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Post by Djedi Maaur on Jan 1, 2008 7:53:50 GMT -5
Dig this video of the Prime Minister of Grenada responding to accusation of accepting bribe from an international fraudster. His deportment...........hmmm..........Is me d**n money! I had to take it.....I only sorry he didn't give me more!...doh ask me about no tape again! youtube.com/watch?v=HwxzTA1sOvg&feature=related<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HwxzTA1sOvg&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HwxzTA1sOvg&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object> |
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Post by Djedi Maaur on Feb 26, 2008 5:57:34 GMT -5
SPECIAL AUDIT REPORT IDENTIFIES DISCREPANCIES IN THE MINISTRY OF WORKS
By Linda Straker
St. George, February 25, 2008 -- An audit report has found that the Grenada government has been awarding contracts in a manner which is not in accordance with the rules.
A Special Audit Report about Project Implementation and Management Functions in the Ministry of Communications, Works and Transports says that the awarding of contracts is not done in accordance with the Financial and Stores rules of Government.
“The method, which is presently used extensively by the Ministry is not in keeping with the regulations, and in many instances does not provide for economic efficiency,” said the report which was tabled during last Friday's sitting of the House of Representatives.
Recommending that a more comprehensive selection method be implemented based on technical competence and financial capabilities of the contractors, the report said that in most instances contractors were sole sourced and they did not perform the job in an economical, competent and effective manner.
“Some contractors were not familiar with the contractor, were not familiar with the contract documents, and lacked experience in managing projects of that nature. Some were not willing to take advice from the Project Manager and were unable to perform more than one activity at time,” said the report which claimed that there is evidence to prove that some who received contracts were selected by Government officials.
“In many instances, Government Ministers and Parliamentary Representatives selected contractors and Cabinet then approved these together with the contract amounts. This is inconsistent with the regulation governing contracts,” said the report which contains more than fifty recommendations for improving transparency and accountability within the Ministry.
One of these recommendations was for the Financial and Stores rules which are presently used by the Ministry to provide for all relevant information such as the duration of the project, defect liability period, insurance, bid security and performance bonds so that contractors can be liable in the event of a breach.
Providing Government and Parliament with an assessment on the performance of the Ministry’s activities with information, observations and recommendations, the 52 page report according to Acting Director of Audit Anselm Joseph is designed “to promote accountability in the Government, an ethical and effective public service, good governance and sustainable development.”
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Post by Djedi Maaur on Feb 26, 2008 5:59:34 GMT -5
Grenada could lose the services of controversial Jamaican attorney, Hugh Wildman.
Informed sources told GRENADA TODAY that Wildman has applied for the post of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in his homeland.
However, a well-placed legal luminary in Jamaica told this newspaper that it is very unlikely that Wildman would be seriously considered for the DPP job in Jamaica given his many brushes with local lawyers.
Local media reports quoted Wildman as confirming that he had applied for the post but had not firmly made up his mind if he would pursue the position.
The Jamaican attorney currently serves as Legal Advisor to the ruling New National Party (NNP) government of Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Mitchell.
He landed the post after the Judicial and Legal Services Commission (JLSC) rejected a bid from government to install Wildman as the island's Attorney General.
The Grenada Bar Association (GBA) mounted strong opposition to the pending appointment due to Wildman's many skirmishes with local barristers.
The bar also cited an email letter from English attorney, Lawrence Jones in which he alleged that Wildman was "expensive" but useful in the exercise to keep out the U.S Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) from entering Grenada to probe the affairs of the collapsed First International Bank of Grenada (FIBG).
It is not clear whether the Mitchell government has given its "blessings" to the Wildman move to return to Jamaica to pursue the DPP post.
The impending departure of Wildman comes against the backdrop upcoming general elections in the Spice Isle in which the Mitchell government is expected to face stiff opposition for a fourth consecutive term in office from the main opposition, National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The controversial legal figure is suspected to be politically close to the newly elected Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) government of Prime Minister, Bruce Golding.
Former GBA President, Anslem Clouden who is a known critics of Wildman has consistently called for the Jamaican to leave the jurisdiction due to friction with local attorneys.
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Post by l on Apr 29, 2008 6:06:14 GMT -5
BOATSWAIN STRIKES AGAIN
St. George, April 2008 -- NDC candidate for St. Patrick East Joe Gilbert is accusing Member of Parliament for the constituency Anthony Botswain of unprofessionalism in trying to disrupt an opposition meeting held in La Mode last Saturday.
Botswain who is also Grenada's Economic and Planning Minister reportedly got into a shouting match after he stopped at the opposition NDC meeting, accusing the NDC and its supporters of trespassing on 'his territory.'
According to Gilbert, Botswain came into the meeting and began verbally attacking a speaker, who at the time was addressing the issue of missing funds at the Grenada Industrial Development Corporation under Botswain's management.
"The meeting was taking place in a fenced area, and Botswain parked close by and walked into the meeting and started shouting to the speaker to account for money he (the speaker) stole," said Gilbert.
Botswain reportedly challenged the speaker about the accusation that monies went missing under him that were also missing from the Grenada Industrial Development Corporation under his management.
According to several eye witnesses and Gilbert, Botswain even challenged a supporter for a fight and hurled several expletives at others.
The presence of a combative Botswain reportedly encouraged other New National Party supporters who were in the vicinity of the meeting resulting in chaos.
"The meeting was going on for about an hour without any problem even with NNP supporters there, until Boswain showed up", Gilbert remarked.
Gilbert said he is concerned about the incident and the message that is being sent by the NNP.
"If I realize that the opposition is having a meeting and I happen to be passing I would go on my way. To stop and instigate a potentially explosive situation is very unprofessional", Gilbert said.
He added: "I cannot understand what is going through his mind at this time. I can only conclude that it may be the pressure from the NDC why he's behaving in this manner".
Botswain has sought to downplay the incident admitting that he was present at the opposition meeting but that he did not disrupt it.
Boswain however took issue with the speaker's decision to speak about the missing funds at the GIDC under his management, noting that the matter was already been addressed in the courts.
"When you come to have a political meeting, people want to hear issues not personal attacks. When you come in a man village you have to behave yourself in a certain way so that you do not anger the people", Boswain remarked.
Boswain's latest action comes on the heels of controversial comments he made recently about undesirables taking over the reigns of government in the region.
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Post by Djedi Maaur on Jul 3, 2008 16:12:55 GMT -5
The Caribbean experience has proven that after two terms or so in office accountability takes on a different meaning;
Arrogance, the order of the day.
Confidence should be displayed even if you are lying.
Corruption and crookedness is fine, just be subtle.
Obedience to law is not for me.
Under the table with the deals.
Nothing is unattainable if you have the bucks.
Transparency means telling John Public what they like to hear.
Always be on the defensive.
Biblical quotes would soften these Christians all the time
Innocent plea in the face of guilt.
Laws were made for the little man.
Intelligence is beating the system.
Truth will not be part of my legacy
Yearning for the day to enjoy my loot
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Post by Djedi Maaur on Jul 3, 2008 19:19:41 GMT -5
July 3, 2008. A reliable source in New York has confirmed that the New National Party (NNP) has already organized in excess of three chartered planes to fly would-be NNP voters to Grenada in time for the July 8 general elections. As recently as Monday of this week, a plane, packed mostly with Grenadian students in the U.S. on government scholarships, left NYC for Grenada.
Similarly, a plane-load of NNP supporters will be arriving in Grenada on Friday, July 4, while a third flight will be coming down on July 7 and returning to New York on July 9.
The arrangements for these three flights (and there might be others from Canada as well, according to reliable NNP sources) are being coordinated by Consul General Allen McGuire, while on government time. McGuire is coordinating this scheme from the official office of the Grenada Consulate. In order to get on any of these flights, individuals must call and be screened by Mr. McGuire before they can get on the flight.
According to a young female Grenadian, who attempted to get on one of the flights, she was thoroughly questioned by Mr. McGuire on Tuesday, and is awaiting his decision. McGuire knows that her father is a dedicated NDC supporter and so she doubts that she will get on the July 4th or July 7th flights.
Under the laws of Grenada, no government minister or official may use a government office to fund or organize and execute activities on behalf of any particular political party. In the matter at hand, the abuse of the office of the Consul General is being condemned by observers as grossly offensive. “This is totally wrong and violates every diplomatic protocol, since a Consul General should always separate himself from the domestic partisan politics of his home country,” said distinguished Guyanese attorney Colin Moore, who closely monitors Caribbean politics.
“What makes this even more outrageous is the fact that as a result of this abuse, the results of an expected close election may be affected one way or another. Such conduct on the part of the NNP administration in Grenada must be condemned as a blatant affront to the integrity of the democratic process,” Moore added.
“It seems as though the NNP is trying to engineer the result of the elections in Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique,” said an NDC supporter in Brooklyn. This particular individual had intended to travel to Grenada to vote in the upcoming election, but did not do so because he was concerned about not been able to meet the 12-month residency requirement. “I cannot help but wonder how many of these folks that are being flown down could actually prove that they properly obtained their registration cards or that they are in compliance with the residency requirement of the Grenada election laws,” added this concerned Grenadian.
As a response to this partisan abuse of the Grenada Consul General’s office in New York, some concerned Grenadians and others who care about the future of democracy in the region, are discussing plans to stage a protest with placards outside of the Grenada Consul General office on 800 2nd Avenue at the corner of 42nd Street, Manhattan, New York.
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Post by Djedi Maaur on Jul 3, 2008 19:33:17 GMT -5
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Post by Djedi Maaur on Jul 3, 2008 20:18:44 GMT -5
July 3, 2008 - When the New National Party (NNP) under the leadership of Dr. Keith Mitchell appointed Sir Danny Williams a member of the NNP as Governor General and then Lawrence Joseph then chairman of the NNP as Speaker of the House of Representative; not many said anything. Dr. Mitchell then appointed another NNP member Kenny Lalsing as president of the Senate; again not many people had much to say.
Little did they know that a dictatorship was conceived in Grenada. This dictatorship has went on the appoint another NNP supporter as Supervisor of Election; this time there was lot of complaint that the NNP was planning to win the next election by any means necessary including fraud and unfair means.
Just a few days before the July 8 poll, the final voters list is not yet out for the political parties and voters to review. Already people are complaining that they have not receive their voter ID card. Some voters whose residents are bordering another constituency noticed their names were moved to that neighboring constituency. It is either the Parliamentary Election Office do not know the boundaries or names were moved to favor a particular candidate.
A few days before election the Parliamentary Election Office is in a mess, they are having major problems with the voters list and will be hard pressed to have a smooth running of the polls on July 8. The ruling NNP is running an advertisement for voters whose names are missing form the list to call the NNP office and not the Election Office.
The Government Information Service TV (GISTV) staffed public workers who are paid by the Government is used to promote candidates of the ruling party with one hour profile of each candidate every day. The GIS also carries political rallies of the NNP. The NNP also use the Staff of the GIS to broadcast live political rallies on several local radio stations. Employees are also used to video tape rallies of the ruling NNP using GIS equipment and vehicles. These vehicles can be seen carrying posters supporting candidates of the ruling party.
If a new government is elected it will be forced to replace these public workers at the GIS and will unjustly claim political victimization from the new regime.
A number of media workers has reported receiving threatening phone calls from supporters of the ruling party. Even the NNP candidate for St. John’s has been accused by at least two young ladies of assault; the Prime Minister subsequently denied all allegations and expressed his support for the candidate. Just two days ago he was charged for criminal assault by the St. John’s police and is due to appear in the St. John’s Magistrate Court on July 15, 2008.
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