Trinis Don't Seem to Care About One of the Biggest Flip Flops in the History of Politics

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Create your own at http://www.quickmeme.com/Hypocrite-Kamla/

The sad truth about this blog is I only post facts which often are of a depressing or comical nature. Here again are the facts pertaining to yet another flip-flop/blatant lie by PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar:

Kamla: I will not live at La Fantasie
By Andre Bagoo Sunday, May 2 2010

IF MADE Prime Minister, UNC political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar will not live at the official Prime Minister’s Residence at La Fantasie Road, St Ann’s, sources yesterday disclosed as the UNC and PNM continued to put the finishing touches on their manifestos which are expected to be unveiled this week.
Sources close to the UNC Leader yesterday revealed that Persad-Bissessar has privately assured her colleagues that she has no desire to live at the controversial residence and that she would open the facilities up to the public. However, there is as yet no final plan on what form this arrangement would take or what the facilities would be used for. 
“She has said she would not want to live there,” a source said. “It would be opened up to the public.” 

Word of Persad-Bissessar’s private assurance to top-level UNC members came one day after Prime Minister Patrick Manning hosted a lavish reception for members of the local art fraternity at La Fantasie Road, which is off-limits to the public. 

This intention was echoed on the campaign trail by the Prime Minister was well as her fellow candidates (now members of Cabinet) at the time. The diplomatic centre was referred to as the "Emperor's Palace" and was one of the many objects of vilification directed at the PNM and PM Manning on the election platform. This forum post in 2010 goes further:

Quote from: sammy on April 22, 2010, 07:20:36 AM
yesterday jack,prakash, anil said that the "palace" may be turned into a home for the elderly or hospital or a place where one can see the history of trinidad where children can take tours etc. but definitely kamla not moving in there.


Compare those pieces of information to the developments of today:


$M LIFT FOR PM
By Asha Javeed, Mar 25, 2012 

An elevator has been installed at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann's to give Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar easier access to her accommodations at her official residence.

The elevator, intended for the Housing Development Corporation's (HDC) Victoria Keys apartments at Diego Martin, was installed at the PM's official residence a few weeks ago.

There is already one elevator, closer to the media room where the government hosts press conferences, at the massive multi-purpose facility at La Fantasie, St Ann's.

The elevator, acquired from RBP Lifts, is estimated to cost about $1 million. It was installed a few weeks ago, under instructions from the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT), which manages the Diplomatic Centre.

"During her election bid in 2010, Persad-Bissessar had said she would not occupy the PM's residence. After she became Prime Minister, she had told reporters she offered the facility to President George Maxwell Richards after the roof of the President's house collapsed. 

Richards declined the offer and Persad-Bissessar moved into the residence in June 2010.

While in Opposition, the former administration and Manning were heavily criticised for the residence and it was described as Manning's "emperor's palace"."


In case you missed it, the flip-flop here is that Kamla Persad-Bissessar is not only living in the Diplomatic Centre after vowing not to, but is installing a second elevator at taxpayer expense in it which leads to her bedroom for luxurious convenience.

This beat's Kerry's "I voted for the $87 billion before I voted against it"

Hell it even beats Romney's "I don't believe in using taxpayer money for the olympic games VS we got $410 million from the Federal government and I like this kind of creativity"

The media nor the populace don't seem to understand that there should be some degree of outrage over this. Life goes on.

The Myth of Activism in T&T

During the tenure of the PNM administration I was one of the many voices speaking out against their nonsense: billion-dollar, benefit-less summit, the useless crime gadgets and nonperformance of then National Security Minister Martin Joseph, the megalomaniac episodes of Patrick Manning and the smelter construction plans. I felt as if Trinidad and Tobago was alive with activism especially when you browse sites like Global Voices for reactions to the political happenings of the country. A number of persons and organizations emerged as "activists" during this period or atleast voiced their discontent in some way :










1. Stephen Cadiz 

He launched the Keith Noel 136 committee which became "YesTT" for the purpose of pressuring the government to deal with crime. YesTT was behind a number of activist events including the "death march" attended by over 12,000 people, going nationwide collecting signatures for a petition based on citizens' concern over crime and having quite an influence in print, electronic and social media as their ads became quite ubiquitous after a while. Some of Cadiz's quotes:


"We have sent them a petition of 112, 000 signatures from concerned citizens and to date nothing has been done to alleviate the crime in the country." 


"They have to solve the problem. Something very tangible has to be done," he said. He added, “There is no encouragement from the Government to fix the problem. None...Since the march, no action, after the petition, no action.”


If it is one reason in the world for Patrick Manning and Martin Joseph to go, it’s because of crime in this country.”








2. Inshan Ishmael

He launched the Islamic Broadcast Network (IBN), a TV station at which he hosted a hard-hitting political talkshow "Breaking Barriers". Interestingly Mr. Ishmael is also the President of the "Pre-Owned Automotive Dealers' Association". Like Cadiz he protested the state of crime in T&T at the time and is even referred to in this article as a "social activist". Ishmael went so H.A.M with his protests he got arrested under the 2005 Anti Terrorism Act for not printing his name and other details on flyers distributed calling for a nationwide strike to protest crime. He even launched his "activist" organization of his own called "One Voice" which he declared is to lobby for a change of government. 










3. Verna St. Rose Greaves

A social worker, feminist, counsellor, social "activist" and motivational speaker. Greaves has worked with government, NGO's and as a private consultant in the areas of welfare policy, poverty alleviation, family services, gender and development, adoption of children, violence against women and children, crime and violence in the society, HIV-AIDS, and prison reform. She presented papers locally, regionally and internationally. Her involvement in the practical training and support of social work students of the University of the West Indies informs her ongoing work on the development of a Forum for Alternative Social Work Education (FASWE): “Towards a Radical Social Work Progress and a Caribbean Perspective. The greatest evil facing us today is indifference. To know and not to act is to contribute to injustice.”(Parliament of the Republic of T&T)


Another outspoken "activist". Here she is doing a dance of some sort in protest at the 5th Summit of the Americas held in Port-of-Spain :

Notable quotes :

"I think of the many children we have lost to silence, our voices constricted by fear, our limbs immobilized. I see colleagues every day intimidated and consumed by what "can't be done"; overwhelmed by the concept that people are the best architects of their own lives; fearful of the awesome nature of people power. I think about the frailty of the responses to and the lack of interest in an effective Children's Authority. The children who go to bed empty in the midst of our wealth"

"Verna St Rose-Greaves says if Government moves ahead with its plan to resume hangings she will have no choice but to leave. Speaking to I95.5 FM yesterday St Rose-Greaves said if she could not influence change with regards to the issue she would walk. “I will have no choice but to step out,” she said."

"It's hard to accept the brutal and shameful acts committed against our children; but the savagery of the public response is cruel and disheartening. We focus on harsh, cruel and inhumane punishment. We speculate, blame, judge, arrest, prosecute and call for hanging as a cure for all a 'geri toute' for a sore throat."

4. Percy Villafana

Villafana became an overnight superstar and mascot for the then opposition after he dissed PM Manning by blocking him access to his house on a walkabout:

Villafana reportedly told Manning he isn't welcome on his property for any hand shaking and photo-ops as he is pissed off with his policies, the scandals of the PNM and Manning's leadership. 

Since then "Do So" became a local meme and Percy became a household name:

5. Crazy (Edwin Ayoung)

Crazy is a well-loved calypsonian in T&T.

He recorded a whole song in 2010 which mentioned some of the scandals of the PNM which included the chorus "Patrick Manning have to go".

6. The Original DeFosto Himself 

Another well-known and respected calypsonian.

He too recorded a song highlighting the scandals of the PNM stating he "cya vote for dat".

This list is by no means exhaustive. Two years into the People's Partnership term of governance I've come to the realization that there really are no real activists at all in T&T. If you're an activist concerned with crime in Trinidad one would expect you to speak out when you believe the government has failed to tackle the issue properly. By all accounts nothing has changed for the better with regards to crime since the People's Partnership (PP) came into office, so then why have all the "activist" voices gone silent?

Well how about a "where are they now?"

Stephen Cadiz is now a minister of government. He has said absolutely nothing to criticize the current administration's nonperformance on tackling crime and is now a full-fledged politician as he has not only defended the failed and illegal state of emergency imposed in 2011 but he has supported the government's death penalty rhetoric by voting YES on the Hanging Bill, even after publicly stating his opposition to capital punishment.

Inshan Ishmael was awarded a contract to repair police vehicles. Used-car dealers were also allowed via a new policy to import and sell cars that are 6 years old (up from 4). "One Voice" has been defunct since the People's Partnership took office. 1 plus 1 equals 2?

Verna St. Rose Greaves is also now a minister of government. Despite her saying she will leave if the government pursues capital punishment she remains there even after they already have.

Percy Villafana is nowhere to be seen or heard.

Crazy doesn't seem to think anyone in this government "have to go" due to his silence.

De Fosto didn't vote for Calder Hart's shady procurement practices and the scandals of the PNM, but apparently he is comfortable with the goings-on of the PP due to his silence as well.

A notable mention for "activist" behaviour also includes the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturer's Association who did an entire report on their opposing position concerning the proposed "rapid rail" public transport system of the PNM, but said absolutely nothing when the PP proposed, guess what? a rapid rail public transport system and the infamous Maracas valley tunnel.

Based on the selective outrage and "activism" of the named parties its easy to conclude that real activism doesn't exist in Trinidad and Tobago. Every concern raised prior to May 2010 when the PP took office seems to have originated from a political agenda rather than that of an activist. They didn't care about crime in T&T, they wanted to get rid of the PNM. If this wasn't their objective, their passion for hating the scandals of the previous administration was indeed shallow, because corruption, nepotism, misgovernance and stupidity, lies, frequent benefit-less international trips, flip-flopping, the mishandling of crime and wastage of public funds continues unabated under the PP as it was under the PNM and not one single "death march" has been held, no calypso has been composed, no dance has been done, not a word has been said, since the embodiment of the political evils they were once opposed to has done nothing more than to change its mask, something they surely should have noticed by now but choose to do nothing. Did Verna imagine her own words would haunt her today? "The greatest evil facing us today is indifference. To know and not to act is to contribute to injustice."

PM Persad-Bissessar defends using public funds to pay for relative's foreign travel costs

July 23, 2010
Where is Juliana Pena? Did she use State $$ for travel?
http://jyoticommunication.blogspot.com/2010/07/where-is-juliana-pena-did-she-use-state.html


On Thursday night Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar raised questions about the whereabouts of Pena, who is linked to the controversial church at Guanapo.

"The woman seems to have disappeared into thin air," Persad-Bissessar said. She noted that according to immigration records Pena left the country on February 6 and returned five days later from a trip to Venezuela.

"And since then she should be in the country and is not, then did she abscond?" the Prime Minister asked.

She also raised the question about expenses for all Pena's travels. "A trail of e-mail correspondence suggests that Ms Pena may have been collecting funds from our foreign embassies to fund her jet setting and globe trotting lifestyle," Persad-Bissessar said.


(Juliana Pena was the "spiritual advisor" to the former Prime Minister, Patrick Manning.)
March 10, 2012
I NEED MY SISTER: PM defends relative’s foreign travel costs

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/I-NEED--MY-SISTER-142214755.html


Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has defended her sister’s travelling costs even as new figures reveal that Vidwatie Newton has cost taxpayers on trips to Brazil, London and Australia.


The Office of the Prime Minister spent $338,329.19 for Newton to accompany Persad-Bissessar to Australia from October 19 to November 6, 2011.


The figures were contained in a note prepared for Cabinet obtained by the Sunday Express.
Newton, described as travel assistant to the Prime Minister, was given a per diem equivalent to a public servant.


In London, from the period October 19 to 21 and again on November 3-5, she was allowed accommodation of £350 a day. Her per diem was £145 a day totalling $9,422.00. In Dubai from October 21-23 she was given a accommodation valued at US$278 a day, which totalled US$834 (TT$5,362.62). 
Her per diem was US$155 a day which totalled $1,993.30. In Perth, Australia, for the period October 24 to 30, no accommodation expenses were incurred as the delegation was accommodated by the Australian Government. Her per diem was US$155 a day which totalled $6,976.55. In Hong Kong from October 31 to November 4, an allowance of $23,089.52 was paid for accommodation with a per diem of US$155 a day which totalled $3,986.60. On Friday, it was revealed that Newton incurred expenditure of $233,600 as a member of Persad-Bissessar’s delegation to India from January 4 to 16. 


The 14-member team from the office of the Prime Minister- which included Persad-Bissessar’s husband Dr Gregory Bissessar and a personal assistant Mila Loredo—totalled $2,341,891.


Yesterday Persad-Bissessar defended her sister’s travel costs as much as she’s had to defend her own during her 22 months in office. “I think any person who does the kind of job that I do would requires someone to assist them personally,” said Persad-Bissessar as she defended Newton’s travel cost on her January journey to India. Describing as “political mischief” the signalling out of Newton’s travel sum, the Prime Minister said she relies on her sister when she travels. “It has been done before my time. She travels with me,” said Persad-Bissessar. “I trust my sister. I feel comfortable with having her handling my personal matters like food and medication. It is vital. It allows me to spend more time on my job,” she said.
“Indeed, I am advised that former prime minister (Arthur N R) Robinson would take his son as his travel assistant,” she told reporters at the Maha Sabha Phagwa celebrations at the Tunapuna Hindu School yesterday.


Earlier, during a brief interview with the Sunday Express, she said she needed Newton to manage her busy schedule.Newton has travelled frequently with Persad-Bissessar during her time in office. 
She’s accompanied her on several trips to New York, Washington, to the UK, to Brazil and recently Australia and India. Last September, Persad-Bissessar, in an exclusive interview with the Sunday Express said Newton was not employed or paid by the government. She said then: “I do give her some of my own money because she has to live.”

“She was gainfully employed for many years and I am very grateful to her for helping me. I can trust her with my personal things: my food, my clothing. She came for the internal election and within weeks when Mr Manning called the general election I had to say ‘come back’. She came immediately and has been here ever since,” she told the Express on September 25 last year. “It’s just political mischief they are up to as usual,” she said yesterday. The Prime Minister leaves today on a state trip to Panama.

"Some of my own money" apparently includes public funds.