Many of you are here for photos of Kanye West's performance in Trinidad well have no fear, yuh boy was there and I'll upload the pictures soon enough.
Bookmark me and have patience.

Labels: B-Mobile concert, Kanye West in Trinidad

Last month, had anyone asked me 'from whom are you buying a new cellular phone?'; I would have answered 'either Laqtel or Digicel, but Digicel is the more likely.'
Today, I would answer 'neither TSTT nor Digicel!'

Digicel is aggravating me with their learnt-from-a-book marketing strategy and policy. It's all theoretical and impractical.
Why are they reluctant to publicize the mobile units they will offer in 2006? Particularly in a small market where the main competitor has stolen a march on you. Is it not commonsense that their advertisement advising consumers to wait 'til January would have more force if one were aware that similar or better phones are on the horizon?

What's the secret? Digicel aren't making super-cellulars in a Port-of-Spain lab!?
More than likely the mobile phones they sell will echo that of the competitors'.

This silence for silence sake is annoying, but not surprising, as Digicel's ad campaign is pointless, untargeted, and verbose. It just is not working!
Digicel should fire their ad agency.

Anyway, I have a review for you of the Motorola Razr V3 that everyone and their tanty are fussing over.

Introduction:
The Motorola may be new to most local users, but this unit was launched and available for sale -internationally- in Oct 2004. This is not a technological gift to Trinidad and Tobago citizens.
At the time it retailed for US450 but it's being shopped to us at around US300; a considerable departure from it's initial RP (retail price).
To someone as myself (unfussed over this cellphone business) it does not have any immediate impact, visually. But, I tested its appeal to the young trendsetters and they were blown away.


Design:
I used a black version for my test and the colour is far from rich, but it's a cellphone so any shade of black (if that exists) is important.
The Razr VE measures 3.8 x 2.0 x 0.5 inches and weighs less than a quarter of one pound.

It is wider than many flip-phones but seats comfortably in the pocket -important to me because I detest those mooks with phones on the side of their trousers or skirts- and it has a uselessly light feel in your hand. 'Yuh cah lick down any mango wit dis phone.'
Importantly, the hinge that facilitates the 'flip' is sturdy and should be able to support thousands of 'flips-up' before you have to queue for forty days and nights to have it serviced/replaced by an TSTT overpaid technician.

There is an external display at the front that reminds older users of those notebook stickers with the chameleon LCD effect. I did not describe that particularly well but if you are over 30 you'd understand. On this display one can view information as TIME, BATTERY LIFE, and SIGNAL STRENGTH.
The display also acts as a viewer -when the clip is closed- for the camera lens (situated above the screen, almost un-noticeable). There is this cool -for two or three minutes- effect using the external display where you can turn the camera 360 degrees and it 'right-sides' the image it is displaying.

A voice recorder button is at the phone's right-side, with controls for the camera and volume on the left. It does not take much practice to manipulate them by feel, only.

Flip-up the phone and you see a really ugly bottom panel for dialing and whatnot. I was not impressed visually, but it is sturdy. The top-panel, naturally, is the screen; and it is a beautiful 2.5 inches, 256000 color display. Large enough to view, record, and playback images and video.
Navigation by feel takes some time getting used-to, but nothing is stopping you from looking at the keys. What's your hurry?


Bells, whistles, bonuses and features:
The Motorola can store 1250 names -250 on the SIM card- with accompanying phone-numbers (asmany as six) and an email address. There is support for POP3, SMTP and IMAP4 -in other words EMAIL, for the illiterates.

A standard USB port sits at the side, and judging by it's shape can be easily replaced at any RadioShack -if it ever came to that-. The usual features; vibrate mode, text and multimedia messaging, speakerphone, calculator, alarm clock, are present.
Other features include MP3 support, Bluetooth connectivity, and AOL Instant Messenger (hmmmn).

And of course, a camera. A beautiful VGA Camera supporting three resolutions:
160 x 120 and 320 x 240 for email and wallpaper
640 x 480 for everything else.

There is a 4x zoom! That's the same as my Nikon, wtf? But, just 6MB of memory; not enough in my opinion, but for fucks sake its a cellphone, so you should feel satisfied. Also included is one J2ME (JAVA) game and a slide show to view your pictures. It goes without saying you can personalise your camera-phone with wallpapers, sounds, ringtones, etc.


The basics:
Usually when one buys a phone, the most important aspects are making/ receiving phone calls and volume.
In Trinidad and Tobago it is near impossible to tell if any problem with the former is a problem with the phone or the Telecommunications company, but all phone numbers dialed were answered (that's the best I can do).
However, I thought the volume, both naturally and with the speakerphone, needs to be more audible.
The battery-life is an acceptable 7 hours.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Question: How incompetent are Trinidad and Tobago Attorneys-at-law and Judges? Permit me to re-phrase.
How incompetent are attorneys and Judges practising in the Trinidad and Tobago courts?
Answer: Very!

Year after embarrassing year the Public are witness to one disgusting verdict after another.

In The State vs Mouttet the defendant admitted to social use of a narcotic, namely cannabis, and casually informed the Court that 'meh wife always told me one day ah woulda get ketch'. But Mouttet is a millionaire many times over so learned Judge decided, in his wisdom, that his value to society as an employer mitigated against a custodial sentence.
I wager he is no longer rolling the chronic because we all know how simple it is to go cold-turkey. Ent?
Steupssssss.

And of course there was 'The State vs Brad Boyce(1997)' wherein the defendant 'won' a not guilty verdict on the instruction of Justice Herbet Volney because the evidence of the forensic pathologist was entirely unreliable.
Unreliable because the pathologist, Hughvon DesVignes, had not the right to pass himself as a forensic pathologist.
Oddly the Judge's opinion on this, lasted all of one matter because Dr Des Vignes is now a recognised and accredited forensic pathologist.
Brad Boyce, last I heard, was earning foreign currency on an oil rig.
Steupsss.

There are many more, but the most recent is 'The State vs Deochan Ramdhanie, Mantoor Ramdhanie, Patrick Toolsie and Ken Gresham'.
I have read and heard various commentary damning the decision by the Privy Council Lords to free the accused but anyone who read their considered judgement would be mad to disagree with its content and verdict.
Simply put, Karl Hudson-Phillips QC fucked up, embarrassingly, and incompetently.
He gave testimony, alluded to evidence not put in, and belittled opposing counsel. How can an attorney of great appreciation and esteem be so reckless and amateurish to act with such contumely and arrogance in a Court of Law.

In my opinion, the Law Lords were kind to Queens Counsel, for he was deserving of censure fitted to his reprobate behaviour.

The Judge, now Appeal Court Justice Stanley John, added weight to the tilt in favour of the accused when he failed in his duty to install mitigating evidence of character. A flaw one cannot easily excuse. Sadly he is not alone, as this was a point of law cited as breached in the case of The State vs Jagdeo Singh.

At the end of the day, Karl Hudson-Phillips incompetence and arrogance has cost the State millions of dollars. Perhaps as many as ten million dollars.
Thankfully, and I say that with no remorse, Mantoor Ramdhanie died in prison. A deserving punsihment for the cocaine trafficker.

Unfortunately, the son of a cocaine trafficker Deochan Ramdhanie, the nephew of a cocaine trafficker Patrick Toolsie, and the neighbour of a cocaine trafficker Ken Gresham live on to enjoy the fruits -or is it the chopra- of their labour.
The State has already moved to 'unfreeze' their accounts which hold over 7million dollars. The State is also responsible for costs and therefore owe the legal counsel of these scum, millions of dollars.

But that's what you get when you rely on incompetent fuckers as Karl Hudson-Phillips, Stanley John, and the troika of unintelligent Appeal Court Justices who heard the matter. Just another day in the tropics.

Thank God we do not have class action law suits for Asbestos, Mesothelioma or Fen Phen because the Treasury would go bust.

You have seen the ads, TSTT (Telecommunication disService to Trinidad & Tobago) has contracted Kanye West to perform his full concert repertoire.
He is the headline act for TSTT's b-mobile Unbeatable Concert, scheduled for December 22nd. But this is TSTT, do not be surprised if the concert is postponed because of excessive network traffic.

If the Concert comes off, I do hope TSTT officials and Unbeatable Concert promoters advise Kanye West that Trinidad and Tobago's party-goers are an odd sort. They do not bow at the feet of International superstars; in this country Kanye West is just another bloke with a few good songs.
Remember Busta Rhymes, he was booed off the stage when he thought his reputation was good enough to mail-in a performance. However, local fans should swamp the venue, if only to have the opportunity to win one of 10 Razor mobile phones earmarked for un-LUCKY ticket buyers.

I hope you got the Razor and earmarked pun/joke.

In other news Damien 'Jr.Gong' Marley will perform on January 7 at the National Stadium in the newly created Soca Broadway.
Jr.Gong has followed the likes of father Bob Marley, Shabba Ranks, and lately, Sean Paul; in successfully 'crossing-over' to the Pop market. The hit song 'Welcome to JamRock' was the door-opening smash that pushed sales of the similarly0titled album past the million sales level.

An excerpt from his interview in the January 2006 Edition of Vibe:
Vibe: what do you wish was different about the US Government?
Damian Marley: The New Orleans event! They should have gotten more National support

Vibe: any songs you wish you had written or produced this year?
Damian Marley: Yeah, 'Hate it or Love it'

Vibe: by The Game and 50 Cent?
Damian Marley: Yeah!

Vibe: any songs you wish you'd heard the remix to this year?
Damian Marley: 'Welcome to Jamrock' I would really like to have a remix of that.

Vibe: Whow ould you like to have on that remix with you?
Damian Marley: Jay-Z probably

Vibe: Is there any celebrity or producer that you wish you could have worked with?
Damian Marley: Kanye West. I would love to do something with him and I would love to do something with DJ Premiere

Vibe: What is the one thing or one person that made the biggest impact on your life this year?
Damian Marley: The Public, the fans, you know what I mean? They support me. They actually supported my career this year, which was a really big year for me. So, there is no one person; because I have everyone who is out there.

Vibe: What artiste were you hoping would have a comeback this year?
Damian Marley: SuperCat

Vibe: Talking about Hot songs, which song aside from 'Welcome to JamRock' you wish got radio play this year?
Damian Marley: 'Road to Zion'

Vibe: If you were granted one wish for 2005, what would you wish for?
Damian Marley: I wish there was less murder in Jamaica this year.

Funny how people change.
Anil Roberts whose excellence as a swimming coach and media pundit won him rave reviews and massive popularity has devolved to an ego-maniacal media tyrant.
Today, listening to Power102FM, I heard the self-absorbed media personality rant and rave because a caller, popularly known as Mr.Cocorite asked a question that contained an innuendo only Roberts was aware of.

Suddenly he (Roberts) was vexed by an assertion -that was never made- that he and/or his swim-club illegally removed sand from the Powder Magazine 'mountains' to construct their quarters.
Anil, take a bweath, a sniffy-sniff, and a smelly-smell.

Boy, you have become much too thin-skinned, and this loudmouth threat of yours that you possess information of corruption in the highest offices are as credible as your allegations against Digicel.
Just relax my friend, you were doing fine 'til you believed your own press.
As you would advise your charges, forget the gallery and get back to the basics.

Labels: Anil Roberts, Digicel, Power 102 FM

CEOs Michael Barrow and Carlos Espinal of Laqtel and TSTT respectively, signed an agreement for telecommunications tower-sharing yesterday at TSTT House in Port-of-Spain.
The first I heard of this was watching Gayelle Television on Monday morning when Lisa Agard -legal something or the other- announced it boldly and proudly, as if...
Now, Lisa Agard is a fine looking woman on most days and she really pulled out all the stops on Monday. Unfortunately she stopped short of looking good.
Really unfortunate that a woman who would surely turn your head in a jeans and a tank-top, would make you turn away in attire ten times the cost.
.
Agard bespoiled herself in a jacket that seemed more appropriate for the cover of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts band, and a hairstyle inspired by Farrah Fawcett's in Charlie's Angels. 'Twas really unfortunate, because, and it's worth repeating, Agard is an attractive woman.
Lisa, darling, keep it simple please. A conservative business suit and a modest hairstyle would have served you infinitely better.

Mrs Agard (I assume she's married because well-to-do women often are) shared her Gayelle appearance with Marcia Henville (host) and a chap (Steven something I think) from Digicel.
I simply have to say this...when Marcia Henville makes you look cosquelle, you really have a problem. That's how awful Agard dressed.
Marcia looked really beautiful and her hair was appropriately understated, keep it up Marcia.

Anyway, before I become lost in Star Jones type commentary, let's return to something of substance.

The meeting between the Digicel gaffer and the TSTT legal spokeswoman promised much -in theory- but offered nothing in substance. It was all petty as Agard sought to make the few points she could (Digicel too, offer medium-term contracts) and deflect the criticisms she can (Digicel had not responded to their offer of tower-sharing).
Steven, or is it Stephen, came off as arrogant and persnickety; often mentioning he receives phone calls from the line Minister, Saith; yet bitching over his non-receipt of written documentation from TSTT on tower-sharing.
Could you not have called Steven...Stephen!

So fucking petty. You really wonder how clueless, self-absorbed twats as Agard and this Digicel clown scale the corporate ladder and shit down on us.
Which reminds me; I remitted an email to Digicel asking of them to provide me the models of mobile phones they intend to offer to the Trinidad public and thus far, I have received not word.
Not good!

I was mildly surprised 'til I saw Marcia ask Stephen a simple question with regard to their contract offers and deals, and he declined to answer. It appears Digicel's corporate policy is to say nothing unless and until they absolutely have to.
The CEO, or whatever Steven is, said it would be a self-inflicted wound to disseminate such information.
Wtf?
No, let me spell it out.
What the fuck?

No Stephen, that fuckry does not wash, there were many means and methods you could have employed to facilitate Marcia on that question. And if you are so afraid of self-inflicted wounds you should heal yourself of those awful advertisements. As I have written in the past, Digicel should fire their advertising house.

Well, now we know with whom we deal, and the choices are:
TSTT - abusers of the public who seek to convince us they have changed for the better
Digicel - the most non-savvy corporate entity in Trinidad and Tobago
Laqtel - PNM corbeaux masquerading as a mobile communications alternative

Friends, countrymen, dire days are ahead!

Five minutes ago I signed up for NewsNow on the recommendation of a fellow blogger, hopefully it helps me to be as famous as Racquel Pacheco without the whole sleeping with men thing!

The big story in Trinidad and Tobago is the nations placing in World Cup Group B with top seed England, Paraguay, and Sweden.
All the players are pleased with the draw as many of them play for English League Clubs, none more so than England-born centre midfielder, Chris Burchall.
Burchall, who plays for English Championship team Port Vale, says "it is the best possible group for us(oh really?). No one knew anything about us before the draw for the qualifying group (come now Chris, it's not that bad), but we caused a few upsets and we beat Mexico (an understrength Mexico) when they put out a full-strength side (err, NO!)."

I do not expect us to qualify for the second round despite Fifa Vice President, Austin 'Jack' Warner's prediction that "we will be in the second round..."
Fact is, if we get a point from this Group we would have done well.
This is not pessimism, we simply -to the point of writing- do not have the personnel to compete with England (WC 2002 quarterfinalists, Beckham, Rooney, Gerard, Owen et al), Sweden (perennial qualifiers, Larsson, Ljungberg, Zlatan), or Paraguay.

Who knows, maybe players will be unearthed in the next couple of months and inspire more realistic confidence.

Next up in the news is Opposition Member of Parliament, Gillian Lucky's decision to defend, in a Court of Law, ex-PNM Chairman and Member for Parliament for Mayaro, Franklin Khan.
That's odd in itself, odder, when you become aware than Franklin Khan is a member of the ruling party which Ms Lucky opposes.

I have always voted for the People's National Movement, but even I, find this hard to take.
Gillian Lucky is in Parliament under tenuously ethical circumstances. She was elected on a UNC ticket and now, having disagreed and departed from the UNC, has rebranded herself an Independent and acts accordingly.
In the United States or Great Britain, that would be alright, but this is Trinidad and Tobago. Very few people are elected on their own political strength, and the political graveyard is populated with all those who dared to think otherwise.
She should resign her seat in Parliament and run as an Independent, of course she would lose, which makes it even more vehemently disgusting that she is defending Franklin Khan on a charge of CORRUPTION!

It hardly concerns anyone that she is an attorney, or she did not hire herself, it just seems putrid to me. It simply should not be. But, I am no legal ethicist so it will play itself out and we will forget about this in the next few weeks.

The usual kidnappings, murders and strikes all have shameful pride of place in the News, but I will end with Ms World contestant Jenna-Marie Andre.
Trinidad and Tobago's delegate takes the stage tonight in the Ms World pageant, and as has been the case for every young lady representing our Nation, she has a damn good chance.
We have it like that, for some reason (ignoring the obvious I am) we are always among the favourites and this year I expect her to do really well.
Good Luck Jenna-Marie, good-luck in advance, Soca Warriors.

So you decided to read Pt2, well good on ya, I appreciate your readership. But if you came here unexpectedly, click the advertisement critic for Pt1 of my Newsday ads review.

Page 27 is a full-page Fresh Express advertisement. Fresh Express is the latest kid on the sub-sandwich market and they have innovatively utilised gas station mini-markets, drugs stores, and bona fide supermarkets to sell their sandwiches.
That's clever, because fighting the big-boys , Subway and Blimpies, in a traditional retail outlet would have failed. This way they get their product in many locations and build their market before they inevitably go the way of adding specific Fresh Express outlets.

The ads however, are not as innovative, featuring a fat-ish boy holding a sub with some sort of fish-eye effect to make both he and the sandwich appear larger than life. Uhhh, no!
It is not effective, but, the slogan 'this is how we eat out in South', is.
The use of the San Fernando Hill is so, so, so what is the point, that it 'uglifies' the ad
Rating: 4 blinks

Westport always struck me as a company with a lot of self-belief, and Page 29's ad is true to form. The ad is for their Vogue Addiction Collection and they probably thought it was a good idea to create a Vogue-type ad.
Wrong! It is boring and pretentious -this from a man who uses blinks to rate-, and worse yet they use a profile shot of a young lady who does not have a very appealing profile.
She is certainly good-looking, but this is definitely not her best angle.
Rating : 4 blinks

A turn of the page uncovers a Grand Bazaar/Ford Focus ad that does nothing but remind you Grand Bazaar has a supermarket. Catwalk showcases another of their straight-out-of-Macy's advertisements.
Next comes the National Lottery Control Board's dumb wishbone ad.
Detour's ad is on page2 of Section B. Uh, ah, yeah, it is on page 2 of Section B.

Jeez, there are a lot of ads in Friday's newspaper.
Let's skip over Courts', Singers', Kirvek's (who?), the PNM's, and RadioShack's ads to page 40 of Section A.
Where we countenance yet another info-advertisement by Digicel.
Really, wtf?
I am not going to read this stupid ad because whatever information contained therein is of no relevance or is already known to me.
Digicel marketing department, please, listen to me; 'no one reads these stupid ads!'

Ahhhh, but I read TSTT's Network Interference headed info-statement (page52) that alleges Digicel's responsibility for the problems experienced by some of their clientèle. They also reveal a complaint was lodged with the Telecommunications Authority on the matter. Further, a request to Digicel was actioned, presumably asking them to stop their insensitive actions.
Oh behave!
TSTT, go to hell. No one cares about your sad little allegations.

Finally, we end with Carib Brewery's ad, a tribute of sort to the Soca Warriors. The idea is good, using footballs as bubbly beer froth, but alas, the execution is mediocre.
So sad.
Even sadder is the slogan-statement 'Drink Carib beer...support'.
Support what? The Soca Warriors?
We should support the National team by consuming alcohol?
Could they have not said this a better way. They are driving me to sobriety...

Have you ever taken a critical eye to newspaper advertisements?
I have, today actually, as I perused my Newsday of Friday December 9th.

Page 2 is a full page ad for RBTT Bank encouraging account holders to use their RBTT credit-card for Christmas purchasing. The tag-line is 'The Rewards of Giving'.
This advertisement is a decent marketing image featuring a beautiful brown complexioned young lady. She looks late teens or early twenties and has her hair in the hair-dressed fake natural look that is now prevalent. I like the fact that this girl is not the usual red-woman/white-woman combination most advertising houses in this country opt for.
Rating: 6 blinks

Page 6 is another full-page ad. The advertiser here is TSTT for their b-mobile campaign. I have to admit, TSTT has done a very good job with their b-mobile campaign. They would have been simpletons to not run a successful campaign because b-mobile campaigns have already littered much of the Caribbean archipelago. There is a lot for TSTT to copy and learn from.

Nevertheless, this ad utilises the traditional -and safe- Christmas colours of red and green. Also commonplace is the use of local celebrities and TSTT have commissioned soca stars Machel Montano and Shurwayne Winchester, and media darling Anil Roberts.
The ad has a lot of information but does not overwhelm the viewer/reader, and importantly, the terms and conditions are clearly discernible for those with eyes to see.
I am no fan of TSTT but the blame attached to them -re inducing customers to sign unfairly- is unjustified.
Rating: 7 blinks

The venerable Pennywise Cosmetics invades page 17 with pink -lots of it- and purple. This is not a very good ad.
Pennywise is enormously popular but they are not known as a place to purchase Christmas gifts. This ad featuring photos of hair-dryers is their attempt to suck-in the gift-buying public. I doubt it will have an effect.
Unrelated to the effectiveness of the ad, I must confess to being put-off by the 'God is love' sloganeering. Pennywise already bombards you -admittedly you do not have to shop there- with Sai Baba imagery and photos; now they have this in their ads?
Odd, very odd.
Rating: 3 blinks

Page 21 is yet another, boring, marginally effective, full-page ad from Digicel. Frankly, Digicel's ads are poor.
If this is the best a global giant can muster, I am very concerned.
The one thing pleasing about this ad is the body -read hips and ass- of Nicole Phipps, Digicel Trinidad's marketing Director. The ring on her right-hand looks a bit cheap though, but it fits right in with the inexpensive look of the ad.
What's with all the writing? Maybe it was useful at the beginning, but change it already.
Which local dimwitted company is responsible for these bads, I mean ads?
Rating: 2 blinks.

Page 23 is a good page for Micles. The top left-hand corner shows a hilarious photo of former Ms World, now Angostura PRO, Gisele La Ronde being molested by a group of enthusiastic children at the Angostura Children's Christmas party. That picture will halt any reader's intention to turn the page and the resulting pause will focus attention on the outstanding Micles ad.
I can never tire of those ads because the models are outstandingly attractive, and for two of them, outrageously sexy. My two favourites are Louanna Laurie, the hot-bod in the yellow tank-top and denim skirt; and whomever that girl is in the sky-blue shirt and denim skirt.
I love the Micles ads.
Rating: 7 blinks

You should be pretty eye-weary reading this, so, in your interest I'll end this as Pt1 and if and when you are prepared to read my opinion of more ads in the Newsday you may click........the advertisement critic.

Labels: Newsday, Trinidad newspaper

If you received the B-mobile info-magazine within your Trinidad and Tobago daily newspaper of choice you would have noticed one or two high-market cellular phones.
Among them is the Nokia N90, introduced in April 2005.

The Nokia N90 retails for US700 in North America and I estimate -given the greed of legal black-marketers (TSTT)- it will be offered locally for >US1000.
Not a problem though, if a consumer wants to pay way past a reasonable mark-up price, that is his right.

Sources tell me the Nokia N90 was exclusively sold at Ritz Camera as a means of highlighting its advanced digital photographic capabilities. The Nokia N90 has a 2MP camera with Carl Zeiss optics and the usual accoutrements of auto-focus, integrated flash and editing capabilities.
It is indeed the usual accoutrements except it is better.
Anyway I digress.

The problem is TSTT may not have these phones in stock. I say (speculate?) so because of my knowledge that those (North Americans) who pre-ordered abroad have not received their cellular phones.
It remains the case despite Ritz Camera losing their exclusive contract on December 1st.
Neiman Marcus and CompUSA are now retail partners.

TSTT has to level with this country and explain why they are advertising phones they do not have in stock and are unlikely to receive for many many months.
And that's just the first of many questions we have for our Trinidad and Tobago Telecommunications monopoly.

Why is it so difficult for those in authority to speak their minds?
Just once I'd love to hear an individual with a position of import speak his mind and not cloak his language in robes of prose.

For those ignorant of the proceedings, Dr Narayansingh a prominent surgeon both locally and regionally -perhaps Internationally-, lost his wife to a gunman's bullet a few years ago. Subsequently the police detained, arrested, and charged Shawn Parris for the murder.
Parris confessed and a deal was struck between his defence attorneys and the Director of Public Prosecution for the murderer to testify against his hirers. The theory here being, the hirers are just as culpable as the trigger-man and if one has to sleep with the devil to cut his throat then so be it.

Sounds reasonable, ent?

Not to the sitting Justice, Mr Volney.
Now Mr Volney is already seized of dubious reputation in the eyes of the Public. The learned Justice was the adjudicating authority in the 'infamous' Brad Boyce matter.
Infamous because those were the very words used to tarnish the State's forensic expert and in so doing led to the Justice advising the jury to declare a not guilty verdict.
The forensic expert, whose name now escapes me was charged with infamous conduct, words used in the Medical Act to describe unbecoming and fraudulent conduct of a Medical Officer.

But I digress.
Justice Volney rejected the deal agreed to and sentenced Parris to much more than he bargained for.
Nevertheless the State initiated proceedings against the goodly Doctor, his wife, and an alleged accomplice, with Parris as the main witness.

The State failed in it's attempt to bring Dr Narayansingh's matter to trial when Senior Magistrate Wellington upheld a no case submission.
Is is noteworthy that Queen's Counsel Karl Hudson-Phillips opined the DPP's attempt to prosecute the Doctor as one of the worst cases of prosecuting malice he has ever seen in umpteen years.

Magistrate Wellington however saw prima facie evidence worthy of committing Mrs Narayansingh and the alleged accomplice to trial.

Now that the State is ready to proceed Mr. Volney is once again a main character on the stage. The Justice will see to the matter even in the face of a missive directing the Director of Public Prosecutions misgvings to his appointment.

Mind you, there is nothing in law that debars Justice Volney from hearing the matter, but there is certainly a lot in ethics and decency that demands his recusal.
It begs the question therefore, why is the perspicacious Justice so determined to be responsible for this matter?
Is there no other Justice capable of seeing to this case?
Are we undermining the capabilities of the sitting Magistrate for the San Fernando Court?
Why is the Chief Justice entering the debate with a clear disposition and bias to Mr Volney?

Now, I am not saying there is conspiracy afoot, or the Justices are mixing malicho, but surely if ever Justice must be seen to be done this is the case to use as a flag-bearer.

Justice Volney must recuse himself from the matter!

Chief Justice Sharma must desist from public comments on the matter if only because he is already entangled in its web as we well know!

And finally, the DPP, Mr Henderson must find the courage from anywhere he can, to address the matter not by dictated missives but by verbal missiles. The Director of Public Prosecution must face the media and present his argument to the Public because at the end of the day we pay his salary, Volney's salary, and The Chief Justice's. Much as they like to deny it, we are the lot to whom they are accountable and I for one am sick of their back-room dealings and half-truths.

It is either justice for all; or none.

What more to be said!
Trinidad and Tobago's population is made up of many ethnicities but the majority -surprising to many- is East Indian. The East Indian women have a reputation of being demure and docile, but that is not the reputation of the Trinidadian East Indian woman.

Looks like Trini East Indian girls love a lot of gold!

Seriously though, there has been a sharp increase in inter-racial relationships among East Indian women in Trinidad and Tobago. We have always seen the dougla offspring of Indo and Afro-Trini pairings, but, now we are seeing mixed relationships featuring Chinese and other nationalities.
The more East indian women integrate into the workplace and party circuits the more of these types of relationships we are likely to see.

The seeding for the World Cup 2006 in Germany were drawn today

The seeded nations were placed in Pot 1 and they are as follows
Germany
Brazil
Argentina
England
France
Italy
Mexico
Spain

Pot 2
Australia
Angola
Ghana
Ivory Coast
Togo
Tunisia
Ecuador
Paraguay

Pot 3
Croatia
Czech Republic
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Sweden
Switzerland
Ukraine

Trinidad and Tobago's team, the Soca Warriors is in Pot 4
Iran
Japan
Saudi Arabia
South Korea
Costa Rica
Trinidad & Tobago
United States
Serbia & Montenegro

The worst case scenario for the Soca Warriors is a World Cup group consisting of Brazil, Paraguay, and the Netherlands.

The best Soca Warriors fans can hope for is a group with Mexico (because we have had experience playing them, Togo, and Switzerland.

According to triniphones.com, the mobile phones most likely purchased by cellular users in Trinidad and Tobago are:

1)Siemens SF65
2)Nokia 6030
3)Sony Ericcson J300i
4)Sony Ericcson P910i
5)Nokia 6230i

The phones most requested by Trinidad and Tobago socialite mobile phone users are:

1)Nokia N90
2)Nokia N70
3)Nokia 7710
4)Sony Ericcson W800i
5)Motorola ROKR

Tomorrow I'll report exclusively why you are unlikely to ever purchase the Nokia N70 before the middle of 2006.

I want a mobile phone just as everyone else, but I will never buy a phone from Trinidad and Tobago Telecommunication Services unless and until I have seen all on offer from Digicel and Laqtel.

I have waited seven years, so seven more months is no big deal.

Today I wrote to Digicel bigwig Maureen Rabbitt asking for information on the cellular phones they will offer the public, because TSTT packed my daily newspaper with a glossy info-magazine offering their lot.
Oh how times have changed!

The infamous national telephone company are offering a wide range of communication instruments, including the Nokia mobile systems:
Nokia 3120, Nokia 1600, Nokia 1110, and the beautiful Nokia N90 and Nokia 9300

and Sony systems
Sony Ericsson K300 and Sony Ericsson W600
The Sony Ericssons come with MP3 players, built-in-cameras and Java capabilities.

And of course the Motorolas are also in evidence:
Motorola V55, Razr Motorola, and the Motorola V171.

There is one Samsung model, the Samsung X486

TSTT are certainly selling quality mobile handsets, and the crowds are flocking to their mobile partners stores to purchase at the discounted prices.
I know, because at Trincity Mall, earlier today, I was nearly knocked over by an enthusiastic would-be cellular owner.
I would not call them stupid because everyone has his own motivation, but I really wish my fellow citizens would be patient that they can compare to the competition's offerings.

Hopefully Digicel will reply today and I can update the readers with their stock of mobile goodies.
Laterz!

Labels: B-Mobile concert, Digicel, Laqtel, mobile phones, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung

Now that we have been whitewashed by the Australians questions of the Coach and the Captain must be asked. I am old enough to remember the days when a whitewash (for any team) was a rare thing in Test cricket, so, the fact that the West Indies team has suffered multiple 'whitewashes' in the last ten years is more than embarrassing.

But, I do not believe Shivnarine Chanderpaul is to blame.
The fact is Lara was a poor Captain, in both results and tactical performance. There is no evidence to prove or suggest that the present team would fare any better under the maestro's Captaincy.
Indeed Lara has less success, as a Captain, than Shivnarine Chanderpaul in the regional competitions.

Lara, therefore is not an option, but whom else is there?
Ramnaresh Sarwan, the Vice Captain at present, has shown ability and enterprise, on the few occasions he has led the squad, but one wonders if his batting would hold up under the pressure of leading the squad.

Christopher Gayle and Wavell Hinds are also among the candidates, but the latter cannot hold a place in the squad. Gayle may be the person to whom we can look.
Surprisingly -at the time- he was identified by Lara as a possible successor when the Trinidadian world record holder was at the helm. It raised a few eyebrows, but on closer examination it is clear Gayle has a steely temperament -though his batting suggests otherwise- that is perfect to lead a Test playing nation.

The Jamaican opener would be my choice to replace the Guyanese born West Indies Captain, but not just yet.

I apologise unreservedly to Anil Roberts!
I no longer think it is unethical of him to use his many media shows to disparage Digicel. Why?
Well it is simple, I do not want to be a hypocrite.

Until yesterday I thought the affable media personality was banking a few dollars here and there for his TSTT (Telecommunication Services of Trinidad and Tobago) advertisements and promotion work. Then I had the coincidental fortune of driving on Abercromby Street at the exact moment Anil Roberts entered a near to new Jaguar.

Yes readers, our boy is driving a Jaguar!

Well, if Robert's media work and TSTT cellular promotional activity has enabled his purchasing a Jaguar, then all power to him. If I were getting that sort of money I'd do the same, especially if I had a ready-made excuse (the shafting of Brian Lara) to fuel the intensity.

Of course it could be his wife's car, or his brother's, or father's or a friend's. If that be the case, all I can say is "nice car boy".

November 30th came and departed but still no interconnection between telecommunications giant, Digicel; and telecommunications miscreant, TSTT.

As it transpired, Digicel and Laqtel (the other cellular license awardee) had yet to receive their cellular concessions on the aforesaid date, giving TSTT (Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago) and their mouthpiece, Anil Roberts, another excuse for not meeting their commitments to inter-communicate.

Anil Roberts is a quite likeable media personality but it is somewhat disgusting that he, a spokesman for TSTT, can use his radio and television programmes to denigrate Digicel. It may also be unethical.
Roberts' reasoning lies with the alleged interference by Digicel in the selection of the West Indies team and its Captain, but that allegation is tenuous at best and merely acts as a launching pad for Roberts to do his masters' bidding.

The radio personality's claim that interconnection in other Caribbean islands was achieved in a minimum of six months and a maximum of nine months exists in a vacuum. If it is true, I am certain there are circumstances related and unrelated to the Trinidad model.
Roberts needs to quote his source and further enlighten us why the equipment -for inter-connection- was only ordered last fortnight?
Why Digicel's sponsorship of the West Indies team earns them no goodwill with the Trinidad public?
Why we should trust TSTT, a company who only discovered the meaning of customer service three months ago.
And why does he not disclose before every tirade that he is a paid agent of TSTT.

Mind you, I am not dismissing Roberts' argument, because the chap is an intelligent patriot, but I do wish he would offer a more balanced perspective and not engage in absolutes.

In my opinion, it would be naive to believe Digicel are angels in business, but I am willing to separate their sponsorship of West Indies cricket from their business practice in Trinidad and Tobago. I am adopting a wait and see attitude for all the players in the local cellular market.
Even TSTT, whom I admit have lost much of my support, should be given another look; but let's see what's on the table before we decide and as best we can, immunise ourselves from the influence of Anil Roberts and sensationalist marketing from all three telecommunications companies.

Those four parties are acting in their own interests, it is time we the citizens do the same.