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First, the good news. Thank God that Tourism Minister Shamfa Cudjoe didn’t ask her Cabinet colleague, Darryl Smith, to tag along to the Bahamas.
There has been precious little worth celebrating at the Ministry of Sport ever since the super-sized Diego Martin Central MP squeezed through the front door and started allegedly chasing after female staffers as though they were made out of chocolate.
Sport Minister Darryl Smith (right) takes a hands-on approach to communication at the ministry with employee Kate Balthazar.
But, frankly, this is starting to get ridiculous. An investigative report by veteran journalist Sharmain Baboolal revealed that Smith had his Ministry spend TT$91,910.43 to hand out a solitary trophy in an event, the THA Sports Awards, that lasted barely an hour and 15 minutes on Saturday May 20.
Maybe you didn’t get that part. The Ministry of Sport was asked to hand out one trophy at the THA Sports Awards and Smith spent the equivalent of an Olympic athlete’s annual funding disbursement to do so.
So much for austere times, eh, Colm? Although, to be fair, it would take a brave man to try and tighten Smith’s belt.
When asked about the need to fly to Tobago for a nondescript event with more people than the total number of athletes to be honoured that night, Smith told CNC3 that he was only responsible for his personal assistant—the aptly named Cindy Cupid—and they should ask his Permanent Secretary, Natasha Barrow, about the rest, which included his communications officer and sometimes squeeze, Kate Balthazar, and advisor Garvin Warwick.
He didn’t even hesitate, under the most gentle of cross-examinations. Even Peter had to be asked three times before he disavowed Jesus. Smith served up Barrow like she was a side of fries.
Barrow weakly suggested that the three day Tobago excursion included several important meetings. But several staffers who spoke to Wired868 contradicted her account.
The only other notable appointment that weekend in Tobago was an inspection of the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet and less than half of Smith’s 12 staffers attended while the Minister himself was absent.
And, crucially, the main people for that site visit—including CEO Adam Montserin—came from Trinidad and returned on the same day. Otherwise, God knows what Smith and his dirty dozen were up to.
Smith did offer some consolation to the Trinidad and Tobago public on his Ministry’s use of taxpayers’ money at the Magdalena Grand Beach and Golf Resort.
“Ent is the government’s hotel?” Smith asked rhetorically. “So the money staying in the system.”
It betrayed a level of economic ignorance that was so brazenly repulsive and insulting and yet, at the same time, full of such absolute childish ignorance that one had to stop and stare, open-mouthed—like looking at a stool the size of a papaw in a public restroom.
Keithos, can we have a courtesy flush at the Ministry of Sport, please?
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
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His ass needs to be fired after he and his 11 cohorts pay the hotel bill bunch of green fig idiots
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2017-05-24/pm-wants-smith-account-trip
gul this idiot belly bigger than yours , but you have more guts to take up a man like this LOL
Take she on a honeymoon in bago bai
Look where his hand is she really is his ass sistant
That’s the hand of god
I was at the Magdalena that same weekend. My eyes were closed and now my lips are sealed.
I had a seminar there related to distance running and yoga …. I wonder if any of the ‘entourage’ attended?
Now if the Minister had signed up for the seminar his rate would have been $1,090 TT a night including breakfast.
This government talk about belt tightening and Property Tax.
Practice what you Preaching.
Don’t forget ego.
Well written and enlightening….. keep it up Mr. Live Wire
Sooooooo, is this one of those situations in which we should just tell the Minister to pay the bill because #youcanaffordtotakealoss, like the AG told business people at a meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce in Jan 2017?
when they say tighten your belt is to give these bastards slack to spend your hard earned money! Same shit different blasted pile!
If his assistant is not a public servant, what they doing there on taxpayers’ dime? same problem people had with Kamla’s sister
Mel, let Richard Thompson tell about how fell Sport Minister performs…
“When our minds should have been in training mode and preparing for Rio, they were directly derailing our focus with issues that should not have been.
“The Ministry has a system in place that is intended to help and facilitate athletes representing the country, but instead we feel as though they are against us and have become directly vindictive in the process of trying to stiff-arm us.”
The following press statement on deteriorating relations between the Ministry of Sport, Sport Minister Darryl Smith and Trinidad and Tobago international athletes was submitted by three-time Olympic sprinter and medalist Richard “Torpedo” Thompson:
http://wired868.com/2017/02/01/torpedo-we-feel-the-sport-ministry-is-deliberately-stiff-arming-national-athletes/
How sad!
That is exactly why the Sports Ministry should be eliminated, it’s just a burden on the taxpayer.
Remember when they had the Lady Soca Warriors scrunting in Texas?
Oh yup. You mean…when we had to be rescued by…Haiti?
The first thing men does start doing when appointed Sports Minister is sporting!
What a shame. And where is Keith?
???
Lasana Liburd, why you bringing that back up. Man done get reprimanded for speaking out eh!
And I read something about the sudden resignation of a former member of the Sportt and was really disappointed, if that story proves true.
The only ones getting screwed over seem to be our athletes.
This is ridiculous.
Didn’t Shorters (aka Minister of Finance) say something about reducing expenditure, austerity, belt-tightening, fiscal responsibility, blah blah blah … and wasn”t there some story about some puplic servants having to walk with teepee from home?
Those measures are usually for us the plebs
As well as the PM-else how the whole country know bout ‘belt tightening’.
Yup Mel Lissa, animal farm is our policy document-all animals are equal, some more than others.
You recall the uproar the whole country was in when doubles went up by $1?
This minister living la vida loca for a weekend on more money than a lot of people make in 1 year inno-just to put it into perspective nah-and we okay with that?
And Shamfa – don’t forget her
Yup, can’t. In all fairness, we can’t blame her for more than stupidity or irresponsibility.
Does the country ever find out what happened at these conferences?
Aside from maybe some photo ops (a few minutes work). How do we know these people were not out enjoying themselves and left someone to stand in?
For Smith, I would have said the same (stupid and irresponsible), except for the last minute inclusion of additional members which seemed a tad calculated as it would -coincidentally be after the P.S. approved, and where is the official agenda?
They need to eliminate the Ministry of Sport.
Dah was yesterday, tuhday is tuhday.
Plus technically any cabinet is smaller than that Bazaar Kamla was running dey!
He consolidate some since 2015 Nerisha
Vernal Damion Cadogan and Mel Lissa yup but we had a number of junior ministers too. And what they couldn’t fit into cabinet, they stuff into ‘committees’-energy, etc.
Listen the whole thing need to bun dong and start over
The Whole Damn Thing!
Like yuh want meh entire list owah? doe start that
Start with sport, then tourism, then agriculture, then national security, then the office of the Prime Minister…
YEESSS!!! OMG….I keep saying this, that Minsitry is totally useless in terms of national development, TT has got to get rid of that state sponsored slush fund ……
If it not sponsoring crime, it sponsoring sports ministers romantic holidays with dey outside ohman!
Yuh doh know English or what? Was three ah them went; ohmans!
In that Ministry those two activities are usually inter-related…..
Verns yuh eh hear the man say allyuh jealous because he ‘performing’
How we know how he performing, we was in the hotel room?
He rate heself!
Bes we arx he “employee”
Okay guys, this is just so gross right now,I’m about to hurl….
Lol Tanya Carr
Vernal Damion Cadogan and Mel Lissa
Lasana look the man say we jealous because he ‘performing’. What exactly is he referring to?
http://www.cnc3.co.tt/morning-brew/smith-people-are-attacking-me-because-i-am-performing
Woahhhh…did he actually say this? Really dude…. this guy has no concept of optics….????
Mel Lissa and Tanya Carr, ‘alternative facts’ or a lie often repeated becomes the truth?
Would be nice if he could enlighten us on this ‘performance’. Opening BLCA, aquatic centre etc?
Nerisha I’m not sure I want the details of this performance eh – meh poor virgin ears
Lol..I was not even going there, although the thought crossed my mind!
???
Darryl is doing stand up now? Or taking reality altering drugs?
MKUltra reach Chinidad too 🙂
What is the difference between a personal assistant and a personal secretary? Why would one person need both?
Personal secretaries arrange your liming sessions. Personal assistants accompany you there… :-/
Is that how it works universally? Or just at wired868? ?
Hahaha thanks for the explanation Lasana
Hahaha. I’ve said too much!
Got the clarification. Apparently all ministers have the option to have both. However, not all ministers have exercised this option.
The secretary does office work. The assistant does more errand stuff.
Lasana Liburd, subject to correction, but as far as I M aware, one would be an Executive Secretary (public servant) and one would be a personal assistant (contract). Not sure about personal Secretary.
In reality, a busy guy would need a PA to work behind the scenes, networking, setting up meetings, talking to people who their boss cannot associate with, take meetings in his absence etc. The secretary would be someone efficient at organizing his diary, communications, correspondence etc. Not necessarily someone who would type letters!
TOTAL DISRESPECT…
Oliver Joseph I am a volunteer with a blind NGO who are in operation for over 20 yrs. they SAVE the Gov’t millions of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ each year for the work they do for/with the blind…since PNM Gov’t came to office in September, 2015…up to now they have not received a penny of their subvention…they are facing eviction right now…becaused they cannot pay their rent & their staff…
No money for the poor in hospital and this fat pig spending taxpayers monies like running water
Look at the picture and see where his right hand is this was no employee
How we does rush to judgement so?
Rush to judgement….. did you see the cover pic? Would you be okay with that pic if that was your female family member? did you read the article? What did they do for the length of time they were there?……. sorry hon we didnt rush to judgement we took a taxi and was in traffic for hours. …..
I still waiting for dem to charge and put dem in court is 2yrs now eh where is d proof dey thief
Gosh Lasana this was brutal. But to be fair to Smith though. Is like he’s 3 people so 3X3 is 9 for the weekend….so add 9 to the divisor….carry de 1…. Maybe de maths will look better
Hahaha. That is a big big sum there gyul!
Cruel….ha…ha
Yeah… is Add Maths?
I was satisfied with “carry de 1”!
“So much for austere times, eh, Colm? Although, to be fair, it would take a brave man to try and tighten Smith’s belt.”
Schools crying out for funds ..the hospitals crying out for meds ….but PAPA Rowley and the babies spending like wildfire.
No matter how u package it …it is STILL bullshit. And more amazing …the red is ready to defend it. Tobago suffering for groceries and the Minister and friends having a lavish time. When he going to cut back?
After this….. all sporting functions must be held at the stadiums (no overnight stay).They must carpool or use PTSC buses for transport. They must walk with their food. Money will be saved…..no more embarrassment.
This bunch a little better than the pp who use helicopter to reach San Fernando
Same taataa different day
http://wired868.com/2017/05/24/rowley-asks-smith-to-account-for-tobago-trip-new-info-refutes-sport-ministers-claims/
Eh? Timely press release too? Glad to see that at least this matter is being addressed. Let’s see what comes out of it.
anybody took a glance at room assignments? asking for a fren…
As I said before, Darryl is like a fat kid in a candy store.
We taxpayers must pay for this !!! We have to tighten out belts and the Ministers are squandering money
Gone on Government? Doing Good. We you all say the country have no money what do you all mean? Let me guess. You mean there is no money for us ordinary citizens, but there is money for the ministers to spend stupidly. Eg roaming charges, Tobago trip, paintings, Brian Lara Stadium. This list can go on and on.
No care for our citizens…
this is just another reminder that we cannot go anywhere as a people until political parties (pyramid organisations) are banned by our constitution. It is too easy to manipulate the small group at the top of the pyramid. we cannot have a functioning democracy until each area representative represents ONLY her constituents.
Why is why it is important to have constitutional reform. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Proportional representation might be the best option, at least for now.
You recall this administration indicated that would be done by next GE.
What we have sure ent working. No doubt about that.
Use your time in office wisely sir for nothing lasts forever.
Isn’t that not the same picture that was circulating early last year?;
I don’t have the words to express my anger and disappointment in The sports minister. Easily give people the ammunition to sink you.
all are we are trinidadians, what is the difference
I have zero issue here EXCEPT the number of people for what was needed. That is potentially where the wastage comes in
And without bias, I accept the Perm Sec’s response for the extra 3 having additional duties.
Strictly speaking we don’t know what’s going on with the assistant.
Where is TT going?????? No food cards for the POOR citizens, NGOs are not getting their “subventions” for the past 20 months – No medications in the Hospitals, feeding the patient noodles everyday…Shamfa 4 days phone bill $59,000.00…Daryl Smith 3 days SPLURGE in Tobago $94,000.00…why is the PM SILENT??????
Smoking the white lady in a hotel room; 34 million pocketed by Professor Jiggle; $400 million unaccounted from the Ministry; send a full choir to give a DJ a rousing sent-off, of dirge music; and had a hand in the demise of a beloved SC. Compare that to $92,000.00, not stolen but expended on government business.
TT voters FIRED the PP Gov’t in September, 2015…ent…what is your beef?????
Oliver Joseph http://wired868.com/2014/08/03/show-me-the-money-lifesport-gets-a-live-wire-audit/
And with that I bid you adieu Oliver. I prefer to step over the gutter and not into it…
Oliver Joseph I am a poor man…but my mother taught me well…I gave to the poor…I do not take from the poor…
Oliver, won’t it be more beneficial to our country if we compared public servants to best case practices and not worst case practices? What do you think?
I hope next time a school invites a Sports Ministry official to their Sports Day, they don’t blank since clearly there are enough people in the Ministry to put in an appearance.
It may be quite simply a matter of assembly.Each one carried a part.What is the problem ?
It seems that only those who refused to condone the obscene theft and corruption of the PP wanted true change and a better T&T. Such a disappointment, the whole lot.
Keeping my property tax money for my carnival costume next year… since it’s all the same system.
Agreed!
Oh geezeanages Lasana my jaw hurtin from laughing from start to finish…Then when I finally stop I started reading the comments…Well yes it have some people you could spit on them tell them it raining AND sell them an umbrella too oui
Hahaha! Well said.
Where was Ms Squeeze during the campaign trail? Was she having sleepless nights, not being able to kiss her children goodnight because she was out until wee hours of the morning supporting him? Where was she the night when the votes were being counted? Was she nervous, flittering from one Diego Martin constituency office to another? I never saw her! He is an addle-brained, ungrateful goon!
the major portion of the bill was for food, must be,!He’s getting bigger by the month. What kind of example is he setting for the youth.
Allyuh good yes lolol
Reyna I can vouch for the fact that he plays football on some weekends to try and lose some of the weight…
He just foolin himself
I think he’s consuming at a faster than he’s burning it off.
Alyuh good oui
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Rowley-tells-of–hungry-Jehue-223779551.html
Just to keep it in perspective, eh.
LOL
NOTHING cyar hide on the internet!
all kicks aside…
typical room at Magdalena Grand + meals is USD$225/day
typical rental of SUV is $650/day
it doesn’t appear out of the ordinary that Smith and co were extravagant in this trip. Seems standard fare.
I cannot speculate on why 12 people went or what they did while there. That’s for the ministry to answer. But at first glance, this bill is not extraordinary in any way.
Exactly for the fact that there is a bill of course you mean right? For a non-event?
Other than that… Lol
yuh see that’s the ting…it may or may not have been a non event. but the minister was invited to attend. aint like the man catch ah vaps and make ah weekend run DDI and send in ah bill. MG is not a cheap hotel—but it ain like that money evaporate somewhere. himself to himself in that deal.
i ain know…what was he supposed to go? Go by family and walk with ah inflatable mattress and some tins of sardine and ah Kiss bread?
You’re kinda missing the point of 12 people going Dennis. Is that deliberate?
that is the ting. the man say 9 was he people and the rest was from the ministry. and the invite was for the 9? tell me if i read that wrong.
now whyyyyyy the whole side had to go on the invitation has to be explained by the inviter, not the invitees…
A man can open a roti store on Brooklyn and invite the whole of the Ministry of Sport.
Will Darryl then carry everyone and blame the dude in Brooklyn?
That is like Shamfa investigating TSTT. Lol. Nah dude
They didn’t need nine people. But let’s say Darryl did want to carry them. Work out the cost for nine airline tickets returning the same night for me Dennis. I will wait…
oh shit
hahahahah
Lol
nah nah nahhhh…you so sure yuh could get a same-day return on CAL? i wouldnt bet on thateven with the executive privileges extended to these VIPs.
but i do concede your point.
However, there has been some mumblings of some additional business that should have occupied the entourage’s time? what ever came of that?
Not sure what you mean.
it have that? where? HAHAHAHA
i have wired868 as the definitive sports reporting sources. i know your personal stake prevents you from taking a casual approach to fact checking. all that said, i still want to leave room for doubt.
Skepticism is necessary in this life and especially in this profession. Fair enough.
somebody said the contingent had additional business to attend in Tobago—other meetings and obligations that were pushed forward to that weekend in order to kill two bird.
Not hearing anyone saying anything to the legitimacy of those claims.
Hearing “ministry sources” saying that no such meetings took place. Not hearing any THA officials saying otherwise.
If you read the story, I dealt with that. It isn’t true or a gross exaggeration at best.
i read yours and the express. (only for comparison, obviously lol) (duh) and heard some radio talkshow commentary (had a long drive…) so it’s not 100% clear
Dennis, I spoke to “informed sources”. So I feel as confident about my info as I possibly can be. Hope you listened to a nice, balanced talkshow host. Lol
Love the piece. He’s a damn ass. He should be stripped of his ministry
Greed is a hell of a thing, who coming will be no different, this is fill your pocket time. Remind of my days picking “downs” without ah bag, I eat what couldn’t fit in my pocket.
He kinda too fat to be a sport minister in the first place. lol
Exactly!
Who say he there for the sports, or the youth?
Extrapolate that out to the rest