Baldacci: No more terms as governor

By Deus Ngowi

MAINE Governor, John Baldacci is gearing towards retirement, and is due to engage on helping children, so that his seat will be up for a new person, come the next election.

The governor, who is serving his second term under Democratic ticket, said at the Capital Augusta July 21st that he will not run again for the seat, as he has served enough in such capacities, and will have to let someone else succeed him.

Baldacci was speaking to Tanzanian journalists who were in the country under USAID exchange program, majoring in HIV/AIDS, Democracy and Good Governance, undertaken by The Maine University, where also the journalists resided.

The governor, who is a native of Bangor, Maine said that after retirement, one and a half years to come, he plans to teach, and establish programs for children, including sports. It means Baldacci will be going back to Bangor where he was brought up.

Baldacci who was born in 1955 has been in politics for about 30 years now, and was first elected in public office in 1978, earning a seat in Bangor City Council at the age of 23. Baldacci was elected to Bangor State Senate in 1982 where he served for 12 years. He was in 2002 elected as Maine State Governor.

As a great Obama supporter, Baldacci said that after retirement, he thinks he will help the president and his administration too. However, he made it clear that he is now busy in his initiatives, some of which are education and environment conservation.

Having just returned from governors’ meeting, Baldacci said he is insisting in protecting the children; provide them with quality education at all levels and protect natural resources for betterment of those present and of future generations. He said they are providing technical education together with university one, so as everybody is well equipped with the needed education.

Commenting on the current global financial meltdown and consequent stimulus package offered by The Federal Government, Governor Baldacci said they, as a state, are doing the best to make sure the economy grows, going by wise acts of Roosevelt who ensured that there is always social security.

Baldacci said he works very closely with senators, as far as stimulus package is concerned, so as the ‘fire’ which has been lit gets on, and they protect people like teachers so as they do not loose jobs; and also help schools, energy sector and the infrastructure.

Being in a marathon meetings and having being reminded several times of a yet another one, of which he was nearly getting out of its schedule, the governor unassumingly said he could not clearly speak of the present HIV/AIDS situation, because he was receiving conflicting reports about the pandemic. It is on record that as of February this year, Maine State had 1,200 AIDS patients.

Governor Baldacci, the son of a politician too, who are great followers of Kennedy, said he is about to have enough of politics, and made it clear that as a Democrat, he has not experienced any problem from the rivals Republicans in executing his duties.

He said that as a chief executive, as other Republicans are also, the duty before him is to enable people run towards development, by availing to them resources and necessary information, regardless of political affiliation.

“As a chief executive, I am interested in work,” he said and added that bipartisan politics are there and they are for solution to problems, which are responsibilities of both parties, and one of them is to make sure budgets balance.

Judge Woodcock: We should avoid emotions

*Lawyers are upbeat of justice to all
*Maine has less crime, corruption


By Deus Ngowi

FEDERAL Court Judge, John Woodcock, has warned that if emotions are let to overwhelm everybody, it will be difficult to have a ruling of law.

Speaking to visiting nine Tanzanian journalists in a courtroom before showing them round his chambers, Judge Woodcock said that he and his fellow judges witness a lot of issues, but have to hold down their emotions.

Woodcock, who is a judge in charge of Maine State, appointed by President George W. Bush in 2003, was reacting to a question raised by Adolph Simon Kivamwo, one of the journalists, who had asked what the judge felt like, after sending a man in jail for 210 months. The man was convicted of bullgury and in possession of a firearm.

“The things I do as a judge are very hard. We see much more emotional responses…you see wives, friends, mothers standing up…but what do you do, these (accused persons) have done wrong yet they are sad, they cry and hope that I will be lenient. They are human beings, they have done crimes so they have to accept punishment…if you allow emotions into your head the society will turn emotional,” the judge warned.

The journalists had earlier on attended a court hearing presided over by Judge Woodcock, whereby an accused person, one McCarthy and his advocate, Jeffery Silverstein tried to convince the judge that the accused was required to get clemency. That day was set for ruling, because the issue at court was whether the defendant who had three convictions for bulgary was supposed to be sentenced to a 15 years imprisonment as the law requires.

The judge said that he has practiced law for 26 years and by 2003 he was appointed to be a judge. He said that the position was open, so he applied for it, screening was done and there were recommendations from several senators (including Senator Snow) to the president.

“The appointment is for life – until I breathe my last. I cannot be impeached,” the judge told the journalists, adding that no one can either reduce his salary. Regardless of that, Judge Woodcock said he has no political affiliation, does not feel any pressure from anybody, but acts independently.

As for law and rules with reference to contempt of court, Judge Woodcock said there is such provision in his power, but he has never used it at any time. “But it is good that I have such power,” commented the judge, of a rule which enabled him to land in jail anybody who shows contempt to court.

Speaking about Tanzania, a country from which the journalists come from, Judge Woodcock said he drew interest of studying about the country and its history right from the time of colonialism and of how The Founding Father, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere led the Tanzanians into unity.

“You have a vibrant democracy, it strikes me. Your history tells a lot how Mwalimu Nyerere guided you from colonialism to shining democracy in East Africa. You should be proud of that. You saw what happened in Kenya, there are people pretending they do not know.

“You go back to Tanzania, be example to your society and for your neighbors to follow…that is what I think of Tanzania,” says the judge, adding that he wishes to visit the country, largely revered to as a Land of Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar.

The Judge gave the journalists opportunity to tour his big office, with a lot of law books and references both in hard copy and electronic of law reports. He said that before delivering a judgment, a lot of research is done by him and his aides, so as to establish much needed facts, so as justice can be reached.

Judge Woodcock showed the journalists his modern state of art computer system, through which he can get different facts, track a case that of which decision/judgment has been appealed against, and get to know if his judgment was upheld by the higher court or not.

By its system, United States Federal Court ranks from state court, like that of Maine situated at Bangor. From there, the appeal goes up to three judges (US Court of Appeal Circuit Court at Boston) and finally the matter, if it is to proceed, must be brought to a rest by Supreme Court, a panel consisting of nine judges.

In another setting, each state, like Maine, has its own court system, with a chief justice, dealing only with matters related with the state. The federal judge in the state therefore, deals with matters set out by laws/rules that are referred to as of federal nature.

The journalists also had a time to hear from, and question the Government Prosecutor in Maine, Joe Cassey, who has worked at the station since 2005. He identified himself as a person who at a certain point, had to work so as to pay for his education. A copy boy, he called himself.

Cassey said he prosecutes cases about corruption, drugs, crimes and other offences, but he noted that corruption cases are not many. He said there are six prosecutors, with the judge he referred to as a hardworking. He noted that there are other states which have big cases in corruption, pointing out to a Connecticut case, where a governor was sent to jail after being convicted of corruption.

Speaking at the same platform, Council for the Defendant, Silverstein, said Mainers are lucky to have few crime cases in their state. He said he realizes that there are good people who may enter in trouble and be caught, and that is why he is up to help them.

“They need help to get to the system, they are nervous. So we help them get into the system, know how things happen and avoid penalty and jail…if the prosecution is wrong, I have to say the truth…some people (accused) come to me and say ‘it happened’, I help them through the process and can help him testify,” said the lawyer.

Rachel Yusuf's Augusta Video Story

Here is Rachel Yusuf's video story about the trip to Augusta, Maine:

It's Good Governance, Health and Poverty Reduction

By Deus Ngowi

THE most important themes in Africa now are 'Good Governance'; 'Health' and 'Poverty Reduction.

The three themes were selected out of dozens, in a well interactive session of nine Tanzanian journalists on July 16th, led by Dr. Susan Hunter at The Maine University, where the journalists reside.

The journalists formed opinion that everything should be done to make sure that the three are clearly met in their fullness, if the world is to be a better place to live in. Most of their attention, however, was on African continent, where they hail from.

The journalists are on a four weeks exchange program sponsored by United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The journalists are trained on HIV/AIDS, Democracy and Good Governance.

Earlier on, themes which were selected randomly were HIV/AIDS; Literacy; Poverty Reduction; Cultural Aspects; Democracy; Technology Adaptation; Good Governance; Freedom of Expression; Investment; Corruption; Infrastructure Improvement and Empowering Women.

Others are Civil War; Green Revolution; Entrepreneurship; Environment; Rural Development; Positive Self Image and Economic Integration. However, having chosen the three themes mentioned earlier on, an opinion was formed that there are things which will determine the three.

Those were mentioned and discussed as Super Powers decisions and Neo colonialism. It was so decided because of the fact that many things are decided by few super powers and the emerging neo colonial situation is posed to affect a lot in future.

 

The journalists had time to watch different films, some related to HIV/AIDS, whereby there was a situation of loosing hope among the folks, due to bad health of people living with HIV/AIDS, while parents are thinning up due to lack of proper health care and good food. Communities are shown filled with cemeteries, while other people are washing the sick.

Dr. Hunter, who has worked in Africa and written several books on AIDS in Africa, America and Asia, now has turned to Architecture, wishing to become the most successful one in future. She was of the opinion that AIDS is all about character, which shapes everybody. It was much to consolation of the journalists, that she wrote a book about AIDS in America, because it was proved to be the first of such book in their midst.

She explained that in the big city of New York, there is a place which has as higher rate of AIDS infection as it is in Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. Also, she said that in America, there were some women who thought that by using pills for anti pregnancy, they could not contract AIDS.

Why is AIDS so much contracting people around the world? Possible answers offered by the journalists were that in respective ares there are lack of good governance; unfair distribution of resources; effects of cultural values treasured by different societies such as those inheriting widows. Ignorance or lack of education was also mentioned as a great cause.

Dr. Hunter spoke in length about AIDS in America, and led the trainees through perusing and looking at AIDS organizations established in America for different objectives. The unanswered question is if such organizations are actively engaged in fight against the pandemic.

She led her class members to ponder on why they chose to become journalists; what is the biggest story they sought and wrote in their carrier and lastly highlight five goals they aspire to accomplish in their life. The one having the above byline listed the following; more self education; educate his children; help common people; make Tanzania free of HIV/AIDS and himself be a good citizen.

Final day of TZ journalists at University of Maine

Carol Curts of the University of Maine gives final words to nine Tanzanian journalists during the orientation session before flying to Washington DC today July25. 2009 for a one week field trip.

 

The journalists had just completed three working weeks at University of Maine as part of the 2009 USAID/Tanzania journalism exchange project at uMaine.

They also had a luncheon with children from various schools who are in a summer camp under the umbrella of CISV International, among other things they dance and sing with children and their teachers. (All photo: Khalfan Said)

Kivamwo Video

This is Adolph Simon Kivamwo's video story, with audio this time:

Tanzanian Journalists in class (photo credit here)