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The news that the 4th President of the Republic had died created quite an outpouring of genuine sympathy from the citizens of the Rock. I had met his Excellency a number of times both as a commoner and also as a Member of Parliament. He and his wife were always extremely gracious and he seemed to keep out of trouble by being careful to not cross the line, understanding rightfully his role as a Head of State. He also loved his Carnival and why not, he was a person and not a God. Again whilst playing mas he knew his position and never found himself in an embarrassing situation.
RIP Max Richards!

The very strange statement by the PMOTT on the purchase of a new fast ferry has taken the industry by surprise. Reason being is that the PMOTT led the charge against the PPG and the tendering procedure used for the contracting of the Super Fast Galicia claiming fraud. The tendering process used by the then Government was throughly discussed and put in the public domain during the Joint Select Committee of the Parliament. As far as I am aware there is no further discussion on the procurement of the Galicia as everything was above board.
The Government of Trinidad and Tobago purchasing a ferry is not a simple exercise. The PMOTT could say what he wants but the purchase of a ferry is a very complicated exercise requiring a process and abiding by the Rules of Public Procurement. To say in the course of conversation " we buy a ferry" is not how this works. Whether it is NIDCO, the PATT or the PMOTT's Office it does not matter. If the PATT had to purchase or contract a ferry if the cost was over $5.0M then the Central Tenders Board would, by law, have to be involved. If it is NIDCO then that agency would have a written tendering process to follow. There is nothing in the public domain that speaks to a tendering process for a ferry by any agency. So the question is by what means has the nation of Trinidad and Tobago purchased a ferry and how are they going to pay for it? We are assuming that it is public funds, taxpayers money being used to finance the purchase of the ferry unless it is a donation. If it is being donated then that would have been the right term to use and not 'purchase'.
I find it odd that the Tobago Chamber is thankful that a new ferry is arriving regardless of the method used to acquire, bobol or no bobol we want a ferry.

How is the Government going to control Forex? On tonights breaking news the Minister of Finance announces that this is going to be the new system of ensuring equity in who gets Forex. In 1987 when I started my business there was the system of ECO's and EC1's. There was a guy who was associated with the same ruling party who created a thriving business of selling options for Forex. Is this the answer to our Forex problems? Ratch and more ratch. Float it, let it set it's own value. You keep shoring up the Forex with an unsustainable rate of exchange then the imports will continue to flood the market. Our food import bill will remain the same with people preferring to purchase foreign chocolate and chicken because its there and cheaper than what is being produced locally using locally grown cocoa and farmed poultry. What is the problem? We produce beer but one can find ten's of foreign beers on the market. I have no problem with freedom of choice but why should an importer of a foreign food and beverage be paying the same unsustainable rate for Forex as a producer who requires some foreign input to his locally proved product but then has to manufacture locally. Let the market determine the rate of exchange. All of a sudden we will see a jump in our local production and manufacturing.
The thought of the Government controlling who gets what is scary. I can just see a request coming from me and the officer in the Ministry saying, 'buh wey nah dat is not Cadiz?' Nah, REJECTED.

Tonight it is cold in the valley, like the early mornings. It feels like 19C and that is cold for me.

Interesting times on the Rock. The price of oil and natural gas are reasonably good, no one has yet told us plebs what that means for us in the short or long term. I guess we are just peasants who do not need to know anything. Thank you Massa, much appreciated!

These cold nights and early mornings are good for the soul, it tells me where my preference for living is.

Good night and good luck good people of the Rock!


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