World sees T&T as a “nation of fraudsters”

World sees T&T as a “nation of fraudsters”
Published on Jun 17, 2016, 7:53 am AST
By Sandhya Santoo


It’s like a cancer: President of the Chaguanas Chamber of Industry and Commerce Richie Sookhai


TRINIDAD and Tobago is viewed as a nation of fraudsters and the problem is like a cancer eating away at private and public institutions.

This according to President of the Chaguanas Chamber of Industry and Commerce Richie Sookhai during his presentation at a forum held at Signature Hall, Longdenville on Wednesday, where the issue of fraud in the workplace was discussed.

Sookhai said many view fraud as a “norm” in the country which has to stop, and for those caught to be held accountable.

He said: “Trinidad and Tobago is viewed as a nation of fraudsters, because in order for some, and I emphasise here, some, to get anything done, in order to benefit self and fill pockets, strings are pulled and as the saying goes ‘is who you know'. Just to be clear I'm not painting our citizenry with a brush of corruption here. But, the fact is this problem is like a cancer, eating away at our private and public institutions”.

He described fraud as a “wrongful and criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain. Fraud is corruption”.

Sookhai said that despite their being a Fraud Squad it seems that everything is under investigation and corruption and fraud has become embedded in the minds of the people as an accepted thing.

“Trinidad and Tobago should be awarded for having the most investigations and Commissions of Enquiries that amount to nothing”, said Sookhai.

He said fraud is a disease that stems from the top down and the “stench has been a rotten one for decades and the million dollar questions is, why this epidemic was allowed to fester to such a terrible extent”.

Sookhai gave the example of Clico and the Hindu Credit Union controversies where the Government was forced into a multi-billion dollar bailout, “yet no one is behind bars. In fact, some may even be living it up”, he said.

Other controversies Sookhai spoke about were the First Citizens Bank IPO and the Commission of Enquiry in the Las Alturas project,which he said was a “slap in the face to the people of Trinidad and Tobago” as two major players- the contractor China Jiangsu and former UDECOTT chairman did not provide answers to be held accountable.

She said that those who were charged for fraud were held accountable for their actions. These included Robert Allen Stanford who was a prominent financier in sport who was convicted and sentenced to 110 years in prison.

Another example Sookhai spoke on was Mexico's kingpin and drug cartel “El Chapo” Joaquin Guzman who also faced allegations of massive money laundering schemes.

“So coming back to our small nation, we not only have the problem with a low homicide detection rate we have the issue of the big financial fishes swimming freely”, said Sookhai.

He questioned what will be done to at Licensing Division where Works Minister Fitzgerald Hinds admitted that it was one of the most corrupt places in the country.

The noted the passing of the Procurement Bill but said: “Procurement law is not the end of fraud and corruption. Enforcement is. It is against the law to murder and we continue to see bloodshed daily. It is against the law to abuse a child but so many children are living in torture. It is now against the law to speed over 80 kilometres an hour and most motorists are abiding. Why? Because they are afraid of getting caught”.

Sookhai said that fear of all the laws must be nationwide.

He said, “we are a lawless state and it is a Herculean task to restore order but all the fishes, from the big fish to the fry dry must be held accountable”.



Food Basket employees

Sookhai complemented the Fire Service and the police officers for controlling the fire and steering traffic clear during the fire at Southern Food Basket on Tuesday.

He also said that he will speak with the management to have the workers adsorbed in the Chaguanas area.

He said, “I'll like to offer my heartfelt condolences to the owners, management and staff of Food Basket Chaguanas... After suffering a devastating fire that destroyed the establishment yesterday... We know that due to the current economic situation now more than ever is not a time to loss ones job. I do urge members of the business community, if they can absorb any of these individuals whom have suffered from this fire, please do... Also I'll like to compliment the Trinidad and Tobago fire Services and the Central Division Police Service for their quick and effective action taken yesterday”.


www.trinidadexpress.com/20160617/busines...on-of-fraudsters8221

who effing cares about this crap here...

let the world go look after their central banks all of which they have given over to the rothschild bankers to bleed their people.


the whole freaking world under capitalism is TOTALLY CORRUPT.  how does lil Trinidad with a million and a half people compare to rapacious Germany, or corrupt France or even worse Britain..and America which should be spell C-O-R-R-U-P-T-I-O-N 

chin like to waste we time eh..trying to sprain we brain..direct us from proper routine thinking with all these crap links....

now we have to think of Trinidad as a nation of fraudsters a while we waste such pointless focus and occupation of our time, america steals the world.

its as if we started the slave trade we self, genocide all those hundreds of millions of people, imposed enslaving central banks on nations, overthrow governments assassinate thousands in our sleep, remove all law from international routines and relations between nations and individuals...

look man reality and history establishes who is fraudulent, criminal, crazy, rapacious, murderous, piratical..all and more.  and it is not west indians.  if they are they can only be wannabes in that regard..chump Anancy tricksters,  who on a world stage are just impses when it comes to fraud.