or gift to Tobagonians, but rather about the island having the opportunity to operationalise their right to self-determination. 

“This is the right of the people.”

London added there were several areas of disagreement during the meeting, but he expressed hope these would be resolved.

“We did not agree on everything but I think it is a work in progress,” he said. 

Douglas said the meeting facilitated a clearer understanding of what is necessary to make Tobago self-governance a reality. 

Another meeting has been scheduled for May 6 to further talks on the matter.

The Tobago team included London, Tobago Platform of Truth (TPT) leader Hochoy Charles, Stanford Callender of the People’s National Movement (PNM) and Convenor of the Internal Self-Government Secretariat, Allan Richards, with Gilbert Peterson SC, as adviser.

Central government was represented by the committee headed by Douglas. Other members of the sub-committee include Minister of Water Resources and the Environment Ganga Singh, Minister of Food Production Devant Maharaj and Dr Delmon Baker, Minister of Tobago Development, along with advisers Ashworth Jack and Christo Gift SC.

Source: trinidadexpress 

THA Looks At Tourism Data Tracking

THE Tobago House of Assembly (THA) is currently examining the possibility of applying a satellite accounting system to evaluate the impact and contribution of tourism on the island’s economy.

Secretary of Finance and Enterprise Development Joel Jack spoke of the benefits of collecting data that can be used to make strategic decisions regarding Tobago’s tourism.

The secretary met with various organisations on a trip to Barbados, including the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Barbados Productivity Council and The University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill campus, to discuss the prospects for further partnerships between the two islands.

Jack said CTO representatives have committed to providing detailed, tourism-specific data for both Trinidad and Tobago.

“Once the methodology is utilised, we should have greater capability to track arrivals, occupancy and visitor expenditure and the overall impact of the tourism sector on the economy,” Jack said during last Thursday’s post-executive council media briefing at the Administrative Complex, Calder Hall.

“This data will prove invaluable and will satisfy some of the demands made by some industry-specific ­stakeholders,” Jack said.

Jack met with the CDB to discuss opportunities and assistance for funding Tobago’s development projects.

The Secretary said the bank’s representatives committed to meeting the THA and he expects a CDB delegation to visit the island.

Another objective of the trip was to identify a talent pool at UWI’s Cave Hill campus to assist the THA Fiscal Policy Unit with economic research.

“One of the challenges we have continuously faced is a shortage of Tobago’s specific economic data,” Jack explained, “and this arrangement with the university’s Department of Economics will strengthen the Fiscal Policy Unit and our ability to provide even more accurate fiscal projections and sound economic information to the Tobago public.”

The Finance Secretary stressed the urgent need to solve work force productivity and output level issues. He said the assembly is keen to set up a productivity council.

Source: Trinidadexpress

THA to adopt Private Public Partnership Model

The Division of Finance and Enterprise Development of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) will adopt a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) policy for the implementation of projects identified for the island's development programme.

Speaking at Wednesday's weekly post-Executive Council media briefing, Assemblyman Joel Jack, the Secretary of Finance and Enterprise Development, said that the division and had sent a team to a training programme in Managing Social Infrastructure – Public Private Partnership, held in Miami in February. The THA was represented by Secretary of Settlements and Labour Deon Isaac, economist Carlos Hazel, and the Finance Secretary.

He added that the next step towards implementing a PPP model for Tobago will be the roll-out of a PPP policy framework and the establishment of a PPP unit within the division.

The Secretary of Finance said that the policy will also address the recommendations, including those relating to procurement policies, made by Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh in his judgement on the Milshirv/BOLT matter.

He said that the policy document, which will be unveiled in the coming months, will see the Assembly's implementation of the PPP model and will take into consideration the definition and scope of PPP projects, especially in relation to size and duration; priority areas in the implementation of PPP arrangements; the objectives of the PPP projects, especially in relation to the Comprehensive Development Plan; principles governing PPP agreements; procedures for procurement; the management of PPP projects; risk allocation policy; and monitoring and evaluation.

Jack said that this policy document will outline the parameters under which the PPP model should be employed and also set the legal and administrative framework for the model. He added that, in anticipation of Justice Boodoosingh's ruling, much work has been done and the division will shortly be presenting a policy document to the Executive Council after consultation with the relevant stakeholders.

Source:THA

Joel Jack on the Attack, Seeking Budget Back Pay from Central Government

Joel Jack, Secretary of Finance THA

The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) may trigger provisions of the Dispute Resolution Commission (DRC) in the THA Act to seek arrears of funding of hundreds of millions of dollars in budgetary allocations dating back to 2010. The statement was made by THA Finance and Enterprise Development Secretary, Assemblyman Joel Jack, at yesterday’s post — executive council media briefing. 

Jack said: “We have that mechanism at our disposal and I believe that at the conclusion of our deliberation (with the Minister of Finance) that might be one of the options available to us. “In addition to getting this year’s arithmetic correct we also have the issue of previous year’s balances that are owed to the THA.”

Jack said beyond the legal measure in terms of financing Tobago’s developmental agenda a THA team, led by Chief Secretary Orville London, recommended to the minister, if he was unable to fund Tobago’s development needs, to  allow the THA under the law to float two Tobago Development Bonds, a billion dollars this year and a billion dollars in another year.

THA focus on opportunities not dollars

While the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) has its expectations for tomorrow’s national budget presentation by Finance Minister Larry Howai, THA Chief Secretary Orville London says whatever the budgetary allocation is, it will not be enough to carry out the responsibilities of the Assembly. 

“So when we listen to the debate (tomorrow) our focus will not only be on the monetary allocation but our focus will also be on the signals coming from the Minister of Finance with respect to the type of opportunities that he will be providing to the Tobago House of Assembly to access funding or to get involved in arrangements that will enable us to be able to provide ourselves with the resources,” London said.

THA Wants Share of Housing Loan From Central Government

Secretary of Settlements and Labour,
Assemblyman Huey Cadette.

The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) wants a share of any housing loan acquired by government and to have the opportunity to finance off budget funding for housing projects in Tobago. These are some of the issues raised at a recent meeting between Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal and THA Secretary of Settlements and Labour Assemblyman Huey Cadette.

Cadette told Wednesday's post Executive Council media briefing that the issues will be part of a memorandum of understanding now being drafted by technocrats of the ministry and his division.

The THA is currently on a $140 million housing thrust using funds from its savings and part of its parliamentary allocation and was hoping to share in the US$50 million housing loan the central government recently obtained from the Inter American Development Bank (IDB).

He said the loan was for squatter regularisation, improvement of the housing stock, capacity building and institutional strengthening. However, he added, the Assembly wanted part of the loan for capacity building, support for its housing grants programme and for equipment and technical support for the implementation of the housing programme.

Cadette said funding for a Tobago housing programme should come from off budget sources and the Ministry of Finance had committed itself to develop a position paper with recommendations on this and also identify sources of funding available to the Assembly when approval was granted to it to obtain loans.

The housing programme was being project managed by the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) whose CEO Jearlean John was present at the meeting and MTS.

He said the meeting also discussed the need to have a level of stringent oversight on its housing projects to ensure the timely delivery of units with the quality required. He said a joint team will be appointed to address long outstanding issues dating back to the former national housing authority including leases and mortgage payments.

The THA's $140 million housing thrust includes the construction of 239 units at Adventure Phase II that will have Town Houses, Duplexes, Apartment Buildings and some single units; the development of 200 service lots at the THA-acquired Courland Estate, 50 service lots at Belle Garden Phase II and 60 service lots at Adelphi Estate.

Source:THAnews

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

Chief Secretary Announce Live Broadcast of Assembly Sittings

Chief Secretary Orville London is planning to set up a Public Interest Desk to allow the people of Tobago to ask questions relating to the operations of the various Divisions of the Tobago House of Assembly.

These questions, he said, will be answered at the plenary sittings of the Assembly which will be televised live on Channel 5 in the first instance. He added that Secretaries and Assistant Secretaries will also deliver statements on issues under their remit starting with him on Thursday.

London said he was hoping that this would create an environment where it would be the same as if there was a minority side in the House.

The Tobago Chief Secretary laid out these plans yesterday (Tuesday 5th February 2013) at a one hour meeting with the management committee of the Tobago Chapter of the T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce at the Calder Hall Administrative Complex.

London invited the Chamber members to the meeting to discuss their participation in the unique process of governing Tobago following the January 21st THA election.

He told the meeting that while some people saw the 12-0 result as a challenge because there was no opposition, he viewed it as an "opportunity to change the way in which we govern between elections".

"I am saying now that there is no official opposition, I am not creating an opposition but my vision is to really create an environment in which the people will be involved in governance, which means that they would have to have the opportunity and they will also have to take the responsibility." he said.

He added: "I want us to almost lock ourselves into a process that cannot change even though we change our minds and the only way to do that is to have the process, make it public and in a way all of us are now committed to the process because in the final analysis the public is my boss."

He said this matter has to be dealt with in two phases, the first was to deal with the process and the second was how the process was to be implemented.

London said a Tobago Interest Group comprising various interests in the island would soon be appointed to interface with the Assembly to discuss issues of governance which hopefully would form part of the decision-making process.

Chamber Chairman David Wong told London his plan to democratise the House in the absence of an opposition was a unique one and will take it to his membership while Chamber Director Dianne Hadad agreed that this was the most correct path to take. Chamber Director Joseph Morrison said this was a process for change and he was not adverse to the Chamber participating in it to ensure it worked.

Reproduced from THA Website

Ramlogan Threatens London with Legal Action

Attorney General, Anand Ramlogan

In a story carried by the express, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan has threaten the Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary Orville London to submit documents pertaining to the Milshirv project and the aquatic centre project to  the Minister of Finance Larry Howai. 

Ramlogan stated that his request must be satisfied within a one week period or else London would be taken to court under the Freedom of Information Act, in an effort to compel him to release the documents. The Attorney General further tries to bully his way as usual by stating if he is "forced" to issue legal proceedings against London, he (Ramlogan) would also be forced to invite the Court to order London to pay the Legal costs personally out of his pockets as opposed to it coming out of the THA coffers. 

Ramlogan said he was giving London one more week because he did not want it to be said that "we are hounding Mr London or acting in an aggressive manner against him". "I am repeating the call to him through you (the media) to behave in a responsible and mature manner and disclose the documents or else face the consequences," the Attorney General stated. 

Last month Howai wrote London giving him seven days to submit the documents pertaining to the two projects. London in a press briefing stated that Howai, has to wait a little longer than his seven days stipulation. London further stated that under the laws and the T&T Constitution the Finance Minister has no authority to instruct him to provide information to him within any timeframe.

Further, London indicated that in the interest of public disclosure and due to the considerable discussion that surrounded the transaction he has a responsibility to make the information available to the Minister as well as the general public.

However, even with these assurances, the Attorney General seeks to take draconian measure  against the Chief Secretary and more so Tobago House of Assembly. 

This boldface, daring, audacious and irresponsible use of power against the Highest institution of the people of Tobago must be condemned.  If the Minister does not have the "Powers" to instruct the Chief Secretary, that Minister, be him Howai or any other must wait for the provision of documents, given that explanations are forthcoming and it is done in a reasonable time.  There must be no support for the PP Government carrying the Tobago House of Assembly to Court, given that the documents are already submitted to Integrity Commission and as such an investigation can be pending or might be ongoing. 

As a result of Ramlogan's action, we must conclude therefore, that the Attorney General is NOT interested in transparency and accountability as he is purporting, rather he is interested in Politicking and his urgent quest for information is only to actively assist and satisfy the PP in their witch-hunt for political reasons or ends to damage the PNM as heavy campaigning for votes is soon to begin before the THA election.

Let the Attorney General be reminded that we the citizens of Tobago are watching their (PP) every move as it relates to Autonomy  of the office of the Chief Secretary,(note not the person) and any attack on the Office would be met with great displeasure, discomfort, resistance and aggression from the people of Tobago. 

In a previous post, London said he wanted to make it very clear that the decision not to submit the documents within seven days to Howai was by no means meant to prevent the information from being made public; "Quite the contrary, we want to ensure that at the same time the Minister has the information, the public has the information," London added.

THA Building More Houses in Tobago

The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) will resume its housing programme next week, Settlements and Labour Secretary Godwin Adams disclosed on Wednesday. (7th November 2012)

Adams said the programme will include the construction of town houses, duplexes and apartment buildings at Adventure in northwest Tobago. He said construction will begin next week on 40 town houses by three Tobago "born and bred" contractors over a ten-month period. They are Parks International Company Limited, Carl Rodney Construction and A M Transport and Construction. He said these units were estimated to cost $32M while a second phase will begin next month.

Adams said he wanted to made it absolutely clear that the Assembly had contracted state-owned HDC to project manage the programme which will be funded from the THA budget.

The Assembly has already constructed and distributed 74 single dwelling units costing approximately $22M at Adventure.

Adams also disclosed that E-IDCOT which was established by the THA as a special purpose company has been contracted to project managed work on 55 service lots at Belle Garden in east Tobago over the next ten months. The work will be done by Kalanji Transport and Construction.

He further added that 120 service lots will be developed on the Courland Estate starting within the next three weeks while in a second phase at Courland will see the construction of town houses, duplexes and apartment buildings.

Adams said the Assembly will continue to pursue its housing programme to provide affordable housing for citizens of Tobago.

He said the Assembly spent $5M last year and has budgeted another $5M under its home improvement programme to assist Tobagonians in the maintenance of their houses. He added that over 400 families had benefitted from the home improvement grant, the home improvement subsidy and the home completion grant.

reproduced from THA site

Ashworth Jack Cries Victimization

Ashworth Jack, Leader of the
Tobago Organisation of the People

The political leader of the Tobago Organisation of the People(TOP) Ashworth Jack, has accused the London administration of using "cheap political tricks" in order to win the upcoming Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election.

His statements were made yesterday, in reference to what he believes to be a "calculated ploy" by the PNM-controlled THA to prevent the TOP from meeting next week Tuesday for their annual sports and family day.

The TOP's "sports and family day"  was scheduled to be held on the Divali public holiday November 13 at the Mason Recreation Ground. The event in which they received written permission to host was entitled "Top man can cook".

A "spectacular light-up in the night", according to a flier for the event, was scheduled in honour of Divali. Fliers, banners, billboards, and other print and electronic media, were used to advertise the event.

"We were using the event to garner our support and spend time with our members, in preparation for the upcoming election," Jack told the Express in a telephone interview yesterday. However, when the organisers went to the Mason Hall Recreation Ground yesterday, the field was dug up.

Information reaching the the TOP indicated that the ground was dug up to lay electricity cables to facilitate a lighting project for the field.

Jack indicated that "We have no problem with them providing lights for the field, we welcome that. What we are concerned with is the timing of the work".

The TOP has now relocated its sports and family day event, Jack said.

"We invited people to the venue, and now, we have to do a whole new advertising scheme in order to take care of the change of venue," he said.
Jack indicated that the TOP will remain resilient, despite all the attempts by the PNM to dishearten them.
He said the TOP has been facing difficulties in securing space to host public meetings.
Jack said last weekend, the Ministry of Sport scheduled a mini-sport caravan, but none of the THA grounds were made available.
"We have to win this election to ensure that this does not happen again to anyone, regardless of political affiliation," Jack said.

The event is now carded to be held at the Mount Grace Recreation

Howai Has to Wait.

Chief Secretary, Orville London

Chief Secretary, Orville London yesterday indicated that Finance Minister Larry Howai has to wait a little longer than the seven days for documents on the $143M MILSHIRV office complex at Shirvan, in southwest Tobago.

Howai wrote the THA Chief Secretary last week requesting that all documents relating to the office complex being built for the Assembly under a BOLT (Build Own Lease Transfer) arrangement be made available to him by seven (7) days. 

In a media conference yesterday, London indicated that under the laws and the T&T Constitution the Finance Minister has no authority to instruct him to provide information to him within any timeframe.

However, London indicated that in the interest of public disclosure and due to the considerable discussion that surrounded the transaction he has a responsibility to make the information available to the Minister as well as the general public.

London further indicated that he has would send a letter to Minister Howai on Thursday (1st November 2012) explaining that the various documents are being vetted by Senior Council and the THA Senior State Council following which the information will be made available to the public and to him.

London also disclosed at the weekly Post Executive Council media briefing on Wednesday (31st October 2012) that the Integrity Commission had written him requesting that the documents on the MILSHIRV office complex be produced within seven days.

The Tobago Chief Secretary said the Integrity Commission has the legal authority to so instruct and therefore that information will be made available to it within the seven days. He added that more or less the same information that was going to be made available in the public domain will be made available to the commission for it to continue its investigation.

London said he wanted to make it very clear that the decision not to submit the documents within seven days to Howai was by no means meant to prevent the information from being made public; "Quite the contrary, we want to ensure that at the same time the Minister has the information, the public has the information," London added.

THA VINDICATED

The onslaught from the Peoples Partnership (PP) came fast and furious in the MILSHIV project undertaken by the Tobago House of Assembly (THA). Sport Minister Anil Roberts was the first to launch a scaling attack of words alleging corruption and wrongdoing by Chief Secretary Orville London in the Parliament during the 2012-2013 budget debate two weeks ago. Like if that was not enough, the Prime Minister took her punch in a bid to finish off the THA and ultimately secure a winning spot in the THA election carded for January 2013. The prime Minister threatened to stop the project and advised that she had referred the matter to the Attorney General Anand Ramlogan for swift investigation. Anand last week wasted little time and attempted to finish off what was left of the THA in this matter. He indicated that he had referred the matter to the Commissioner of Police, the Integrity Commission and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), all without getting the full facts of the matter at hand. 

However, the THA looked bullet proof. The Chief Secretary stating emphatically, that they have nothing to hide and that the MILSHIV project was above board. But even as the Government was eager to question the legality of the matter in a hope to score cheap political points ahead of the THA election the acting president Hamel Smith gave his support for its legitimacy. The express stated that in a six-page legal opinion commissioned by AIC Capital Market Brokers Ltd, dated January 3, 2011, Senator Hamel-Smith confirmed the ability of the THA to enter into the arrangement, saying there was no law restraining the THA from entering into a lease/leaseback arrangement to develop the Milshirv Administrative Centre for Education, Sport and Youth purposes. the express further stated that in arriving at the decision, the law firm consulted the THA Act Ch 25:03 extensively and investigated several pertinent international cases, which sought to determine whether entities such as the THA had the authority to enter into similar arrangements without breaching the law. 

However, the PP government continues to witch hunt although given the advice to move forward. They continue to maintain that the THA has broken the Law, all in a hope that something may eventually present itself and give them leverage in the THA elections 2013. 

The express stated that in summarising its "advice", Hamel-Smith told the AIC that since the THA has responsibility for education, sports and State lands in Tobago and is required to formulate and implement policy in relation to such responsibilities, leasing the said land can be considered to be an extension of such powers, or alternatively, incidental to such power.

Further, Hamel-Smith added: "Indeed as there is no express prohibition disallowing the THA from dealing with the land vested in it, and the THA is permitted to enter into such contract as it deems fit for the discharge of its functions, leasing and leasing-back the property with the view of acquiring an administrative centre to be used for education, sport, and youth purposes may well be considered within the powers of the THA and, in any event, incidental to such powers."

Hamel-Smith took special note of the THA's responsibilities as enunciated in Section 25 of the Act, which stated among other thing that the THA may "enter into such contracts as it deems fit for the efficient discharge of its functions".

The lawyers pointed out as well that Section 54 states, inter alia that all lands and other property of every kind located in Tobago vested in the State except the residence of the President and Prime Minister, are to be vested in the Assembly in right of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

The opinion signed by the acting President made it clear that "there is no express prohibition on the THA restricting its ability to deal with its land", and that the "THA is given wide powers to enter into such contracts as it sees fit for the discharge of its functions"

Government Bolts to Court over THA contract

'LAW BREACHED': Attorney General Anand Ramlogan
Photo by: MICHEAL BRUCE

Government is bolting for the courts.

Attorney General Anand Ramlogan yesterday announced that Government is to go to court seeking a declaration that Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Orville London and the Assembly violated Section 51 of the THA Act when it entered into a $143 million BOLT (Build, Own, Lease, Transfer) contract for the Milshirv Administrative Office.

Ramlogan told the Senate the matter had been referred to the Commissioner of Police for immediate investigation, to the Integrity Commission and the Director of Public Prosecutions by the office of the Attorney General.

Ramlogan said he had spent the last two days looking at the matter, which had been referred to him by the Prime Minister.

"When you deconstruct the BOLT arrangement, it is clear that Orville London and the THA breached the law.

"It appears that the THA negotiated an arrangement which was designed to by-pass and circumvent the provisions of the THA Act," he said.

"There are things about it from the start, however you turn it, however you dissect it, it reeks of corruption and misfeasance," the AG declared, to loud tablethumping support.

Ramlogan said Section 51 of the Act states that the THA Secretary may with the approval of the Minister (of Finance) borrow sums by way of term loans for the purposes of capital development.

Stating the Minister knew the country's balance sheet, he said the THA could not use a "disingenuous device" to get around the provision.

"Depending on what the court says, it may well be that the people of Tobago would be saved from this pernicious and oppressive agreement...and that transaction may be voided," he said to more deskthumping.

Ramlogan said there were too many questions to ask, such as: "How did these people (Dankett Limited) know that Orville London wanted an office complex in the first place to come and approach him with the proposal? This man had a piece of land and suddenly he had a vision...a dream, and he run down in his pyjamas and say 'hey Orville, I dream last night yuh wanted a complex and I will build it for yuh'. This is a strange case of political telepathy. Something has to be wrong."

He said he also wanted to ask London whether he paid 18 months' rent in advance in the sum of $21.64 million through a FCB account, "before even a post hole was dug", as soon as the lease was executed.

"Because if that company fold up, that money gone. That is what happened at e TecK and the WGTL (Petrotrin) matter, which are both before the court," the Attorney General said.

"Was this transaction put before the THA? Was there any public disclosure about it at all?" he asked, getting a response of "no" from his colleagues on the Government bench.

Ramlogan said two questions asked by Reginald Dumas, former head of the Public Service, remain unanswered--whether it was necessary to rent 83,000 feet of office space to house the Agricultural Division of the THA, and how come the cost per square foot of land in Milshirv was double the price of land in the capital city, Scarborough.

Reproduced from express Trinidad 

London: THA Projects Above Board

Chief Secretary of Tobago House of Assembly
Orville London

Chief Secretary Orville London said last night he was not "overly concerned" with Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar's indication to have projects in Tobago probed. London said, the THA has "always operated within the law".

According to the express paper, London stated in a telephone interview that "The Prime Minister may interpret the law in a particular way. I operate based on legal advice and based on the law," London said. "I don't know which law we have broken, but we never operate in a reckless manner," he said.

London maintained that everything was above board, and indicated his concern of the Prime Minister's intention to have the Attorney General probe the Bacolet Indoor and Aquatic Centre and the THA Administration Complex in Tobago.

"It is quite obvious that this is an attempt to politicise the THA election. The fact that the projects have engaged the Prime Minister's attention is evidence that it is about the elections. This is their style," London maintained.

He was quick to note that people in Tobago know him and know he would always "steer clear of corruption".

"But again, it is no issue if the Prime Minister's interpretation of the law is different. It is not a criminal act, it is just a different interpretation of the law and we need to treat with it. The law needs to be clarified in this type of situation," he said.

In addition, London indicated that the THA was being systematically starved of funding and was forced to entertain Build, Own, Lease, Transfer (BOLT) arrangements in order to facilitate necessary projects.

Giving examples he said, the THA requested $10 million for a scholarship programme and got $200,000. He requested $285 million for Housing and Settlement of over 500 houses, and got $28 million.

"The THA asked for $49 million to complete the Scarborough Library and got $8 million.

"With the Shore Park Cultural Complex, we asked for $20 million, we got $5 million," he said.

"It is in that context that the BOLT arrangements found favour," he said.

Joseph Rahael, director at Milshirv Properties Ltd, the company at the centre of the BOLT arrangements with the THA, yesterday said he "welcomed" the probe."We welcome any call for transparency and good governance," he said in a telephone interview last night.

Rahael earlier this week accused the Minister of Sport,  Anil Roberts of  "false allegations" made against him and his family, and he saw this as an opportunity to clarify misunderstandings. "This is a great opportunity for the name to be cleared. We believe in good governance and the due process," he said.

Rahael said he was not concerned by the Prime Minister's intention, but saw the probe as a chance to prove the BOLT arrangements in Tobago were "above board and transparent".

Delmon Baker to Rowley: Call THA Elections Now

Tobago West MP,  & Minister of Tobago Development
Dr. Delmon Baker

“We’re ready. The PP is ready and the TOP (Tobago Organisation of the People) is ready. Tell (THA leader Orville) London to call the elections,” these were the words of Tobago West MP Delmon Baker to the Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley in Parliament yesterday. A fiery Barker regurgitated the call of his coalition leader (Kamla Persad Bissessar) to Rowley asking him to instruct the PNM-controlled Tobago House of Assembly (THA) to call the Tobago elections now. 

TOP is hosting a rally at Tobago’s Market Square on Saturday where the 2013 budget is expected to be discussed and PP members are expected to attend. Baker yesterday devoted his budget contribution to attacking the THA and Rowley and shoring up the PP’s stocks where allocations and other concessions for Tobago were concerned.

Quoting from previous addresses by Rowley, he said he had flip-flopped on his statements about Tobago now that elections were in the air and was pretending to be Tobago’s hero in the issue due to his political ambitions.

Baker further said, the PNM was afraid of a forensic audit in Tobago and of calling elections. He also refuted claims made by Dr. Rowley, saying that the THA did received the requisite amount under relevant regulations.  Adding, that Tobagonians need to know what the THA is doing with the money especially as major projects are still unfinished. 

Baker again brought up queries by the Auditor General about sums of money and unspent balances, claiming that the THA is not being truthful about the actually amount on the unspent sums in a a bid to accumulate a large amount to spend for THA elections. Baker said the end of 2012 must mean the end of the PNM in Tobago.

He said Tobagonians loved the TOP and Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar. He added while Tobagonians loved and referred to former president ANR Robinson as “ah we boy,” they also loved Persad Bissessar who was regarded as “ah we Prime Minister.” 

PNM MP Paula Gopee-Scoon said Baker was practising for Saturday’s PP rally.

$320M DEAL

Minister of Sports Anil Roberts has accused the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) of corruption in a $320 million deal involving the sale, lease and rental of three acres of lands and an office building, all linked to the family of former PNM government minister John Rahael.

According to Roberts, the THA bought the parcel of land for $12 million from a company owned by members of the Rahael family. 

The THA then leased the land back to another Rahael family company for a 199-year period at $10 a year. The Rahaels then offered to rent to the THA the property with office space at a cost of $1.2 million a month for 20 years. 

Roberts yesterday flung a barrage of accusations of corruption and mismanagement under the former PNM government during his contribution to the 2013 Budget debate in the House of Representatives, Tower D, Port-of-Spain International Waterfront Centre. 

His salvoes— including a denial of funding to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation senior team for a current overseas tour (see page 8, 42A), and the linking of the current budget deficit to wastage, overruns and corruption under the PNM administration— were directed at Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley, who opened the debate with claims that the People’s Partnership Government had demonstrated over the past two and a half years that it was corrupt. 

“They gonna learn something right now,” Roberts said as he disclosed the details of transactions involving the THA and the Rahael family companies. 

The THA, Roberts said, bought three acres of land from Dankett Limited for $12 million. Dankett’s two directors were Joseph Rahael, son of former PNM government minister John Rahael, and Anthony Rahael, brother of the former minister. 

John Rahael, Roberts noted, was a former ministerial colleague of Rowley, and the candidate whom Rowley backed as chairman for the PNM at the party’s last elections for its executive. Six days after buying the land from Dankett Ltd, Roberts said the THA leased the land to Milshirv Properties Limited for 199 years at $10 a year. Milshirv Properties, Roberts claimed, is owned by Joseph Rahael. 

According to Roberts, “The story gets worse.” 

While the THA did not say to Milshirv Properties that it needed office space, according to Roberts, “Joseph Rahael, son of John Rahael, said to the THA, you all need office space. Buy my land. Lease it to my next company, Amera. I will give you the design (for a building of 82,654 square feet) and you pay me over the next 20 years, $1.2 million a month.” 

That would amount to, Roberts said, over $320 million. 

On September 7, Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) leader Ashworth Jack told the media at a press conference in Port-of-Spain, that the building was built at a cost of $143 million with taxpayers contributing funds under a BOLT (build-own-lease-transfer) arrangement. 

Jack said the Bolt arrangement was not necessary as the THA also owned the land next door to the new three-storey building at the corner of Claude Noel Highway and Shirvam Road in West Tobago. 

The new building is to house the THA’s Division of Agriculture, Marine Affairs, Marketing and the Environment. 

According to a THA release issued in response to the TOP press conference, taxpayers stood to gain “significant benefits” from the way the project was financed. 

The THA admitted to having to pay $322 million over a 20-year period. 

However, the release said the THA would not be responsible “for the external maintenance of the building constructed under the arrangement, the developer would take all the risks in the investment; at the end of every three-year period the (THA) would capitalise the rent to the end of the lease period and pay off for the building; and at the end of the 20-year period, the property would be automatically owned by the (THA).” 

According to Roberts, after the lease agreement was effected, the THA agreed to pay up front $21.64 million to cover an 18-month period through a First Citizens Bank account of which the THA and the Milshirv Ltd were signatories. 

Linking the PNM to the THA and the businesses, Roberts said, Tobago “is the last little piece” that the PNM has a hold on. 

“This is what they doing in Tobago. This is why we call on Orville London (THA Chief Secretary) to call elections in Tobago, because Ashworth Jack and TOP are waiting to save the last piece.” 

Referring to the PNM, he said, “and they have the audacity to talk to us about dishonesty and corruption.” 

On the issue of deficit financing which Rowley criticised, Roberts said no matter how much Finance Minister Larry Howai explained that the economy has to get moving, the PNM does not understand that extravagant spending, wastage and cost overruns were mainly responsible for the $17 billion budget deficits of the People’s Partnership Government over the past two and a half years. 

“Because of the PNM budget arithmetic,” he said, the sums of cost overruns of projects undertaken by the PNM government over its last term in office amounted to $17.3 billion in Trinidad, and $1.12 billion in Tobago. The PNM government overruns in Trinidad, he said, included the International Waterfront project, $2 billion; Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and Summit of the Americas, $2.2 billion; Tarouba Stadium, $1.2 billion; E-teck, $1.2 billion; and Rapid Rail. 

“Understand what you did with the people’s money,” he said. “That was just Trinidad.” 

The overruns in Tobago, he said, included Scarborough Hospital, $620 million; Financial Complex, $80 million; Goat Racing Track, $110 million; NALIS Library, $52 million, “and it only have a foundation”

reproduced from Newsday

2.356 Billion for Tobago in Budget 2012-2013

Chief Secretary of the THA, Orville London

In a budget presentation under the theme "Stimulating Growth, Generating Prosperity", Finance Minister indicated that the Tobago House of Assembly would receive 2.356 billion dollars for fiscal 2012-2013. 

Tobago House of Assembly (THA) in their presentation of their budget in June would have requested $1.7 billion for development in Tobago. However, they were given $350 million for development when Finance Minister Larry Howai presented the 2013 budget yesterday.

The Chief Secretary of the THA Orville London, described this a "major concern" arising out of the budget. He was speaking outside Parliament, Tower D, International Waterfront Centre, Wrightson Road, Port of Spain.

Howai yesterday announced that the budgetary allocation for the THA for fiscal 2013 was $2.356 billion of which $2.006 billion would be for recurrent expenditure and $350 million for capital expenditure. London indicated that he was not surprised by this budget's presentation. 

"There are some areas of concern but over the years we know despite the fact that we might be hoping for better treatment, we know that we are going to get what is the minimum requirement mandated by the law which is 4.03 per cent of the national budget and that is about what Tobago was allocated," London said.

Last year the THA received 2.2 billion with an extra 510 million to be spent by other Ministries. 

"My major concern is really in the development area where our request was somewhere in the vicinity of $1.7 billion. What we got was, I think 350 million and it is going to create some serious problems for us. What has been happening over the years is that you do not have the funding to do a lot of the major projects. What you have to do is to pool the funding and do maybe two or three of the major projects and over the years there is obviously a lag," London said.

London said this problem has adversely affected the housing sector in Tobago. "I think this is most evident in the housing sector. Over the years we have been appealing to various ministers that some of the funding made available to the central government, through loans and bonds and so on for the housing sector. That some of that funding be available to us too, because we have actually been building all our houses in Tobago for cash and basically that creates its own kind of challenges for us," London said.

London said it is time for Tobago to be treated with a "certain degree of autonomy" and be allowed to access lending.