Black Immigrant Daily News

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Well, it’s clear our political leaders can’t settle their differences on their own accord – with almost every issue that crops up. Your Eyewitness knows that, in our adversarial politics, the Leader of the Opposition (LoO) is supposed to oppose the Government (duh!!). But jeez, isn’t there a limit, so SOME business of the state can proceed?? When does opposition become intransigence??

So, the LoO went to the Courts – perpetuating the “judicialization of politics”. And risks dragging our constitutional arbiter into the gutter by imputing POLITICAL motives for their JUDICIAL decisions!! Take the just-delivered decision by the Chief Justice (ag) on whether the President’s appointments to the Police Service Commission (PoSC) and the Integrity Commission were illegal – as claimed by the LoO. And, inter alia, whether the appointments made by the said PoSC weren’t also consequently illegal!!

Your Eyewitness must confess that even after reading three different accounts of the CJ’s decision three times each, his head’s still spinning!! Not the least because both the Police Service Commission and the Public Service Commission had the same acronym (PSC) – explaining why yours truly dubbed the former “PoSC”!! It’s a good thing the Private Sector Commission (also PSC!) wasn’t dragged into the matter.

The entire case turned on whether there were the constitutionally mandated “meaningful consultations” between Pressie and the LoO before these Commissions were constituted. On the matter of LoO Norton’s contention of “no consultation”, the CJ said “Not so!!” The clincher was that even after the clarifications on Pressie’s nominations were given to him, if he needed additional info, he’d unilaterally decided he wasn’t gonna be doing no meeting!! The President should be psychic??

But that wasn’t the END of the story. Is there ever?? Seems that even though the Integrity Commission and its Chair was a done legal deal, the appointments by the PoSC weren’t!! While the appointment of the CHAIR was legit, before he could consult his Committee to make recommendations for appointments, an ex-officio member of the PoSC – the Chairman of the Public Service Commission – had to be there!! And trouble was – BIG trouble! – there’s wasn’t any Chairman of the PSC!!

So, does this mean that the appointment of the entire GPF top brass – the real cause of this fight!!! – is illegal?? Well, YES IT IS!! But does this mean that COP Hicken has to go?? Well…NO!! “Well, how come?” you ask, dear reader?? The CJ (ag) pulled out a rabbit from her legal hat (used to be a powdered wig!!). She invoked the “de facto doctrine” which your Eyewitness calls the “boat gaan a watah” doctrine!! To revoke the appointment would result in a “failure of public justice”!!This ain’t over till it’s over!! Or some fat lady sings!!

…or creating conflicts??The LoO also drew a line in the sand – demanding that GECOM’s gotta create a new voters’ list, or else!! He didn’t ACTUALLY SAY “big trouble”, but the WAY he said it left nothing in doubt, least of all, PNC’s supporters!! Now ostensibly, the LoO’s contention looks reasonable: Guyana has a population of 740,000, so how come the voters’ list has 684,354 names – over 91 per cent of the population.

But, in August 2019, the High Court ruled new house-to-house registration meant a “residency requirement” for voting!! Unconstitutional!! Once a person’s registered to vote, their name can’t be removed, even if they’re overseas or not found at the address where they registered. Most of the alleged “bloating” comes from Guyanese citizens migrating.The Coalition Government had appealed this decision, and on 11 Feb 2020, the Court of Appeal upheld the August 2019 High Court decision.To remove persons’ names from the list, there’s gotta be an amendment to the Constitution, outlawing dual citizenship!!

…like our neighboursBarbados just voted with a voters’ list of 266,330 persons – 87% of its 302,674 population! While St Kitts/Nevis voted with a 50,933 voters’ list comprised of 94% of its 54,001 population!!No complaints of “bloated” lists!! What’s different??

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Black Immigrant Daily News

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The Saint Lucia government is reviewing the requirements for appointing people in the protective services.

The disclosure came on Thursday from Public Service Minister Dr. Virginia Albert-Poyotte.

Albert-Poyotte was answering a question from reporters regarding succession planning in the Saint Lucia Fire Service where Fire Chief Joseph Joseph has proceeded on pre-retirement leave.

She said before his departure, Joseph had expressed confidence that he had a line-up of officers to replace him.

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The Babonneau MP said the position would be advertised and the best person would get the job.

She also explained that George Victorin, currently the Acting Fire Chief, is due to retire next year.

And when  the issue of department appointments without ‘due process’ was raised, the Minister spoke of the review.

“What we have seen as a deficiency is one where persons employed in the protective services were equated to persons in the general public service,” Albert-Poyotte, whose responsibilities include Home Affairs and Labour, told reporters.

But the Minister said the government feels that people in the protective services require special skills.

“We have to place greater emphasis on skills, performance, and experience rather than just certification. A master’s (degree) in something or a doctorate or a first degree – that’s the certification,” she noted.

“But when it comes to practice and having the skills we have to put greater emphasis in that area and not if you have a master’s you move up the ranks,” she said.

Headline photo: Dr. Virginia Albert-Poyotte (Stock image)

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Black Immigrant Daily News

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Black Immigrant Daily News

News

David Elcock

Former TT radio and television broadcasting icon David Elcock has died, his son Jason Elcock confirmed yesterday.

He was 78 and would have been 79 next month.

In a brief phone interview with Newsday, Elcock said his father died at about 1.30 pm on Thursday in Brooklyn, New York.

Although he could not give thecause of death, he said, his father had been ailing for some time.

David Elcock was one of the country’s pioneering broadcasters.

A bio on Radiokyso.com said Elcock’s career spanned more than 30 years in radio and television.

He was known for the now defunct National Broadcasting Service’s (NBS) Radio 610’s Elcock in the Morning programme, which ran from the early 70s to the 90s. It was a favourite of both local and regional audiences.

On the night-time TV show TT Tonight, Elcock would interview local leading artistes, government officials, sport personalities and visiting entertainers.

He also sang popular songs with his ex-wife Mavis John such as You Are What Love Is.

Veteran journalist Dominic Kalipersad said Elcock was a legend, passionate, intense, amusing and knowledgeable.

He said it was an honour to work with him.

“I could not imagine that the person whom I had been hearing on the radio during my youth, I ended up being his programme director when I worked, after TTT, at Trinidad Broadcasting Company Ltd.

“He was one of the primary voices on Radio Tempo 105.1 FM, which was the first all-local music radio station in the country launched by the veteran Neil Giuseppi.”

Kalipersad said Elcock would continue to be recognised as one of TT’s legendary broadcasters.

Giuseppi also paid tribute to him, sharing an article he wrote about Elcock’s life and work to his Facebook page.

He said Elcock was born on September 20, 1943 on Duncan Street, Port of Spain.

He joined 610 Radio (then Radio Guardian) in 1962 as a trainee announcer, and launched The David Elcock Show which ran until 1972.

Elcock also worked in advertising at the firm Christiansen and Belgrave.

In 1976, he launched Elcock in the Morning, “which would top all the annual radio surveys for almost 15 years,” Giuseppi said.

Elcock was also one of the most in-demand MCs of his time, he added.

Giuseppi said Elcock introduced iconic international acts such as Stevie Wonder, Barry White, and Dionne Warwick.

He met Elcock professionally in the 90s when, as managing director of Trinidad Broadcasting Company, he persuaded him to leave 610 Radio and join the Radio Tempo (105.1 FM) team. Elcock also worked as the host of the New Scouting for Talent before migrating to the US.

Though semi-retired, Elcock worked with Radio Kyso.com in the US.

In 1990, he received the Humming Bird Medal (Silver) for public service.

He leaves to mourn his children Marc, Amanda and Jason and wife Juliet.

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