Tag Archives: Customs

A disgusting exchange of sly political innuendos erupted and similar exchanges between politicians continued all last week over the possible identity of “senior government officials” allegedly involved in human trafficking activity in Trinidad and Tobago. The highest level of leadership in the two main political parties—PNM and UNC—participated in these …

For the last two weeks I have focused on how successive governments—PNM and UNC, or UNC-led—miserably failed us in providing the equipment and specially trained personnel capable of detecting and interdicting illegal firearms importation through the legal ports. We now have an unqualified acknowledgment from McDonald Jacob, the acting commissioner …

‘When the lights go on, the cockroaches scatter’, is what popped into my mind when I read about the Ministers of Finance, Health and Trade and Industry, the Attorney General and the Adrian Scoon party boat issue. A special restaurant licence was issued to businessman Scoon without the approval of …

How did party promoter Adrian Scoon get a special licence to hold a boat party on MV Ocean Pelican on Boxing Day? Minister of Finance Colm Imbert today appeared to break ranks with Cabinet colleagues over the controversial boat party as he revealed that he instructed the Ministry of Finance …

“To paraphrase a former politician, once Minister [Dennis Moses] was opposed, he became a ‘raging bull’. It was shocking behaviour. “It was also inconsistent with how we would expect a Minister to act—let alone a Minister with such an international portfolio where diplomacy and tact are key. The Honourable Minister’s …

Twenty-year-old 400 metre rising star, Machel Cedenio, might need a really big truck to hold his gang of new fans, as the young first-time Olympian now represents Trinidad and Tobago’s last chance of an individual track medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Michelle-Lee Ahye became the second athlete in …

Currently, as has happened in the past, race talk has surfaced in the aftermath of a change of Government. Part of the problem is the widespread use and abuse of statutory corporations and so-called state enterprises as the vessels through which illegitimate or corrupt activity flows. When an election is …

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has refused to confirm or deny a leaked United States intelligence report which suggested that the then Prime Minister helped script Jack Warner’s resignation from FIFA and was far more aware of the football executive’s alleged criminal behaviour than previously admitted. According to the memo, Persad-Bissessar …

A pro-active Customs officer might have foiled a potential terrorist threat at the Piarco International Airport on Monday when he apprehended a strapped young man in camouflage gear who was speaking in an incoherent manner and crying. Of course, it might have just been his nap time. He is only …

Two men who were involved in the alleged undeclared transportation of foreign currency to Trinidad and Tobago last year were in the news yesterday. Joseph Baptiste, a 57-year-old fisherman, was denied bail at the Port of Spain Magistrate’s Court for supposedly failing to declare US$660,000 to Customs officials. Jack Warner, …