13 October

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Attorneys: A money trail of millions, Faris has to account

The millions of dollars in taxpayers’ money spent in the persecution of former attorney general Anand Ramlogan raises issues of misbehaviour in office on the part of former attorney general Faris Al-Rawi. This is according to Pamela Elder, SC, who represented Ramlogan in the criminal proceedings brought against him by the State. Those matters against Ramlogan and former senator Gerald Ramdeen, an attorney, have now been discontinued by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). In a telephone interview with the Express yesterday, Elder said a statement submitted by Al-Rawi to the DPP, which contained exhibits, disclosed “astounding” fees paid to a junior attorney...

12 October

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Collapse of Ramlogan/Ramdeen case ‘a fiasco’, ‘mockery of justice system’—legal expert

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in Newspaper Articles

‘A mockery of the justice system’ is how attorney-at-law Martin George is describing the decision to discontinue the corruption charges case against former Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, SC, and former Opposition Senator Gerald Ramdeen. The legal fee kickback case against the men collapsed after Jamaica-born British King’s Counsel Vincent Nelson declined to begin his testimony in the duo’s preliminary inquiry. “When you gave him these guarantees and these immunities, you ought to have ensured that whatever deal you were making was an airtight and a watertight deal that would guarantee that you would get your end,” Martin George points out. The attorney-at-law says...

18 September

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THA to elect new deputy tomorrow
…confusion over the legality of Duke’s resignation

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in Newspaper Articles, Tobago Business Chamber

A special sitting of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) is scheduled for tomorrow at 10:30 am to elect a new Deputy Chief Secretary. This, according to the Office of the Chief Secretary (OCS), will be done "in accordance with Act 40 of 1996 Section 8, which says inter alia" … the Assemblymen shall elect from among their number, the Chief Secretary and the Deputy Chief Secretary in accordance with Section 11 and following such election, the President shall administer to the Chief Secretary and the Deputy Chief Secretary respectively, the oath of office set out in the Third Schedule." A release...

15 September

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Politicians, business heads concerned about Farley, Duke feud

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in Newspaper Articles, Tobago Business Chamber

There is huge concern about the fallout among Tobago House of Assembly “jefes” and its impact on Tobago’s economy, image and Carnival. The Opposition United National Congress and Congress of the People are urging THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine and deputy Chief Secretary Watson Duke to resolve their issues speedily. And Tobago’s stakeholders have also expressed concern about the impact of the warring leaders on the island. Simmering tensions between Augustine and Duke have thrust Tobago into the spotlight, after the situation erupted publicly last week over funding for the Roxborough Folk Performers on a New York trip. On Tuesday, Augustine challenged Duke to...

09 August

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‘A subsidised fare for Tobago residents and an economic fare for non-residents’

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in Newspaper Articles, Tobago Business Chamber

RETIRED chairman of the Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority, Ramesh Lutchmedial, is sounding alarm over the domestic operations of Caribbean Airlines, noting that even if airbridge flights are operated at 100 per cent load factors, the revenue earned by airfare and subsidy is well below the economic cost of providing the service. CAL had previously responded to a public statement by the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Farley Augustine who knocked the airline for not providing enough flights to Tobago. CAL’s responded by stating that its airbridge operations are plagued by heavy and consistent losses amounting to millions of...

09 August

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Tobago Business Chamber condemns CAL’s losses
“Do not blame the domestic airbridge”

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in Newspaper Articles, Tobago Business Chamber

Chairman of the Tobago Business Chamber Martin George is blaming Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL), not domestic flights, for the company’s losses on the airbridge. This after CAL issued a statement last Thursday stating that domestic operations have amounted to consistent losses of US$9,613,100 as at June 2022, while its operational costs for the airbridge was US$18,777, 648. In what he described as an “attempt by CAL to lay blame on the poor performance of the domestic airbridge for sustained losses over the years” George said the situation has nothing to do with the domestic airbridge and it is not fair to Tobagonians...

07 August

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Tobago chamber angry over CAL airbridge claim

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in Newspaper Articles, Tobago Business Chamber

The Tobago Business Chamber (TBC) has condemned what it calls an attempt by Caribbean Airlines (CAL) to lay blame on the poor performance of the domestic airbridge for sustained losses over the years. The chamber said yesterday that it rejects this, especially if it is an attempt to castigate Tobagonians and the domestic airbridge service, as it noted that the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) has recently indicated it is willingness to take responsibility for some of the financial burden to make extra flights available on the airbride by paying for keeping the airport open later. Addressing a CAL statement on the...

06 August

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Tobago Business Chamber to CAL: Don’t blame airbridge for economic woes

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in Newspaper Articles, Tobago Business Chamber

The Tobago Business Chamber has slammed Caribbean Airlines Ltd (CAL) for suggesting that the domestic airbridge is to be blamed for its “economic woes and failures” over the years. On Thursday, CAL issued a release, saying it has consistently been increasing flights between Trinidad and Tobago since the country's borders were reopened in July 2021. However, the airline said its operations between the two islands have been characterised by heavy and consistent losses, amounting to millions of dollars. Its statement came after THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine, in a television interview on Wednesday, criticised CAL for not providing an appropriate number of flights...

06 August

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Tobago chamber blasts CAL on airbridge

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in Newspaper Articles, Tobago Business Chamber

Chairman of the Tobago Business Chamber Martin George has called on Caribbean Airlines Ltd (CAL) to withdraw a news release it issued on Thursday, which he said appeared to place blame on the domestic airbridge for the airline’s economic woes and failures over the years and make an excuse for not increasing flights between Trinidad and Tobago. ‘Benefit of the doubt’ “If that is the case, and I hope it is not, I am willing to give Caribbean Airlines the benefit of the doubt to clarify that point…then I take very strong umbrage to that, not just as the chairman of the...

31 July

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Offers of help pour in for Sahadeo

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in Newspaper Articles

Charmaine Sahadeo was reduced to tears by the overwhelming response she has received from the public after she appealed for help to treat a disfiguring skin condition and cope with mounting financial hardships. Sahadeo’s plight, which was highlighted in last week’s Sunday Guardian and aired on CNC3 news, has resulted in pledges of support from scores of citizens and the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services. The 42-year-old mother of two suffers from neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder that causes tumours to form all over the body. Dozens of nodules have made her unrecognisable and there are four large tumours on her...