Sport Ministry allegedly handed taxpayers’ millions to murder accused

Buckle up, Trinidad and Tobago; it’s about to kick off now.

It turns out that, according to the Sunday Express, “Mr Big” was actually “Mr Big Mouth.”

Photo: Sport Minister Anil Roberts.
Photo: Sport Minister Anil Roberts.

When National Security Minister Gary Griffith spoke about declaring war on the criminal element, one always suspected that he would not have to look far for the most relevant targets. And so it proved.

You see while the People’s Partnership brayed about amber alerts and armoured SUVs, Anil Roberts’ Sport Ministry, according to investigative reporter Asha Javeed, allegedly took millions meant to stimulate grassroot sport and put them into the hands of shady figures; not least the controversial Jamaat al Muslimeen member Rajaee Ali—a man who was incarcerated on a murder charge when the PP took office in 2010 and who admitted he was questioned by police for the assassination of Dana Seetahal SC earlier this month.

By Griffith’s calculation, Ali pocketed as much as $1.5 million a month from the Life Sport programme for participants who do not exist. That is exclusive of catering contracts for feeding those ghosts, which, at a conservative estimate of $60 a day, can easily add up to another $1.3 million per month.

And this does not include the profit made off the participants who do turn up as well as the management contracts and so on; not to mention whatever income Ali otherwise enjoys when he is not working for the Sport Ministry. Presumably, Ali could employ his entire army if he had one and so chose; and they would all collect State cheques.

Photo: Tell Anil we want in.
Photo: Tell Anil we want in.

So, let us be clear: while the People’s Partnership Government steadfastly ignored not-so-subtle hints to improve the working conditions and salaries of its policemen, it has allowed a suspected gang member to possibly pocket upwards of $2.8 million per month not including his legitimate salary and profit.

I don’t think you’re hearing me: while the national football team youth coaches have gone two years without their $3,000 per month stipends, the under-15 “Soca Warriors”  forfeited a 2013 CONCACAF tournament due to a shortage of funds and parents had to dip in their own pockets to send teenaged national swimmers to the 2013 FINA World Junior Championships in Dubai, the Sport Minister allegedly allowed a man who spent more than half of his adult life on a murder charge to bank a minimum of around $3 million a month.

One last time: the police service’s first choice candidate for Seetahal’s brazen murder could have financed the hit with taxpayers’ money courtesy of the Ministry of Sport.

It makes you miss the good old days when people thought then Minister Roger Boynes was a buffoon because he couldn’t tell the difference between waiting journalists and the 2006 World Cup players.

Last week, Roberts allegedly appeared in an amateur video with drugs and, possibly, sex workers while wearing the Sport Ministry’s London Olympic 2012 shirt; and yet that was probably one of the least irresponsible things that “Minister Two Pull” did on the job.

Photo: Sport Minister Anil Roberts.
Photo: Sport Minister Anil Roberts.

It is almost breath-taking to consider how low the bar is now set in public service. Politicians don’t even have to show up for work in five years; all you have to do is not give millions to men “known to the police” and you are already a massive improvement.

And that brings us to “Captain Peacock”; the soldier who redefined the term “balls-ing up the job” while protecting Prime Minister Basdeo Panday’s family.

It is Griffith, the comical press conference tough guy, who must bring the Life Sport programme to heel now. His track record, to be blunt, does not inspire confidence.

And speaking of blunt; what about Honourable Minister Roberts?

Well, so far, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is refusing to sack him; so the nation’s sportsmen and women must remain trapped and molested in Room 201.

Photo: Sport Minister Anil Roberts (left) woos Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. There is clearly no accounting for taste.
Photo: Sport Minister Anil Roberts (left) woos Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
There is clearly no accounting for taste.

Mr Live Wire would like to suggest, at the very least, that the Prime Minister hires a foreign consultant to work closely with Roberts. And we can think of one eminently qualified young woman.

Can Jay-Z spare you this week, Solange?

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About Mr. Live Wire

Mr. Live Wire is an avid news reader who translates media reports for persons who can handle the truth. And satire. Unlike Jack Nicholson, he rarely yells.

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166 comments

  1. I thought given the amt of money involved an audit would have been ready by now with arrest warrants issued ?

  2. I bet people will hang . I still want full disclosure on what led to Ms Seetahal ‘s murder . I hope it comes out in court . To think that a man who seemed to be so interested in the development of sport would do a 360 , his stupidity knows no bounds I guess .

  3. Don’t forget about the U.S. based hurdler (who represented us in Rio by the way) who almost got evicted from his apartment.

  4. Boggles the mind….no wonder Anil had to disappear…. “I don’t think you’re hearing me: while the national football team youth coaches have gone two years without their $3,000 per month stipends, the under-15 “Soca Warriors” forfeited a 2013 CONCACAF tournament due to a shortage of funds and parents had to dip in their own pockets to send teenaged national swimmers to the 2013 FINA World Junior Championships in Dubai, the Sport Minister allegedly allowed a man who spent more than half of his adult life on a murder charge to bank a minimum of around $3 million a month.” … now this is just… wow…. no words… “One last time: the police service’s first choice candidate for Seetahal’s brazen murder could have financed the hit with taxpayers’ money courtesy of the Ministry of Sport.”

  5. If Jamaica can investigate their ex PM and get to the bottom of things, why can’t we do the same for these ministers in T&T?

  6. “Well, so far, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is refusing to sack him; so the nation’s sportsmen and women must remain trapped and molested in Room 201.” lol

  7. True Like Calder Heart,Marlene,Rowley,Duprey nd Harry they all will paid God doh sleep

  8. Persons like Anil Roberts and others who have raped our Treasury of monies for their personal gains will NEVER enjoy a good life. Mark my word.

  9. That Carapo army, was extremely well funded. Almost 3 MILLION monthly. Unbelievable! And I hold firm, the former PM must have been privy to this information, she together with her line Minister watered the seeds they planted.

  10. Aaaand nothing has happened to these people. And probably never will. Why should citizens do the right thing when these millionaires made overnight are happy like pigs in shit? Really?

  11. There’s plenty of Anil still around , please find out where García and the chairman of the HDC and by who they were employed by in Ghana just a hint to work with

  12. Lasana every time I read this story I’m enraged, and it seems we’ll never get recourse members of the public cussing the athletes from the Olympics upside down but corruption causes money for the the right reasons to end up in the wrong hands when oh when will we get it right smh

  13. I remember when we approached this man for funding for a skate/bmx Park stuepssssz.

  14. Only because some elements of this article are before the court I will not say whatI wish

  15. Is time to bring him to jail

  16. Anybody know where Roberts hiding out?

  17. The worst government Trinidad has ever seen

  18. Different strokes for different folks. Who the fleck to vote for since all of them corrupt. Remember corruption is the biggest crime here. The trigger men are only the hired guns. And Kamal will mama guy many in a staged managed mock debate moderated by one of her supporters on a government controlled station tonight. And the bullshit continues

  19. Lindsay i think he might be saying, ‘yes….. i was smoking in the gazebo with the lady in Philippine, but my plant like substance wasn’t green, it was white’.

  20. It still have fence sitters? People seeing, hearing and reading all the s@$! that going on and still don’t know who is the right party to vote for?

    • Can you believe Karris? I say, if one chooses not to vote then don’t complain because you have allowed others to make the decision for you. And yes, in this day and age, some people would actually choose a ‘pretty face’ unrepentant criminal as PM, opposed to a plain talking bald head Tobago son of the soil.

  21. how come this man still free it should 11 plus 1

  22. Judy-ann Stewart that wouldn’t help. Because anything this sinister and so high up would have to be enabled by crooked cops. The jail break as well was enabled by high ranking crooked prison official. For all we know the top cop and senior superintendents are on the payroll. The crookedness starts at the top. Total day of policing. ..anybody held accountable?

  23. I would love to meet the people FACE TO FACE who will actually vote this government back in power. #sadtrinidad

  24. What all of this shows is that we need to up the qualifications for entry and promotion in the TTPS.

  25. Bacchanal is on, I agree! If only the T&T investigative divisions that mirror those of the USA & UK investigative divisions (such as the FBI, the IRS, and Scotland yard) would function proactively, autonomously and uncompromisingly, we would have such greater handle of corruption, influx of drugs, arms, human trafficking, etc. If only…

  26. In the context of the event and when the phone call was allegedly made, he was a government official! Many things, pieces of evidence, have always been lost or eaten by rats!

  27. Ashton, technically he is not a government official now but we are obviously not seeing where he has been charged so maybe they ‘lost’ the recording.

  28. It is rumored that shortly after Miss Seetahal was murdered (same night/morning) a phone call was made from a senior government official to one of the persons who is now charged with her murder! The conversation is said to be very short and was recorded! It is said, the recording is in the hands of the police who have denied the involvement of any government officials! Hmmmm! The named official, an attorney by profession, is now council representing a group of prisoners who were allegedly beaten by prison officers in prison. The prisoners belong to a particular religious organization which has a history of militancy and criminal activities. If this information is correct, this is very interesting!

  29. This is disgusting, yet i see thousands of people still supporting this yellow maia

  30. the jury is still out,you were on point,the links to establish the relationship will grow cold.

  31. And not to mention the fact that the man wanted for conspiracy to murder Anil Roberts’ wife former lover was on Anil’s payroll… Maybe that would concern a Judge.

  32. Lasana I hopefully await the day of reckoning but I’m not optimistic. Keep spreading the word!

  33. We still don’t know who wanted her dead and why though. As a state prosecutor she may thoretically have been called upon to prosecute someone like Ali. What did she know that wasn’t already in the public domain that people were not already speculating about. After section 34..emailgate…prisongate….Kamla’s weed, nothing would really surprise me anyway with this bunch.

  34. This government has blood on its hands

  35. Its amazing how ppl can believe anything in print…not saying true or untrue…but if they had to name a monster conviniently…well…

  36. I agree; I spent more than five years in India..

  37. I know John Joseph. We’ve been through the fire and came out a little scorched but we survived and this situation is no different. I sometimes have to throw reality in the ring because my people tend to have short memories. So for the next year I’ll keep reminding them of our folly of 2010. I have to be brutal at times.

  38. I agree that the future looks bleak, but I too have been around the block a few times, and I know there exists a Mighty force and we must keep on doing all we can that is right, hoping that He in His wisdom will be on our side. Many times in my life it looked like all was lost, and yet in an instant in previously unexpected ways the outcome changed favorably.

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