HP NOT LOWEST LAPTOP BID

According to the People’s Partnership (PP), the 20,400 SEA laptops will cost the people of Trinidad & Tobago (TT) a total of approximately $83 million or $4,000 per unit.  When converted to US dollars it will cost $634 US per laptop (4,000/6.30=634 US per laptop) or $12,933,600 US.

The Minister of Education Dr. Tim Gopeesingh stated, “The cost of the $4,000 per computer involves everything.  Transport, storage, all the fees that are associated with bringing the computers into the country,” he added.  He said bids differed by $30 to $40 per unit between bidders such as Acer and Lenovo, but HP’s bid was lowest and provided better long-term servicing.  The minister said that the firm awarded the project, Hewlett Packard (HP), was the lowest bidder (there were eight).  (http://www.newsday.co.tt/politics/0,126491.html) 

It has come to my attention that HP was not the lowest bidder for the laptops but a company named One Laptop Per Child (OLPC).  According to information that I anonymously obtained, OLPC bid $245.35 US per laptop (See attachment).  The following questions require answers: 

Did OLPC bid on the 20,400 SEA laptops? 

Why did the PP go with the higher priced HP laptops of $634 US ($12,933,600 US) rather than the lower priced OLPC laptops of $245.35 US ($5,005,140)? 

Did HP actually bid on the laptops or was it a local agent of HP who placed the bid? 

Did Digi-Data/Info-Tech, a local company bid on the 20,400 SEA laptops? 

For the sake of transparency and accountability, I am requesting that the PP release the bid of all eight bidders to show the people of T&T that HP was indeed the lowest bidder.

T&TLAPTOPS (Click Here To View Bid or See Below) 

According to OLPC, there was a typo in the operating system specs, which should have been English rather than French.

Wall Street 

Technical Specifications XO laptop 1.5 

The XO laptop version 1.5 has the following minimum specifications: 

Physical dimensions: 

• Dimensions: 245mm × 230mm × 30.5mm;
• Approximate weight: XO laptop with LiFeP battery: 1.5KG; XO laptop with NiMH battery:  1.58KG;
• Configuration: Convertible laptop with pivoting, reversible display, dirt- and moisture-resistant system, and no fan.

  

Core electronics: 

• CPU: Via C7-M Ultra Low Voltage x86-compatible processor with 128KB each L2 cache;
• CPU clock speed: 400 MHz (1.5W) at 1GHz (5W), variable;
• DRAM memory: 1GB- dynamic RAM; data rate: DDR2 SDRAM;
• BIOS ROM flash memory interface 1024KB=1MB SPI;
• Open Firmware used to load the operating system;
• Mass storage: 4GB SLC NAND flash, high-speed flash controller;
• Drives: No rotating media.

  

Display: 

• Liquid crystal display: 7.5” (19cm.) dual-mode TFT display;
• Monochrome display: high-resolution, reflective, readable in direct sunlight  monochrome mode;
• Color display: standard-resolution, quincunx-sampled, transmissive color mode;

Integrated peripherals: 

• Keyboard in English QWERTY: 80+ keys, 1.0mm stroke, sealed rubber-membrane, key-switch assembly;
• Cursor keys: two sets of four direction keys and cursor control;
• Touchpad: touchpad capability;
• Camera: integrated color video camera; 640 x 480 resolution at 30 FPS;
• Wireless Networking: integrated interface 802.11b (2.4GHz); double rotating antenna and adjustable support for diversity reception, supports network 802.11s (Mesh).

External connectors: 

• DC Power: 6mm (central contact1.65mm) connector; 11 to 25 V input usable,  40 to 40V input tolerated; power voltage limited to 25 W;
• Audio output: standard stereo audio connector 3.5mm 3-pin;
• Microphone input: standard mono microphone connector 3.5mm 2-pin; mode selectable 2V DC bias, selectable sensor-input mode (DC or AC connected);
• USB: three type-A USB 2.0 connectors, up to 1A power supplied (total);
• Flash Expansion: SD card slot.

Battery: 

• Package type: 2 or 4 cells LiFePO4, or 5 cells NiMH, approximately 6V series configuration (subject to change);
• Weight: 0.96kg;
• Capacity: 3000 (ampere-hours) (NIMH), 3100 (ampere-hours) (LiFeP);
• Fully-enclosed “hard” case, removable by user;
• Minimum 2,000 charge and discharge cycles (to 50% capacity of new).

Charger: 

• Input: 100-240V ~ 1A 50/60 Hz
• Output: 12V- 2A

  

Operating system: 

• Sugar Learning Platform: a platform for learning applications designed specifically for children ages 6 to 12. Language is French. Operates in Fedora 11.
• Linux GNOME: a popular version of Linux open source software. Language is French. Operates in Fedora 11.
• MS Windows XP compatible.

Unit Price 

209 USD$ Laptop cost 

34,45 USD$  Windows XP + SD memory Card 

1.9 USD$ Shipment cost till Port of Spain 

Total cost 245.35 USD$ per unit

Seven Questions for Mrs. Kamla Persad Bissessar

January 24, 2010, will go down in history as one of the greatest political tsunami of cataclysmic portion in Trinidad and Tobago.  Of the 15,291 votes cast in the UNC internal election for Mrs. Kamla Persad Bissessar (“Mrs. Bissessar”) and Mr. Basdeo Panday (“Panday”), 13,932, or 91% voted for Kamla while only 1,359 or 9% voted for Panday, hence the reason this was a political tsunami. 

Now is the time for Mrs. Bissessar to raise the UNC party from the dark and desolate valley of racial separation to the sunlit part of racial justice for all in Trinidad and Tobago.  The time has come through Mrs. Bissessar to open the doors of opportunity to all God’s children in Trinidad and Tobago.

My hope is that Mrs. Bissessar will be able to unite the people of Trinidad and Tobago where all the people of the country, Blacks, Indians, Syrians, Chinese, and Catholics, Baptist, Hindus, Muslim, Evangelical, and Seventh – day Adventist will all be able to join hands and sing the glorious motto of Trinidad and Tobago, “Together We Aspire Together We Achieve.”  Therefore, here are my seven questions for Mrs. Bissessar:

1. How is a Mrs. Bissessar led UNC government going to assure the people of T&T that the UNC is truly a party of diversity? 

2. How will a Mrs. Kamla Persad Bissessar (“Mrs. Bissessar”) led UNC government assure the people of T&T that transparency and accountability will be a major goal of the UNC party rather than just lip service?  What are the actual measures that would be put in place to address this?

3. When Mrs. Bissessar was a member of the ruling UNC Government, there was massive corruption in the UNC government.  What did you, Mrs. Bissessar, do about the corrupt practices of the members of your party?  Why didn’t you speak out?  Why were you silent? What is she going to do differently if UNC is elected to power? 

4. What is the UNC’s position on crime and how are they going to reduce crime in T&T?  What do you intend to do different?  Do you have any concrete plans/initiatives to ensure the population that you can indeed put measures in place to reduce crime?

5. How will a Mrs. Bissessar led UNC government deal with the economy due to the continued low prices for gas?  What measure do you have for improving the utilization oil and gas revenues?  Do you have any strategies for diversifying the economy?

6. What is the UNC’s position on health and education for the people of T&T?  What measures do you have for introducing modern pedagogy to develop young students?

7. How will a Mrs. Bissessar led UNC government improve the quality and performance of the Police Department?  Do you have any specific measures to deal with this issue?

TriniTrain Consortium Connections

TRINITRAIN CONSORTIUM CONNECTIONS

Click on the links above and below to find out about the connections between foreign companies and companies in Trinidad with respect to the already approved train project.

http://www.ratpdev.com/trinidad-and-tobago.php (Website)

http://www.ratpdev.com/subsidiaries.php (RATP Trinidad)

http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/10/wsp-appointed-trinidad-rail-project-manager.html (WSP appointed Trinidad Rail Project Manager)

http://www.bouygues-construction.com/82i/tranversal-corssover-pages/subsidiaries-s-websites.html (Bouygues Construction Construction Company Ltd, Trinidad and Tobago located at PO Box 1637, Kings Wharf,  Wrightson Road Port  Of Spain 624-5531, not Listed as one of the company subsidiaires)

http://dayncoltd.com/Contact/contact.html (Daynco Trinidad Location)

http://dayncoltd.com/Services/services_companies.html (Bouygues/Daynco Connection)

http://www.dessau.com/eng/corporate/placesInt.cfm#Trinidad (Dessau Trinidad Branch Office)

http://www.dessau.com/eng/transport/proj2Mayaro.cfm (Princes Town to Mayaro Highway)

Political Tsunami in Trinidad and Tobago

January 24, 2010, will go down in history as one of the greatest political tsunami of cataclysmic portion in Trinidad and Tobago.  Of the 15,291 votes cast in the election for Mrs. Kamla Persad Bissessar (“Kamla”) and Mr. Basdeo Panday (“Panday”), 13,932, or 91% voted for Kamla while only 1,359 or 9% voted for Panday, hence the reason this was a political tsunami. 

Now is the time for Mrs. Kamla Persad Bissessar to raise the UNC party from the dark and desolate valley of racial separation to the sunlit part of racial justice for all in Trinidad and Tobago.  The time has come through Mrs. Bissessar to open the doors of opportunity to all God’s children in Trinidad and Tobago.

It will be fatal for Trinidad and Tobago to overlook the urgency of the moment of January 24, 2010 UNC internal election results and to underestimate the political winds of change that occurred in the election.  I hope that Mrs. Bissessar does not drink from the cup of bitterness and hatred because of all the mudslinging during the UNC internal election.  She must continue to conduct her campaign on the high plane of dignity and discipline.  She must rise to the majestic heights to meet spoken force with spiritual force.My hope is that Mrs. Bissessar will be able to unite the people of Trinidad and Tobago where all the people of the country, Blacks, Indians, Syrians, Chinese, and Catholics, Baptist, Hindus, Muslim, Evangelical, and Seventh – day Adventist will all be able to join hands and sing the glorious motto of Trinidad and Tobago, “Together We Aspire Together We Achieve.” 

Should Dr. Keith Rowley be The Next Leader of the COP Party?

The Diego Martin West MP has been ostracized by Prime Minister Patrick Manning and his minions for his recent objections to the new property taxed issue that is being hoisted on the population of Trinidad and Tobago.  Dr. Rowley has come out vehemently against the property tax issue.  His criticism of the new property tax regime on December 18 marked the second time this year that he has spoken out to such an extent against Government policy in the Parliament.  On October 10, 2009, during the House of Representatives debate on the Validation Act for the Commission of Enquiry into the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDCOTT) and the construction sector was the first occasion Dr. Rowley had spoken out against the government.

 A review of the PNM’s constitution available on its website states the following:

 The party’s parliamentary caucus ’shall have responsibility for the formulation and implementation of strategy for the operations’ of its members in accordance with party guidelines and decisions of the General Council and Annual and Special Conventions and shall advise the General Council and the Political Leader on policy and strategy on national issues with respect to the parliamentary caucus

The section under discipline states the following: “Any member of the movement who publicly expresses any opinion or makes or accepts any statement or pronouncement on the declared policy or principles or programme of the movement which in the opinion of the General Council is in conflict with or contrary to or in contradiction of the declared policy or principles or programme of the movement, or who enters into public controversy inimical to the interest of the movement on any such opinion, statement or pronouncement, shall be required to explain his conduct to the satisfaction of the General Council and if he fails to do so, shall be liable to such disciplinary action as the General Council may deem fit.”

 Many believe that the time has come for Dr. Rowley to drop the tag of many Trinidadians, “PNM for life” and align himself with another political party in the country.  He should take notice of what happened to PNM stalwarts Fitzgerald Hinds and Kenneth Valley.  With that in mind, should Dr. Rowley become the new leader of the COP party?  Could a party led by the dynamic Dr. Rowley defeat the PNM in the next election?  If Dr. Rowley was able to unite the UNCA and COP party, many have said that it will surely result in defeat for the PNM party.  In the last election, the PNM had 299,813 votes while the UNCA and COP had 194,425 and 148,041 votes, respectively.  A combination of those party votes would have given them total votes of 342,466 if all things stayed the same, and would surely had come with Rowley’s Diego Martin Central seat and the seats in Tobago.  Therefore, it appears that a united COP party lead by Dr. Rowley, will be a formidable challenger to Prime Minster Patrick Manning and the PNM party, as well as the great possibility that a Rowley led united COP party could be the next ruling party in Trinidad and Tobago. 

 Therefore, are the people of Trinidad and Tobago truly fed up with the antics of the PNM party because of the continued perception of corruption, as well as the health and crime issues that is causing pain and suffering in the country? 

 Will Dr. Rowley take this drastic next step?

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