Soca Warriors Online Discussion Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Oz on October 13, 2005, 10:24:40 PM
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Yahoo report telling it like it is. We could do widout dis kind ah $hitty publicity though. Dem f**king criminals bwoy jus know how to f**k tings up fuh everybody. Check link below
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051013/lf_nm/caribbean_crime_dc
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (Reuters) - Soaring murder rates, kidnappings and exploding trash bins have two Caribbean tourist playgrounds on edge, with business owners pleading for police protection and foreign governments warning travelers to be wary.
The important tourism sectors in Trinidad and Tobago and in Jamaica could be hard hit if governments do not act soon, business leaders say. But so far Caribbean residents, not tourists, have borne the brunt of the crime surge.
"The situation of crime in the region today scares the living daylights out of every one of us," the president of the Caribbean Hotel Association, Bethia Parle, said recently in Trinidad.
In Jamaica, owners shut their businesses for a day in May to protest the high crime rate. The island of 2.7 million people has had more than 1,400 murders so far this year, already outnumbering the total for all of last year.
In Trinidad and Tobago, the violent-death toll is edging toward a record 300 and a surge in kidnappings plagues the twin-island nation.
The U.S. State Department has warned Americans to avoid Trinidad's capital on certain days because of trash bin bombings that have occurred on the 10th and 11th of the month for the last three months, injuring more than a dozen people.
Britain, Canada and Australia have also warned their citizens about robberies, violent attacks and kidnappings in Trinidad and Tobago.
At the urging of business groups, Prime Minister Patrick Manning is negotiating with Scotland Yard and the FBI to set up units in Port of Spain to help local police fight crime.
Businesses are closing in Trinidad and families are emigrating or sending their children abroad, according to opposition leader and former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday.
"We have a nation of frightened people," Panday said.
HANG HEADS IN SHAME
Businessman Nicholas Galt said crime is foremost on the mind of every citizen, every business person and every investor in the nation of 1.3 million.
"Trinidad and Tobago can hang its head in shame on a count of over 280 murders, over 160 kidnappings, and over 11,300 serious reported crimes to date for 2005," said Galt, president of the American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago.
"Pit this against a (crime) detection rate of approximately 22 percent and a conviction rate of below 10 percent. The result: failure."
Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and other Caribbean countries blame the problem in part on their location, along shipping routes linking the major cocaine producers of South America with the major consumers of North America and Western Europe.
Authorities have seized 6 tons of cocaine in Trinidad's territorial waters since August and believe that represents less than 10 percent of the amount shipped annually. Jamaica's national security minister, Peter Phillips, estimated 100 to 120 metric tons of cocaine are transshipped through Jamaica annually.
Drug proceeds are used to buy illegal arms and put sophisticated arsenals in the hands of competing gangs, in turn fueling the murder rate and driving the wave of kidnappings, Trinidad's prime minister said. Drugs also feed corruption.
"There can be no doubt as to the debilitating effect of kidnapping on the law-abiding majority, the fear and anxiety it creates and the extent to which it contributes to the perception that our country is not safe," Manning said.
Jamaica's Phillips called the international drug trade "the tap root of violent crime in Jamaica."
"Narcotics trafficking has spawned a criminal elite that is fighting to control a budget the same size as that presented in Parliament by our minister of finance, but without any of the obligations for debt, employment and services, which is placed on the elected government," Phillips said.
The problem is compounded by criminals deported to their Caribbean homelands from the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States, Manning and Phillips both believe.
In the last decade, 23,703 Jamaicans were returned to Jamaica from overseas. The majority -- 16,833 -- were deported for criminal offenses, and drug crimes were the most prevalent, Phillips said.
"We believe these individuals may help to facilitate the illegal drug trade through the establishment of transnational criminal networks. So, in essence deportations facilitate and worsen the problems linked to the trade in drugs and guns," Phillips said.
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and look at what the jackasses on yahoo! have to say. what a set ah c**ts.
http://post.news.messages.yahoo.com/bbs?.mm=NEWS&action=l&ft=1&board=37138445&sid=37138445&title=Caribbean%20isles%20struggle%20with%20crime%20wave&tid=nmcaribbeancrimedc&date=10-13-2005&url=story.news.yahoo.com%2Fnews%3Ftmpl%3Dstory%26u%3D%2Fnm%2F20051013%2Flf_nm%2Fcaribbean_crime_dc_1&.sig=4uzdz_7YlXoKryPJEJZHJg--
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and look at what the jackasses on yahoo! have to say. what a set ah c**ts.
http://post.news.messages.yahoo.com/bbs?.mm=NEWS&action=l&ft=1&board=37138445&sid=37138445&title=Caribbean%20isles%20struggle%20with%20crime%20wave&tid=nmcaribbeancrimedc&date=10-13-2005&url=story.news.yahoo.com%2Fnews%3Ftmpl%3Dstory%26u%3D%2Fnm%2F20051013%2Flf_nm%2Fcaribbean_crime_dc_1&.sig=4uzdz_7YlXoKryPJEJZHJg--
Remember to sing..."Living In america" while reading..
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Steups, doh take it on.
If is one thing the internet reveal, is just how racist this world still is. And now that people can post anonymously, they feel free to speak they mind. When anybody tell me that racism doh exist all I di is point them to a few websites.
This isn't to say that black people don't have issues. - We have to acknowledge that too.
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Doe read that if yuh ent want to get vex today.......I sure half of them people posting doe have a passport and never take a drive out they state.
Doe study them!
We live in Paradise down here. ;D
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Doe read that if yuh ent want to get vex today.......I sure half of them people posting doe have a passport and never take a drive out they state.
Doe study them!
We live in Paradise down here. ;D
dem lying people in Trinidad living in paradise!!!!!!.. Paradise ?.. Trinidad ?...Jamaica??>.
Dats de f**king problem wid Trini's when man talk de truth people a gwan bout dem lying .. we all know T&T is in a bad state right now..stop lie to yu bloodclaut self.. T&T and Jamaica badd nuh Rass.. I tell mi Kids dont visit T&T or Jamaica at all....I will visit becya mi dun live mi life , but I Refuse to have my Kids visit Trinidad or Jamaica.. De f**king place is innah mess!!!!!Face de facts and shut yu flicking mouth.. Trinidad nice Yes.. Jamaica Nice yes..But boosman I happy I living a fareign!!!!!!!!!!I a trying to get Kidnapped by cops!!!!!!!
warmonga...
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yeah, ah find alot on this site in the DENIAL stage. might be they cyah handle "fareign" views on they bizness. well, they the ones have to live with it...
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Having a u.s. passport or citizenship is a insurance policy for most caribbean people,but lookout there's an article I read where dual citizenship might be a thing of the past they say no more 50% american, yuh see we as caribbean people when the heat is on we look for an outlet,an off we go to the more economically viable countries,and look behind you everybody following the pattern,I heard in the backdrop somebody say we should fightback for our country our kids against crime that's pervasive all over the caribbean,yeah they talking that but only when they far away from the homefront it's easy to be objective.
"WE PRETEND TO BE REAL,TO BE LEARNING,TO BE PREPARING OURSELVES FOR LIFE,WE MIMIC MEN OF THE NEW WORLD."
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Story taken from Yahoo! UK. Dis is not really d type of international press we need....
Police to help battle crime in Trinidad
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (Reuters) - Police officers from Scotland Yard are being dispatched to the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago to help fight rising crime, the government said on Thursday.
The Ministry of National Security said 39 officers would arrive next month for two- to three-year stints working alongside local police.
The energy-rich twin-island republic of 1.1 million people in the southeastern Caribbean, a former British colony, has seen high murder rates and a spate of kidnappings-for-ransom in recent years.
Eighty-one people have been murdered so far this year.
Local security officials blame drug traffickers and gangs for the high crime rate.
Last September, Prime Minister Patrick Manning disclosed that talks were being held with Scotland Yard and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation to have offices set up in Port of Spain.
FBI officers have worked with local police on a few major cases.
Jamaica, another crime-scarred Caribbean nation and former British colony, has also hired British police officers to help it stop a drug trade-fuelled surge in murders. More than 1,600 people -- a new record -- were murdered on the island nation of 2.7 million people last year.
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Ryan it on the Trinidad Newsday newspaper also.
http://www.newsday.co.tt/stories.php?article_id=34014
We almost reach where we going....almost.
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Ay ah shoulda read dis first oui.....anyway, I happy fuh dem to try something oui....anyting
However, for a small country blessed with so much wealth, extra security and bigger jails are a band-aid solution in my opinion
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Chris Anthony Joseph, a 24-year-old chemical engineer who just wanted to enjoy a night out at one of Woodbrook's newest liming spots, the Corner Bar, had his life cut short by a lone gunman after midnight yesterday.
A man and a woman patron were also injured in the shooting. They were both in stable condition, police said last night.
The shooting occurred inside the trendy Corner Bar, at the corner of Gatacre Street and Ariapita Avenue, while it was crowded with patrons, many of whom were young adults just like Joseph who ended up ducking for cover.
The gunman escaped.
Joseph was due to leave Trinidad next week to take up a job in Mexico, his mother Cherry-Ann Daniel said at her Pranz Gardens, Claxton Bay, home. He was the eldest of her three children and was the father of a five-month-old daughter, Jaden.
Daniel said he had recently resigned from bpTT to take up the job in Mexico. He was described as a "quiet, loving man."
"He was always pointing me in the right direction," said Joseph's 19-year-old brother, Adrian Daniel who arrived at Corner Bar less than an hour after the shooting.
Daniel pointed to Joseph's Mazda 3 car that was parked right at the corner in front of the Corner Bar and said he received a call from a friend about the shooting.
Daniel said he was studying for a Physics degree exam, which he was to take today.
The Corner Bar has been opened for less than six months and the shooting occurred less than an hour after an a row which left one man with a wound to his head.
Police said the injured patron made no complaint to management and did not appear to want the police involved but instead returned with a gun. "The fella just get beat up. Somebody saw the fight happening and called the police. He came back and handled his business," one patron said.
The police confirmed a Rapid Response Unit did respond to the call regarding the dispute and eyewitnesses said they searched some young men and subsequently left.
A senior police officer said yesterday the police could not say as yet whether Joseph was involved in the altercation or whether he or the two injured patrons were a specific target of the gunman.
"We just heard shots and just jumped and fell to the floor," one patron said.
 "The shots sounded like fire crackers It sounded like eight or nine shots," another patron said.
Just minutes after the shooting, the police as well as units from the Special Anti-Crime Unit of Trinidad and Tobago (SAUTT) arrived on the scene.
SAUTT was recently given responsibility to solve all gang-related homicides
The police, led by senior officers including Inspector Jerry Holder, cordoned off the area from the corners of Gatacre Street and Ariapita Avenue, Gatacre Street and Buller Street and Ariapita Avenue and French Street. Buller Street is where I grew up......
By 1.15 a.m., Crime Scene Unit officers arrived and donned their special white suits to begin collecting evidence.
The Homicide Bureau is continuing investigations.
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'No safe place in Woodbrook'
-JB
Monday, October 20th 2008
Corner Bar co-owner Chris Leacock said while he was saddened by the fatal shooting that occurred inside the bar after midnight yesterday, he wants to have it open for business tonight.
"Business as usual. We ain't close," Leacock said.
He made the declaration in an interview at around 2 am yesterday on Ariapita Avenue, as police officers from the Crime Scene Unit were gathering evidence in an effort to catch the man who shot and killed Chris Anthony Joseph at the bar.
The shooting left two other patrons with gunshot wounds.
Leacock had been serving as a dj on Saturday night as part of Corner Bar's 80s and 90s music night event.
Leacock said he left the bar just before midnight and was not there when the shooting or the argument that happened before it occurred.
He said he was informed of what happened by a phone call and rushed back to the bar and was trying to come to terms with what had occurred.
"It have no reason for that kind of thing to happen here," he said.
Leacock said the Corner Bar official ly opened for business on May 26 and has since gained a trendy clientele.
There had been a regular uniformed police presence outside the Corner Bar up, which has at least two entrance points, until about two weeks ago.
A senior police officer said yesterday this was because the Corner Bar had been operating on a provisional liquor licence but when it received its general liquor licence about two weeks ago, the police were no longer required to be there.
There were no uniformed police or any security personnel visible at the Corner Bar when, and after, it opened for business on Saturday night.
Leacock said security at Corner Bar would be reassessed but noted, "It have no amount of security you could have to stop a man from firing five shots at three people in an area that is the most policed corner in Woodbrook."
One former Woodbrook resident who is lives in the United States and works as a travel agent, who was at Corner Bar on Saturday night, said he had told people at a barbershop earlier in the day that Woodbrook is safe despite their insistence that it no longer was.
"There is no place in Woodbrook safe. I could have been a victim," the patron said.
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Yeah.....ah see it..... :'(
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This shit pisses me off.
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allyuh see dat picture on the front page with d man dead on d ground and people going about their business as usual? express like bomb now.
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No me eh c it but I hear bout it on d news last nite
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allyuh see dat picture on the front page with d man dead on d ground and people going about their business as usual? express like bomb now.
Sad... and maddening all at once.
(http://www.trinidadexpress.com/images/fronts/TrinidadPaper.jpg)
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allyuh see dat picture on the front page with d man dead on d ground and people going about their business as usual? express like bomb now.
Sad... and maddening all at once.
(http://www.trinidadexpress.com/images/fronts/TrinidadPaper.jpg)
de red man getting de "rub dong" is ah fella from around by me... but look closely at the pic... yuh go see de man who get shoot still dey on de ground...
what de f**k going on in Trini?????
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A few of the forumites were present when this shit went down sat. night, myself included. Not a nice feeling, but again I ask, WHAT IS BEING DONE??????? I asked this months ago and was told that the powers that be do not want to implement a heavy handed system of crime control. I suspect this is because they have 'guests' coming next year for two big conferences. So they doh want things to look bad. So lewwe let more die in the mean time. We really f*cking like it so down here yes!
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A few of the forumites were present when this shit went down sat. night, myself included. Not a nice feeling, but again I ask, WHAT IS BEING DONE??????? I asked this months ago and was told that the powers that be do not want to implement a heavy handed system of crime control. I suspect this is because they have 'guests' coming next year for two big conferences. So they doh want things to look bad. So lewwe let more die in the mean time. We really f*cking like it so down here yes!
Glad to hear that you are alright Swima...
yeah, I grow up right around dey in Woodbrook...
dat used to be Romany's Supermarket... or "Camacho" as we used to call it...
yeah breds dat is a real shocker dey boy... ah hope yuh not too traumatized, and could still allow yuhself to really handle it nuh... if yuh think yuh might need some help... don't be fraid to seek it... I was in London, the time Kojo Yenga get killed, and as much as I is a Trini, to know that I pass dat same corner maybe 10 minutes before leave meh with dat same "not a nice feeling" feeling...
but yuh right!
Nothing is being done and the country crying out for help...
de crime have de place in a state...
It cyah jes be drugs... is jes a bad man scene... like we want to bess dat too nuh...
everyday is a gunshot...>:(
jes now dey go be callin' we Little Jamaica... (no offence Jamrockians... buy yuh know is true...)
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sad,,real talent and future leadership material lose his life young...over what? some minor shit?
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"Leacock said security at Corner Bar would be reassessed but noted, "It have no amount of security you could have to stop a man from firing five shots at three people in an area that is the most policed corner in Woodbrook."
In other words you had no security present...but you opening back up for business as usual. Steups.
T&T youth have a serious problem with impulse control. Lack of parental quality or lack of parents alltogether.
We have NO CHOICE now in T&T except let police perform the heavy "disciplining" needed in the absence of parents because this situation is past due for cleaning up.
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A few of the forumites were present when this shit went down sat. night, myself included. Not a nice feeling, but again I ask, WHAT IS BEING DONE??????? I asked this months ago and was told that the powers that be do not want to implement a heavy handed system of crime control. I suspect this is because they have 'guests' coming next year for two big conferences. So they doh want things to look bad. So lewwe let more die in the mean time. We really f*cking like it so down here yes!
We gehhin a heavy hand one way or the other.
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The powers that be have no idea of the greater consequences of a societal breakdown caused by the crime situation.
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The powers that be have no idea of the greater consequences of a societal breakdown caused by the crime situation.
They very well know. They are well educated and politically savvy. In some cases they do not care as long as they have their foreign passport and thief money fix up. Some others care but are powerless/lack political will and some others again maintain power by not cracking down on those who quick to bawl police brutality on black people but even faster to never see who do the crime.
We have money to burn in T&T. Use it to understand and eradicate the root causes of the problem. Or just start killing people. Either one or another will have to be done to to maintain our current status as a nation state.
If not just carve the country into sections and watch the warlords use our sons and daughters like toilet paper for their own ends.
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for the record, chris was in no form or fashion involved in the altercation at Corner bar earlier to this shooting as is being eluded to by the press.
24 years old, island scholarship winner, graduated top of his class at uwi (chem engineering), 5 month old baby, set to leave for his new job in mexico on friday...
like u said dutty...future leadership material...
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for the record, chris was in no form or fashion involved in the altercation at Corner bar earlier to this shooting as is being eluded to by the press.
24 years old, island scholarship winner, graduated top of his class at uwi (chem engineering), 5 month old baby, set to leave for his new job in mexico on friday...
like u said dutty...future leadership material...
Pure tragedy....
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for the record, chris was in no form or fashion involved in the altercation at Corner bar earlier to this shooting as is being eluded to by the press.
24 years old, island scholarship winner, graduated top of his class at uwi (chem engineering), 5 month old baby, set to leave for his new job in mexico on friday...
like u said dutty...future leadership material...
Pure tragedy....
what gets me really upset is that, we have seen this coming over the horizon...
I blame the music... I blamin' de bad man chune dem... de gun t'ing, is a killer yes...
allyuh remember the anti drugs campaign dat used to say "Coke is a crackshot, don't get rope in!"...?
how come we didn't have the common sense to ban that "gun man" influence over the airwaves...
we losing very talented brothers and sisters everyday, and those of us that want to come home and give back by contributing out here, can't... or rather won't...
you really feel I want to be supporting the warriors from out here?... I want to be moving to and from the stadium wid meh duddup over meh shoulder and meh stick in meh pocket, sippin' a Stag, in de hot sun with Natasha... sa we strolling down Aripita Avenue...
You think I am really appreciated out here?... no way! it is the most amount of racism... but dat is another story for another time...
I cyah do the things in Trini I does do out here... and for all that I have to constantly put up with all sorts of "comments" and "looks" and all ah dat...
I would rather come home rock back on a piece of land, build meh house and jam tunes whole day... wukkin for some clients out here over the web...
no pressure...
Trinidad and Tobago quickly achieving failed sate status...
We nearly reach...
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for the record, chris was in no form or fashion involved in the altercation at Corner bar earlier to this shooting as is being eluded to by the press.
24 years old, island scholarship winner, graduated top of his class at uwi (chem engineering), 5 month old baby, set to leave for his new job in mexico on friday...
like u said dutty...future leadership material...
So this man gunman just walk up and open fire just so, just so??....Ah eh doubting what yuh say eh, is the level of madness ah trying to wrap mih mind around.... :'(
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Very Sad indeed
for the record, chris was in no form or fashion involved in the altercation at Corner bar earlier to this shooting as is being eluded to by the press.
24 years old, island scholarship winner, graduated top of his class at uwi (chem engineering), 5 month old baby, set to leave for his new job in mexico on friday...
like u said dutty...future leadership material...
So this man gunman just walk up and open fire just so, just so??....Ah eh doubting what yuh say eh, is the level of madness ah trying to wrap mih mind around.... :'(
I think what the article failed to do and what Kandi is actually saying is that he was an Innocent bystander during the altercation....That's what I get
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A few of the forumites were present when this shit went down sat. night, myself included. Not a nice feeling, but again I ask, WHAT IS BEING DONE??????? I asked this months ago and was told that the powers that be do not want to implement a heavy handed system of crime control. I suspect this is because they have 'guests' coming next year for two big conferences. So they doh want things to look bad. So lewwe let more die in the mean time. We really f*cking like it so down here yes!
Like you and I discussed some time ago.
We are reaping the fruits planted by Eric Williams in the 70's with this crime situation.
A simple thing like going by a bar and drink some rum could lead to a loss of life.
That was, by far, the most dastardly, cowardly single most unnecessary act I ever come across.
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for the record, chris was in no form or fashion involved in the altercation at Corner bar earlier to this shooting as is being eluded to by the press.
24 years old, island scholarship winner, graduated top of his class at uwi (chem engineering), 5 month old baby, set to leave for his new job in mexico on friday...
like u said dutty...future leadership material...
Pure tragedy....
what gets me really upset is that, we have seen this coming over the horizon...
I blame the music... I blamin' de bad man chune dem... de gun t'ing, is a killer yes...
allyuh remember the anti drugs campaign dat used to say "Coke is a crackshot, don't get rope in!"...?
how come we didn't have the common sense to ban that "gun man" influence over the airwaves...
we losing very talented brothers and sisters everyday, and those of us that want to come home and give back by contributing out here, can't... or rather won't...
you really feel I want to be supporting the warriors from out here?... I want to be moving to and from the stadium wid meh duddup over meh shoulder and meh stick in meh pocket, sippin' a Stag, in de hot sun with Natasha... sa we strolling down Aripita Avenue...
You think I am really appreciated out here?... no way! it is the most amount of racism... but dat is another story for another time...
I cyah do the things in Trini I does do out here... and for all that I have to constantly put up with all sorts of "comments" and "looks" and all ah dat...
I would rather come home rock back on a piece of land, build meh house and jam tunes whole day... wukkin for some clients out here over the web...
no pressure...
Trinidad and Tobago quickly achieving failed s[t]ate status...
We nearly reach...
Fighting words pardnah ... fighting words ...
willful blindness even ... some forumites eh wah to hear that atall atall.
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A few of the forumites were present when this shit went down sat. night, myself included. Not a nice feeling, but again I ask, WHAT IS BEING DONE??????? I asked this months ago and was told that the powers that be do not want to implement a heavy handed system of crime control. I suspect this is because they have 'guests' coming next year for two big conferences. So they doh want things to look bad. So lewwe let more die in the mean time. We really f*cking like it so down here yes!
Like you and I discussed some time ago.
We are reaping the fruits planted by Eric Williams in the 70's with this crime situation.
A simple thing like going by a bar and drink some rum could lead to a loss of life.
That was, by far, the most dastardly, cowardly single most unnecessary act I ever come across.
Share nah.
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situation touch mih a lil jus a lil mor dan d odders...i ah man studyin my lil chemical engineering an as ah black yute tryin to follow up yuh ambitions it does be rel tuff and hard..d man come out and was reapin now somebody jus snuff out he life normal normal...stewps...
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wit regards to d express havin dat foto...anybody ever say CNMG news where they had a videorecording of a man dyin in a pool of blood wit fire inching up on his body?..he raised his head and looked at d person (a resident in d area) videotapin him..he was left to die slowly there..the residents said they were afraid to help him...that was d story of d taxu driver who got shot up an wen he try to drive away dey pelt a molotov in his car..he came out an collapsed in front d car where he later died...i find d media gettin a bit too insensitive on their crime coverage...
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I too am a chemical engineer, so its very very sad to have lost undoubtedly a talent not only for TT but also our industry.
Condolences firstly to the parents, and family of Chris Joseph may his soul rest in peace and may god give his family and friends the strength and wisdom in dealing with their loss.
Now - who's with me......bring back the death sentence. >:(
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Now - who's with me......bring back the death sentence. >:(
The death sentence eh gone nowhere, we can't carry it out because of that Privy Council ruling some years ago (can't remember the name of the case right now)....basically since we take so damn long for appeals to be heard and the case to close, the ruling said that keeping a man on death row for more than 5 years is "cruel and unusual punishment" and so most of these death row inmates just get their sentences commuted to life....
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Death sentence ain't deterring crime...
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I promote a program that will start in the first year that children start going to school and follow them all the way up to A levels.
A program that deals with social issues that educate kids about pridefulness, brotherhood, community and sanctity of human life and property.
It is all reinforced by a program with posters, handouts, media articles directed towards the general population of TnT.
Obviously this is all intial thinking about what needs to be done.
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Death sentence ain't deterring crime...
Yeah I forgot to add that to my post....for real, we not missing anything.....
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Me eh really care if it is a deterant but a couple less murders 2 feed from my tax good enough 4 me
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Death sentence ain't deterring crime...
Not in the US it isn't. No one has ever done a study in the caribbean but I'm willing to bet that in a smaller society such as TnT it could be a factor.
I'd say that overall punishment as a whole is no real deterrence to crime though... simply because criminals focus more on the act and the opportunity to consummate it, rather than stopping to consider the potential of being caught and punished.
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Several years ah back i saying let dem swing. Whether it deterring crime or not, let them swing. Set ah example. Nothing else working. When Ramesh decided to let Dole and dem swing hush hush early morning (dey truth bout dem hanging is yet to be told) didn't the crime rate decreased for several months ? Petty thief was the biggest crime at that time.
The criminals doing whatever they want and getting away with it because they know the Government hands up in the air. Take bout 3 from condemn ward, datz all. Doh care what age or crime, just set ah example.
You reading the newspapers and seeing these fellas in handcuffs with big grin on their faces heading into court or on their way to jail, and you have to think that they happy. Free food, exercise and no bills to pay, when the innocent people on the outside have to make their own personal curfews, burglar proof up they house like ah jail and worry everytime dey chile walk out dey front door. Why ? steupse
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Death sentence ain't deterring crime...
Not in the US it isn't. No one has ever done a study in the caribbean but I'm willing to bet that in a smaller society such as TnT it could be a factor.
I'd say that overall punishment as a whole is no real deterrence to crime though... simply because criminals focus more on the act and the opportunity to consummate it, rather than stopping to consider the potential of being caught and punished.
Is that the case?
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Several years ah back i saying let dem swing. Whether it deterring crime or not, let them swing. Set ah example. Nothing else working. When Ramesh decided to let Dole and dem swing hush hush early morning (dey truth bout dem hanging is yet to be told) didn't the crime rate decreased for several months ? Petty thief was the biggest crime at that time.
The criminals doing whatever they want and getting away with it because they know the Government hands up in the air. Take bout 3 from condemn ward, datz all. Doh care what age or crime, just set ah example.
You reading the newspapers and seeing these fellas in handcuffs with big grin on their faces heading into court or on their way to jail, and you have to think that they happy. Free food, exercise and no bills to pay, when the innocent people on the outside have to make their own personal curfews, burglar proof up they house like ah jail and worry everytime dey chile walk out dey front door. Why ? steupse
Deterrent or not, its the cheaper option. Kill dem and spend d money saved on making sure the next generation dont f**k up in the same way
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Deterrent or not, its the cheaper option.
Actually, it isn't.
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Death sentence ain't deterring crime...
Not in the US it isn't. No one has ever done a study in the caribbean but I'm willing to bet that in a smaller society such as TnT it could be a factor.
I'd say that overall punishment as a whole is no real deterrence to crime though... simply because criminals focus more on the act and the opportunity to consummate it, rather than stopping to consider the potential of being caught and punished.
A long time ago as part of the former Trintoc debating series my colleague and I did research on captial punishment and in countries such as the US where it is practiced the records showed that it did NOT deter crime. The main source we used was a book called "Should we hang" by Delroy Chuck. So according to data accumulated and referenced in this book it does not deter crime in the US. Now this bk was published in the late 80s if my memory serves me correct, but if you have more updated stats please share.
On another but similar note, this tragic story is reminiscent of the death of the CIC old boy about 18 months ago outside of 51 degrees, he too was going abroad. This is the particularly sickening aspect of what's transpiring now (to me anyway), gov't personnel and civilians alike seem to be quick to quote that the increased crime rate is affecting primarily the criminal element. One loss of life for is too much particularly when they are major contributors to society who evidently care for others.....
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What is quite painful for me is the public is getting so use to reading, hearing and sometimes witnessing a murder that now it's the 'norm.' Is this where we reach ? Or does it take the gruesome murder of some prominent figure in Trinidad (not even Tobago) or even a prominent businessman from foreign for the Government to act ? The last murder (Raphael nephew doh count, dat was ah inside job by he secretary.) Is the same way how they cleaning up the Beetham because of some summit in the future. Same way when Kenrick Rennie; remember he ? when he was killed in a motorcar accident because of poor lighting plus there wasn't any landing/boulder on the highway up Santa Rosa area. Ain't by the next month lighting and landing appeared ? So, is it that something has to happen before something is done ???
If that is the damn case.....well :-\
PLEASE note I'm not promoting nothing, just talking reality here.
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Death sentence ain't deterring crime...
Not in the US it isn't. No one has ever done a study in the caribbean but I'm willing to bet that in a smaller society such as TnT it could be a factor.
I'd say that overall punishment as a whole is no real deterrence to crime though... simply because criminals focus more on the act and the opportunity to consummate it, rather than stopping to consider the potential of being caught and punished.
A long time ago as part of the former Trintoc debating series my colleague and I did research on captial punishment and in countries such as the US where it is practiced the records showed that it did NOT deter crime. The main source we used was a book called "Should we hang" by Delroy Chuck. So according to data accumulated and referenced in this book it does not deter crime in the US. Now this bk was published in the late 80s if my memory serves me correct, but if you have more updated stats please share.
On another but similar note, this tragic story is reminiscent of the death of the CIC old boy about 18 months ago outside of 51 degrees, he too was going abroad. This is the particularly sickening aspect of what's transpiring now (to me anyway), gov't personnel and civilians alike seem to be quick to quote that the increased crime rate is affecting primarily the criminal element. One loss of life for is too much particularly when they are major contributors to society who evidently care for others.....
I think Bakes agrees that the DP doesn't deter crime in the U.S. He was saying that it might have a different effect on a smaller society such as T&T. I have no basis- factual nor intuitive to agree or disagree with that notion.
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A long time ago as part of the former Trintoc debating series my colleague and I did research on captial punishment and in countries such as the US where it is practiced the records showed that it did NOT deter crime. The main source we used was a book called "Should we hang" by Delroy Chuck. So according to data accumulated and referenced in this book it does not deter crime in the US. Now this bk was published in the late 80s if my memory serves me correct, but if you have more updated stats please share.
Kicker has it right... I'm in agreement with him (and you) that the death penalty has not proven to be a deterrent here in the U.S. Even if I wanted to dispute it this isn't the sort of thing I'd readily have 'stats' available for, capital punishment isn't my area of focus... most of what I know is picked up from the odd lecture or presentation here and there.
As much as I'd like to believe that it can have a role in deterring crime in TnT, even that I'm not positive of. I remember a couple years ago I took a look at the murder statistics for Trinidad in the period leading up to and subsequent to the execution of the Chadee gang... murders actually increased in the first 3-4 months after the hangings. Can't recall if there was an appreciable decline after that. So who knows...
On another note, personally I'm not philosophically opposed to the death penalty... I think that there are crimes that certainly are deserving of death. The system is just too fraught with problems here in the U.S. for me to support it. Trinidad has it's own unique problems I'm sure, but I'm certainly more supportive of it's implementation there.
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Sense fellas, all in all a serious problem that needs a solution, sooner rather than later....
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Deterrent or not, its the cheaper option.
Actually, it isn't.
Y isnt it cheaper?
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people who argue against the death penalty mainly use a very flawed argument that goes kinda like:
It is does not deter crime:
The two states with the most executions in 2003, Texas 24, and Oklahoma 14, saw increases in their murder rates from 2002 to 2003. Both states had murder rates above the national average in 2003: Texas - 6.4, and Oklahoma - 5.9. The top 13 states in terms of murder rates were all death penalty states. The murder rate of the death penalty states increased from 2002, while the rate in non-death penalty states decreased.Death Penalty Information Center
from a logical point of view, this is not the proper application of logic...or even how to use statistics to make an inference (statistical inferencing) - what would the murder rate in these states be if these states abolished the death penalty? how long does it take for the situation to stabilize and the criminals to realize, okay they not hanging nobody so I doh really have to worry about that.
the other argument which is the one I can relate to is the state sponsored murder of innocent people (the number of times the system is wrong)...but like this dude, if everybody see and testify and they sure is him, and he even say is him...beyond any doubt...then I think he should hang.
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Deterrent or not, its the cheaper option.
Actually, it isn't.
In the Caribbean it could be the cheapest option.
Death sentence is not an effective deterrent to crime because the punishment is not carried out immediately.
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Do we in this thread have answers or ways to curb the increase in crime in Trinidad and Tobago ?
Seems like some of you do.
Okay!
As the Minister of National Security of Trinidad and Tobago, the Prime Minister handed you a budget of let's say 1.5 millionUSTT dollars and says to you 'I want to see a decrease in crime in 1 year - do what you want.'
* Step by step show everybody your plans.
* Doh show me what other people write, no links...nothing like that. I want your thoughts.
Who knows, those reporters who like to visit the forum often, and like to take snips of what people write in here, ya idea might end up on front page. So use proper english and use fullstop and commas.
Thanks
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Deterrent or not, its the cheaper option.
Actually, it isn't.
In the Caribbean it could be the cheapest option.
Death sentence is not an effective deterrent to crime because the punishment is not carried out immediately.
For me, administering the death penalty is about saving money that could be better used elsewhere. It doesnt need to be a deterrent...it costs alot of money to keep a 25 yr old man in jail for 50-odd years.
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Do we in this thread have answers or ways to curb the increase in crime in Trinidad and Tobago ?
Seems like some of you do.
Okay!
As the Minister of National Security of Trinidad and Tobago, the Prime Minister handed you a budget of let's say 1.5 millionUSTT dollars and says to you 'I want to see a decrease in crime in 1 year - do what you want.'
* Step by step show everybody your plans.
* Doh show me what other people write, no links...nothing like that. I want your thoughts.
Who knows, those reporters who like to visit the forum often, and like to take snips of what people write in here, ya idea might end up on front page. So use proper english and use fullstop and commas.
Thanks
I have some ideas, but 1.5 million dollars will on by stationary to write out meh plan.
For starters
1. Set up a base where dispatch is located.
2. A senior officer, a junior officer and a dispatcher at every station. All other officers out patrolling in vehicles individually. Police cars set up similar to police cars in the US.
3. Increased army and police patrols in high risk areas.
4. Build/get a massive building in Chaguanas and use it as traffic branch.
5. In the first 3 months traffic officers do highly increased traffic stops citing drivers for almost any infringements. All traffic citations (no matter where in the country) go to Chaguanas to sort out their citations.
6. With # 5 the highways should always have present police officers at random places.
7. One day every month random medicals are given to police officers. delinquent or guilty officers reprimanded and or dismissed.
8. Youth and community out reach programs involving police, youth and women affairs, Churches, and schools educating youths on community and personal responsibility.
The main thing right now is to make the police visible and effective.
We can sort out the court later.
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Cana..
I think this a good initiative and something that has crossed my mind to invite discourse of this nature.
You should start a new thread, some might miss this.
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Y isnt it cheaper?
There are heightened procedures built into every capital case, including an exhaustive appeals process. The costs associated with prosecuting a capital case actually outweighs the costs on average of incarcerating someone for life. Note I said the costs associated with 'prosecuting'... that's not even including the costs of defending the accused.
In the Caribbean it could be the cheapest option.
Death sentence is not an effective deterrent to crime because the punishment is not carried out immediately.
That last sentence is speculative. Even if you killed them right after you ketch them there is absolutely no way of predicting the what type of deterrent effect it would have on crime. It's not like criminals say "well, I'll go rob and kill dat fella b/c even if they ketch mih they go keep mih on death row fuh 10 yrs before dey kill mih". Criminals in the moment of their crime hardly ever stop to think about the consequences... they don't think they'll get caught at all.
For me, administering the death penalty is about saving money that could be better used elsewhere. It doesnt need to be a deterrent...it costs alot of money to keep a 25 yr old man in jail for 50-odd years.
Whether killing them would be the cheapest option or not I don't know... but we shouldn't be rushing to execute people all in the name of saving money. We should most be interested in seeing that justice is done.
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Do we in this thread have answers or ways to curb the increase in crime in Trinidad and Tobago ?
Seems like some of you do.
Okay!
As the Minister of National Security of Trinidad and Tobago, the Prime Minister handed you a budget of let's say 1.5 millionUSTT dollars and says to you 'I want to see a decrease in crime in 1 year - do what you want.'
* Step by step show everybody your plans.
* Doh show me what other people write, no links...nothing like that. I want your thoughts.
Who knows, those reporters who like to visit the forum often, and like to take snips of what people write in here, ya idea might end up on front page. So use proper english and use fullstop and commas.
Thanks
The police force needs to be reinvented from top to bottom:
-Improve background screening and psychological testing for all recruits... as well as for present officers. This is particularly necessary to get a handle on who these police officers are associating with.
-Implement training to regroom the police service into a professional force...emphasis on professional.
-Establish mobile command units, and mobile response units.
-De-centralize the force even more than it already is, with mini command centers set up around the country.
-Establish permanent police presence in crime hotspots... or at least permanent until crime abates.
-Improve crime lab performance by improving training, techniques and equipment
-Improve surveillance techniques... I read yesterday how police ketch ah fella with $4m in coke after spying on his movements for weeks and trailing him to Piarco. He realize that police presence was high at the airport so he abort the transaction, not realizing dey was dun on he case. Dai'z some real Law and Order stuff right dey.
However, with all of this, any changes must be made in coordination with both the legislature (revamped laws, like the life for child molesters measure they announce yesterday) and the judiciary... which might need a separate post by itself.
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Cana..
I think this a good initiative and something that has crossed my mind to invite discourse of this nature.
You should start a new thread, some might miss this.
Sure why not. It will be a branch off of this thread.
Shark and elan could you both copy and paste your thoughts in the new thread i'm about to create please and thanks
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http://www.socawarriors.net/forum/index.php?topic=39563.msg489256#msg489256
continuation from kaisocagoals' thread.
Question to those willing to share their thoughts and ideas.
Serious stuff please.
Do we in this thread have answers or ways to curb the increase in crime in Trinidad and Tobago ?
Seems like some of you do.
Okay!
As the Minister of National Security of Trinidad and Tobago, the Prime Minister handed you a budget of let's say 4.4 billion TT dollars (from 2007 budget) and says to you 'I want to see a decrease in crime in 1 year - do what you want.'
* Step by step show everybody your plans.
* Doh show me what other people write, no links...nothing like that. I want your thoughts.
Who knows, those reporters who like to visit the forum often, and like to take snips of what people write in here, ya idea might end up on front page. So use proper english and use fullstop and commas.
Thanks
-
Y isnt it cheaper?
There are heightened procedures built into every capital case, including an exhaustive appeals process. The costs associated with prosecuting a capital case actually outweighs the costs on average of incarcerating someone for life. Note I said the costs associated with 'prosecuting'... that's not even including the costs of defending the accused.
In the Caribbean it could be the cheapest option.
Death sentence is not an effective deterrent to crime because the punishment is not carried out immediately.
That last sentence is speculative. Even if you killed them right after you ketch them there is absolutely no way of predicting the what type of deterrent effect it would have on crime. It's not like criminals say "well, I'll go rob and kill dat fella b/c even if they ketch mih they go keep mih on death row fuh 10 yrs before dey kill mih". Criminals in the moment of their crime hardly ever stop to think about the consequences... they don't think they'll get caught at all.
For me, administering the death penalty is about saving money that could be better used elsewhere. It doesnt need to be a deterrent...it costs alot of money to keep a 25 yr old man in jail for 50-odd years.
Whether killing them would be the cheapest option or not I don't know... but we shouldn't be rushing to execute people all in the name of saving money. We should most be interested in seeing that justice is done.
Psychologists have always emphasized that for punishment to be effective it must be instantaneous. Hence, a major reason why the death penalty is not a deterrent. The death penalty is a long and drawn out process.
You are only looking at one aspect of murder, that is the criminal who go to rob and end up killing someone. In fact many criminals do consider the consequences for their would be actions, the thing is they more often than not believe they would not get ketch or they feel (machismo) they would be able to deal with the punishments or get out of it all together.
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For starters
1. Set up a base where dispatch is located.
2. A senior officer, a junior officer and a dispatcher at every station. All other officers out patrolling in vehicles individually. Police cars set up similar to police cars in the US.
3. Increased army and police patrols in high risk areas.
4. Build/get a massive building in Chaguanas and use it as traffic branch.
5. In the first 3 months traffic officers do highly increased traffic stops citing drivers for almost any infringements. All traffic citations (no matter where in the country) go to Chaguanas to sort out their citations.
6. With # 5 the highways should always have present, police officers at random places.
7. One day every month random medicals are given to police officers. Delinquent or guilty officers reprimanded and or dismissed. Officers are sent for training every 6 months.
8. Increased salaries and promotion options for officer to grow in the service.
10. Youth and community out reach programs involving police, youth and women affairs, Churches, and schools educating youths on community and personal responsibility.
11. Incentives for schools who generate great results (CXC, SEA, Cape etc). Increased salaries for teachers.
12. No home suspensions, or students being expelled from school. Student do In School Suspension. Students with behavioral problems, at risk students attend alternative school. The alternative school can be staffed with Army officers and community officers.
13. Mandatory school attendance for school age children. Children who do not attend school on a regular basis parents will be held accountable (community service, etc.).
14. Accessible education for adults.
15. Law reform, in terms of effective court system. Punishment to suit the crime.
The main thing right now is to make the police visible and effective.
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Do we in this thread have answers or ways to curb the increase in crime in Trinidad and Tobago ?
Seems like some of you do.
So use proper english and use fullstop and commas.
Thanks
Allyuh read dat carefully eh...and ah torkin to the journalists who visitin dis thread too for some help. 8).
Good post TriniCana i have alot to say and alot of input to share under this thread. I will be back soon
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Control the roads! Control the Roads! Control the Roads!
- Roll out a new fleet of unmarked police vehicles for highway patrol and for 1 month, launch an all out no-nonsense crackdown on traffic offenders. Establish a visible presence. Abandon the occasional road block method, this does not work in this day and age where a simple cell phone call would render the exercise useless.
- Computerize the licensing office
- Establish a points system for traffic offences and enforce license suspensions.
- Increase penalties for traffic violations
- Remove the ticket processing function from the Magistrates Court and create a separate center specializing in processing tickets and minor traffic violations.
- Enforce warrants for unpaid tickets/traffic violations.
- Tighten legislation to make it easier to suspend licences.
Everything illegal that happens in the country has to pass on the roads. Controlling the roads will go a long way towards controlling crime.
The problem with the roads is that there is no such thing as recourse.
The same people who routinely break the law on the roads will drive in a foreign country even as near as Barbados and make sure to strap in and drive below the speed limit for the simple reason that the traffic laws are visibly enforced.
It can be done.
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on a note them marines in trini , i see two us marine black hawk helicopter fly over my house low yesterday doing some exercises.
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Psychologists have always emphasized that for punishment to be effective it must be instantaneous. Hence, a major reason why the death penalty is not a deterrent. The death penalty is a long and drawn out process.
You are confusing the different theories of deterrence...specific deterrence with general deterrence. Specific deterrence is punishment against the offender to deter him from acting in futue. General deterrence is punishment against the offender in hopes that others in observing his crime and punishment, would be deterred from similarly acting in future. Instantaneous punishment is specific to the individual... you punish him immediately so that he can appreciate why HE is being punished. This is the type of punishment that your psychological model addresses.
All that aside, I'm not sure where you're trying to go with this... punishment is never instantaneous in the criminal justice system, has never been since the rise of civilized society. All of that theoretical psychology talk has very little practical utility in criminal justice, since in every instance there's a trial which is time consuming in of itself, not even counting the time it takes to get to trial.
You are only looking at one aspect of murder, that is the criminal who go to rob and end up killing someone. In fact many criminals do consider the consequences for their would be actions, the thing is they more often than not believe they would not get ketch or they feel (machismo) they would be able to deal with the punishments or get out of it all together.
What other 'aspect' of murder is there to look at?? I simply gave that as one scenario but it's applicable to any capital offense.
As for the bolded assertion... that simply hasn't been borne out by research, so I'm not sure where you're getting that from. Many criminals don't even plan capital offenses, often they plan some specific crime and it ends up a capital offense because of some aggravating factor. Ex. A rape or a robbery becomes a murder... where the murder wasn't an initial part of the plan but became incidental to the execution of the specific crime. Now which criminal do you think will plan a robbery or rape with the thought that he might get the death penalty? I won't bog down the thread with too much more long talk, but in the 32 yrs since capital punishment has been reinstaed in the US it simply has not proven to be a deterrent. Maybe, like I said earlier, in Trinidad it might have an effect.
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The police force needs to be reinvented from top to bottom:
-Improve background screening and psychological testing for all recruits... as well as for present officers. This is particularly necessary to get a handle on who these police officers are associating with.
-Implement training to regroom the police service into a professional force...emphasis on professional.
-Establish mobile command units, and mobile response units.
-De-centralize the force even more than it already is, with mini command centers set up around the country.
-Establish permanent police presence in crime hotspots... or at least permanent until crime abates.
-Improve crime lab performance by improving training, techniques and equipment
-Improve surveillance techniques... I read yesterday how police ketch ah fella with $4m in coke after spying on his movements for weeks and trailing him to Piarco. He realize that police presence was high at the airport so he abort the transaction, not realizing dey was dun on he case. Dai'z some real Law and Order stuff right dey.
However, with all of this, any changes must be made in coordination with both the legislature (revamped laws, like the life for child molesters measure they announce yesterday) and the judiciary... which might need a separate post by itself.
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Good post Cana (and contributors), given the $50B USD budget, could easily round up the figure to $1B USD for crime, a mere 2%
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Y isnt it cheaper?
There are heightened procedures built into every capital case, including an exhaustive appeals process. The costs associated with prosecuting a capital case actually outweighs the costs on average of incarcerating someone for life. Note I said the costs associated with 'prosecuting'... that's not even including the costs of defending the accused.
I'm talking about TnT, where these fellas are already on death row, and so presumably cost the same amount in legal fees, whether or not we actually kill dem.
In the Caribbean it could be the cheapest option.
Death sentence is not an effective deterrent to crime because the punishment is not carried out immediately.
That last sentence is speculative. Even if you killed them right after you ketch them there is absolutely no way of predicting the what type of deterrent effect it would have on crime. It's not like criminals say "well, I'll go rob and kill dat fella b/c even if they ketch mih they go keep mih on death row fuh 10 yrs before dey kill mih". Criminals in the moment of their crime hardly ever stop to think about the consequences... they don't think they'll get caught at all.
For me, administering the death penalty is about saving money that could be better used elsewhere. It doesnt need to be a deterrent...it costs alot of money to keep a 25 yr old man in jail for 50-odd years.
Whether killing them would be the cheapest option or not I don't know... but we shouldn't be rushing to execute people all in the name of saving money. We should most be interested in seeing that justice is done. I'm not questioning whether our judicial system is perfect...I'm saying if some is found guilty, they should hang, rather than sit on death row forever.
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Ryan... if they're still on death row then that means the appeals process hasn't been exhausted yet. Should we shorten it in order to save money, even if it means denying these offenders the full process of the law?
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okmar my idea was real similar, but from the point of enforcing all road laws to pay for police service. Un marked vehicles and speeding tickets galore for everybody. breakin' red lights, driving on shoulder - high ticket (to raise revenue and build order and presence in the society).
then with all them extra traffic cases, we goh have to import magistrates (jus like we have foreign nurses and doctors workin') to handle jus real menial cases, and save the trini magistrates for the real cases. I will spen all dat money and build one big prison in biche.
'regular' people goin' and have to make a lil jail. the 'regular' man living in lange park who forget to pay tickets for years - a lil jail. the regular fella who payin for they drivers license - a lil sting and he could make a lil jail too. and vice versa, the license officer who taking bribes...a lil for him too. Only then really you could justify bringing down the heavy hand of the law on people, cuz trini corrupt at at the core.
then as west coast was saying maybe on another thread, children need some civics comin' up right through, and a system should be in place where a child can't 'make it' without some sort of community service, whether is helping read to young children who havin trouble reading or whatever.
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First of all if anyne sees black hak helicopters in T&T, that is probably the US Army, not the Marines.
Ok, the trouble in TT is a cultural one. Before we get to the minister and hte budget, ask yourselves what part does the citizenery play in upholding the laws of the land.
The same trinis who go to the US and the UK and do not litter, who keep their yards clean, who make sure that their children learn to respect authority, are the ones responsible for leanding a helping hand in T&T.
Yet the question is straightforward "Do they do the same things/adopt the same attitude in T&T?"
The police in T&T are ill equipped and ill trained and are citizens of T&T with the same attitudes as the people. The people refer to the police as "THE LAW" the police have the attitdude that they are "THE LAW" and not upholders of the law.
Up until very recently, the Police Commissioner could not promote or fire a police for malfeasance etc. unless he went to the Police Services Commission, where a Corporal was the head honcho and apply to take disiplinary action
He had no cotrol over the budget etc. UNTIL RECENTLY ok?
Imagine you are a young bright policeman or woman, you went to university, you took courses, and are upto date with the latest in crime fighting procedures. Your immediate supervisor is a corporal who has been an acting sergeant for 7 years. He has no degree, dropped out of HS and has been in the police service for 29 years!
It took him 25 yars to making his acting position, he does not care to hear your ideas as you are a now come and fell yuh bright becasue you went university. He tells you, boy, is years we doing things this way, you want to come an change de wuk!
How do you respond? His immediate supervisor is an Inspector with 32 years serice, has to retire in 3 years and is currently on leave for 1 year!
OK I hope you are getting the picture here.
Until the government changes the culture within the police service, and in the nation we are going to have a continuation of the goings-on!
The police and indeed all institutions within the nation needs to start promoting based on merit and qualifications and not on seniority. Reward those who take the iniative and time to invest in personal growth, not hose who clock in everyday and sit at their desks complaining how things have been done for years.
Schools need to be remodelled and updated. Teachers need to be better trained and paid. Parents need to become proactive and invest time in the education of their offspring. CIVICS need to be a integral part of the curriculum throughout all grades.
We need to change the culture of jump and wave too. Trinis are reknowned for their parties, well life is not always about feteing!
The people need to hold the government accountable for their actions. Demand accountability, why do you think Jack Warner can escape with his nonsense? We are too quick to cuss and forget, then we hold a fete to ease de tension!
Nah!
We are as responsible, or more responsible than the government for the condition of OUR country.
Martin Jospeh is a trini, an honest trini too. He is not a good politican. He tells the nation that the job is harder than he thought, how hard his job is etc. His hands are tied in many respects (look at the examples of the police service). He buys more equipment, he wants to hire more police, he wants to build more police stations and buy more police cars. Stop gap measures and he is bending to public pressure.
Mre police, more police cars etc are not going to help one iota! Not one!
The culture of the Police service and the way we think as a nation are the real issue.
The criminals are not worried about the police now and they will not worry about an increase in the number of police, UNLESS, they face a new type of police!
More to come from me.....
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Morning
Folks thank you for keeping this thread serious. I can't wait to get home this afternoon to read in full.
Have a good one :beermug:
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DNA
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Liking the optimism in this thread.
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to decrease crime in T&T i would first fix up the whole police department...as what bake n shark say, then make a task force similar to SWAT, if you ever seen the brazilian movie "trope de elite" you'll know what im talking about. i know we have some tactical team but i dont think they take it seriously. these guys on the SWAT team are guys who are no joke and would also track down those who are corrupt in law enforcement. in my mind, the only way to defeat a criminal is to strike fear into their cold hearts. i would then also invest more money into a CSI lab.
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So a 15 year old girl who was minding her business get snipe in a cross fire yesterday. This happened so close to my house I should have heard the shots if I was listening out for them. Assylum, I see you were asking Disgruntled to share some of his conversation that he and i had some time back on the seeds planted by Eric Williams. Well let me see if I can share some of it and maybe bring some of my perspectives to the discussion.
First of all, the institution known as the PNM is NOT, in my opinion responsible for the crime situation in the country. I will, however, lead with the "thesis" that they are responsible for the attitudes that prevail heavily in this country which speak directly to a blatant lack of respect for order and discipline in Trinidad and Tobago. Hear me out...
When the late Dr. Williams was faced with the dilemma in the late 60's of alienating his African supporters and the 'Black Power' revolution took place, he made it his business, after realizing the power of numbers in a demographic society, to appeal to the psychological conscience of the Afro-Trinidadian. He took a number of steps in attempting to creolize his cabinet, getting rid of the Montano's and O'Halloran's so the the Afro' Trinidadian could identify better with their representatives. This is why, to this day you would never see a non-Afro Trinidadian member of parliament in any of the East Port of Spain Constituencies. As a matter of fact the most crime laden and poverty laden constituency in the country belonged to the good doctor himself. To this day, nothing had been done to uplift that area both in terms of crime reduction and economic assistance, but they still love him too bad. He say he could put a crapaud to run in that constituency and it would win.
When we experienced our first economic boom during the 70's, many dreams were sold. People got pay raises, money was spending left right and centre, yet basic issues were not being dealt with, because the policy was to spoil the children and keep them happy (distracted) while we rape the economy, because we don't know how long these good times will last. In the mean time, the citizens were forced to deal with an unreliable phone service; the private transportation services were shut down while people lined up for hours after work, unable to get home; not enough beds in the hospitals; widespread flooding during the rainy season. For those of us who live here at home or even read the news of home, does any of this sound familiar? In the mean time, the only policy was to throw money at every problem and hope to get some solution, while very little strategy or implementation was applied. (Older heads, if I going wrong here tell me, I do some reading and talk to plenty old people in my time, so I hope all of them didn't lie to me.)
Meanwhile, people partying and having a time, cause when your house flood out, you could buy new stove and new fridge and everything cash, cause "Money eh no problem." The ones in charge don't care, and as a matter of fact, the lack if discipline displayed by those at the top was an indication to many below that anything goes and it was all right to have a time.
Fast forward to the recession, and when NAR came into power. All of a sudden there was a need to tighten up the boot straps and actually work. Things bad, but we cya call the Doctor for a prescription anymore, HE DEAD! I remember the first week the NAR was in power. Garbage truck coming on time everyday, water not locking off, people working. I was a child then, but I remember hearing my folks and others talking,things were hard still, but people working. Then they decided to tell people that they would be forced to raise taxes. If you notice now in the US, along with foreign policy, this is the hottest subject of the presidential debates, especially because they are well into a recession themselves. Many of us here have kids, nephews, nieces etc. When a child has been spoiled for so long, how do you begin a programme of discipline? How do you tell them that in order for your Government to help you out of your current situation, one which is already dire, they are going to have to pay? For the second time since independence, the population was alienated from the Government, and for the second time, we had an insurrection. But something else happened with this insurrection... instead of simply demonstrating, somewhere along the line, it became all right for people to use violence to get what they wanted. (Now older heads, I know when the young man, Basil Davis, was shot by the police in the riots in the 70's that his funeral was the largest attended in the country, and while it was an intimidating presence, no real gun violence was present in the aftermath of that killing am I right?) But it was a different story after the coup of 1990. Every year since then, we have had an increase in murders with the exception of 3 years at the most, but what is even more important is that we have not realized just how much that event had an effect on our current way of life down here. Members of the Jamaat who joined the expanding drug trade already understood the power of the gun, and taught it to many others who taught exponential numbers beyond that. It is no wonder why kids are running around with guns here.
This is where we come to the relation between indiscipline and crime. The 1990 coup showed us how fragile we are. But the fact that the main perpetrators of that exercise are still alive and well also showed that there are no real consequences for our actions. Psychologically that must ring bells in the minds of a population. Since then, with several other factors which includes (as much as it pains me to say) mass media blitzing the minds of our youth with garbage, and a lack of household guidance, we have seen our discipline levels deteriorate each year and the corresponding crime statistics back up that statement. Simply obeying the traffic codes is beyond many of our citizens and because there is little enforcement, they don't have to follow them. Petty theft during carnival, football games, concerts, etc continues to escalate. Car theft, break-ins, robberies with deadly weapons are now things you simply must be aware of at all times. General unease is rampant after dark where there is no security. Places have beefed up security for Xmas shoppers because they know there will be an increase in crimes targeting shoppers in the next two months. I not just talking this, this is really what goes on down here, among the good times and the liming and drinking and shit talk. You ask any police officer in the know about the reported crimes to solved crimes ratio and see what he or she says. Even scarier still, ask them about recent murders and where the gun men are aiming, and they will tell you that the large percentage now are aimed at the victims head rather than chest. With the amount of guns in this country and the ability for a young man to simply pull a trigger and snuff out a 'trouble-maker' it's only logical that we would come to this. Crime is easy and there is relatively no reason to fear any legal repercussions from committing a criminal act. The real question is why the powers that be are not dealing with it effectively. Some of us here can guess the answer to that too. But I go leave it here for now, and await comments/criticisms.
Peace (if you really believe it can happen).
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Ryan... if they're still on death row then that means the appeals process hasn't been exhausted yet. Should we shorten it in order to save money, even if it means denying these offenders the full process of the law?
Nope, I jus think we should go with whatever's the cheaper option, has nothing to do with shortening the process. But I'm surprised that the cost of jailing someone for life is cheaper than legal fees...I know in the US it costs them well over £50k per year, so multiplying dat by 50 years is real money :-\ (ok, TnT housing costs wud be much lower, but presumably legal costs are lower as well)
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Swima, great post and great read.
Agree with alot of things you stated.
Thanks.
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This is where we come to the relation between indiscipline and crime. The 1990 coup showed us how fragile we are. But the fact that the main perpetrators of that exercise are still alive and well also showed that there are no real consequences for our actions. Psychologically that must ring bells in the minds of a population. Since then, with several other factors which includes (as much as it pains me to say) mass media blitzing the minds of our youth with garbage, and a lack of household guidance, we have seen our discipline levels deteriorate each year and the corresponding crime statistics back up that statement. Simply obeying the traffic codes is beyond many of our citizens and because there is little enforcement, they don't have to follow them. Petty theft during carnival, football games, concerts, etc continues to escalate. Car theft, break-ins, robberies with deadly weapons are now things you simply must be aware of at all times. General unease is rampant after dark where there is no security. Places have beefed up security for Xmas shoppers because they know there will be an increase in crimes targeting shoppers in the next two months. I not just talking this, this is really what goes on down here, among the good times and the liming and drinking and shit talk. You ask any police officer in the know about the reported crimes to solved crimes ratio and see what he or she says. Even scarier still, ask them about recent murders and where the gun men are aiming, and they will tell you that the large percentage now are aimed at the victims head rather than chest. With the amount of guns in this country and the ability for a young man to simply pull a trigger and snuff out a 'trouble-maker' it's only logical that we would come to this. Crime is easy and there is relatively no reason to fear any legal repercussions from committing a criminal act. The real question is why the powers that be are not dealing with it effectively. Some of us here can guess the answer to that too. But I go leave it here for now, and await comments/criticisms.
Peace (if you really believe it can happen).
Swima, thx for your indulgence. I'm sure many will benefit from it. Hopefully countless will chime in since we are all stakeholders.
I'm still pondering the impact of austerity measures on our political cycle. Won't comment immediately on that.
Similarly, 'cultural seepage' in a post-colonial, nouveau independent context is an engaging issue. Related to that, I have a problem with the widespread, orthodox view of Williams as either pater familias or pater patriae ... but that is for another day. In other words, ah coming back to Williams in due course. :)
Where I would like to enter the discussion is the pyschological impact of the coup attempt on the populace. To my observation this is pivotal. And valid ... not that any of the other comments are facially invalid ... just cyah get into them right now.
One question that comes to mind is: how do we balance the 'apparent lack of consequence' with respect to the authors of the coup attempt versus the actuality that said persons were submitted to the judicial process?
With respect to the larger issue of criminality, the absence of political will is inescapable.
[I think we should be careful to separate hooliganism and criminality of the sort that dominates our media (kidnapping, murder, extortion, street level crimes against the person etc.) from the imperatives of politically-inspired? events such as '90 ... some may take issue with this but dahis why we discussing it ... In other words, was Abu Bakr a common criminal or not? Yes? No? Undecided?]
How much democracy do we really believe in? Will we ever arrive at the position that restrictive, possibly/quasi anti-democratic measures (although not necessarily extra-constitutional measures) need to be employed to reverse the context of today's crime and malaise? Merely a question.
Along with the observation about political will ... here's another question (none of this is Swima-specific since we're all stakeholders) ... Are Trinbagonians courageous people?
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we are party people! Courageous people?
What has really happened in T&T to test our mettle as a people? We are eithee the bravest or most dotish!
Coup going on, people dead and dying, Parliament captured, bombs gone off, lives interrupted and the Defence Force mobilized. Statae of Emergency Curfew and we having Curfew Parties!
Brave or Dotish no tail, you tell me.
Bandits have ordinary people on the run, the police inept, the government trying but have no teeth, and we....partying.
Corruption and murder, traffic and poor social health, and we.....partying. Kidnapping unabated, kidnappers running around free to kidnap again. Crime unsolved, witnesses getting killed, victims of accidents being robbed to add to their misfortune, rapes, abuse of children and women.
School children making pornos, schools falling apart, students fighting, teachers not going to school, and we....partying.
We seem to be most socially conscious during Carnival season when Kaiso higlights the ills....yet what do we do? we jump an dwine to the songs...we partying.
Maybe a better question is are we a nation as yet? Are we serious as a people, or we just like to fete!
We partying!
Maybe we dotish and selfish!
Once the party running we ok. When have the people of T&T been ever called upon to sacrifice anything?
Remember God is ah trini! We safe. Hurricanes, natural disasters all avoid us, we have abundance of natural resources, we safe and we have a reason to fete every month, we nice.
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we are party people! Courageous people?
What has really happened in T&T to test our mettle as a people? We are eithee the bravest or most dotish!
Coup going on, people dead and dying, Parliament captured, bombs gone off, lives interrupted and the Defence Force mobilized. Statae of Emergency Curfew and we having Curfew Parties!
Brave or Dotish no tail, you tell me.
Bandits have ordinary people on the run, the police inept, the government trying but have no teeth, and we....partying.
Corruption and murder, traffic and poor social health, and we.....partying.
School children making ponos, schools falling apart, teachers not going to school, and we....partying.
We seem to be most socially conscious during Carnival season when Kaiso higlights the ills....yet what do we do? we jump an dwine to the songs...we partying.
Maybe a better question is are we a nation as yet? Are we serious as a people, or we just like to fete!
We partying!
Unless you believe that the amount of partying in Trinidad is done at the expense of social reform/reconstruction, or that we ought to bemoan our dire situation by 24/7 sulking, mourning and solemnity then I'm not sure what your point is.
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Yes we have a culture of partying and singing about our woes in kaisos. No real public voice. If you want to see trinis react violently and voiceferously let them cancel carnival!
That is our value system fella.
If you cannot get the point then my point is made!
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Yes we have a culture of partying and singing about our woes in kaisos. No real public voice. If you want to see trinis react violently and voiceferously let them cancel carnival!
That is our value system fella.
If you cannot get the point then my point is made!
Bullshit.
Your point is overly simplistic, naive and foolish...
No real public voice!!!! (whatever that means)... and hurrah shout the rum shop patrons....
If you want to see trinis react violently and voiceferously let them cancel carnival!!! - more shouts of support come from the dummies....
Boss, Trinis are acting violently and vociferously every day. That's what gang warfare and violent crime is- a violent reaction to a failed education system that has left too many unskilled behind without options. A violent reaction to a post-colonial society with a low self esteem that is vulnerable to outside influences that eat away into our sense of morals. A violent reaction to naive and selfish government who has indulged in financial mismanagement and corruption needlessly filling pockets instead of developing the under-developed. Agreed Trinidad needs brave leaders to stand up against alot that is currently taking place- But the voice must have a means.....and when you have an insular two party system that revolves and regurgitates the same old folks, their kin & the same old ideas in and out and a private sector run by a small nucleus of ppl making the decisions about where non-governmental funds are allocated, you have a greater populace that not only lacks the resources but also the means to enact change...and even more importantly the necessary faith in a continually failing system. So what you have is every man for himself - and that is the foundation upon which our value system as a society is built- not partying....
Our leadership positions are not in the hands of real & capable leaders
You stay there and feel that Trinis like to lime more than anyone else....
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fella, you agreeing with me that we are a selfish society. Where else in the world do you see people holding parties when their country is under siege?
Why do we always bemoan the crime and the lack of governance except thru partying and calypso?
Yes the government failed us, but in a larger sense aren't we the government?
Failed education system, the same one which produced scholars ent?
I am sick and tired of the old colonial cliches. Violent reaction to colonial rule? now who is talking bullshit?
Who was it that loudly proclaimed "Massa day dun!"
Aren't we a Republic? You saying that lack of educational opportunities creating crime and criminals, isn't education free in T&T? and Available to all and sundry?
The people failing, we teaching little children to wine before they can walk. I dont buy your premise that the population lacks the power to bring about change. I believe that the population has a culture of we good as long as they run some and we could fete!
YES FETE!
You say we selfish an only care about ourselves, everyman for himself....and that is the foundation for our value system, and I am not wholly disagreeing with that statement, I am adding another caveat, we like to fete too much in T&T. Fete by itself is not necessarily a bad thing, but when we using it to express ourselves, who taking that seriously? after carnival season is back to the status quo. Just look at the drawing cards to political rallies....Big entertainers. Not the message...who cares about the message if there is a good fete!???
We allow the regurgitation and the nepotism that permeates our two party system, hell we don't even have a 2 party system we have allowed a two race system to run things!
yes we like to party too much and we are not serious about anything of consequence until...until it hurts us directly.
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fella, you agreeing with me that we are a selfish society. Where else in the world do you see people holding parties when their country is under siege?
Why do we always bemoan the crime and the lack of governance except thru partying and calypso?
Yes the government failed us, but in a larger sense aren't we the government?
Failed education system, the same one which produced scholars ent?
Haiti has very prosperous rich business men, that doesn't speak positively about the standard of living in that country- so that scholar talk is crap- feed that to the masses...
I am sick and tired of the old colonial cliches. Violent reaction to colonial rule? now who is talking bullshit?
Colonial cliches? please... my ass...Not I breds...Who said anything about a violent reaction to colonial rule?- you're too focussed on making an argument- re-read what I said.... I commented on a POST COLONIAL societal self esteem that makes the society vulnerable to negative outside influences- it is those influences that augment the situation of violence. If you can't see the difference so be it. I agree it's a crappy excuse for the way many ppl see things, but it's tough to argue that those forces are not at play......
Who was it that loudly proclaimed "Massa day dun!"
Aren't we a Republic? You saying that lack of educational opportunities creating crime and criminals, isn't education free in T&T? and Available to all and sundry?
You serious? If you feed every man in the society a plate of shit, free of charge...does that mean that nutrition is all taken care of? I'm not saying that education in T&T is a piece of shit...but I think there's alot of room for improvement...if you don't agree with that, then fine, I'm willing to hear you but not if yuh feeding me soup about scholars & freeness....please- like I say feed that to the masses
The people failing, we teaching little children to wine before they can walk. I dont buy your premise that the population lacks the power to bring about change. I believe that the population has a culture of we good as long as they run some and we could fete!
huh?
YES FETE!
You say we selfish an only care about ourselves, everyman for himself....and that is the foundation for our value system, and I am not wholly disagreeing with that statement, I am adding another caveat, we like to fete too much in T&T. Fete by itself is not necessarily a bad thing, but when we using it to express ourselves, who taking that seriously? after carnival season is back to the status quo. Just look at the drawing cards to political rallies....Big entertainers. Not the message...who cares about the message if there is a good fete!???
You show me a message that draws crowds to a political rally...and I'll show you chicken with teeth...Political rallies are all about hype...that's not unique to T&T
We allow the regurgitation and the nepotism that permeates our two party system, hell we don't even have a 2 party system we have allowed a two race system to run things!
Sure ok.... I say two party, You say two race (which is also true)....but I'm not sure how that lends to your point
yes we like to party too much and we are not serious about anything of consequence until...until it hurts us directly.
I'm not sure that Trinis' love for a good time needs to be compromised in order for positive change....I don't think it's a case of too much X, but more a case of too little Y....The two are mutually exclusive in my view.
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Where I would like to enter the discussion is the pyschological impact of the coup attempt on the populace. To my observation this is pivotal. And valid ... not that any of the other comments are facially invalid ... just cyah get into them right now.
One question that comes to mind is: how do we balance the 'apparent lack of consequence' with respect to the authors of the coup attempt versus the actuality that said persons were submitted to the judicial process?
With respect to the larger issue of criminality, the absence of political will is inescapable.
[I think we should be careful to separate hooliganism and criminality of the sort that dominates our media (kidnapping, murder, extortion, street level crimes against the person etc.) from the imperatives of politically-inspired? events such as '90 ... some may take issue with this but dahis why we discussing it ... In other words, was Abu Bakr a common criminal or not? Yes? No? Undecided?]
Ssylum, I would have to say that with all due respect to the judicial process, the psychological impact of 1990 is something that is also inescapable. You can separate a politcally inspired event from general criminality in a classroom, or even in a forum such as this, but for those of us who saw the footage of men running into the red house shooting and gun butting, it might as well have been a carefully executed bank robbery unfolding. The images etched into our memories will always be of those men; of Bakr on tv looking like the mastermind of a sophisticated hijacking; and of of course his surrender, which of all images should have solidified his status as a criminal. Hands raised in front of the the armed forces and the police, being arrested. Many of us remember those events clearly today. How fresh was it in our minds when the verdict arrived? Did we feel like justice was served, even if due process was?
And what of rest of the members of the Jamaat who were also exonerated of those charges? Did they feel as though they 'got away' with something? I could remember for years that many crimes reported were allegedly committed by members of the Jamaat, as per press reports. Is there true separation between the mindset of the youth who takes up a gun to storm the red house, not knowing why he is storming the red house, and the youth who a few years later, after being let off for those same actions, who takes up a gun and storms into a man's house to rob and kill him? When that question is answered then I believe you can fairly decide whether, in this case, the attempted coup of 1990 is truly separate and apart from the criminality we face today. Bakr and Bilal aside, think about the youths who were used. Now when you think about them, think about their sphere of immediate influence and that sphere should resemble the wake created by the pebble in the pond.
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Children making children in de barracks is de root cause.
And it still happening !
The vicious cycle is not stopping.
Maybe the Government of the day was not to blame for the original situation but for gods sake deal with it now so that future generations do not have child mothers and fathers.
Full national service is the way to go .
Every male child regardless of color creed race or social standing should have compulsory military national service to do until we can accomplish a society that is disciplined and accepts the rule of law.
Plain and simple.
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we are party people! Courageous people?
What has really happened in T&T to test our mettle as a people? We are eithee the bravest or most dotish!
Coup going on, people dead and dying, Parliament captured, bombs gone off, lives interrupted and the Defence Force mobilized. Statae of Emergency Curfew and we having Curfew Parties!
Brave or Dotish no tail, you tell me.
Bandits have ordinary people on the run, the police inept, the government trying but have no teeth, and we....partying.
Corruption and murder, traffic and poor social health, and we.....partying. Kidnapping unabated, kidnappers running around free to kidnap again. Crime unsolved, witnesses getting killed, victims of accidents being robbed to add to their misfortune, rapes, abuse of children and women.
School children making pornos, schools falling apart, students fighting, teachers not going to school, and we....partying.
We seem to be most socially conscious during Carnival season when Kaiso higlights the ills....yet what do we do? we jump an dwine to the songs...we partying.
Maybe a better question is are we a nation as yet? Are we serious as a people, or we just like to fete!
We partying!
Maybe we dotish and selfish!
Once the party running we ok. When have the people of T&T been ever called upon to sacrifice anything?
Remember God is ah trini! We safe. Hurricanes, natural disasters all avoid us, we have abundance of natural resources, we safe and we have a reason to fete every month, we nice.
What about one solution to any of the above stated problem.
This is one of our biggest problem right here that is being bemoaned. The standing and pointing out of inadequacies of the T&T society with out any input into how to resolve such situations. What is the reason for listing challenges with out presenting a course of action right or wrong?
I don't like listening to people just tossing Trinidadians and Tobagonians in the dust bin. Yes, we have a severe crime problem right now, but how does that make us less than any other country? The newspaper could do the same thing newspapers do in the states and hide the crime unless it severe.
Let us try as Cana ask to present thoughts, ideas, oinions what ever you want to call it on a positive manner in how to address the challenges facing T&T.
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Where I would like to enter the discussion is the pyschological impact of the coup attempt on the populace. To my observation this is pivotal. And valid ... not that any of the other comments are facially invalid ... just cyah get into them right now.
One question that comes to mind is: how do we balance the 'apparent lack of consequence' with respect to the authors of the coup attempt versus the actuality that said persons were submitted to the judicial process?
With respect to the larger issue of criminality, the absence of political will is inescapable.
[I think we should be careful to separate hooliganism and criminality of the sort that dominates our media (kidnapping, murder, extortion, street level crimes against the person etc.) from the imperatives of politically-inspired? events such as '90 ... some may take issue with this but dahis why we discussing it ... In other words, was Abu Bakr a common criminal or not? Yes? No? Undecided?]
Ssylum, I would have to say that with all due respect to the judicial process, the psychological impact of 1990 is something that is also inescapable. You can separate a politcally inspired event from general criminality in a classroom, or even in a forum such as this, but for those of us who saw the footage of men running into the red house shooting and gun butting, it might as well have been a carefully executed bank robbery unfolding. The images etched into our memories will always be of those men; of Bakr on tv looking like the mastermind of a sophisticated hijacking; and of of course his surrender, which of all images should have solidified his status as a criminal. Hands raised in front of the the armed forces and the police, being arrested. Many of us remember those events clearly today. How fresh was it in our minds when the verdict arrived? Did we feel like justice was served, even if due process was?
And what of rest of the members of the Jamaat who were also exonerated of those charges? Did they feel as though they 'got away' with something? I could remember for years that many crimes reported were allegedly committed by members of the Jamaat, as per press reports. Is there true separation between the mindset of the youth who takes up a gun to storm the red house, not knowing why he is storming the red house, and the youth who a few years later, after being let off for those same actions, who takes up a gun and storms into a man's house to rob and kill him? When that question is answered then I believe you can fairly decide whether, in this case, the attempted coup of 1990 is truly separate and apart from the criminality we face today. Bakr and Bilal aside, think about the youths who were used. Now when you think about them, think about their sphere of immediate influence and that sphere should resemble the wake created by the pebble in the pond.
Swima, ah fully on board with the direction of your comments.
Buh lehme toss these questions out? What of the double digit unemployment rate that was prevalent in July 1990? What of the extensive looting in the wake of the attempted coup (ent that was criminality not informed by Bakr?)
Can the freedom of the Jamaat be attributed to the sort of permissiveness assrancid alludes to? Did we let a cancer fester simply because we didn't want to rise a jep nest? Was reconciliation necessary?
Before we even get to motives and influence on a young generation, what of the escalation of arms in Trinidad preceding present times?
Agreed, the criminality is not separate from July 1990 ... buh check this ... a youthman born in 1990 is today's 18 year old ... today's 26 or 27 year old bad john was less than 10 in July 1990 ... we had over 15 years to place him on the right path even if he was disillusioned by the 'chuck badness' factor of July 1990. What happened there?
Some of the seeds of discontent rest in trying to jump back on the business as usual track (after the coup attempt) when an expedient business as usual approach should not have been employed.
Are Trinbagonians courageous people?
I'll enter the solutions ring once I say a word about de Doc.
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well elan, if you read my post I am suggesting a change in the culture, the psyche of the people, that will only come with strong leadership and education. I made those suggestions in my previous posting.
as for hiding crime in the US, that is nonsense.
each newspaper has a crime section, and there is NO hiding of crime by the newspapers in any area that i have ever lived in the tates, plus all the crime progrmas, dateline, MSNBC investigations, COPS, reality Tv shows, in fact the news in the states just like in T&T cime and bad news all the time. America Most wanted etc..the list goes on and on.
get rteal
T&T has its unique problems and the way we deal with crime in T&T is WAY backwards compared to the US!
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This is where we come to the relation between indiscipline and crime. The 1990 coup showed us how fragile we are. But the fact that the main perpetrators of that exercise are still alive and well also showed that there are no real consequences for our actions. Psychologically that must ring bells in the minds of a population.
Crime is easy and there is relatively no reason to fear any legal repercussions from committing a criminal act.
IMO...the most profound statements in a deeply profound post.
Respeck sah!
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Swima, ah fully on board with the direction of your comments.
Buh lehme toss these questions out? What of the double digit unemployment rate that was prevalent in July 1990? What of the extensive looting in the wake of the attempted coup (ent that was criminality not informed by Bakr?)
Can the freedom of the Jamaat be attributed to the sort of permissiveness assrancid alludes to? Did we let a cancer fester simply because we didn't want to rise a jep nest? Was reconciliation necessary?
Before we even get to motives and influence on a young generation, what of the escalation of arms in Trinidad preceding present times?
Agreed, the criminality is not separate from July 1990 ... buh check this ... a youthman born in 1990 is today's 18 year old ... today's 26 or 27 year old bad john was less than 10 in July 1990 ... we had over 15 years to place him on the right path even if he was disillusioned by the 'chuck badness' factor of July 1990. What happened there?
Some of the seeds of discontent rest in trying to jump back on the business as usual track (after the coup attempt) when an expedient business as usual approach should not have been employed.
Are Trinbagonians courageous people?
I'll enter the solutions ring once I say a word about de Doc.
You are so correct there, and that is why you are a boss. I am not saying that we didn't have the chance to right the wrongs, I am saying that we didn't. A youth man born in 1990 is today's gang member because today's 35 year old taught him how to be one, and no one stopped it from happening. Note my thesis again. It's the Laissez Faire attitudes towards crime and crime prevention that is on trial, not the level of crime itself.
Be that as it may, we have many other spin-offs that can be attributed to the current state of affairs. My take remains that 1990 and the aftermath thereof is what is pivotal in causing our society to break down so rapidly.
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This is where we come to the relation between indiscipline and crime. The 1990 coup showed us how fragile we are. But the fact that the main perpetrators of that exercise are still alive and well also showed that there are no real consequences for our actions. Psychologically that must ring bells in the minds of a population.
Crime is easy and there is relatively no reason to fear any legal repercussions from committing a criminal act.
IMO...the most profound statements in a deeply profound post.
Respeck sah!
could also apply to the verdicts of the failed revolution/coup of 1970.....not so?
some good articles by Raffique Shah
http://www.trinicenter.com/1970/
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This is where we come to the relation between indiscipline and crime. The 1990 coup showed us how fragile we are. But the fact that the main perpetrators of that exercise are still alive and well also showed that there are no real consequences for our actions. Psychologically that must ring bells in the minds of a population.
Crime is easy and there is relatively no reason to fear any legal repercussions from committing a criminal act.
IMO...the most profound statements in a deeply profound post.
Respeck sah!
could also apply to the verdicts of the failed revolution/coup of 1970.....not so?
some good articles by Raffique Shah
http://www.trinicenter.com/1970/
WestCoast what part of this statement I made at the very first post you didn't understand?
I'll repeat it just incase you hurriedly scroll down without reading anything to just put a flicking link.
* Step by step show everybody your plans.
* Doh show me what other people write, no links...nothing like that. I want your thoughts.
oh gosh man ah little respect nah
steupse....
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This is where we come to the relation between indiscipline and crime. The 1990 coup showed us how fragile we are. But the fact that the main perpetrators of that exercise are still alive and well also showed that there are no real consequences for our actions. Psychologically that must ring bells in the minds of a population.
Crime is easy and there is relatively no reason to fear any legal repercussions from committing a criminal act.
IMO...the most profound statements in a deeply profound post.
Respeck sah!
could also apply to the verdicts of the failed revolution/coup of 1970.....not so?
some good articles by Raffique Shah
http://www.trinicenter.com/1970/
WestCoast what part of this statement I made at the very first post you didn't understand?
I'll repeat it just incase you hurriedly scroll down without reading anything to just put a flicking link.
* Step by step show everybody your plans.
* Doh show me what other people write, no links...nothing like that. I want your thoughts.
oh gosh man ah little respect nah
steupse....
There is a link between what Swima said "But the fact that the main perpetrators of that exercise are still alive and well also showed that there are no real consequences for our actions. Psychologically that must ring bells in the minds of a population. " and the verdict given in the 1970 Coup
and if you honestly believe that my post is the only post that goes against your rules of your thread, well the only thing I could say is
"Sorry Lady"
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steupse
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Cana i will over simplify the solution to crime, ah hope you don't think i'm clowning.
first of all Trinidad and Tobago only have less than 1.7 million ppl, let's say 2mil if you include undocumented immigrants.
now i would say the true reason for crime and the criminal element IMO and the opinion of a close friend of mine who happens to be a member of the NJAC, would be gross neglect and mismanagement!
there's no way a country with the 2nd highest GNP in the western hemisphere and a population as minuscule as 1.7 mil should be having this kind of domestic problems (crime , illiteracy ,corruption, poor infrastructure, deplorable medical facilities).
i'm sorry folks but with such resources @ your disposal and a population the size of staten island, there should be no reason for our inadequacies, and i could only blame it on the ineptitude of our monkey politicians nation wide, whether it be PNM, NAR ,UNC,COP.
these politicians realise that the population is out for lunch (politically unaware,docile, irresponsible) so they take full advantage, secured in the notion there will be no reprisal for their gross missmanagement of funds enstrusted to them by the state.
these jokers need to be replaced by young vibrant responsible minds. ah wonder where we will get that from? :'( :( positive.
PS: as squirell monkey with any form of patriotism and drive could fix our crime problem in six months, YES!! it's that SIMPLE TO FIX!! they just don't give ah f@ck in T&T that's all !!
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Just Cool,
first we have to overcome our racial insecurities before we can vote on principal before tribe. I don't see that happening. Therefore, we will stay in shit street for a long time
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Just Cool,
first we have to overcome our racial insecurities before we can vote on principal before tribe. I don't see that happening. Therefore, we will stay in shit street for a long time
B.I.N.G.O.
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seeing that this thread is an off shoot of my original post I feel it is only right that I lend my voice and thoughts to this thread...
Yes since 1990 de country never really ketch itself...
yes since 70 the country had a different sense of self...
there is only one real solution: racial insecurities or not.
use the law to the fullest extent, by applying the most harshest sentences to the perpetrators of these acts...
what sparked the original thread for me was the fact that it happened right where I used to live. some might say that I watching from "foreign" and I eh really know what going on... I can assure you that that is not the case, I am in constant contact with Trinidad all the time...
Some might say that we have too much money to be having these problems...
I will only say that when De Doc and dem make dat move to make we independent from England, that it was with the queen's best wishes, but we should have thought about it longer, because we were not really ready...
JA do it, so we had to do it too...
My solution is a simple one, apply the law to the fullest extent.
build the system around the fact that there must be a harsh consequence for stupid decisions...
The fella who shoot at that young engineer had (let's say) 6 rounds in that firearm... he fired 5 times... scattered a crowd, and run...
Imagine the adrenaline in his body... pumping with every heartbeat, and he seeing he future in a jail... now imagine if someone had a go at him, remember is 5 times he shoot, the law of averages say he go miss, because he still eh get the man he was aiming for...
In Trini, if you ketch ah man in yuh yard thiefin' yuh zaboca, yuh go give him a cutarse right?... yuh might hold him too, and call yuh neighbour or a pardner to really give him some boots in he wais' too ent?...
but yuh sure dat once yuh hold him, he eh getting away...
this is not a vigilante approach, but I had to do it once, see a man get stabbed multiple times outside a train station in London... he make a break for it and I know I was faster than he, so I chase and people start to shout at me like I was mad, to leave him...
ah ketch him and kick way he feet from under him, catspraddled, no blade, just a punk... serious boots too...
would I do it again, yes!
because one can empower many, by the time I really check it, is about 2 dozen men around de man... holding him for de police to reach... plenty questions yes, plenty answers too... but all the same is one less clown on the streets...
my point is simple.
WE NEED TO STOP TOLERATING ALL THE S**T and build jails for criminals and labs for forensics...
put the onus on putting them away for a llooooooooooooooooong time... with no parole and one meal a day. one meal at 2:30 in the morning yuh have to wake up to eat, and hose dem down to go to sleep...
yuh is a badman?...
take dat in yuh craw... yuh eh even lucky to get food either, and yuh cell size is 6 by 7 just long enough for yuh to strech out...
we go see how long dey keep it up for...
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this is not a vigilante approach, but I had to do it once, see a man get stabbed multiple times outside a train station in London... he make a break for it and I know I was faster than he, so I chase and people start to shout at me like I was mad, to leave him...
ah ketch him and kick way he feet from under him, catspraddled, no blade, just a punk... serious boots too...
would I do it again, yes!
So yuh saying you beat up the poor fella who get stabbed? :devil:
You do good wuk dey. But breds take it from me, make sure you limit your involvement in them kinda business. Not in making a good response but in how you respond. Vigilantism is tricky...If you get into the mindspace of moral avenger that could lead to serious trouble because your judgment and perception is never 100% reliable.
Crime pays, and not neccessarily for the criminals. I don't know where you live but here in Canada the justice industryis predicated in part on providing income and employment for police, lawyers, judges, court workers, social service agencies etc.
The industry likes its occasional heroes, but frowns on movements and groups at the street level.
Don't be a victim of some cop or prosecutor just itching to turn your individual bravery into an act of negligent frontier justice.
Peace
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this is not a vigilante approach, but I had to do it once, see a man get stabbed multiple times outside a train station in London... he make a break for it and I know I was faster than he, so I chase and people start to shout at me like I was mad, to leave him...
ah ketch him and kick way he feet from under him, catspraddled, no blade, just a punk... serious boots too...
would I do it again, yes!
So yuh saying you beat up the poor fella who get stabbed? :devil:
You do good wuk dey. But breds take it from me, make sure you limit your involvement in them kinda business. Not in making a good response but in how you respond. Vigilantism is tricky...If you get into the mindspace of moral avenger that could lead to serious trouble because your judgment and perception is never 100% reliable.
Crime pays, and not neccessarily for the criminals. I don't know where you live but here in Canada the justice industryis predicated in part on providing income and employment for police, lawyers, judges, court workers, social service agencies etc.
The industry likes its occasional heroes, but frowns on movements and groups at the street level.
Don't be a victim of some cop or prosecutor just itching to turn your individual bravery into an act of negligent frontier justice.
Peace
for sure bro... trust me...
I said that I would do it again, in the context that I "might"...
but yeah yuh right...
but is the "do gooder" in me...
maybe it was the shock too...
but common sense will always prevail...
score one for justice
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Arima man 500th murder :o :(
Gang, drug-related killings major cause of increase by 153 cases
Denyse Renne drenne@trinidadexpress.com
Sunday, November 30th 2008
T&T's murder toll reached 500 yesterday, with the latest murder victim identified as Wilfred Fredericks.
Fredericks, 20, of Bye Pass Road, Arima, was shot dead around 1.45 a.m. yesterday, while standing on Mahabir Lane, Arima. Police say Fredericks was approached by a lone gunman who shot him several times about the body.
Fredericks managed to run a few feet away before collapsing. He died at the scene.
Homicide detectives are yet to establish a motive for the murder.
So far for the year, gang and drug-related killings have contributed significantly to the upsurge in murders, while domestic brawls, altercations, robberies and collateral killings also accounted for a large percentage of murders.
Statistics further showed, of the 500 murders committed to date, only 71 have been detected, an increase of six, when compared to last year around this period.
Sunday Express' statistics also show murders have increased by 153, compared to the same period last year.
Region Two (North, North-Eastern, Eastern divisions) accounted for the bulk of detections, which currently stand at 43.
A senior homicide detective, commenting on Region Two's detection rate, said his officers "have been working tirelessly in an attempt to bring the perpetrators to justice".
"Several of my officers are called on their days off, and because of their dedication to the job they respond," the senior officer said.
Stating detectives under the supervision of ASP Johnny Abraham, Insps Stanley Ramdeen, Ancil Corbette and including Sgt Andrew Lawrence and PCs Sunil Ramoutar,Tyrone Jack, Kevin Thomas, Suzette Martin, Josaine Sampson-Johnson and Ameer Mohammed, just to name a few, the senior officer said Region Two's successes this year include the detection of nine murders which were committed in 2007, and also several others which were committed in 2006.
"Following investigations, two charges of manslaughter and attempted murder have also been laid," the senior officer said.
Numerous media conferences held by senior officials, including Acting Commissioner of Police James Philbert, who was appointed to the post on July 5, have tried to assure the public that officers are making progress in various homicide cases.
One such instance was the October 9 killings of elderly Swedish couple Ake Olsson, 73, and his wife, Anna Sulvan, who were found with chop wounds at their Bon Accord, Tobago, home.
Homicide detectives said then they believed that robbery was the motive and were expecting to lay charges soon.
Two suspects were arrested and subsequently released and an artist's sketch was issued to the public, but so far, detectives say they are still investigating the matter.
Express statistics further showed Tobago accounting for two cases of manslaughter and five murders.
Under Philbert's tenure, 229 murders have been recorded thus far.
Thirteen inquests have been ordered by the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, while 17 killings are yet to be classified, since investigations are ongoing.
The unclassified killings include bullet-riddled bodies and autopsies, which have been inconclusive.
Inquests, manslaughters and unclassified killings do not form part of the Sunday Express' murder toll.
For the year thus far, 47 females between the ages of two to 65 have been brutally murdered, while 12 murder/ suicides were recorded.
Five law enforcement officers, inclusive of two police officers, along with one fire, prison and soldier were also murdered this year.
Seven State witnesses were also killed a month apart-Balliram Krishna Harripersad (February 11), Terrance Haynes (March 16), Harold Joseph (April 5), Ishmael Drayton and Daniel Roberts (May 1), Anthony Ryan (June 12) and Gabriel Charles (July 28).
Murders also took a toll on taxi-drivers who were plying their trade, with 17 drivers being killed for the year.
The murder toll recorded also included 30 persons who were reported missing by their relatives.
On September 19, National Security Minister Martin Joseph announced that the Special Anti-Crime Unit of T&T have been mandated to conduct investigations into gang-related killings.
Following the announcement, 53 killings involving gang members have taken place.
So far, May has been the bloodiest month, accounting for 56 murders, while June has the second highest with 55.
February accounted for 28-the least number of murders.
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ah boy we goin fuh ah record amount this year.hooray.
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D record done fall
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'Statistics further showed, of the 500 murders committed to date, only 71 have been detected, an increase of six, when compared to last year around this period' <-----this confusing me. what do they mean detected ???
For the year thus far, 47 females between the ages of two to 65 have been brutally murdered, while 12 murder/ suicides were recorded. <-----flickin scary
So far, May has been the bloodiest month, accounting for 56 murders, while June has the second highest with 55.
February accounted for 28-the least number of murders. <-----because is Carnival
Is a whole generation of teenagers gone - 16 -25
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So far, May has been the bloodiest month, accounting for 56 murders, while June has the second highest with 55.
February accounted for 28-the least number of murders. <-----because is Carnival
and is the only time police does do they wuk.....
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DRAGNET
By Ria Taitt Political Editor
Story Created: Jul 17, 2010 at 1:48 AM ECT
Story Updated: Jul 17, 2010 at 3:35 AM ECT
For the first time, Government is moving to include private security officers in the crime fighting effort.
In his maiden contribution in Parliament in the Red House, Port of Spain, yesterday, National Security Minister John Sandy responded to public calls for the unveiling of a crime plan designed to achieve an appreciable drop in crime, reduce the fear of crime and win public trust and confidence.
The plan includes making use of 20,000 plus security officers from private security firms.
Piloting the debate on the Notification by the President nominating members of the Police Service Commission in the House of Representatives, Sandy said an Estate Police Network Commission would be established. This initiative would engage the services in excess of 20,000-plus security officers of several recruitable security companies whose eyes and ears would contribute to law enforcement and national security, he said.
"This will be realised with the establishment of the Estate Police Network Commission which will comprise an executive, including senior personnel of top private security firms in Trinidad and Tobago, chaired by the Deputy Commissioner of Crime in the Police Service. The Commission's mission will be to assist the civil police in the execution of their duties. Sandy said a dedicated communications network would allow interconnectivity among most of the reputable security companies. "The idea is to give security officers on duty at private locations an exclusive medium to communicate with the respective command centres, which in turn will possess facilities dedicated to instant connectivity with the nearest police station," he said.
Furthermore, he said private security officers would report any suspicious activity in their respective areas of operations. He said if during the course of their duties they observe unusual occurrences with the potential for criminal activity, they would be required to use the communications network to inform the civil police.
The People's National Movement (PNM) Government had been opposed to the concept of using private security firms and had rejected a proposal from then Opposition MPs Jack Warner and Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj which involved using private security firms in crime-ridden communities.
Included in the overall crime plan is provision for increased coastal patrols by the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, the Minister said. He said in this regard Cabinet was considering all the possibilities pertinent to the acquisition of the three offshore vessels (OPVs) sourced by the previous administration. (See Page 8)
He said three criteria were being used in the decision-making process—the security requirements and its worth to Trinidad and Tobago in the marshaling of the country's territorial waters; the financial aspect as it relates not only to the cost of the system, inclusive of four helicopters, but also to the maintenance factor; and the legal considerations".
He gave the assurance that Government would make the best decision in the interest of the country.
Sandy said the crime plan also entailed the establishment of traffic surveillance bays on the highways governed by CCTV cameras. "On our highways and byways we see motorists speeding with no specific reason. We are proposing that we place these traffic surveillance bays along the highways which would allow our police vehicles to park and wait for such personnel on the roadway who would want to break our laws. It would afford them the ability to traverse any direction dependent on where the perpetrator is going. It would also allow them to, with radio contact, communicate with their fellow policemen on the route along which the perpetrator would be travelling. We would also ensure that only police vehicles use those bays and vehicles of the Defence Force and protective services in cases of emergency and with the CCTV cameras posted there we should be able to determine whether the law is being breached," he said.
Sandy said the plan also involved legislation. To this end Government yesterday tabled the Anti-Gang bill, the Bail (Amendment) bill and the Miscellaneous Provisions (Remand) bill. The Minister said Government planned to bring the Evidence Amendment bill which would seek to extend the use of video-recorded evidence to encompass all criminal proceedings and to allow admissibility of the video-recorded statements of both accused persons and witnesses even where witnesses are absent at the trial.
Sandy said the plan is aimed at diminishing gang warfare, restricting the use of unlicensed firearms, improving road traffic management, improving customer service delivery, enhancing public trust and confidence, engendering community patriotism and re-introducing family values.
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Bring in Blackwater
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Bring in Blackwater
I now coming to say if these fools ent learn nutten from Blackwater.
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Griffith is national security adviser
Gail Alexander
Published: 17 Jun 2010
Gail Alexander
The People’s Partnership Government’s National Security complement has been further strengthened with the appointment of Gary Griffith as special adviser on national security at the Office of the Prime Minister. A release from the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday confirmed the appointment, exclusively reported in last Saturday’s Guardian Public Affairs column. Griffith had been a UNC member and subsequently a Congress of the People member. He was more actively involved with the UNC during the last election campaign. Griffith, who took up duties yesterday, is stationed at the Office of the Prime Minister, St Clair.
Apart from the addition of Griffith to the national security adviser’s position, today Leader of Senate Business-designate Subhas Panday would be sworn in at 2.30 pm as a minister in the National Security Ministry. The function takes place at the Knowsley Building, Port-of-Spain. Panday would work alongside National Security Minister John Sandy. Griffith said yesterday: “The appointment has provided me with the opportunity to support the Prime Minister and serve my country. “It also lends itself to the opportunity to provide advice from a strategic perspective and to develop strategies and policies best suited for the people of T&T.”
Griffith, who served with the T&T Defence Force for 15 years as a commissioned officer, had attended the Royal Military Academy, Sandhust, in the United Kingdom. He also holds an MSc degree from the Department of Criminology at the University of Leicester. During the early part of his career, Griffith held several levels of command, among those being platoon commander, detachment commander, company second in command and battalion administrative officer. In 1995 Griffith was appointed to command all administrative, finance, welfare and logistics matters for over 300 Caricom troops, who took part in the United Nations mission in Haiti—T&T’s first deployment of troops to participate in a UN peacekeeping operation. GA
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How does Blackwater relate? Were they engaged in the crimefighting effort in the US?
Interested to hear what people think about this.
I will say that where I lived in TT, among a number of initiatives we undertook in our community to deal with increased reports of crime in the area was to retain the services of private security. It works well because they provide a constant visible presence, regular patrol and a direct cell phone contact to get an immediate response in the event of trouble. In addition, we engaged the police in the initiative so that they have the direct link with them to coordinate in the event of trouble.
It shouldnt be so, but it beats calling 999 or the police station if somebody in yuh yard and getting "we eh have no vehicles right now" and for a nominal fee. Now they making a move to engage these agencies I not sure what this arrangement entails.
Would like to know more about it.
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Local based weary1969 JahGol etc does Captain Gary Griffith run a security firm ????
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How does Blackwater relate? Were they engaged in the crimefighting effort in the US?
Interested to hear what people think about this.
I will say that where I lived in TT, among a number of initiatives we undertook in our community to deal with increased reports of crime in the area was to retain the services of private security. It works well because they provide a constant visible presence, regular patrol and a direct cell phone contact to get an immediate response in the event of trouble. In addition, we engaged the police in the initiative so that they have the direct link with them to coordinate in the event of trouble.
It shouldnt be so, but it beats calling 999 or the police station if somebody in yuh yard and getting "we eh have no vehicles right now" and for a nominal fee. Now they making a move to engage these agencies I not sure what this arrangement entails.
Would like to know more about it.
Like Blackwater these private security forces aren't constrained by the same rules governing the police.
Like Blackwater issues of oversight and accountability threaten to be potential issues.
Like Blackwater these private security forces could freely skirt the lines of legality. This is a particularly troubling risk given the already existent "cowboy mentality" that is prevalent in TnT among anybody who wears a uniform, let alone who also permitted to carry weapons.
I could go on, but the parallels are there for all to see.
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How does Blackwater relate? Were they engaged in the crimefighting effort in the US?
Interested to hear what people think about this.
I will say that where I lived in TT, among a number of initiatives we undertook in our community to deal with increased reports of crime in the area was to retain the services of private security. It works well because they provide a constant visible presence, regular patrol and a direct cell phone contact to get an immediate response in the event of trouble. In addition, we engaged the police in the initiative so that they have the direct link with them to coordinate in the event of trouble.
It shouldnt be so, but it beats calling 999 or the police station if somebody in yuh yard and getting "we eh have no vehicles right now" and for a nominal fee. Now they making a move to engage these agencies I not sure what this arrangement entails.
Would like to know more about it.
Like Blackwater these private security forces aren't constrained by the same rules governing the police.
Like Blackwater issues of oversight and accountability threaten to be potential issues.
Like Blackwater these private security forces could freely skirt the lines of legality. This is a particularly troubling risk given the already existent "cowboy mentality" that is prevalent in TnT among anybody who wears a uniform, let alone who also permitted to carry weapons.
I could go on, but the parallels are there for all to see.
But the security firms already in heavy operation in Trinidad providing that service. Why not make use of their presence?
Did you read the article?
The article talks specifically about using their "eyes and ears" and establishing a communications network to interact with the police to report crime. What oversight and accountability you talking about?
Nothing in it speaks of the government hiring security firms to actively fight crime as is the case with Blackwater, the angle they pushing is that they plan to make use of their existing presence to communicate crime better.
I too could go on and on but I would think the differences are there for all to see..
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Did you read the article?
Nah... I skipped right past it and decided tuh start posting.
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Local based weary1969 JahGol etc does Captain Gary Griffith run a security firm ????
YESSS Gary Griffith and Associates purely by accident dat a suggestion 2 use security firms has emerged.
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Local based weary1969 JahGol etc does Captain Gary Griffith run a security firm ????
YESSS Gary Griffith and Associates purely by accident dat a suggestion 2 use security firms has emerged.
:o :o
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YESSS Gary Griffith and Associates purely by accident dat a suggestion 2 use security firms has emerged.
I personally know of a certain security company in TnT whose owner has long-standing ties to the UNC, and to Jack personally. In the 6 weeks that the PP has been in power, the owner of that security company has since started 6... count them, 6 construction companies. Now there's talk of putting these security companies on the government payroll. Niceness.
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Local based weary1969 JahGol etc does Captain Gary Griffith run a security firm ????
YESSS Gary Griffith and Associates purely by accident dat a suggestion 2 use security firms has emerged.
:o :o
Y yuh ::) is sweet TNT
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let d conspiracies theories begin ::)
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I have no problem with information sharing. I don't think is there any suggestion of deployment of private security services to engage in policing. From what I reading they are talking about creating a stronger line of communication between the police and the security firms. I didn't know that it was a problem though. In fact I thought that was common practice.
Everything else except the patrol bays were announced by the previous set of politicians.
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Can we not use technology instead of these "bays"? which driver stupid enough to drive in a manner to get a ticket if they know they're coming up on one of these bays? Put up scanners on the roadways and give out tickets etc to speeders that way. Are not all lic plates registered to the owner of the cars. Snap-send ticket and pic and have them pay. nice money grab for the country as well.
Question... currently, if a person from a security co see a crime in progress do they not report it?
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Snap-send ticket and pic and have them pay. nice money grab for the country as well.
great idea , ive seen it in use in Brittan
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Can we not use technology instead of these "bays"? which driver stupid enough to drive in a manner to get a ticket if they know they're coming up on one of these bays? Put up scanners on the roadways and give out tickets etc to speeders that way. Are not all lic plates registered to the owner of the cars. Snap-send ticket and pic and have them pay. nice money grab for the country as well.
Question... currently, if a person from a security co see a crime in progress do they not report it?
Friend police off duty does turn a blind eye what u tink secutity does do?
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let d conspiracies theories begin ::)
Which conspiracy theories... share what yuh hear nah?
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Hmmm (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/99185479.html)
OPPOSITION Leader Dr Keith Rowley is not surprised that Government's crime plan involves the use of some 20,000 private security guards to police the country, since there are three members of the Government who "are major investors and managers" of security companies. These include "the Acting Prime Minister" (Jack Warner), "the adviser to the Prime Minister" (Gary Griffith) and another minister, whom he did not specify. Rowley was speaking at yesterday's People's National Movement (PNM) election rally in Woodford Square, Port of Spain.
Rowley said Government was proposing to use security guards in police charge rooms, where the police receives complaints and determines, by their training and knowledge of the law, whether an offence has been committed, and takes a statement. "You go and put all dem Haitians and Nigerians who are security guards and see how many cases you going to win after," Rowley said.
He also slammed Government's reluctance to take the OPVs (Offshore Patrol Vessels), saying just like its opposition to the smelter, it was stopping a programme without a clue of what it would replace it with.
Rowley dismissed statements from Government members, such as Warner, that if people voted PNM in the local government election, it would stymie its efforts at Central Government level. "Imagine the campaign is that if you don't vote them in at local government, local government under the PNM would frustrate Central Government. Could you imagine that? Central Government managing a budget of $54 billion, local government managing a budget of probably $200 million and they would have you believe that it would pose a threat to Central Government. All that means is they want total and absolute control. There must be no one there to say and do anything when they begin to do anything everytime. And that is why the PNM has to be in charge of Diego Martin, Port of Spain, Chaguanas, San Fernando, Arima, Point Fortin...so when they come with their excesses, you say to them 'you have no licence to mash up this place'," Rowley said.
He said the Government which won a general election eight weeks ago had already demonstrated a lack of capacity to govern and to "give us the confidence we need" to go forward according to our national anthem "with faith in our destiny". But he said the PNM in Government or in Opposition stood ready to serve the people's interest.
Rowley said the PNM's 134 candidates needed the support of the electorate in this environment "of great danger and hostility". "There are people in office in this country today whose only ambition is to wield power and to settle scores. That might suit them and their agenda, but what does it do for you?" he asked rhetorically. He said therefore the local government election was no longer an issue of roads and drains.
Rowley said it was highly improper for the Prime Minister to be talking about jailing people and for the Attorney General to hold a press conference after every document comes on his desk. The PNM leader said charging persons was police business and after that, there is a trial. "The PNM stands for morality and integrity in public affairs and would defend no individual who breaks the law. But you must not persecute, you must prosecute and you must have process...If there is a breach of the law, only those who have broken the law are responsible for their conduct and every tub would have to sit on its own bottom," he said.
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BAd idea, very bad idea indeed. The security comapnies already losing weapons, cannot get people to work consistently, and they will now be precepted as estate constables under a commissioner....what a load of f**keries!
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http://www.youtube.com/v/W76n6CcC0Uk
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Hmmm (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/99185479.html)
OPPOSITION Leader Dr Keith Rowley is not surprised that Government's crime plan involves the use of some 20,000 private security guards to police the country, since there are three members of the Government who "are major investors and managers" of security companies. These include "the Acting Prime Minister" (Jack Warner), "the adviser to the Prime Minister" (Gary Griffith) and another minister, whom he did not specify. Rowley was speaking at yesterday's People's National Movement (PNM) election rally in Woodford Square, Port of Spain.
Yuh does have tuh wonder whey people does come from with these 'conspiracy theories' yes...
D.H.W. whey yuh... run de talk nah?
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:(
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There must a clarification of what the private firms can do and what they can't do. Or else just make them official police. The gov't must reform the police service. All the time when in opposition they attacking the Police Service as inept. If they know the service is festering. Clean it or amputate it. I can see private police and regular police running into conflicts.
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There must a clarification of what the private firms can do and what they can't do. Or else just make them official police. The gov't must reform the police service. All the time when in opposition they attacking the Police Service as inept. If they know the service is festering. Clean it or amputate it. I can see private police and regular police running into conflicts.
For anybody who live long enough this budding fiasco should bring back memories of the mess that used to be SRP.
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These times, of heavy crime calls for a 'heavy handed' approach. Have those in authority ever considered :
random 'lockdowns' of all areas in TnT. Bring in the army, coast guard, police and set up dragnets, shut down all internet, cellular use at different times and move through areas at undisclosed times until we keep these criminal elements on edge.
There appears to be a preponderance and abuse of 'civil liberties' that is rampant. The callousness at which people could abuse and treat others" witness the recent death of a police officer who attempted to repremand a man for urinating in public; witness the parking mayhem along the Eastern Main rd.... big trucks, and vehicles of all sorts simply stopping and parking on an already congested roadway. What we accept as simply a way of doing things may have lead to even greater disregard for how we live and treat each other. This wanton disregard for human life, for property, for highly moral values have to change.
Time to clean out all departments of security from the top down to the streets. If daily armed army patrols have to be on the streets in every area and every district of TnT, then so be it. I remember one year I came back and was surprised to see armed militia patrolling the streets...but say what, if it would be a deterrent to crime then time to bring on real force!!!!!
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This country a crime factory
Richard Lord
Published: 22 Sep 2010
Richard Lord
Independent Senator Rolph Balgobin has described T&T as a crime factory, producing criminals every day.
Speaking during yesterday’s 2010/11 budget debate in the Senate, Balgobin said criminals were being produced almost as fast as others die across the country. He said crime and violence were impacting negatively on the development of T&T.
He said the important issue was not placing more police on the nation’s streets, but trying to determine what was the cause of the level of crime and criminal activity in the country. “What are we doing to cause this?” he asked legislators. On the issue of the provision of laptops to all Form One students, he said he did not think it was the best way to go.
He said he would have preferred computer labs to be improved at schools instead of giving the laptop computers to each students. Balgobin said one should not conclude that because the project was being implemented quickly, it was corrupt. He said while the was a proposal to increase the minimum wage from $9 an hour to $12.50 an hour, there should be a consequential increase in production.
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I am hoping that you include the politicians as part of the problems and not just the little man in the streets .
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I am hoping that you include the politicians as part of the problems and not just the little man in the streets .
dont forget the business men too
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I am hoping that you include the politicians as part of the problems and not just the little man in the streets .
I would like the good senator to explain if he includes the money launderers and the yatch and boat owners who transport illegal contrabands to our country!!!!!!!
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I am hoping that you include the politicians as part of the problems and not just the little man in the streets .
I would like the good senator to explain if he includes the money launderers and the yatch and boat owners who transport illegal contrabands to our country!!!!!!!
All yuh studyin Rolphhhhhhhhh
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https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=623613250992609&set=vb.149002678617912&type=2&theater
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wow .. that happened a fews year ago though
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Police reach fast. Looked like as soon as he saw the man he knew trouble was coming.
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Madness. Police reacted fast, but did little right after that. Never checked on the victim (though they're not EMT, he didn't even seem concerned)... didn't secure the crime scene, in fact probably rolled right over shell casings, changing their location, positioning etc. Some folks are being critical on FB and are roundly being criticized themselves. The defenders of the police fail to understand why the criticism is valid. It's not about pointing fingers, it's about wanting better. All of this points to a need to improve training. The officers did the best that they knew based on their training... but we need better that what we have right now.
As for the shooters themselves... I hope they get what waiting fuh them. Bunch ah punks. They can't even shoot straight, bunch of little boys with guns... dancing and shooting wild wild. Just goes to show how out of control the gun thing in TnT is.
Reminds me of a story I read in the Express two days ago where a little 16 year old boy was dragged from his grandmother's house, beaten and executed... shot 15 times. Later that evening a pregnant 16 year old girl said to be his cousin was also murdered as she visited the home of her 18 year old boyfriend. Trinidad outta control.
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Reminds me of a story I read in the Express two days ago where a little 16 year old boy was dragged from his grandmother's house, beaten and executed... shot 15 times. Later that evening a pregnant 16 year old girl said to be his cousin was also murdered as she visited the home of her 18 year old boyfriend. Trinidad outta control.
Lord have mercy. 16 year old shot 15 times, execution style. What in the world could that possibly be for, other than emulating TV?
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Bloodshed in the capital
By Gyasi Gonzales (Trinidad Express)
Story Created: Aug 14, 2013 at 11:02 PM ECT
Story Updated: Aug 16, 2013 at 10:05 AM ECT
EVEN with a visible police presence in East Port of Spain and Laventille yesterday, gunmen played cat and mouse with patrolling officers, killing a 16-year-old pregnant girl and three other young men in what is a battle for control of “turf”.
This, in a bid to secure lucrative make-work contracts.
Police said a gang leader from Laventille is responsible for the killings of Nyam Antoine, 16, of Duncan Street, Port of Spain; and later that day his cousin, Rasheeda Gomez, also 16, who also lived at Duncan Street.
The murder spree began at 5 a.m. while Nyam Antoine was asleep at his grandmother’s apartment off Upper Duncan Street, Port of Spain.
Relatives said he suffered from sickle-cell anaemia and was never healthy.
Gunmen dragged the boy out of the house and residents said when they heard him screaming they called the police.
One resident claimed he even told two officers on patrol about what was happening. Residents claimed they were ignored.
Antoine, however, was first badly beaten by the gunmen.
Residents say the boy was so scared he soiled himself when two guns were pointed at him. The gunmen then shot him 15 times, killing him on the spot.
Several police officers, along with community liaison officers, including Roy Halgreaves, descended into the community which had experienced a wave of shoot-outs the week before.
Several residents spoke, but they had to be urged to do so with promises that their faces would not be shown.
One woman claimed it was a Laventille gang leader who was responsible for these attacks in East Port of Spain in an area known as “Rasta City”.
“They want to run the town with Muslims, but we don’t want them here,” she said.
Halgreaves, a well-known community activist, said members of the community explained to him that when a gang leader controlled an area or “turf,” no business can successfully occur in the area without the blessing of/payment to the gang leader.
He further explained (as was told to him) that make- work programmes tended to be handed out in certain communities as an attempt by the State to keep gang factions from warring with each other, but what happened was that these very attempts were actually leading to further violence.
No sooner had he left along with the police investigators another murder occurred.
Around 2 p.m., Besson Street police received another call about a murder, this time along lower Duncan Street, East Port of Spain.
The pregnant victim, Rasheeda Gomez, was at the Duncan Street apartment home of her boyfriend, Shondell Braithwaite, 18, when two gunmen broke through the front door.
They opened fire on Gomez and Braithwaite, but Gomez received the majority of the gunshots.
Neighbours called the police and an ambulance also arrived on the scene and took them both to the Port of Spain General Hospital.
Family members who arrived on the scene confirmed that Gomez was pregnant.
The Express was told by another relative that Gomez’s relatives objected to the relationship she had with Braithwaite.
About an hour later, around 3 p.m., the third murder occurred.
The victim, Shawn Lewis Jr, 17, who worked as a mechanic, was found shot dead at Trotman Street, Laventille.
He lived with his relatives at Trou Macaque, Laventille.
Police said two gunmen walked up to the teenager and opened fire on him, killing him on the spot.
Minutes later, the fourth murder occurred.
The victim, Christopher Peters, 24, was reportedly seen driving through Quarry Street, Laventille, in a silver-coloured Nissan Almera, when two gunmen pounced on him, hitting him several times in the chest.
He was found slumped behind the steering wheel of the car.
The murder toll stood at 240 up to last night, according to an Express tally.
Supt Ajith Persad, Ag ASP Sahadeo Singh and officers of the Homicide Bureau are continuing investigations.
The murders
1. Nyam Antoine, 16.
Shot dead near his Duncan Street, Port of Spain,
home around 5 a.m. yesterday. He was killed on the
spot. The motive is gang-related, according to police.
2. Rasheeda Gomez, 16.
Shot dead around 2 p.m. near the Duncan Street,
Port of Spain, apartment of her boyfriend, whom she
had gone to visit. The pregnant teenager was taken to
the Port of Spain General Hospital, where she was
pronounced dead on arrival. The motive is gang-related,
according to police.
3. Shawn Lewis, 17.
Shot dead around 3.15 p.m. at Trotman Street, Laventille,
yesterday. He died on the spot. The motive is gang-
related, according to police.
4. Christopher Peters, 24.
Shot dead around 3.45 p.m. as he drove a Nissan Almera through Quarry Street, Laventille, yesterday. He died on
the spot. The motive is gang-related, according to police.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Bloodshed-in-the-capital-219709961.html
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EXECUTIONS
By ALEXANDER BRUZUAL and NALINEE SEELAL (Newday)
Thursday, August 15 2013
(http://www.newsday.co.tt/aktualnosci/fullfront11thur%20front.png)
Three teenagers were among six persons who were executed by gunmen within a 20-hour period between Tuesday night and yesterday afternoon in separate shootings in East Port-of-Spain, Laventille and Maloney.
The crime spree involved the callous killings of two 16-year-old cousins, Naim Chester Antoine and Rasheeda Gomez, who lived in Housing Development Corporation (HDC) apartment buildings along Duncan Street, Port-of-Spain, and 17-year-old Sean Lewis, who was shot dead at a mechanic shop in Laventille.
For most of the day, the streets of the capital city echoed with the distraught and heartbroken cries of the relatives of Antoine and Gomez , as the families were unable to cope with their violent deaths.
Antoine was asleep when, at about 4 am yesterday, two men stormed his apartment at Duncan Street and dragged him out of his bed at gun- point. The frail teenager, who suffered from sickle cell disease, was heard screaming for help as the gunmen took him by force to George Street, stopped near apartment buildings 58-60, and beat Antoine with blunt instruments before shooting him, in his head, chest, and legs.
With his dying breath, Antoine managed to cry out one last time for help before his life ended. The killers fled the scene.
Residents of George and Nelson Streets became so angry when they found the bloodied body of the teenager, they firebombed a parked Mazda 626 car, believing it was the killers’ ‘get away’ vehicle. Residents also collected debris and trash and blocked the roads.
A party of officers from the Besson Street Police Station, the Inter Agency Task Force, the Guard and Emergency Branch and the Homicide Bureau of Investigations, including Superintendent Kenny McIntyre, ASP Ajith Persad, Inspector Singh, Inspector Jawahir, Inspector Brown, Inspector Maraj, Sgt Spence and PC Masclier arrived on the scene and the area was cordoned off.
The officers removed the debris from the roads, allowing traffic to pass.
District Medical Officer Dr Ebeleme was called out to view the boy’s body, however, he had a misunderstanding with a member of the Homicide Bureau and left the crime scene without examining the body, much to the further annoyance of residents. It was only after the intervention of ASP Persad that the doctor returned and was allowed to continue his work.
The teenager’s body was then removed to the Forensic Science Centre, St James.
Relatives told Newsday they were shocked over Antoine’s death, and could not understand why he was killed.
“He was such a good and caring person, loved by everyone, always trying to make you smile. He used to ask me, ‘mom why I had to suffer from sickle cell?’ And I didn’t have any answers for him. But he never once let that keep him down. He worked hard for everything he had and owned, and would take up side jobs to buy his own clothes and shoes and stuff, because he didn’t even want to rely on me,” said the boy’s mother, who did not want to be named.
“All I can ask at this point is for justice to be done. For the police to find the men responsible and to bring them before the law for their deeds. The next thing I will ask for, is for these young men to please, please turn away from a life of crime. Please, for the sake of the children, please stop,” she pleaded.
Her cries were in vain, as about eight hours later Gomez was riddled with bullets while she was liming with her boyfriend, Shondell Braithwaite, 18, in an apartment at Duncan Street.
Shortly after 2 pm, gunmen stormed the apartment where the two teenagers were alone, and shot the young couple repeatedly before fleeing. Braithwaite received injuries to his left shoulder, while Gomez was shot about her upper body.
After the gunmen left, Braithwaite tried to make it outside to alert his neighbours and was found at the door. The two teens were rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, however, Gomez died shortly after arrival.
Her body was taken to the Forensic Science Centre in St James, where an autopsy is expected to be done today. Unconfirmed reports claimed Gomez was pregnant.
“Why they kill her? First Naim and now her? Why they killing the children so? They not in any gang! They not harming anybody! Oh Lord! Why they killing the children? Everybody loved this child. What they kill her for? Somebody please tell me why?” pleaded Gomez’ grandmother, who also did not want to be named.
Then at about 4.15 pm, Port-of-Spain Division officers were called out to two separate shootings in which another teenager and a man were killed. Police said Sean Lewis Jnr, 17, nicknamed “Biscuit”, was fixing a car at Trotman Street, Laventille, when two men approached and, after a brief conversation, they pulled out guns and opened fire on the teenager who died on the spot
Sean Lewis Snr said his son was about to enter Form Five at Malick Secondary School, and he was spending his vacation learning a trade at a mechanic shop.
Lewis said he was at his Trou Macaque, Laventille home when someone told him his son was dead.
“My son don’t drink, he don’t smoke. He wanted to be a soldier. He was here fixing a car, a car When they walk up to him and kill him! What they do that for? He never troubled anybody! He was just a youth,” he said. While on this scene, officers received reports that another shooting had taken place at Quarry Street, Laventille. When the police arrived they found a gold coloured Nissan Almera car crashed on the road. The driver was proceeding along the road, when two gunmen began shooting. The driver, who up to press time yesterday was unidentified, slumped on the steering wheel and crashed the car. He died on the spot.
The deceased was said to be in his late 20s, six feet tall, slim dark and of complexion with short hair.
The police were again called out to another murder at about 6.30 pm, when residents of Blondell Alley, Laventille, heard loud explosions and then found a man, who was unknown to them, bleeding about his body. The wounded man was then rushed to the hospital, however, he died while undergoing treatment. His identity also remained unknown.
The killing spree began the night before, at about 10.30 pm on Tuesday, in Maloney with the death of 23-year-old Aaron Williams.
Williams was liming with three friends near Building Nine when they were approached by three men, who pulled out firearms and shot at the group, before fleeing. Police said all four friends were injured, and rushed to the Arima District Health Facility.
Williams was pronounced dead on arrival, and his friends were treated and warded. One victim, Theo Edwards, was transferred to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope, and was in critical condition up to late yesterday.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Supt McIntyre called on the residents of the “crime stricken” areas to come forward and assist the police.
“Too many times in situations like this, you have people dying and there would be witnesses who would have seen who did it, but who refuse to come out, out of fear for their own lives. But by doing this, they themselves are facilitating and allowing their own communities to be held at hostage. The majority cannot continue to allow the minority to hold them at ransom like this,” McIntyre said.
Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal yesterday described the crimes as “distressing”, adding he had spoken with National Security Minister Emmanuel George and the HDC about attacks on residents in State-owned apartment buildings.
“The police have also been asked to intensify their presence in the Port-of-Spain area. This incident is unfortunate in the extreme.”
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar last night said the recent spike in murders was discussed at the last meeting of the National Security Council, which she chairs. Speaking to reporters at Rienzi Complex, Couva last evening, she said, “We discussed the spiking of murders and as to how they (the police) will deal with that spike. As I mentioned before, we had seen a pattern in August of a spike but I think (National Security) Minister (Emmanuel) George will give you some more details on that.”
Deputy Commissioner of Police Mervyn Richardson yesterday disclosed a meeting of the police, army, intelligence unit and other stakeholders was to be held last evening.
“By the ages of those killed, it seems we are dealing with people who lack any moral conviction. So again I wish to ask the public and all members of society if they know anything, anything at all which could solve these murders to call the police. Call my number, call any police number you know and we will treat this in a very confidential manner,” he said. He said measures would be put in effect today to arrest the situation but declined to elaborate.
Newsday was informed that all senior officers of the Port-of-Spain Division and surrounding jurisdictions are expected to meet from 9 am today at the Police Commissioner’s Office, Police Administration Building, Port-of-Spain.
http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,182232.html
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The callousness and cold-heartedness of these crimes in T&T are just unbelievable.
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Things dread and devious, hopefully something comes out of this with the evidence. Faces should be identifiable.
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i haven't heard a valid reason why they were killed?
govt contracts? No reason has been given... what do they suspect was at the core of the executions?
all of them saying gang related but it doesn't seem so, or at least we are not being told...
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i haven't heard a valid reason why they were killed?
govt contracts? No reason has been given... what do they suspect was at the core of the executions?
all of them saying gang related but it doesn't seem so, or at least we are not being told...
there are no valid reasons for these killings. if you talking about 'motive' then it could be anything from money, drugs, or grudge. but motive is only good for a judge to pass sentence or to see just how little regard these murderers have for society.
citizens of every creed and background have to come together and find a way to end whatever going on in this place.
if this continues unabated...ten to fifteen years from now the country will be a war zone, unrecognizable to those of us who grew up when you could walk Nelson Street, Belmont, EDR without fear of loosing your life.
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i haven't heard a valid reason why they were killed?
govt contracts? No reason has been given... what do they suspect was at the core of the executions?
all of them saying gang related but it doesn't seem so, or at least we are not being told...
there are no valid reasons for these killings. if you talking about 'motive' then it could be anything from money, drugs, or grudge. but motive is only good for a judge to pass sentence or to see just how little regard these murderers have for society.
citizens of every creed and background have to come together and find a way to end whatever going on in this place.
if this continues unabated...ten to fifteen years from now the country will be a war zone, unrecognizable to those of us who grew up when you could walk Nelson Street, Belmont, EDR without fear of loosing your life.
We need Batman. or any other vigilante
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Things dread and devious, hopefully something comes out of this with the evidence. Faces should be identifiable.
That happened since 2011 them same shooters must be dead by now.
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there are no valid reasons for these killings. if you talking about 'motive' then it could be anything from money, drugs, or grudge. but motive is only good for a judge to pass sentence or to see just how little regard these murderers have for society.
citizens of every creed and background have to come together and find a way to end whatever going on in this place.
if this continues unabated...ten to fifteen years from now the country will be a war zone, unrecognizable to those of us who grew up when you could walk Nelson Street, Belmont, EDR without fear of loosing your life.
We need Batman. or any other vigilante
Lol maybe a few like this fella.
http://ca.shine.yahoo.com/video/real-life-kick-ass-superhero-163010350.html
Or maybe a few people with some balls carrying Mossberg 590s or SPX pistol grips patrolling the streets.
In all seriousness a big part of the problem is the poor quality of policing in the country. And the lack of character and moral conviction at all levels in society. Its one thing not to speak out on behalf of teenage victims. Its entirely another to keep silent when an unborn child is slaughtered in her mother's belly.
Police urgently need more resources and training. And drug trafficking and extremely violent people must be made to carry a terrible social stigma from Laventille straight to Westmoorings.
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What's amazing is gibbs get run out. But everybody quiet now. ?
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i haven't heard a valid reason why they were killed?
govt contracts? No reason has been given... what do they suspect was at the core of the executions?
all of them saying gang related but it doesn't seem so, or at least we are not being told...
there are no valid reasons for these killings. if you talking about 'motive' then it could be anything from money, drugs, or grudge. but motive is only good for a judge to pass sentence or to see just how little regard these murderers have for society.
citizens of every creed and background have to come together and find a way to end whatever going on in this place.
if this continues unabated...ten to fifteen years from now the country will be a war zone, unrecognizable to those of us who grew up when you could walk Nelson Street, Belmont, EDR without fear of loosing your life.
i agree it could be anything but since my father's time in the 70s behind the bridge, the stories of childhood friends being killed and left for dead and other gruesome tales it was deteriorating since then.
another thing you need to ask yourself is, where was his father, i assume one parent home and doing his best to support himself and his mother... another big issue in the ghetto that cyclically speaking is destroying the fabric
however, its a different type of criminal now, children and women are not immune to gun violence, in my aunts time she was robbed once and one bandit told the other to don't harm the sister, just take the money... its not like that anymore... its funny but you could almost say criminals had some sense of morality...
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I couldn't shake this video all and to read the Express article makes it worst. I guess you everyone need some self defense classes. What would you guys have done if them fellas had rolled up on allyuh. I'm training myself to not run in the other direction. If you smart enough to size me up from the front and dip in ur waist. You better be far enough away cause i coming for you with the intent of incapacitating you, throat or balls. If you come for my life you have to earn it.
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I couldn't shake this video all and to read the Express article makes it worst. I guess you everyone need some self defense classes. What would you guys have done if them fellas had rolled up on allyuh. I'm training myself to not run in the other direction. If you smart enough to size me up from the front and dip in ur waist. You better be far enough away cause i coming for you with the intent of incapacitating you, throat or balls. If you come for my life you have to earn it.
He was dead. Anywhere he run. To many of them
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I couldn't shake this video all and to read the Express article makes it worst. I guess you everyone need some self defense classes. What would you guys have done if them fellas had rolled up on allyuh. I'm training myself to not run in the other direction. If you smart enough to size me up from the front and dip in ur waist. You better be far enough away cause i coming for you with the intent of incapacitating you, throat or balls. If you come for my life you have to earn it.
He was dead. Anywhere he run. To many of them
Yea Preacher dat fella no options for self defense, don't even think Don Jacobs coulda stand up tuh dem men. De only way he mighta get away was to run round de corner and jump a fence real quick and get out of it real fast, and he Might of stood a chance. But all in all his goose was cook!
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i haven't heard a valid reason why they were killed?
govt contracts? No reason has been given... what do they suspect was at the core of the executions?
all of them saying gang related but it doesn't seem so, or at least we are not being told...
there are no valid reasons for these killings. if you talking about 'motive' then it could be anything from money, drugs, or grudge. but motive is only good for a judge to pass sentence or to see just how little regard these murderers have for society.
citizens of every creed and background have to come together and find a way to end whatever going on in this place.
if this continues unabated...ten to fifteen years from now the country will be a war zone, unrecognizable to those of us who grew up when you could walk Nelson Street, Belmont, EDR without fear of loosing your life.
i agree it could be anything but since my father's time in the 70s behind the bridge, the stories of childhood friends being killed and left for dead and other gruesome tales it was deteriorating since then.
another thing you need to ask yourself is, where was his father, i assume one parent home and doing his best to support himself and his mother... another big issue in the ghetto that cyclically speaking is destroying the fabric
however, its a different type of criminal now, children and women are not immune to gun violence, in my aunts time she was robbed once and one bandit told the other to don't harm the sister, just take the money... its not like that anymore... its funny but you could almost say criminals had some sense of morality...
The way this works here now is that they don't go for the gang members themselves, but instead find a relative or friend. That way, they send a message without worrying that the victim will shoot back. I'm usually skeptical when I hear that "he was a good boy and not involved in gangs" but that it becoming more and more likely in East PoS.
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i agree it could be anything but since my father's time in the 70s behind the bridge, the stories of childhood friends being killed and left for dead and other gruesome tales it was deteriorating since then.
another thing you need to ask yourself is, where was his father, i assume one parent home and doing his best to support himself and his mother... another big issue in the ghetto that cyclically speaking is destroying the fabric
however, its a different type of criminal now, children and women are not immune to gun violence, in my aunts time she was robbed once and one bandit told the other to don't harm the sister, just take the money... its not like that anymore... its funny but you could almost say criminals had some sense of morality...
the criminals and the marginalized tend to mirror attitudes within the larger community, and vice versa. you might even say the morality of criminals is not the real problem, the attitude of the people is. and those charged with leadership are in a state of paralysis/apathy.
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What's amazing is gibbs get run out. But everybody quiet now. ?
Gibbs was trying to modernise the 18th century police force service. He was juss farse and outta place. He eh hear we like being a Green Fig Republic?? Chups.... ::) ::)
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.amm after seeing all this....ah don't know what to say...nor do ..
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3 shooters this time and 12 dead according to CNN.
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this thing shaping up to be another workplace violence issue. nothing to see here.
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Any Trini linkage?
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Any Trini linkage?
about as much as miss america.
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Any Trini linkage?
about as much as miss america.
Give it time.
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why it had to be a brother...steups
http://www.denverpost.com/nationworld/ci_24111013/13-killed-washington-navy-yard-shooting-rampage?source=hot-topic-bar
my thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims. something is wrong with the treatment these guys are receiving. i have firsthand knowledge of how backed up the system is at the VA but that is no excuse.
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I wouldn't be surprised if he have WI heritage... being from Queens and with a name like "Alexis". NYT reporting that he's had mental illness issues dating back over 10 yrs.
EDIT:
Alexis grew up in Brooklyn with his parents, Cathleen and Anthony Alexis, said his aunt Helen Weekes. “We haven’t seen him for years,” she said.
Maybe he's Bajan...
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why it had to be a brother...steups
http://www.denverpost.com/nationworld/ci_24111013/13-killed-washington-navy-yard-shooting-rampage?source=hot-topic-bar
my thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims. something is wrong with the treatment these guys are receiving. i have firsthand knowledge of how backed up the system is at the VA but that is no excuse.
the only time ah does read about VA is bad-talk; but ah not sure if that is just the private healthcare industry's attempt to demonize any and all publicly provided healthcare.
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I wouldn't be surprised if he have WI heritage... being from Queens and with a name like "Alexis". NYT reporting that he's had mental illness issues dating back over 10 yrs.
EDIT:
Alexis grew up in Brooklyn with his parents, Cathleen and Anthony Alexis, said his aunt Helen Weekes. “We haven’t seen him for years,” she said.
Maybe he's Bajan...
I was walking in the park with my cousin in Brooklyn on Monday. Got a call from a friend from Suriname and she saying the same thing about the names Alexis and Weekes. And I concluded(maybe incorrectly, actually I hope so)) after making that connection and seeing his photo that he even "look" WI. It does not matter, but deep down I don't want it be a WI descendant that did such a ghastly act.
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I have long stopped trusting any news released by the US government and their media mouth-pieces here in the US. IMO they have long lost all semblance of credibility.
I simply take it all in with a grain of salt.
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I detect a hint of an accent...
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/09/18/20556773-navy-yard-gunmans-mother-says-she-is-heartbroken-and-sorry-for-families?lite
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US gives T&T $11.3m more to fight crime.
T&T Guardian Reports.
T&T will now have TT$11.3 million more to help in the fight against crime. On Monday, the United States signed an agreement to provide the country with US$1.8 million for security assistance programmes through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI). It was signed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by US Chargé d’Affaires Margaret Diop and acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Roodal Moonilal at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Waterfront Centre, Wrightson Road, Port-of- Spain.
A media release from the US embassy said the agreement increased co-operative opportunities between the US and T&T Governments to develop programmes aimed at increasing citizen security in the areas of juvenile justice, youth development, counter-narcotics, military and police capacity, drug demand reduction and financial crimes investigations. The goal of those programmes was to improve security, promote social justice and counter the efforts of local and international criminal organisations, it was stated.
Moonilal thanked the US government for ongoing support to T&T in that area. The release added: “The US$1.8 million adds to the US$1.6 million (TT$10.08 million) previously committed. “In addition to direct, bilateral assistance, the US provided more than US$263 million in funding to the CBSI in its first four years to support regional programmes that benefit T&T and its Caribbean neighbours in many areas, including law enforcement information-sharing and maritime co-operation.”
It said the US also invested in HIV/Aids prevention, military education and training, advancing economic development and trade, and promoting social inclusion for marginalised groups.
AG: BAE pays up $US1.4B settlement.
Gary Gets Early $$ for Crime
By Richard Lord (Guardian).
Government has finally collected a $1.4 billion cheque from British Aerospace Engineering (BAE) Systems for its victory at an arbitration hearing over the breach of contract to supply three off-shore patrol vessels (OPVs) to the Ministry of National Security. However, the money will still go towards the fight against crime, as it will be handed over to new National Security Minister Gary Griffith for one of his intended programmes.
This was revealed by Attorney General Anand Ramlogan during his contribution to yesterday’s Senate debate on the 2013-2014 national budget. “We have received the cheque from BAE and the Government has put that money to good use,” he said to loud desk-thumping in the chamber. Ramlogan said the money would be used by Griffith for a plan to ensure the country’s maritime boundaries were secured.
Last week, Griffith announced he was looking at a “maritime security lockdown” initiative as one of his crime-fighting tools. He said he would need to purchase a launch patrol vessel and between four and six vessels for the plan. With these smaller and faster vessels, Griffith said he would be able to implement 24-hour patrols in order to lock down the country’s shores from external criminal elements.
Griffith noted that the vessels would operate in tandem with the existing radar system and the helicopters so that at any time there was an alert about any illegal entry of any vessel, the national security forces could respond. Yesterday, however, Ramlogan said the money would not be additional to the $6.4 billion allocation provided to the Security Ministry in the budget.
The payment comes following an arbitration matter that had been settled with UK-based BAE since last November. Ramlogan admitted that the members of the PP Government, when in Opposition, had criticised the OPV agreement.
However, he said, it was a misrepresentation that the Government had cancelled the OPV contract, which was entered into the previous PNM administration, in a willy nilly manner. The AG said all the experts said that three OPVs were too many and the money could be put to better use, adding their objection was based on solid and technical advice. On assuming office, the Government, Ramlogan said, was still committed to honouring the agreement and was making the required payments for the three OPVs.
“The reason that matter landed up in arbitration had nothing to do with the Government pulling the plug willy-nilly or else we would not have been paid $1.4 billion by BAE,” he told legislators. “The reason that was done is because there was a defect in the firing capability of the offshore patrol vessels,” he said. He said the defect was in the first vessel constructed and when the second was constructed the defect in the first was not resolved.
He said he visited the company and sought answers about the defective vessel. The company, he said, could not give any guarantee and encouraged the Government to accept the vessels at a reduced price. He said if the vessels did not have the specific capability there was no point in having the OPVs. The minister said the termination of the contract “was justified and in the interest of T&T and that is why we didn’t have to pay any money. We got $1.4 billion.”
The contract was entered into with BAE Systems in April 2007 for the acquisition of three OPVs at a cost of TT$1.5 billion. The PP Government cancelled the contract by reason of BAE default on September 17, 2010. Among the reasons given for the cancellation were the delays in the delivery of the vessels and technical deficiencies.
In announcing the cancellation of the contract in 2010, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar had announced that with a contract of this size and importance, and with major delays then announced in BAE’s delivery obligations and the issues that persisted, it was incumbent that they re-evaluated the contract.
The BAE, the PM had noted then, made proposals that the Government take delivery of the defective vessels despite the fact that the combat system defects would prejudice the operational capabilities of the vessels. She added that though the Government believed in cancelling the contract, it was still exercising contractual rights expressly negotiated and agreed with BAE.
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Who honestly believe they giving US1.4B to fight crime, I bet you this money end up in some politician pocket.
The US giving them $11.3m and T&T investing another US1.4B...
We should be crime free soon...
The AG feel people stupid, then again, no one in T&T fights the issue....
:rotfl:
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Flex I think is really 1.4b TT. If was US that would have worked out to 7 thousand dollars for every man woman and chile in TT.
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Flex I think is really 1.4b TT. If was US that would have worked out to 7 thousand dollars for every man woman and chile in TT.
still...TT,US or schekels, Billions is plenty money oui.
It really eh have that much criminals in T&T
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.PM summons National Security Council to meeting
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/19-murders-in-one-week-239097581.html
By Susan Mohammed and Gyasi Gonzales
Story Created: Jan 7, 2014 at 12:51 PM ECT
Story Updated: Jan 7, 2014 at 1:38 PM ECT
A week into the new year, and 19 citizens have now been murdered.
In Arouca this morning, Hezekiah Mark, was shot dead. Police were told that at around 7.30a.m, gunshots were heard at Hillview Drive, and Mark, 38, was found in a drain opposite house in which he lived.
In Cedros, a man found his parents dead at the family home and business.
The bodies of Krishna Ramdeen, 63, and wife Radha, 57, were discovered at around 8 a.m. The couple operated the White Diamond bar and mini mart at Fullerton Village, Cedros, and would normally open at 5 a.m. However, when early morning customer found the placed locked, a son, Ravi Ramdeen was called to the place to unlock it.
He found his parents dead on the ground floor. The woman had been suffocated with a plastic bag. It is uncertain how Krihsna Ramdeen died. Police said there was blood everywhere. The Ramdeens were parents of four and grandparents of eight. The Express was told that about a month ago, the couple began burglar proofing the premises after a robbery. Residents said the couple was decent and law abiding and had no known enemies.
Krishna Ramdeen was said to be enfeebled by a stroke. Outside the house, a daughter Rani Ramdeen screamed "hang them! Hang them when you all find them. That was my mother and father. They didn't do nobody nothing!".
The Office of the Prime Minister this afternoon disclosed that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, as Chairman of the National Security Council (NSC), has summoned the Council to a meeting for 3.30p.m. A statement is expected to be issued at the end of the meeting.
(Multimedia Editor - richard.charan@trinidadexpress.com)
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It seems that these corrupt self centered leaders we have in T&T will only take dealing with the spate of crime and murders in the country seriously when some one close to them becomes a victim or when they believe the issue may negatively affect their chances of being voted back into power.
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From the grapevine, Police ain't interested in turning up on time for these murders on time. Hopefully this scandal will make people demand more from the police
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The 20 Most Homicidal Countries (per capita) in the world... (http://www.businessinsider.com/1homicidal-countries-2011-11?op=1)
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They couldn't even bother to find a picture of trini - picture looks like an American ejecting a shotgun shell
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More up to date stats. You can sort by rate, count, region, country. Also has a table for the top 10 highest rates by country since 1995. El Salvador has 6 entries
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate
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More up to date stats. You can sort by rate, count, region, country. Also has a table for the top 10 highest rates by country since 1995. El Salvador has 6 entries
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate
The 80s ... a heyday of tranquility?
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Jack: a great black saviour on a shiny black steed?
By Selwyn Ryan
Mar 16, 2013
...
Part of the problem is that unlike what obtains in much of Latin America, Trinidadians, like Jamaicans, are ambivalent about the use of extrajudicial executions by the police. They are not disposed to use the level of force which that option requires.
Hegel would probably snort that Trinidad is still trying to use lavender water to heal its gangrenous flesh.
The idea of a secretly and illegally recruited "ton ton macoute" such as one had in Grenada or Haiti is still abhorrent to a majority of Trinidadians. They want a respite from the criminal gangs, but they also want enduring social peace. Hegelians would say that this cannot happen. Only one order can prevail sustainably.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/Jack__a_great_black_saviour__on_a_shiny_black_steed_-198640001.html
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Violence begs more violence; address the social roots of the causes if you want a solution not a cycle. The most dangerous stupidity of suggesting this is that if you give away that type of power you will never get it back - how many militias have voluntarily laid down their arms in history?
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There's a fine line between literalism and naivete. The solution demands a heavy-handed variable.
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Every heavy-handed response produces a generation of kids without fathers and strong desires of revenge. It undermines trust in the police who inevitably catch innocent people in the cross fire and makes a mockery of the right to a fair trial. You kick off cycles of violence through actions like this and reinforce anti-police prejudice, undermining the long-term effectiveness of the police. It's not a coincidence that the poorest or most crime-ridden places in every country trust the police the least.
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Is it not conceivable to have a systemic, comprehensive, hand-in-glove heavy-handed response that does not forsake the moral integrity of the state as an actor?
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Every heavy-handed response produces a generation of kids without fathers and strong desires of revenge. It undermines trust in the police who inevitably catch innocent people in the cross fire and makes a mockery of the right to a fair trial. You kick off cycles of violence through actions like this and reinforce anti-police prejudice, undermining the long-term effectiveness of the police. It's not a coincidence that the poorest or most crime-ridden places in every country trust the police the least.
Lack of enforcement and lack of heavy handedness has caused the disrespect of Police here. Once you enforcing the law, law breakers not going to like you and is not coincidence that the most crime ridden places probably has the most corrupt policemen leading to massive distrust.
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Asylum - Not sure it is - if you've ever been on the end of heavy handed police treatment it's not pretty and rarely inspires feelings of justice well served. Often these shows are politically crafted to make it look like the police are doing something, when what they're really doing is moving into heavily stereotyped neighbourhoods that the media/public believe are criminals and shaking things up.
Basically if you have the proof that a person is a criminal then why do you need to be heavy handed? Arrest them and subject them to the law, not the baton. The latter nearly always triggers local riots (rightly/wrongly perceived as victimisation of a community or ethnicity). Which leads to the second point...
Sammy - I think you're half right here - the problem is that the police don't enforce the law, not that they're not heavy handed. If the police didn't suffer from such corruption then you wouldn't need the heavy handedness - indeed the latter is always a symptom of a poorly working police force. Moreover, corruption maintains a status quo rarely conducive the public good. The real problem is corruption and the reluctance to implement the law by those entrusted with that job. The question is why are they so corrupt?
"Who guard de guards"?
The countries with the lowest crime rates simply don't have to resort to heavy handedness because they tackle the problems of crime and re-offending in non-violent ways. One of the major failings of society is re-offending, especially in non-Scandinavian countries. There, they make sure that prisoners don't lose their links to the local community and their family, so that when they leave prison they have a healthy support network that can keep them out of the trouble they initially found themselves in. These networks offer them alternative ways to live their life away from crime. Where do you think prisoners go to when they come out of prison in T&T?
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We can arrive at the solution without police brutality. Broaden your definition.
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We can arrive at the solution without police brutality. Broaden your definition.
We might be in agreement then - what is your definition of heavy handedness? Or alternatively, what tougher actions are you prescribing?
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We can arrive at the solution without police brutality. Broaden your definition.
We might be in agreement then - what is your definition of heavy handedness? Or alternatively, what tougher actions are you prescribing?
Those entrusted with authority should execute that authority evenly, zealously, firmly, timely, fearlessly, neutrally and purposefully ... rendering the weight of authority on those who need to feel it and those who properly fall within the scope of the entrusted authority.
This isn't a painful proposition; however, it's the departure point for ridding the scene of detritus. If everyone does his or her job steadfastly, without compromising the authority of the state, the results would flow from the heavy hand of the appropriate exercise of state authority.
However, at this stage, the collective social contract that requires is viewed as a fairy tale ... given the vacuums in the appropriate exercise of authority that exist already.
I'm not prescribing anything until my phone rings.
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We can arrive at the solution without police brutality. Broaden your definition.
We might be in agreement then - what is your definition of heavy handedness? Or alternatively, what tougher actions are you prescribing?
Those entrusted with authority should execute that authority evenly, zealously, firmly, timely, fearlessly, neutrally and purposefully ... rendering the weight of authority on those who need to feel it and those who properly fall within the scope of the entrusted authority.
This isn't a painful proposition; however, it's the departure point for ridding the scene of detritus. If everyone does his or her job steadfastly, without compromising the authority of the state, the results would flow from the heavy hand of the appropriate exercise of state authority.
However, at this stage, the collective social contract that requires is viewed as a fairy tale ... given the vacuums in the appropriate exercise of authority that exist already.
I'm not prescribing anything until my phone rings.
So you're saying what I said that they should do their job? And you believe teh failure of the social contract between citizens and the government necessitates some other action you're not willing to talk about?
Why are you afraid to prescribe anything?
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We can arrive at the solution without police brutality. Broaden your definition.
We might be in agreement then - what is your definition of heavy handedness? Or alternatively, what tougher actions are you prescribing?
Those entrusted with authority should execute that authority evenly, zealously, firmly, timely, fearlessly, neutrally and purposefully ... rendering the weight of authority on those who need to feel it and those who properly fall within the scope of the entrusted authority.
This isn't a painful proposition; however, it's the departure point for ridding the scene of detritus. If everyone does his or her job steadfastly, without compromising the authority of the state, the results would flow from the heavy hand of the appropriate exercise of state authority.
However, at this stage, the collective social contract that requires is viewed as a fairy tale ... given the vacuums in the appropriate exercise of authority that exist already.
I'm not prescribing anything until my phone rings.
So you're saying what I said that they should do their job? And you believe teh failure of the social contract between citizens and the government necessitates some other action you're not willing to talk about?
Why are you afraid to prescribe anything?
Fear is a defense mechanism that plays a role in survival. However, it's not the noun guiding my position.
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We can arrive at the solution without police brutality. Broaden your definition.
We might be in agreement then - what is your definition of heavy handedness? Or alternatively, what tougher actions are you prescribing?
Those entrusted with authority should execute that authority evenly, zealously, firmly, timely, fearlessly, neutrally and purposefully ... rendering the weight of authority on those who need to feel it and those who properly fall within the scope of the entrusted authority.
This isn't a painful proposition; however, it's the departure point for ridding the scene of detritus. If everyone does his or her job steadfastly, without compromising the authority of the state, the results would flow from the heavy hand of the appropriate exercise of state authority.
However, at this stage, the collective social contract that requires is viewed as a fairy tale ... given the vacuums in the appropriate exercise of authority that exist already.
I'm not prescribing anything until my phone rings.
So you're saying what I said that they should do their job? And you believe teh failure of the social contract between citizens and the government necessitates some other action you're not willing to talk about?
Why are you afraid to prescribe anything?
Fear is a defense mechanism that plays a role in survival. However, it's not the noun guiding my position.
Sophistry is great and all, but if you didn't want to discuss the issue then why bring it up?
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We can arrive at the solution without police brutality. Broaden your definition.
We might be in agreement then - what is your definition of heavy handedness? Or alternatively, what tougher actions are you prescribing?
Those entrusted with authority should execute that authority evenly, zealously, firmly, timely, fearlessly, neutrally and purposefully ... rendering the weight of authority on those who need to feel it and those who properly fall within the scope of the entrusted authority.
This isn't a painful proposition; however, it's the departure point for ridding the scene of detritus. If everyone does his or her job steadfastly, without compromising the authority of the state, the results would flow from the heavy hand of the appropriate exercise of state authority.
However, at this stage, the collective social contract that requires is viewed as a fairy tale ... given the vacuums in the appropriate exercise of authority that exist already.
I'm not prescribing anything until my phone rings.
So you're saying what I said that they should do their job? And you believe teh failure of the social contract between citizens and the government necessitates some other action you're not willing to talk about?
Why are you afraid to prescribe anything?
Fear is a defense mechanism that plays a role in survival. However, it's not the noun guiding my position.
Sophistry is great and all, but if you didn't want to discuss the issue then why bring it up?
Forgive me, I don't recall entering this discussion to resolve a long-standing area of deficient public policy in T&T. I'm quite happy to set the parameters of what I wish (or do not wish) to express, and I'm happy that you have that privilege also.
Sophistry would apply but for its absence here.
Nonetheless, since violent crime has been rampant and pernicious in the country for a significant period of time, you'll find that it's been a topic addressed on various threads. I've chimed in here or there ... presumably, within personal parameters.
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some nice words to add to my list ...
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From 2008 to now January has been a bloody month.......38-47 murders on average............they not interested in fixing crime in T&T just smoke and mirrors to tief people head.......and it's not just criminals killing criminals.......there is evil lurking there
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Has there been some explosion in the availability of weapons, or some other trigger? Seems like gangs are fighting for control but no one has enough power to gain dominance
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http://www.ttps.gov.tt/Statistics.aspx
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C News Live
The Murder Toll for 2014 now stands at 43 after shootings in Diego Martin, Morvant.
Details:
http://ow.ly/t5vNV (http://ow.ly/t5vNV)
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/q71/1653823_10152208897320610_2038260717_n.jpg)
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Nurse found dead in car trunk
By SUSAN MOHAMMED
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Nurse-found-dead-in-car-trunk-242754471.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Nurse-found-dead-in-car-trunk-242754471.html)
Story Created: Jan 30, 2014 at 10:42 AM ECT
Story Updated: Jan 30, 2014 at 10:54 AM ECT
A NURSE was discovered dead in the trunk of her car at the San Fernando General Hospital this morning. Jaya Dubay-Ramrattan, 32, had been reported missing since Friday.
Dubay-Ramrattan, of Wilson Road, Clarke Road, Penal, was found by crime scene investigators who were examining her Hyundai Elantra.
Dubay-Ramrattan had worked at the St Ann's Hospital and at a private hospital in Cocorite. The Express was told that a neighbour of Dubay-Ramrattan, who knew she had been missing went to the hospital and saw the vehicle in the car park. He informed her relatives, who in turn, informed the police.
According to police, at around 4 a.m. police officers towed the vehicle to the Barrackpore Police Station. At the police station when CSI opened the trunk of the car, they found Dubay-Ramrattan's body.
Police said that a relative of Dubay-Ramrattan went to the St James Police Station and reported her missing.
He told police that on Friday, he received a text from her telling him that she was going to lime with other nurses. He said after several days, she did not return home. He told police that he went to her workplace in search of her, but was told that she did not report for duty for several days.
An autopsy is expected to be performed on her body today.
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Gunmen jump man on way to peace meeting (http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2014-03-18/gunmen-jump-man-way-peace-meeting)
Published: Monday, March 17, 2014 (T&T Guardian)
Jensen LaVende
A man seeking to make peace in an ongoing feud was killed in Santa Cruz yesterday as the murder toll rose to 102 people for the year. The latest victim to die by the gun was 29-year-old Jeffon “Cash” Jordan, whose two attackers fired at him 13 times as he made his way to what was supposed to have been a peace meeting. According to relatives, Jordan, a father of three — two girls and one boy, the eldest five and youngest two months — went to Upper Bass Street, Santa Cruz, around 8 am yesterday to try to resolve an issue he had with men from the area last week. Jordan’s sister told the T&T Guardian her brother was telephoned by men he had had an altercation with last week. The men told him they wanted to bury the hatchet. But police said around 8.30 am as he made his way to the meeting, two masked men approached Jordan and opened fire on him, killing him instantly. At the scene yesterday, police said Jordan was known to them, while residents were heard saying he was often seen brandishing his illegal firearm for all to see and would “terrorise people.” An unidentified man stood near the police caution tape speaking to Jordan’s lifeless body and saying that he “looked for it.” At his Cocoa Road, Upper Santa Cruz, home, Jordan’s mother offered no comment to the media as family members began gathering to lend some support.
Shift in pattern
In a telephone interview with the T&T Guardian yesterday, deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Glen Hackett expressed concerned about the increasing murders toll, noting it started off on the heels of “inordinate murders” at the end of 2013. He said the murders were at one point concentrated to two divisions, Port-of-Spain and Northern, but there was a shift in this pattern and murders were now being recorded in divisions outside of the “traditional areas.” “We have effectively controlled the murder rate in four areas because of the interdiction result of road checks and roadblocks. We have recovered so far over 1,000 rounds of ammunition and 125 firearms,” Hackett said. He added that the police have intensified their efforts with a view to curbing the trend, however, as they were mindful of the trauma that murders have on the victims’ relatives. He said they were using all their resources to make the country safer.
Bloody weekend
Jordan’s killing took the weekend toll to six. Around 2.30 pm on Saturday, Ancil Greene, 25, of Upper Sixth Avenue, Barataria, was killed at his home. Police said two masked, armed men stormed into Greene’s home and enquired about his whereabouts. Police said one of the assailants placed a gun to the head of Greene’s father and ordered him to call his son. When Greene arrived some 20 minutes later, the gunmen shot him in front his parents. About three hours later, Sean Nurse, 34, of Pt Pleasant Park, Laventille, was shot dead while liming with a group of friends. Police said around 5.30 pm, Emanuel McKenzie, 17, of Upper Laventille Road, Laventille, and Akim Phillips, 16, of Mulrain Trace, Laventille, were with Nurse near the Laventille Health Centre, Laventille Road, when a vehicle approached.
The occupants opened fire on the group before escaping. Nurse was shot several times in the chest and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. Sometime later, police said Stephen Mannette, 52, of Despers Drive, off Laventille Road, Laventille, was standing in the roadway near his home when residents of the area heard several gunshots. When they checked they found Mannette in a pool of blood. On Sunday around 3.30 am, police said Devanand Bholai, 40, was at his Biche Village home with his family, when they were awakened by loud noises from outside. Two armed men then forced their way inside and ordered everyone into the living room, where they robbed them. As the men were leaving, however, one of them shot Bholai in his upper body and head in front of his relatives, killing him instantly. And around 6.30 pm, residents of Poinsettia Drive, Morvant, heard several gunshots. When they checked they found Seco Hope, 30, lying on the roadway. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Eric Williams Medical Science Complex, Mt Hope.
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500 awaiting trial for murder in T&T.
By Janelle De Souza (Newsday).
Over 500 persons are awaiting trial for murder in Trinidad and Tobago, and with approximately seven years for an indictable matter to go to trial, these cases are unlikely to be heard anytime soon if the justice system continues as is, Chief Justice Ivor Archie said yesterday.
Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, however, noted a steady increase of funds allocated to the Judiciary with each National Budget, wondering why was the justice system not working more efficiently.
Ramlogan also raised the idea of plea bargaining to decrease the number of cases that go to trial.
Archie however, countered stating that the funding was still deficient and that he was limited by the restrictions placed on spending.
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Roger Gaspard responded to Ramlogan’s suggestion of plea bargaining, saying that, with the low detection rate and lack of strength of evidence, criminals have no real motivation to “cop a plea.”
The men were speaking yesterday as part of a panel discussion at the Dana Saroop Seetahal Symposium: Re-engineering the Criminal Justice System, at the Noor Hassanali Auditorium at the St Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies.
In his contribution, Archie identified three main stumbling blocks of the judicial system namely preliminary inquiries; juries; and the rules of evidence, particularly against hearsay.
At the moment, he said, Trinidad and Tobago simply has a different type of preliminary inquiry than originally used - that the layers of processes take time in the magistrates’ court and that it was necessary to repeat the process again in the High Court. He suggested the DPP decide who to prosecute indictably or summarily.
On the subject of juries, Archie said it was “the most inefficient way” of conducting a trial.
“We as lawyers, whether the advocates or the judge, then have to try to explain all the concepts that we think we understand, to a jury, who we are never quite certain, ever understands it,” he said.
Archie expressed concern that, with a jury, there was a chance that the trail would be swayed by a more skilled negotiator, instead of by a forensic exercise, assessing information to arrive at a verdict consistent with the law.
“If it is the latter, then we are handing the most critical part of the exercise to people who are not trained to perform it, and who operate with no transparancy or accountability. If we really think about it, many of the evidential rules and regulations that we have are really all about protecting the jury from making illogical mistakes and false assumptions,” he said.
Responding to Ramlogan’s comment that the allocation for the administration of justice in the National Budget increased from $339 million in 2010 to $366 million in 2012 and his wondering why then was the justice system not running more efficiently, Archie said the administration of justice was under-resourced. He said $360 million was less than 0.5 percent of the National Budget while the benchmark in countries with “efficient and productive” judicial systems, was approximately two to three percent of the Budget.
“If I could manage it without all the strictures that attend public service expenditure. For God sake, do not give me responsibility and not the freedom to manage!” he said.
In suggesting a “conversational approach towards litigation” in the form of plea bargains, Ramlogan noted that in the United States, 90 to 95 percent of criminal cases do not reach trial because of the use of plea bargains.
“What we want is a court system that is effective, that is fair and just but one that can change the social and political culture and psychology of the court from one where the people are there to serve the court to where the courts are there to serve the people,” said Ramlogan.
However, Gaspard slammed the idea, stating that while the statistics sound good, the reason persons charged with criminal offences were inclined to plead guilty, that plea bargaining was so effective in the United States was because of the strength of evidence gathered and presented.
“How can we in this jurisdiction shout about the benefits of plea bargaining out of one side of our mouths and then out of the other, we talk about low detection rates. Do the criminals not know, do persons who are charged with criminal offences not know, that detection rates in Trinidad and Tobago, and indeed in the Caribbean, are particularly and disappointingly low?” he asked.
Gaspard said if there were so many problems that affect the speedy delivery of justice, there was no incentive for those charged with criminal offences to plead guilty.
Ramlogan later agreed, stating that as the legislation was not yet written, incentives to plead could be included. In addition, he noted that citizens were ahead of the law, using technology to fight crime by broadcasting pictures of criminals, missing persons or stolen vehicles to their friends, allowing others to be on the alert.
“We need to break the mould, set a new paradigm, and move forward with a different manner of thinking,” he said. Ramlogan also noted that the Abolition of Preliminary Inquiries Bill was passed by the Lower House and will go to the Senate soon, that Plea Bargaining legislation was being drafted and that changes in the DNA, fingerprint, and Financial Intelligence Unit laws were being debated.
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Guns gone wild.
By Alexander Bruzual and Susan Mohammed
BABY FIGHTS FOR LIFE
Up to press time yesterday, an 18-month-old baby boy was fighting for his life at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope after he was shot in the back of his head by unknown assailants yesterday afternoon.
According to police reports, at about 4.30 p.m. yesterday, Lichel Francois, 29, was holding her 18-month-old son, Imani George, in her arms as they were seated in a taxi parked on the corner of Prince and Nelson Streets, Port of Spain, when several loud explosions rang out.
Francois felt an intense burning sensation in her left hand, however, she also observed her son was bleeding from an injury to his head.
Fearful for her child’s life, the Emergency Health Services (EHS) were immediately contacted and the two were rushed to the Port of Spain General Hospital.
Francois was immediately treated and discharged, however, baby Imani was transferred to Mt Hope for further treatment.
Up to press time, he was said to be in a critical condition, undergoing emergency surgery to save his life.
The Express was told by police they had received information a vehicle occupied by five men was proceeding east along Prince Street when, without warning, the occupants of the car were seen with guns, firing at persons who were along the roadway.
Investigations are continuing.
In an unrelated incident, on Monday night, a 32-year-old Penal woman was shot when the vehicle in which she was travelling stopped on the Beetham highway.
Murlesha Mazid, of San Francique, is warded at the Port of Spain General Hospital.
According to a police report, Mazid was a passenger in a vehicle driven by Rajpath Balgobin, of Clarke Road, Penal, heading east along the Beetham Highway.
Police said at around 8 p.m., Balgobin stopped on the shoulder of the highway because of an emergency. Several loud explosions were heard.
Balgobin sped off and moments later, Mazid said she felt a burning sensation on her left arm.
Balgobin drove to the hospital where she was treated for gunshot wounds. Bullet holes were also found in the vehicle.
A report was made at the Besson Street Police Station.
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Missing security guard found dead.
By Rachel Espinet (Guardian).
A 23-year-old man reported missing by his relatives three days ago was discovered dead in an abandoned house in Laventille on Monday. Miguel Gaskin, a security guard from Sarah Lane, Laventille, was found shot dead by police in the abandoned Church Street house. Gaskin’s godmother, Lisa Huggins, told the T&T Guardian he went missing on Saturday after helping a neighbour paint his home.
“He was by his neighbour helping them paint. I called him to give him a plaque to take to his grandmother and that was the last time I saw him,” Huggins said at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, yesterday. According to police reports, at about 5.30 pm on Monday residents called them to report a foul stench coming from the abandoned house. Upon investigating police discovered Gaskin’s decomposing body with visible gunshots.
Yesterday, Huggins described Gaskin as a loving person who was always willing to help others. She added: “Miguel was loud but he was loving and nice. He was not that type of person to be involved in anything (criminal activity). “He just liked to lime and make jokes. It is shocking that someone will want to kill him.” Huggins said before Gaskin went missing, two men from the neighbourhood said a man was chasing them down with a gun. However, she could not say if that was related to Gaskin’s case.
“On Saturday we heard firecrackers, followed closely by gunshots. Then, I did not know what to think,” Huggins said. Gaskin’s mother died when he was a baby and Huggins said his father was not involved in his life. He was raised by his grandmother and aunts with whom he resided until he went missing. “His grandmother is in a state right now. She loved that boy so much. He was a good youth. He never interfered with anyone,” Huggins said.
T&T Guardian visited Detour, Gaskin’s former place of employment, where a worker who asked not to be named expressed shock at the man’s death and also stated he was friendly and kind. “He was a really nice person. He was a lot of fun. When we found out this morning the entire place was down.”
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NO LET UP
By RYAN HAMILTON-DAVIS and LAUREL V WILLIAMS
DESPITE the country’s security forces being placed on heightened alert in the face of rampant murders, there has been no let up in the bloodshed, violence and wanton lawlessness
In addition to the murder rate rising to 14 in six days, gun violence saw a woman and her baby son being shot in broad daylight, a woman being shot as she changed her baby’s diaper off the Beetham Highway and a bandit being shot and killed by security officers in Barataria yesterday.
The murder rate jumped from 11 in five days to 14 in six days following the discovery of a man’s bullet-riddled body in Laventille, another man being gunned down in St Joseph yesterday and a man being chopped to death near the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court, also yesterday.
Murder over cocaine
The 14th and latest murder in 2015 took place yesterday evening when a chopping incident over the ownership of $40 worth of cocaine ended the life of a street dweller, who collapsed and died a stone’s throw away from both the San Fernando Police Station and Magistrates’ Court.
Police identified the victim only as Brian also called Ali and up to last night were in search of the killer who is believed to also be a street dweller, who sources said is believed to have suffered injuries in the incident.
An eyewitness told Newsday that at about 4.35 pm yesterday, both men were engaged in a heated argument over the ownership of $40 worth of cocaine at an empty lot of land next to Ali’s Doubles along Harris Street in San Fernando.
The argument escalated into a fight during which the suspect dealt victim several chops with a cutlass. With blood flowing from his body, Brian ran a short distance away before collapsing on the pavement in full view of startled passers-by.
Minutes after the brutal chopping, officers of both the Southern Division Task Force and the San Fernando Municipal Police arrived on the scene, placed Brian in the tray of a police van and rushed him to the San Fernando General Hospital.
Although eyewitnesses told Newsday that the man died at the scene, police investigators said he was pronounced dead on arrival at the general hospital.
“He (the victim) usually fought other drug users over cocaine. They are accustomed to sleeping in the area where the fight broke out.
Sometimes they fight over $1 and $5 worth of drugs. The suspect left with the cutlass in his hand and he, too, appeared to be injured,” said an eyewitness who requested anonymity.
The body was removed to the hospital’s mortuary and will be sent to the Forensic Science Centre in St James for an autopsy which is expected to be done today.
Snr Supt Santana, Insp Don Gajadhar, Sgts Julien and Persad together with PC Sukram and WPC Coomansingh visited the scene and searched the area for the suspect who is believed to originally hail from Siparia and had been charged in the past with shooting with intent and robbery.
Father of 2 gunned down
Meanwhile, a father of two was gunned down while he was washing a car in St Augustine yesterday afternoon. According to police, at about 1.30 pm, Josh Nipper, 22, was washing a car at a carwash on Railway Road in St Augustine, when he was ambushed by a gunman wearing a track suit and cap. Nipper who was shot multiple times, died at the scene. An onlooker, police said, was also shot but survived. He was taken to hospital for treatment and subsequently discharged. Police did not divulge the name of this shooting victim.
Crime scene investigators recovered at least 13 spent shells as they processed the area where Nipper was gunned down. Several women, one of whom was said to be Nipper’s wife, arrived at the scene a short while later and the reputed wife fainted and was taken away by the other women to a car where she was given water. Police sources said while there is no motive for Nipper’s murder, his killing is believed to be gang-related. Relatives at the scene refused to speak with reporters. The gunman remains at large.
Bullet-riddled body found
In an unrelated incident, the bullet-riddled body of Miguel “Croc” Gaskin, 23, was discovered on Monday at about 5.30 pm. According to reports, at that time, residents of Church Street in Laventille detected a foul stench coming from an abandoned house and on investigating, discovered Gaskin’s body riddled with bullets. Gaskin’s godmother Lisa Huggins, who raised him as a child after his mother died, described him as a boisterous and fun-loving person. He was last employed with a security firm and worked at a clothing store. As she awaited the autopsy report outside the Forensic Science Centre, Huggins revealed that Gaskin had been missing since Saturday.
“Someone called me and said his body was found. He went missing on Saturday gone. When I last saw him he was painting my neighbour’s house and I called him to come and collect a wall plaque for his grandmother. He wasn’t a troublesome person, the only thing was that he was loud. “He loved to work, he loved to dress and to my knowledge he was not involved in any crime. When I heard this all I wanted to know was who could possibly do this,” Huggins said. No arrest has been made. For the same period last year, 15 murders were committed.
JAN 1
Vernon Carter, fatally shot outside his Maloney Gardens Home. Later dies at Arima Health Centre. No arrest. It is believed he was struck in the leg by a stray bullet.
JAN 01
Sherwin Skeete, 40, of Punette Avenue, Pinto Road, Arima is shot while liming with his friend Simeon Bravo along Pinto Road. Bravo was also shot but survives. No arrest.
JAN 1
Handyman Sheflan “Fingers” Rampersad shot dead near St Margaret’s Junction. His body was found at the side of the road by police. No arrest.
JAN 1
Petrotrin estate police officers on patrol, observed a white Nissan Almera car parked on the shoulder of Casserina Avenue on the Petrotrin compound. In the car was the body of 30-year-old Stephen Harrington in the back. Harrington, an ex-convict had been shot in the chest. No arrest made.
JAN 2
The first female to be murdered is that of 30-year-old Dorothy Rodrigo who was found dead at her home in Jokhan Trace, Carapo. She was found shot to death at 3.15 am, shortly after returning home from a party. No arrest made.
JAN 2
The life of 23-year-old Kevin Francis was ended by bullets fired into his head and chest. His body was found by police at about 1.30 am. It is believed that the murder may have stemmed from Francis taking a bottle of champagne from a party on New Year’s Day. No arrest made.
JAN 3
Sean Carrabayo, 18, is shot dead in Carenage shortly after leaving a card game when he received a call on his cellular phone. He was shot along Fitzallen Street in Carenage at about five o’clock in the evening. No arrest made.
JAN 3
At 9.45 pm, carpenter and father of three Krishendath Mahabir is fatally shot in the yard of his Kowlessar Trace, Biche home. He died later at the Rio Claro Health Centre. No arrests made.
JAN 3
Roger Frederic is shot dead outside the San Juan home of a female friend shortly after he left that house following a lime. He was shot dead at 11.32 pm and no arrests have been made.
JAN 4
Part time labourer and parlour owner Levi Snaggs is gunned down not too far from his home in Belle Vue Road, St James. Like the nine murders committed earlier, no arrest has been made by police.
JAN 4
Burger vendor Khemraj Seerattan is gunned down near his burger cart in the vicinity of the Grand Bazaar at 11.20 pm. After being shot several times, Seerattan stumbled in the direction of his nearby home but collapsed and bled out along the road. No arrest made.
JAN 5
The decomposing, bullet-riddled body of Miguel “Croc” Gaskin, 23, is found in an abandoned house in Laventille by residents who investigated a foul stench emanating from the structure. Gaskin who worked as a security guard was missing since Saturday. No arrest.
JAN 6
Father of two Josh Nipper is gunned down while washing a car at a car wash in St Augustine. No motive established and no arrest made.
JAN 6
A street dweller known only as “Brian” is chopped to death along Harris Street in San Fernando. It is believed that another street dweller chopped Brian during an argument over some cocaine. No arrest made.
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Go ahead Africans. We doing a fine job!!!
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Go ahead Africans. We doing a fine job!!!
Not all those who were murdered or who carried out the murders are of African descent.
We have a general crime problem in T&T which is not being seriously tackled by a corrupt government who are not setting the best example themselves.
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Go ahead Africans. We doing a fine job!!!
Not all those who were murdered or who carried out the murders are of African descent.
We have a general crime problem in T&T which is not being seriously tackled by a corrupt government who are not setting the best example themselves.
... not that the predecessors did any better. In fact, under a certain analysis, the predecessor government(s) might be 'more' culpable.
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Good reply by Deeks and asylumseeker.
SocaCrapo love to defend his African brothers wrong or right.
Manning was a lump of hard shit.
Let them kill one another and then blame de odda man.
All I'm saying, if they wrong, they f00ck well wrong.
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Good reply by Deeks and asylumseeker.
SocaCrapo love to defend his African brothers wrong or right.
Manning was a lump of hard shit.
Let them kill one another and then blame de odda man.
All I'm saying, if they wrong, they f00ck well wrong.
Sam I stated a fact and corrected what Deeks seemed to be implying which is that only those of African descent are being murdered or are carrying out murders. However I do acknowledge that the majority are of African descent.
But I am also aware that there is a definite policy to promote crime in African majority communities and also use these areas as the scapegoat for crime in the country. All this while the Big Fish (who are the main ones responsible for bringing in all the guns and drugs and who target certain areas/communities to generate their profits) all get off scotch free while offering money to sponsor the election campaign of the main political parties so that they are allowed by the government in office to freely operate their destructive trade.
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Go ahead Africans. We doing a fine job!!!
Not all those who were murdered or who carried out the murders are of African descent.
We have a general crime problem in T&T which is not being seriously tackled by a corrupt government who are not setting the best example themselves.
... not that the predecessors did any better. In fact, under a certain analysis, the predecessor government(s) might be 'more' culpable.
I can't believe that some of you here are trying to be apologists for this corrupt racist government who are busy executing their plan to turn T&T into the next Guyana.
Did they not promise to stop murders and other serious crimes in 120 days and to completely stamp out corruption and to start running the country in a transparent and accountable manner?
So why haven’t they yet arrested Calder Hart if he was corrupt and stole money from the government? And why is Manning not also in jail for facilitating Calder Hart’s thief and corruption as the PPG accused him of doing and tabled as one of the main reasons for the people of T&T to vote him and his party out of office?
I have family members who believed what they heard in the flashy PPG 2010 election campaign and who voted for that new age coalition party and who have been regretting their decision within one year of this government being in office as one of the biggest mistakes they have ever made in their lives.
And what do we clearly have now? The most corrupt and racist government in T&T's history and serious crime like murders, rape, robberies etc at the same levels as they were in 2010 and in an upward swing.
I can guarantee you this current racist government has a well thought out plan to steal the next general elections because of their current general unpopularity; using voter padding, elections run-off, and other dubious methods like trying to buy votes to make it as difficult as possible to get rid of them.
The government is now aware that Trinidadians generally don't appreciate when they have it good and are highly gullible to remove their thinking caps and be misled with a flashy media campaign.
Tobagonians seem to be generally less gullible than Trinidadians are and are not as susceptible to flashy advertising campaigns filled with empty rhetoric.
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Drug trade fuelling crime in T&T, says Israel Khan
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Drug-trade-fuelling-crime-in-TT-says-Israel-Khan-287868081.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Drug-trade-fuelling-crime-in-TT-says-Israel-Khan-287868081.html)
SENIOR COUNSEL Israel Khan has said it is only when Trinidad and Tobago rids itself of the notorious, illicit drug trade will spiritual values prevail.
He said there is empirical evidence to suggest that there is a strong correlation between the international drug trade and crime in this country which is seen as a strategic depot for cocaine being shipped from both Colombia and Venezuela to North America and Europe.
Khan made the statement during a conference last month sponsored by the Organisation of American States on the topic “Legal Co-operation on Access to Justice” in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia.
“Domestic gangs fight over the right to control turfs. Usually part payments are made to the locals with drugs and sophisticated arms and ammunition,” he said.
Speaking in the capacity of chairman and director of the Legal Aid and Advisory Authority, Khan also said, the respect for rule of law would only be embraced by all citizens if it was perceived that justice means more than just having a fair trial.
“It must mean that there must be a fair distribution of the material resources of the country: The social structure of the country must be re-arranged so the perception and reality must not be that the rich is getting richer while the poor is getting poorer.
In Trinidad and Tobago we profess in our Constitution to respect the principles of social justice and therefore, believe that the operation of the economic system should result in the material resources of the community being so distributed as to subserve the common good, that there should be adequate means of livelihood for all, that labour should not be exploited or forced by economic necessity to operate in inhumane conditions but that there should be opportunity for advancement on the basis of recognition of merit, ability and integrity,” he said.
“We must get rid of the notion that all men are equal but some are more equal than others: only pigs subscribe to that view. Indeed, it is a denial of justice not to stretch out a helping hand to the fallen; that is the common right of humanity. The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members- the impoverished,” said Khan.
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Drug trade fuelling crime in T&T, says Israel Khan
No shit Sherlock!!!! ::) ::)
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Drug trade fuelling crime in T&T, says Israel Khan
No shit Sherlock!!!! ::) ::)
Harsh man, lol. He wasn't addressing a local audience, and the message apparently wasn't as simplistic as the headline makes it seem.
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Missing teen found in grave behind home.
By Derek Achong (Guardian).
Community loses a jewel, say residents
Missing teenager Shabana Mohammed’s family were left distraught yesterday after five days of intensive searching by the police ended when her badly decomposing body was discovered buried in a shallow grave behind their Santa Cruz home.
The discovery was made around 10 am by Mohammed’s neighbour, who decided to conduct his own search behind the family’s property after he and others in the community noticed a strong foul scent in the area.
Mystery surrounds the find, however, as it was made in an area searched by police armed with cadaver sniffer dogs on several occasions since Mohammed, a sales co-ordinator at a shipping company in Woodbrook, was reported missing on Saturday.
Investigators believe she may have been killed somewhere else before her killer returned to dispose of her body between Wednesday and yesterday morning.
This theory was disputed by a senior police source close to the investigation, who yesterday suggested the area where the shallow grave was hidden was possibly overlooked by investigators and relatives.
“Because of the state of the body it would have been nearly impossible to move it to that location without being noticed,” the source said.
Homicide detectives have already identified a prime suspect in the crime, a male friend of Mohammed.
The suspect, whose father is a member of the Special Branch, was initially interviewed by police on Monday but later released.
“There were some irregularities in his original statement so we need to question him again to get some clarity,” the police source said.
Investigators are expected to interrogate him again after they obtain a report on Mohammed’s post mortem, which is to be conducted at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, today. It is also needed to determine Mohammed’s cause of death as it was not immediately recognisable due to the advanced state of her body’s decomposition.
Torture for family
When a team from the T&T Guardian visited the crime scene yesterday, scores of curious neighbours and friends lined the street outside the family’s home.
Many could not hold back their tears as they openly recounted their memories of the teen, who they described as beautiful, kind and a “jewel” in the community.
Over two dozen heavily-armed T&T Regiment soldiers were seen patrolling various parts of the community, which featured utility poles still plastered with missing posters of the teen. The posters were also stuck to the windows of most vehicles driving through the area.
Mohammed’s family, who spoke extensively with media personnel on her disappearance earlier this week, were too distraught to speak after her body was removed from the scene.
“It is torture for them. They need to come together and comfort each other at this time,” a spokeswoman for the family said briefly before returning to the house to comfort her grieving relatives.
According to reports, around 7.30 am on Saturday, Mohammed’s relatives left her home alone. When they returned several hours later she was missing and an area of the house had been ransacked.
Relatives reported her missing after neighbours said they heard screams coming from the house and Mohammed’s cellphone went unanswered.
Insp Roger Alexander and Sgt Cornelius Samuel of the North Eastern Division Task Force (NEDTF) are assisting detectives of the Region One Homicide Bureau in investigating the murder
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‘14 killings sign of no true peace, harmony in TT’
T&T Newsday
ARCHBISHOP Joseph Harris has commented on the country’s high murder rate for 2015 saying that “we have removed the centrality of Christ from life, and we are reaping the results”.
He made the comments as he delivered greetings yesterday during the Fatima College Annual Distribution of Prizes and Certificates for the academic year 2013-2014, held at the College Hall, Mucurapo Road, St James.
He noted that over history there has been many “isms” and ideologies professing to bring peace and harmony to the world, but they have not brought this.
He added: “Here in Trinidad and Tobago it certainly hasn’t. If at the start of the year, day seven or eight, we are already 14 or 15 murders, and various other crimes.” He said that the “ism” which has not been truly tried is “Christian-ism or Christianity”.
Harris pointed out that Catholic education is one of the forms of evangelism and through the teaching office and work in Catholic schools students, Catholic and non-Catholic, can come to know and understand the centrality of Jesus Christ in the history of the world.
He noted that Catholic education is meant to put Christ “back in the centre” and to show that the values Christ proclaimed and lived which are capable of bringing peace and harmony necessary for the true development of the country, and the world.
He stressed that Catholic education was not simply about winning scholarships, or preparing students for a good career, but more importantly, building people who can live the values which ensure the world and country is a harmonious place.
He congratulated the students who won prizes and noted that beyond this what marks a school as a Catholic school was the ability to produce young men who live the values of Jesus Christ.
He said that Trinidad is Spanish for “Trinity” which means “unity in diversity” and he called on the students to embody this. Fatima College Principal, Fr Gregory Augustine, noted that the school produced five scholarship winners and had more than 95 percent full certificates in both CSEC and CAPE.
He also reported that the school was able to complete their new wing at a cost of $4.5 million, a cost fully borne by the college community, without any contribution from the State.
Attorney and Fatima Old Boy Ian Benjamin in his feature address told the students not to take what they have for granted, and pointed to attacks by schoolchildren from groups like the Taliban and Boko Haram. He said that the college must nourish and support a respect of all God’s children despite religion and justice for all beliefs without the compromising of personal faith.
Former student William Ward received the prestigious College of Our Lady of Fatima Cup. Ward was praised for excelling in football, athletics, his academics and spirituality. He told Newsday that he was honoured to receive the award from his college, which is “very dear to my heart”.
Ward is currently in New Jersey, studying civil engineering.
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Mom suffocated by bandits
By Alexander Bruzual (Express).
SHABANA BURIED ALIVE
The final moments of 19-year-old Shabana Mohammed were spent gasping for air, face down on the ground, after she had been violently strangled.
This was revealed yesterday, following an autopsy by forensic pathologist Dr Valery Alexandrov atthe Forensic Science Centre in Federation Park.
Speaking to reports shortly after making his findings, Alexandrov explained the teenager had died as a result of asphyxiation due to strangulation.
“However, what is of note is that she was placed face down in the ground after she had been strangled. We know this because dirt was found in her air passages. Therefore, she was violently strangled, and then when she lapsed into unconsciousness, she fell face forward and remained on the ground for a few moments, still alive. She made a couple of terminal inhalations before she died,” Dr Alexandrov explained.
He also noted Mohammed’s body was badly decomposed, leading him to believe she was killed most likely on the same day she disappeared.
“Her body was in a bad state of decomposition, which means that she died most likely on the day she was reported missing. I say this because the body was completely beyond visual recognition.
“However, she had unique features that the family was able to identify, such as waist-long hair, which was dual coloured. It was partially black and partially blonde in points. So I was able to wash it thoroughly and showed it to the respective relatives, and they were able to identify it from there,” Alexandrov said.
The forensic pathologist also noted he had taken samples from her nail clippings to determine whether there was the presence of foreign DNA.
“We did utilise the rape kit and take swabs and such to determine if she had been assaulted. But we will have to wait for those results,” Alexandrov said.
On Thursday, the nude body of the 19-year-old was found in a drain behind her home in Akal Trace, Santa Cruz.
She had been reported missing since January 3.
It was reported that on Saturday last (January 3), at about 7.30 a.m., Mohammed was home alone and sometime later, a loud scream was heard.
Relatives who returned to the house a short while later, and realising she was missing, dialled her cell number but got no answer.
Searches were conducted and a report made to the Santa Cruz Police Station.
The funeral service for the 19-year-old is expected to take place at 2 p.m. today at the family’s home.
Speaking to the media yesterday, a male relative described Mohammed as a helpful and respectable young woman who would do anything for her family. He added she was a pleasant girl, who was always smiling.
She was also a well-kept girl, according to the grieving brother.
“Anything any one of us needed, she would go out of her way to get it for us. If she saw me come home and I hadn’t eaten, she would make sure and get something for me to eat. She would do the same thing for our father. She would make sure he had tea, that he had been fed and that he took his tablets,” he recalled.
Relative of policeman to be questioned again Police sources told the Express that on Monday, the male relative of a police officer was questioned in relation to the missing teen and was subsequently allowed to leave.
Police sources last night revealed the relative is to be reinterviewed by investigators in the coming days as it is believed he could assist in the investigation.
Up to late yesterday, the suspect, police said, had yet to be questioned.
(http://media.trinidadexpress.com/images/nw5318.jpg)
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Man killed transporting Desperadoes’ pans
By Joel Julien (Express).
Fatal mix-up
ONE MAN was shot dead and another injured yesterday while transporting pan equipment from the Laventille home of ten-time Panorama champions Witco Desperadoes to the band’s new safe haven, located at Queen’s Park East, Port of Spain.
Dead is 25-year-old Atiba Pantin, from Diego Martin.
The other man, whose identity has been withheld, is currently at the Port of Spain Hospital nursing gunshot wounds.
The management of Desperadoes, however, is adamant that the fatal shooting incident has nothing to do with the steelband.
In 2009, after more than 60 years of calling Laventille home, crime forced the Desperadoes to flee the hill and seek refuge in Belmont.
The move was made as it was considered that Laventille was no longer safe for players and supporters because of rising crime.
The “Pride of Laventille” relocated to the empty lots at Cadiz Road and 16-17 Queen’s Park East, Port of Spain, the car park for customers of restaurants Apsara and Thamnak Thai.
The property is owned by the National Insurance Board of Trinidad and Tobago (NIBTT).
However, NIBTT recently turned the sod at that location for construction of its new headquarters, leaving the band without a location to practise ahead of this year’s Panorama.
Eventually, NIBTT decided to allow the band to use its other vacant lots at 21-24 Queen’s Park East rent-free for the 2015 Carnival season.
Desperadoes hired a contractor to move equipment that was housed at its Laventille Road headquarters to the new Queen’s Park East home.
“We hired a contractor to get the rack and the pans down from the hill and we were just as surprised as you all to know that there was a fatal shooting...we were in the yard waiting for the racks and thing to come down, because we had just gotten the yard paved yesterday,” Desperadoes’ assistant manager Anthony Joseph told the Express in a telephone interview yesterday.
Pantin was one of the men hired by the contractors to do the task.
Around 11 a.m. yesterday, while Pantin and the vehicle’s driver were transporting the pan racks along Rudolph Charles Link Road they were ambushed by three gunmen.
Rudolph Charles Link Road links Laventille with Belmont.
The gunmen opened fire and Pantin and the driver were injured in the shooting.
They were both rushed to Port of Spain General Hospital, where Pantin died while undergoing emergency surgery.
The driver is said to be in critical condition.
Joseph offered condolences to Pantin’s family on behalf of Witco Desperadoes.
“As we heard about it and we send our condolences to the family. He (Pantin) was no direct member of the band, the contractor we hired to bring the pans down hired these gentlemen, we are sorry as it is that he lost his life,” he said.
Joseph said they are of the view the shooting was a “mix-up”.
Homicide detectives have not determined a motive for the killing as yet.
“We are of the opinion that it had some mix-up, apparently these guys believe this person who I heard is from Diego Martin was someone else,” Joseph said.
“There was nothing at the Despers’ panyard, either up the hill or the new one at Queen’s Park East, it was at the Rudolph Charles Link Road, we understand, that the shooting took place and the victim died at the hospital, as far as the information we received, and a driver also got shot, he is at the hospital right now,” he said.
Joseph said transportation of pan equipment to and from the hill usually occurs without incident during Carnival.
“We accustomed moving pans, so we don’t think it is linked to Despers. We are almost certain that it is some kind of mistake with these guys and them who just start to shoot up the place.”
Joseph said the band still has 75 per cent of its equipment to be relocated to Queen’s Park East.
Police have offered to provide protection for the band in this venture.
“Only about a quarter of the pan racks are down, we have about three-quarter to bring down again, so we have more racks to come down (today), so the police have come to us and said they will assist us in escorting the transport of the pans and the racks tomorrow (today) starting from 8 a.m.,” Joseph said.
Last night’s scheduled practice session was cancelled.
Joseph said he hopes spectators will come to the panyard to support Despers.
“As far as we know, we have no connection whatsoever with any sort of gang violence or anything, it is a normal thing that Despers move off of the hill at Carnival time, this is about the sixth year since we have done it,” Joseph said.
“Because of the crime situation we decided it was best to come down from the hill for the safety of the players and supporters likewise.
“To say it (Pantin’s death) will hamper people from coming, it is too early to speculate, but I doubt because Desperadoes is a renowned band and it is a known band all over the world and people would want to hear them and they will feel safer around Queen’s Park East rather than up the hill,” he said.
The murder toll for the year to date now stands at 17.
Homicide detectives as well as officers of the Belmont and Besson Street police stations are investigating this latest killing.
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We doing a fine job. Go Ahead Africans.
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We doing a fine job. Go Ahead Africans.
This is all planned by design.
Who is bringing in all the guns & drugs and targeting the urban African majority communities?
Remember how during the SoE that no Big Fish responsible for bringing in the guns and drugs got arrested but over 8000 innocent young Black males were arrested and imprisoned without any evidence and eventually had to be set free?
Some of these youths should be playing with a football rather than with guns but where are the community programmes etc to keep them busy, involved with something positive and off the streets?
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Socapro, we , Africans have failed to take care of our business. The other ethnic groups were not in power as long as us, but they took care of their business. They cherished their own and bide their time. Pro, we youths just killing we own kind. Their parents have not control over them. The fact that outsiders can infiltrate the Afro communities and have young Afro use drugs and kill one another is a testament to the failure of Afro Trinis. Breds I from Quarry street side in EDR and to see the disrespect these ignorant f**kers have for a institution like Desperados. Ironically, Despers was a gang and over the years became positive musical institution. I can't explain it.. 12 days in the year and we have 14 murders already. 90% are Afros. We failed Breds. We well and truly friggin fail.
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SILENCED
By RYAN HAMILTON-DAVIS
T&T Newsday
A 35-YEAR-OLD wheelchair-bound man, who was due to give evidence in a shooting incident, which late last year left him crippled, was killed in a gun attack by a group of men who stormed his home in the dead of night, pretending to be police officers.
Police sources yesterday told police that they are on the theory that Kerwyn “Kello” Scott, who was due to head to the magistrates court shortly, was silenced, since he was the principal witness in the shooting which left him disabled.
According to reports, at about three o’clock yesterday morning, Scott was at his home in Blue Basin, Diego Martin when gunmen invaded his yard shouting, “Police! Police!” The men proceeded to kick down his front door and shot Scott several times about the body. He died on the spot.
Relatives at the Forensic Science Centre in St James yesterday described Scott as an outspoken man who lived for his two children and his aunt who raised him from a tender age. “He was outspoken and very full of life,” a relative told Newsday.
“He was the kind of person that would never say ‘no’ to you. He was also very loving. He had lots of love for his aunt.” The relative added, “His mother and father died when he was very young and his aunt took care of him. As soon as his aunt called he would drop what he was doing and would be there for her.”
The relative said that they got a phone call at about 4.30 am telling them that Scott was killed at his house.
Scott was shot late last year and left paralysed. He was confined to a wheelchair ever since. News of his death left the entire family shocked because of the attempt on his life a year ago which resulted in him being wheelchair-bound.
“None of us expected that someone would have come after him,” said another relative.
Police are working on the theory that he may have been killed to silence him as a witness to his previous shooting. Relatives are countering this, however, saying that his frank manner despite his good nature, may have earned him enemies.
“Sometimes the way he came across might have been a bit abrasive,” another relative said. “A lot of people cannot deal with outspoken people, but deep down you know he meant well.” An autopsy done yesterday confirmed that Scott died as a result of shock and haemorrhage consistent with multiple gunshot wounds. Up to press time, no arrests were made and Western Division Homicide Investigations Bureau detectives are continuing investigations.
In an unrelated incident, the country’s murder rate rose to 20 in 12 days after a man who was described as mentally unstable and would regularly be seen around Port-of-Spain driving an imaginary car, was gunned down yesterday morning.
Police said that at about 10.15 am, the victim, identified as Donell Phillip, 27, was at Observatory Street in Port-of-Spain when gunshots were heard. Phillip of Second Caledonia in Morvant was rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. No arrest has been made and no motive for this murder has been established. Investigations are continuing.
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All good things come to an end ... so too all bad things. Some bad things doh come to a screeching halt without the aid of sufficient political will. We are exhausting the sources of political will.
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Socapro, we , Africans have failed to take care of our business. The other ethnic groups were not in power as long as us, but they took care of their business. They cherished their own and bide their time. Pro, we youths just killing we own kind. Their parents have not control over them. The fact that outsiders can infiltrate the Afro communities and have young Afro use drugs and kill one another is a testament to the failure of Afro Trinis. Breds I from Quarry street side in EDR and to see the disrespect these ignorant f**kers have for a institution like Desperados. Ironically, Despers was a gang and over the years became positive musical institution. I can't explain it.. 12 days in the year and we have 14 murders already. 90% are Afros. We failed Breds. We well and truly friggin fail.
Again who is bringing in all the guns and drugs and targeting youths in urban African majority areas to pedal the drugs and to use the guns to stamp their authority over rivals in those areas?
Yes I know there are negligent parents in African families and that problem needs to be addressed by us so I am not denying we have failed more than other communities in that regard.
Btw what do you mean by "The other ethnic groups were not in power as long as us"?
The PNM has always been a multi-racial party that has looked out for all communities in a balance manner.
But who do you think have been the main elections campaigns sponsors of the PNM over the years? It has not been African Trinbagonians so they have never politically controlled the party despite giving the majority of voting support over the years. Also take into account that Africans were the majority population in T&T until the early 1990's.
African people in T&T are just not as conscious and as organized as the other communities in building and supporting our own businesses.
Hopefully all Afro-Trinis will join the Black Caucus in 2015 and that major problem will change in the future as unity is strength. http://www.bcmmovement.com/
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Socapro, I know what you talking about. But AfroTT has to get a they friggin coconut head that we have to build and support business institutions, no matter which party in power. There is a serious imbalance in our "family", Breds. I hope your organization do good, Breds. I really hope so. I will check your organization out.
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Socapro, I know what you talking about. But AfroTT has to get a they friggin coconut head that we have to build and support business institutions, no matter which party in power. There is a serious imbalance in our "family", Breds. I hope your organization do good, Breds. I really hope so. I will check your organization out.
Its not my organization as such. Its any Black or African Trinis organisation to join and use as a vehicle to promote and support Black businesses in T&T and to help us to unite, educate in business and become a serious economic force that can demand better reprsentation from any government in power.
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Man wanted for murdering two former lovers.
By Jensen La Vende (Guardian).
Police are looking for a man with two broken legs wanted for murdering two former lovers. His latest victim is 20-year-old Salma Chadee of Chadee Street, La Paille Village, Caroni, whose relatives are now emotionally distraught and living in fear for their own lives. According to police, Chadee was at her home with the suspect and other family members around 9.30 pm on Saturday, when the two began arguing he accused her of being unfaithful.
The suspect, who broke his legs in a car accident recently, shot Chadee repeatedly, then escaped in a waiting car. There were conflicting reports about the driver of the car. Police said it was an unknown man, while relatives claim it was a man close to the victim. The man was yesterday evening assisting police with their investigations.
Speaking with the media at their Chadee Street home yesterday, Chadee’s relatives said she was a good mother to her 11-month-old son, Noah. They said their relationship with Salma’s family was a strained one, which caused both families not to interact often. As a result, they were unaware of who was staying upstairs.
One relative, who said she cared for Chadee for most of her childhood, said, “She left to go away when she was nine years old. She went to live in New York but came back home recently. She was young and vibrant like to do things a teenager would do. She was a very nice child, a little hot tempered at times, but for the right reasons,” the woman said. Fearful of the suspect, the relatives, all women, chose not to identify themselves but said the suspect had been staying with Chadee for some time.
The women said the former customer service representative abandoned her career for motherhood and was “a mother figure.” The women said an ongoing family dispute strained the relationship and while they had not spoken to Chadee for sometime, her death has left them shattered emotionally.
“I am very, very distressed. Although I haven’t spoken to her in a number of years, I feel very distressed. I feel it for her. Because I brought her up for a while. And if she had a problem in the US, it was me she would call, so to me it hurt me the most because I lost a loved one. Someone close to me, yet far” the woman said. The women said they usually stay at home but decided to go out on Saturday night. They were told of the murder when a relative called frantically asking if they were alright.
The woman added: “To be honest with what happened last night, I am totally scared for my husband, my daughter and myself. What we understand is the person is already wanted in connection for a murder. And to me living with this above your head and not knowing is horrifying because if he was upstairs staying with them and could do that to Salma what can he do to us?” The scene was visited by Snr Supt Johnny Abraham and several officers from Homicide Region Three.
Former lover shot dead
On May 8 last year, the suspect who lived at Maculay Village, Claxton Bay murdered his estranged wife Sherlene Charles after accusing her as well of being unfaithful. Charles, 37, a kitchen assistant at the Royal Hotel, San Fernando, was shot three times while liming with her children and sisters at their Stoney Hill, St Madeleine home. After murdering Charles, the suspect turned his gun on her 17-year-old daughter, Kimberly Mahangoo, shooting her three times. Mahangoo survived.
The suspect escaped after he ran through some bushes at the back of his victims’ home. The shooting came three days after the suspect severely chopped and threatened to kill Charles for ending their relationship in December the previous year.
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DOC, NURSE HELP KILLER
By NALINEE SEELAL
T&T Newsday.
A DOCTOR and nurse had been doing house visits to attend to the man who murdered 19-year-old Salma Chadee in Caroni last Saturday evening. These visits took place in the very house where the man shot the young mother of one to death.
This is the information police are saying they now have as they continue their manhunt for the suspect whom they have now dubbed the country’s most wanted. He has been nursing two broken legs which, it is said, he sustained in a vehicular accident last November.
The medical attention administered via the personal visits of the doctor and nurse to the Chadees’ residence was not restricted to his most recent refuge. Police are saying that following the accident last year the man was taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC) in Mt Hope where he was informed his legs were broken.
He was transferred to St Clair Medical Centre in Port-of-Spain, but by the time police found out that he was at that institution and went there, the suspect secretly discharged himself with the assistance of persons unknown and returned to Caroni where he was hiding out for the past few weeks. Head of the Northern Division Task Force Insp Roger Alexander went as far yesterday as lambasting the murdered girl’s relatives who he alleged assisted her killer who was already wanted for the murder of another woman, Sherlene Mahangoo-Charles, on May 8 last year and for which he was on the run from police.
Alexander was emphatic: “The blood of that girl is on the hands of the suspect, the person who took him upstairs their home at Chadee Street, Caroni; the person who housed him all this time, the person who fed him, the doctor and nurse who visited him on location at Chadee Street, the man who threw him over the wall to get away, the driver of the getaway car and the neighbours of the dead woman at Chadee Street, who knew he was wanted for murder.”
The Inspector was also responding to claims by relatives of the murdered young woman that the police failed to respond to information that the wanted man was hiding in Caroni.
In fact, Alexander said persons who are making these allegations are simply not telling the truth and instead he turned the heat on all the persons who assisted and harboured the fugitive.
Alexander said the police have received information that the man stayed at Salma’s home for the past three months and both the young woman and members of her family knew he was hiding from the police.
According to Alexander the police also received information that a doctor and nurse would visit the suspect at Chadee’s home to administer medication and attend to his broken limbs regularly.
He also added that one of Salma’s relatives had even recommended to the suspect that he eat a lot of garlic. That relative also cooked “soft food” for the suspect, because he was unable to eat food which was hard to chew.
“The man loved tomato choka with hot sada roti with little salt and no pepper,” Alexander said, adding, the wanted man used to be dipping the roti in the choka and eating heartily. “Those persons knew they were housing and feeding a killer, yet they continued to do so and we also understand they switched their surveillance camera at the house conveniently to conceal the faces of visitors to the man, I want to say, we have the information and are working towards finding the killer with or without their ssistance.”
Alexander revealed that on Saturday when Salma was shot and killed at about 9 pm, her relatives contacted EHS and not the police. He said there was hope that Salma would survive the shooting and everything could be concealed. The Inspector said in their haste to do so, persons in the house forgot to conceal the surveillance camera which captured the killer crawling down the stairs and being assisted by a relative to escape in a waiting car.
Contacted for comment, Chief of Staff at the North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA) and chairman designate at this RHA Dr Andy Bhagwandass said all persons seeking medical assistance for gunshot and knife wounds at health institutions must be reported to the police.
“If we are aware that it is a wanted person, obviously we will inform the police at that point. That is a well recognised procedure.
If we suspect any sinister activity we are also duty bound to inform the police,” he said.
Regarding the police’s claim that a doctor and nurse visited and treated the wanted man at home, Dr Bhagwandass this would only be possible if the medics were doing private work for the killer.
Asked whether they could have known the man is wanted by the police, Bhagwandass said, “Well, I didn’t know. He could give a story that he fell from a mango tree and broke his two legs. We won’t expect a patient to lie about how or what has happened, unless of course we think he is hiding something,” he said.
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This story about this wheelchair bound man wrecking havoc all over the place has the potential to be funny.......but alas I can't or shouldn't laugh.......we in a mess.....
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This is real incredible. A man on wheelchair creating havoc. And police can't find him. He is being helped.
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This is real incredible. A man on wheelchair creating havoc. And police can't find him. He is being helped.
...yeah, by police ineptitude. Police know everything about him, including how he like he tomato choka... everything except where to find him.
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This is real incredible. A man on wheelchair creating havoc. And police can't find him. He is being helped.
...yeah, by police ineptitude. Police know everything about him, including how he like he tomato choka... everything except where to find him.
Lately the police is mantra is that they cannot do anything without the public coming forward.
So the population who is at risk is also at fault.
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This is real incredible. A man on wheelchair creating havoc. And police can't find him. He is being helped.
It has been said he change his MO he now in a wheelchair or a stretcher.
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Come on Johnny Abraham !!!, you want to be C of P and you can't find a man in a wheelchair
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Journalist found dead in her bedroom
By Renuka Singh (Guardian).
Outspoken media personality Marcia Henville, 51, died in her home at Fidelis Heights, St Augustine, early yesterday morning. Police and fire services were called on the scene, alerted by a fire at the home, and discovered Henville’s body. The Sunday Guardian understands that first responders found her body when they entered her bedroom.
At the house, there were no visible signs of fire damage, as the fire appeared to have reached only Henville’s bedroom on the upper floor. Police cordoned off the house and closed the gates to the small community housing. The media were not allowed inside the gated housing development.
Henville shared the house with a male relative and her two adult children. While the two children, aged 23 and 19, escaped unharmed, the male relative was said to have sustained burns to 35 per cent of his body and is currently at hospital warded in a serious but stable condition.
Police have also indicated that there are no suspects in the case as yet, though a male relative is assisting with the investigation. The Sunday Guardian was informed that neighbours also reported to police that they heard a loud argument and the sound of a woman screaming before the fire was spotted.
Marcia Henville was struggling to deal with domestic problems
While co-workers and colleagues describe Henville as “vocal,” “vibrant,” “robust,” and a “voice for the voiceless,” they knew of one issue Henville kept silent on: she had her own domestic problems and trials to deal with which were taking a toll on her. Her friend Fulton Wilson took to his Facebook page yesterday where he revealed a different side to the courageous TV personality as she struggled to deal with her own issues.
Wilson’s post read: “I just got the news about Marcia Henville from my neighbour. I am devastated, angry, sad, upset, etc. Knew her over 20 years. After I left journalism our paths hardly crossed except for the occasional gym meeting. That changed recently when she came to me...documents were due to be signed and filed on Monday...” In a subsequent telephone interview, Wilson elaborated.
“I spoke at length with her and she was very enthusiastic... She alluded that the house was going to be an issue, but she was determined...” While Wilson said he could not speak on the issue, he said that Henville shared her secret with her close inner circle of friends. Wilson also called for a speedy post-mortem for his friend, saying that it would help resolve this matter quickly.
Other longtime media friends also said she told them recently that she was “fearful for her life.” Two of Henville’s media friends yesterday revealed that in the last six months, she told them that she was scared for her life because of an escalating domestic situation. Her lawyer confirmed this. Friends said she was planning to move out of her St Augustine home late last year, but changed her mind.
Henville’s sudden death sent shockwaves through the media. Several former and current members of the media also took to Facebook to express their grief. There was also an outpouring of condolences from Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and two political parties, the Congress of the People and the Independent Liberal Party.
Last year, when Henville’s 19-year-old son, Chioke Henville, appeared in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates Court to answer five charges, including possession of a shotgun and eight rounds of ammunition, she was very supportive of him. She faced severe public criticisms for this. The young Henville was granted bail in the sum of $10,000 and is expected to reappear in court on February 4. But this time his mother will not be around to support him.
JeArlean John: She was a robust personality, always kind to the poor
Henville’s former boss, Housing Development Corporation managing director, Jearlean John, yesterday described Henville as a “robust personality.” “She was always a joy to work with. I did not know her in any personal capacity, but she was always helpful and kind to the poor and downtrodden,” John said. “She understood the folks looking for a hand up and was full of empathy for their situations,” John said.
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Come on Johnny Abraham !!!, you want to be C of P and you can't find a man in a wheelchair
Consider, while he might be a wheelchair killer that does not mean he uses a wheelchair. Maybe he used it as a decoy?
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IT WAS MURDER
By NALINEE SEELAL and RYAN HAMILTON-DAVIS
Tuesday, January 27 2015
TELEVISION host and journalist Marcia Henville was murdered... brutally. She was bludgeoned, throat slit, was stabbed several times in the back of the neck and had a flammable liquid poured over her body to burn her where she lay.
These, in essence, are the findings of an autopsy performed on her body at the Forensic Science Centre, St James yesterday by Pathologist Dr Eastlyn Mc Donald-Burris and assisted by Senior Forensic Pathologist Dr Valery Alexandrov.
Henville was discovered burnt and bleeding in the bedroom of her Fidelis Heights, St Augustine apartment home on Saturday morning. The Fire Department responded to a call from the gated community opposite the Hugh Wooding Law School at six o’clock that morning.
Henville’s husband Sheldon escaped the fire with burns about his hands and legs and had to be hospitalised at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC) in Mt Hope. Her children Chioke, 20, and Nekiyah, 15, who were also in the apartment were unhurt.
The autopsy determined Henville’s killer may have used a kitchen knife in the attack to slash her throat, stab her six times to the back and her neck and then beat her on the head, causing blunt force trauma.
The killer then attempted to burn the body of the mother of two by pouring a flammable liquid on her back and on the mattress where she lay and proceeded to set the mattress on fire. The killer also lit the clothing Henville was wearing.
Yesterday’s autopsy led investigators to conclude that when her throat was slashed, Henville fell on her stomach on the bed prompting the killer to inflict the stabs wounds to the back of the neck (which severed her spinal chord) to ensure she was dead. Homicide investigators also now believe the killing was premeditated.
Initial examination of the room where Henville was found, revealed the killer wanted to conceal the murder by burning her body. The killer also wanted to ensure that the fire was contained only to the bedroom. Homicide officers told Newsday while the back of Henville’s body was badly burnt the front torso remained intact.
As a result of the findings of the autopsy homicide officers returned to Fidelis Heights to search for the murder weapon which they believe was left behind at the murder scene. Police believe the killer felt he was successful in concealing Henville’s murder, but after a report of fire was made to the Fire Services, officers responded promptly and were able to contain the blaze before it fully consumed her body.
Henville’s husband Sheldon, 39, a labourer with the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), told police on Saturday that he and his wife went to the Queen’s Park Savannah to listen to pan music.
He said when they returned home a scented candle was lit in the room and they both retired to bed. He claimed that at about 5.30 am on Saturday he was awakened by the crackling sound of fire and ran out of the bedroom and escaped, leaving Marcia behind.
He suffered third degree burns and was taken to the EWMSC where he remained under police guard up until yesterday. Following the autopsy yesterday, Henville’s son Chioke told Newsday that although he was in receipt of the findings from the pathologist of his mother’s death, he was still in a state of grief and was not prepared to say anything at this time. He added that he visited his father at the EWMSC on Sunday and also yesterday and said he was fine.
Chioke said he was preparing to again visit his father yesterday afternoon before proceeding to a wake scheduled to take place upstairs of the Curepe office of the Gayelle Channel, the television system where Marcia once worked. Chioke said the wake will be a gathering of friends and loved ones who wanted to spend some time together to talk about the good memories they shared with his mother.
One such friend, Stephan De Shong, a TV6 cameraman who worked closely with Henville on her programme Point Blank was moved to tears as he recalled the good times he shared with her when visiting several hotspot areas to videotape footage for their crime programme.
“Marcia was the most down to earth, loving woman who would do anything for anyone... she was that kind of person,” he told Newsday. “What drew us closer together was our faith in God.
Many people would not know this, but before any shoot we would pray first for guidance and protection,” Another friend, Rhonda Rochard, Manager of a calypso tent in Morvant who was recently interviewed by Henville, about the tent recounted, “I was awakened at 7 am by an artiste in the tent, asking if I had heard the news that Marcia was dead. I said she cannot be, because I spoke to her less than five hours ago. But then I turned on the news and the radio and that was it.”
Rochard said that management has now decided to dedicate the entire Carnival season to the memory of Marcia.
Police sources confirmed to Newsday that since the murder, they have interviewed several persons who all claimed Henville had confided in them about threats to her life.
Neighbours of Henville have also confirmed to police that before her death on Saturday morning, they heard an argument coming from her apartment followed by screams and an explosion.
Neighbours said it was not the first time heated arguments were heard from Henville’s home. Investigations are continuing, with sources saying that sometime this week, investigators may approach Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard SC, for further directions.
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Cruise ship tourists assaulted, robbed in Port of Spain
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Cruise-ship-tourist-beaten-robbed-in-Port-of-Spain-290666161.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Cruise-ship-tourist-beaten-robbed-in-Port-of-Spain-290666161.html)
By Susan Mohammed
AN elderly English couple visiting Trinidad for a day on a cruise ship was beaten and robbed in Port of Spain this morning.
Phillip Pearson, 77, and his wife, Betty, of Oxfordshire, arrived aboard the cruise ship “Adonia” which docked in Port of Spain.
According to police, shortly before midday, the two were walking along Charlotte Street when in the vicinity of Chang’s Variety Store, a man approached and grabbed Betty Pearson’s gold chain, valued £2,000, off her neck.
The thief pushed the elderly woman to the ground and when her husband tried to intervene, he was overpowered and pushed to the ground also.
The couple’s camera valued £250 also fell and was destroyed.
Police were told the thief ran towards the apartments at Duncan Street and disappeared.
The couple was assisted by passers-by and a police officer on patrol nearby was alerted to the incident.
The couple was taken to the Central CID where they made a report. They were taken by police officers to the Port of Spain General Hospital for treatment.
They suffered cuts and bruises and were expected to be discharged this afternoon.
The cruise ship is expected to leave Trinidad at 6 p.m.
PC Chinpire is continuing investigations.
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$150,000 debt owed to him may have cost him his life
By Susan Mohammed (Express).
KILLED FOR CAR $$
A DEBT of $150,000 owed to Caribbean Airlines Ltd (CAL) director Azad Niamat may have cost him his life.
The Express was told that on the day Niamat went missing on January 29 he went to collect money from a man who lives in East Trinidad.
The source told the Express Niamat was owed the money from the sale of two vehicles – a Mercedes Benz and a seven-seater. He sold the vehicle last March.
Niamat told someone close to him he was going to collect the money the day he vanished.
Niamat’s body was found on Monday in Brazil Village, near Arima.
The body was clad in clothing and a wristwatch which Niamat was last seen by his family wearing, and found less than three kilometres from where his Toyota Prado had been discovered the day after he was reported missing.
Due to the advanced state of decomposition of the body, the forensic procedure is that the identity still must be confirmed through deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) testing.
On Tuesday morning, Niamat’s siblings went to the Forensic Science Centre in St James to hand over samples of their DNA for the tests.
A relative of Niamat’s who requested anonymity said when he was last seen leaving his house in Chaguanas shortly before midday he was seen with a router and he told a nephew he was going to Port of Spain to have it repaired.
“We are just waiting on the results of the DNA tests before we can proceed with funeral arrangements. We haven’t heard how long the identification process will take,” the relative said.
The relative said Niamat’s wife, Greer Cumberbatch, has been distraught since he disappeared.
“She has been very, very distraught. She has not been able to catch herself since he went missing,” the relative said.
The couple would have celebrated 46 years of marriage on July 27.
Niamath was a father of two and a grandfather of five.
Cumberbatch has also said to be in constant contact with their children – their son who is a surgeon in England, and their daughter who recently migrated to Florida.
The family said Caribbean Airlines has offered to cover the expenses of their being flown to Trinidad, possibly by the end of the week.
Imam Morland Lynch, who was at the crime scene, told the Express Niamat had been his friend for some 20 years.
“He was a very loving person, a very generous man. This is a big loss to all who knew him, all in his community. He was a very respectful person. He had a big heart and a big hand,” said Lynch.
He said an example of his generosity was that Niamat had helped to build a mosque at Crown Trace, Enterprise.
Last week, Niamat’s family offered a reward to anyone who can bring information that can lead to him being found.
Chaguanas Chamber expresses condolences
The president of the Chaguanas Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CCIC) Richie Sookhai has extended deepest condolences to the family of Niamat in his passing.
He said: “Mr Niamat has been a friend of the Chamber for many years, sharing a very close and fruitful relationship. He was a true son of the soil in Central Trinidad and will be sorely missed.
“His amiable nature and quick wit rendered him an immediate favourite amongst his peers. He was a shrewd and innovative business, demonstrated by the successes of his business ventures.
He was a family man who also enjoyed a good time with his neighbours in the community. He will be missed.
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One month after daughter’s murder by man in wheelchair, mom asks why no arrest:
By Kim Boodram (Express).
COPS HIDING KILLER
Mother of the victim of the “wheelchair killer”, Salma Chadee, said yesterday the grieving family believes the suspect is being protected by the police as almost one month later he is yet to be arrested.
Waheida Khan-Chadee said she is “hurt” and “stunned” that the person of interest being sought by the police who lived with the family for some time and presented himself as Joe “Goat” Mohammed, is still “hiding and living good” nearly a month after she witnessed her 19-year-old daughter being fatally shot.
“What are the police doing?” she asked.
Salma Chadee was shot twice in the chest at home on January 17, while Khan-Chadee stood a few feet away, holding Chadee’s 11-month-old son, Noah.
Speaking from her Chadee Street, La Paille Village home yesterday, Khan-Chadee said rumours continue to reach the family that the “wheelchair killer”, so called because his legs were broken and he was confined to a wheelchair at the time of the murder, is being seen out and about in the Central area.
After killing Chadee, the man forced her brother to carry him outside, where a getaway car was waiting. The man’s wheelchair was left behind as he was thrown out into the front yard and dragged himself to freedom.
“I heard he was seen recently in Chaguanas moving around with the help of friends,” Khan-Chadee said.
“He is free as usual but apparently he is well-connected.”
The man is also wanted in connection with the murder last May of his estranged wife, Sherlene Mahangoo-Charles. Khan-Chadee maintained yesterday that neither her daughter nor the family was aware of the man’s true identity.
“We never had a clue,” she said.
She stated again, however, that Mohammed had claimed to have been assisted by police on the day of his accident in which his legs were broken.
“He said they called the ambulance for him. So didn’t they know who he was, or are they protecting him?” she asked.
The 47-year-old grandmother said yesterday she lost her job at a private doctor’s office after the murder, as her employer felt too much “negativity” had been generated by the incident. She now cares for her grandson, while the health of her husband, Chadee’s father, has declined. Chadee’s father suffers from clinical depression.
Khan-Chadee reiterated statements she made after the murder, saying the killer had stayed a her home for close to a month following his accident and she believed her daughter felt sorry for him.
“He never really talked about having any family and such,” she said.
“Salma had known him through friends and I think she was sorry for him but maybe he thought they were together. I can’t say that I saw any relationship between them.”
She is still unsure as to “what triggered him off” on the day of the shooting but she knew her daughter had begun to find the man “possessive”.
“I believe she may have told him that she couldn’t take care of him anymore,” Khan-Chadee said. “But if he could do that to his wife and then come here and do this to my daughter, he has no remorse.”
She said the man had spent most of his time on the family’s couch and although she had limited conversation with him, she treated him well, believing him to be a friend of her daughter in need.
“He used to call me ‘lady’ and was respectful,” she said.
“He used to keep a Quran by his head all the time and would talk about the book. He pretended to be a good person.”
Now the Chadee family lives not only in grief but in fear that the killer could return.
“It is so hurtful and frightening that he is still outside,” Khan-Chadee said.
“He is hiding and living good while we have to deal with this. My daughter and I had become so close after she had the baby, she used to tell me that the day I die, she wants to die that same day too.”
Baby Noah’s father is not a part of the child’s life, she said, and she intends to apply to the courts for legal guardianship. Relatives of the Chadees living on the same property and their neighbours have all expressed similar fears for their safety.
“He could rationalise a reason to come back here,” said one relative, who declined to be named.
“I have a child who is too afraid and traumatised to go to school because of this.”
Neighbours on the short street have upped security, adding more lights and cameras to their properties.
(http://media.trinidadexpress.com/images/Untitled-5113.jpg)
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This is straight out of the tv series, The Fugitive. There was the the one arm man villain in the tv version. We have the wheel chair man in the TT version. Unbelievable!!!!
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Pray for sweet T&T
Man killed for taking a wine
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Man-killed-for-taking-a-wine-292130621.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Man-killed-for-taking-a-wine-292130621.html)
FOR wining on the ex-girlfriend of a known Morvant gang member during Jouvert celebrations in downtown Port of Spain, a 29-year-old St Helena man lost his life yesterday morning after he was shot by the jealous gunman.
It was just minutes after Aston Antoine, of Las Lomas #1, went to the home of the woman and her sister at Leon Street, Morvant, around 9.30 a.m. that the gunman approached and opened fire hitting Antoine in the upper body before escaping. Up to yesterday evening he remained at large but police sources at the Morvant station said they expect an arrest to be made soon given that the suspect is well-known by officers for his involvement in criminal activities.
Officers said they believed the shooter also had the intention of murdering his former lover but she escaped unhurt when she noticed him approaching. Her sister however, was shot in the hand and was warded in satisfactory condition yesterday evening, police said.
Investigating officers said Antoine and the women attended Jouvert celebrations in the capital city during which Antoine was wining on both women. The situation soon escalated after the suspect, who was nearby, approached the trio and an altercation took place. However, this was soon brought under control by others present, police said.
This was not to be the end of the altercation though. Officers said when the three returned to the Morvant address they were seated outside the house and this was when the gunman made his move. Soon after the incident, officers of the Morvant Police Station arrived at the scene and took Antoine and the injured woman to the Port of Spain General Hospital. Around 1.30 p.m. Antoine was pronounced dead while on the operating table, said detectives.
Offiers of the Region II Homicide Bureau of Investigations is continuing investigations into the murder
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Murder mars las lap on the Avenue.
By Jensen La Vende (Guardian).
Four killings over 24 hours
The murder of a state witness and a carnival spectator were among four that took place between Carnival Tuesday and Ash Wednesday. The murders have taken the murder toll to 52 for the year, 20 fewer than the same period last year. The killings brought the total number of people killed over the last five days to 12.
Police said 21-year-old Kyshon Bell told relatives he did not want to go into the city to witness the parade of the bands. He was beaten and stabbed in a fight along Ariapita Avenue, Woodbrook, shortly after 6.30 pm. The incident disrupted las lap celebrations as police moved in to quell the fight near Wendy’s fast food restaurant on Ariapita Avenue. According to police reports, Bell, of Queen Street, Port-of-Spain, died at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital about two hours later.
According to one of Bell’s friends who spoke with the media, yesterday, at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, Bell was accosted by a man wearing a carnival band security T-shirt who thought he had thrown a bottle at them. The friend, who did not want to be named, said the incident followed an incident where another friend was thrown out of the band.
Speaking with the T&T Guardian at their Queen Street home yesterday, Bell’s aunt, who identified herself only as Yvette, said her nephew was a peacemaker who never disrespected anyone. She said the father of two was not supposed to have gone out that day but accompanied his younger cousin who wanted to go look at the mas. Yvette said her nephew’s lungs were punctured when he was stabbed.
“This is a great loss to the family. If you is a security in a band you have no authority to stab him. It wasn’t one stab you know, is more than one,” Yvette said. Another relative said justice was all the family wanted now, adding that no one from the band had contacted them since the incident. Another one of Bell’s relatives who was described as his favourite cousin, Khadisha, called on the authorities to use security cameras to identify the killers.
“They (the band organisers) probably don’t even know Kyshon dead, no one came or called. Is like if he was just a dog, as though he don't have a family. I think if you hiring security you must show them how to act with people on the road. My cousin went to enjoy himself and then end up dead,” Khadisha said. Bell will be buried on Saturday.
In a telephone interview with the T&T Guardian yesterday, leader of the band, which was identified by the security guard’s T-shirt, said while the incident was not brought to his attention, it could not have happened with his band as his band was already done for the day and at his mas camp in Woodbrook when the stabbing took place.
Other killings
In the most recent killing, 24-year-old Kurt Boyce was killed at the home of his girlfriend around 2 am yesterday. Police reports said Boyce was at the Trou Macaque home of his girlfriend when a gunman stormed the house and shot him once in the chest while he was asleep.
He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. His girlfriend, who was at home when Boyce was shot, spoke with the media at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, yesterday. She described Boyce as a hardworking man.
“He was a nice person. He was just a nice person. I have a daughter; he used to treat she like he own but we have no children together,” she said.
On Carnival Tuesday night, state witness Nicholas Joseph, 21, was killed near his Dundonald Hill, St James, home around 10.30 pm. Joseph was the main witness in the killing of Marlon Harewood, 35, who was killed on April 25, 2014. His body was found behind a neighbour’s house at Dundonald Hill, Belle Vue, St James. Police said Joseph had been receiving death threats recently.
A man is currently before the Port-of-Spain Magistrates Court charged with Harewood’s murder. In the fourth killing, a homeless man was found semi-nude in a shack in St Augustine. According to police reports, around 2.30 pm on Tuesday, Northern Division officers went to Agostini St, St Augustine, where they found the body of Joel “Cruz” Benjamin in the house.
Benjamin is the second man this month to be found dead in the Division without any pants or underwear. On February 8, a man was found in the same condition near the Grand Bazaar overpass.
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ONE BULLET TO THE HEAD
By RYAN HAMILTON DAVIS and CECILY ASSON
TWO teenaged sisters were left severely traumatised after they witnessed their mother being shot through the head at point blank range by two men who forced their way into the victim’s Point Fortin home on Tuesday night.
Police reported that at about 11.45 pm, Sadhana Nobbee, 48, and her daughters Kia, 19, and Tress, 15, were at their Sting Trace, Point Fortin home when two men wearing tall boots and dressed in clothing similar to those of police officers, kicked in the front door to their wooden house.
The noise alerted the teenagers who came out of their room to see what was happening. They were confronted by the gunmen who police said made them and their mother kneel on the floor. The intruders began questioning Nobbee about the whereabouts of a man named “Clyde”.
When Nobbee said he was not at the house, she was shot once in the head. As Nobbee immediately slumped to the floor, bleeding profusely from the gunshot wound, the men left the house. The teens’ screams alerted other residents and Nobbee was rushed to the Point Fortin Area Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
A party of officers led by Insp Parriman and including Sgt Corrie, Cpl Prince along with officers of the Southern Division Homicide Bureau visited the scene. Police sources said that Nobbee was a divorcee and for the past year had been in a common-law relationship with someone. A motive has not yet been established for the killing.
At the Forensic Science Centre in St James, a relative who asked not to be identified described Nobbee as a “friendly and peaceful woman.” The relative could not say why anyone would want Nobbee killed.
“I don’t believe my relative had any enemies,” said the woman. “She had a lot of friends so I can’t say why someone would want to end her life in such a horrifying manner,” the relative added.
Nobbee a mother of three, grew up with her five other siblings in Cedros and later moved to Point Fortin. “One of her daughters called me and said, ‘we have a big problem, mom has just been shot’. I told her I would be right there and I went with one of my brothers and another sister,” the grieving relative said.
In an unrelated incident, housewife Amanda Mahatoo, 19, who is eight months pregnant and who lives in Penal was shot in both legs by a masked gunman who before opening fire on her, robbed her of a bag containing $40,000. He escaped in a vehicle parked nearby.
Investigators revealed at the time of the shooting, Mahatoo was just about to leave her home to go to the bank to make a deposit. Mahatoo’s common-law husband is involved in the fishing industry. She was rushed to the Sapaira Health Facility where she was treated and later transferred to the San Fernando General Hospital where she remains warded in stable condition. Sgts Ramsingh, Victor, Neemai, Cpl Marsh, PC Samlal and officers of the Penal Police Station responded. Investigations are continuing. Nobbee is the eighth woman to be murdered for this year.
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Girl, 5, sees mom killed
By Carolyn Kissoon (Express).
MURDER-SUICIDE HORROR
A five-year-old girl who was in the back seat of a car had to watch as a man shot her mother dead before turning the weapon on himself on Saturday night.
Little Kensiya Ragoonanan ran out of the vehicle into the arms of a stranger, who was standing on the roadway.
Benedict Gabriel, of Pleasantville, told police he was standing at Princess Margaret Street, San Fernando around 9 p.m. when he heard explosions.
Gabriel said he saw a little girl running towards him. She said her mother was dead.
San Fernando police responded to the report and found the child’s mother, Jessica Brereton, dead in the front passenger seat. A man was slumped in the driver’s seat of the silver BMW car with gunshot wounds to the head.
He was identified as Anil Lalmansingh, 41, of Mitchell Street, South Oropouche.
Brereton, 34, lived at Seaview Drive, Marabella.
Relatives said the couple, who worked together at Iere Express Couriers in San Fernando, had been in a relationship for almost three years.
But late last year, relatives said, Brereton, an administrative assistant, ended the relationship.
Her mother, Veronica Noel, said, “She left home around 8.30 p.m. to go to Fyzabad. She didn’t say why. I ask her about her daughter and she said the child was going with her. She and the man worked together and they were in a relationship. Just before Christmas she ended the relationship because things were not working out. I didn’t know the details. But the man went Miami and came back and they were talking again.”
Brereton was also the mother of 11-year-old Hezekiah Brandon.
Following the shooting, Noel was informed that her daughter was in an abusive relationship with the man. “She confided in a friend. She didn’t tell me. I heard that he locked her in a room at work and wanted to stab her. He would rough her up in the office and she couldn’t put up with it anymore. I can’t understand why she didn’t tell me, because we had a good relationship. I heard that the man convinced my daughter to keep secrets from me because he knew I would go to the police,” she said.
Noel said Brereton was the second of her four children. “I got a call from someone who knew the man and she told me my daughter was shot dead. I didn’t believe it until the police called. I went to the station but they didn’t hand over Kensiya. I had to send for my identification card and the police brought her home to us. I am now left to care for my grandchildren,” she said.
The police and church have offered counselling to the little girl.
At Lalmansingh’s home in South Oropouche relatives were shocked by the news that he had killed Brereton and himself.
His older sister, Kim Bhola, said Lalmansingh loved Brereton dearly and wanted to marry her.
She said after her brother divorced six years ago, he found love in his co-worker and the two shared a good relationship. Lalmansingh, a courier, was the father of an 18-year-old girl.
Bhola said Brereton lived with her brother, who never displayed violent behaviour.
“He was in Miami recently and was supposed to go again this month. I got the news from my mom in New York, someone called her last night. He loved the girl, everybody was in shock,” she said.
Bhola said she sympathised with Brereton’s family.
“As a mother, my heart goes out to that family. I know they must be hurting just like us. It is so sad. I don’t know what went wrong. I don’t know why this happened,” she said.
Lalmansingh’s car was seized by investigators, as homicide detectives continue investigations.
The murder toll now stands at 84, according to an Express tally.
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No bail for woman, 22, accused of stabbing 10-year-old sister
By Sascha Wilson (Guardian)
Bail was yesterday denied to a 22-year-old woman accused of stabbing her 10-year-old sister because the child is in a serious condition at the San Fernando General Hospital.
Dion Cross, who was arrested shortly after the alleged incident, appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington in the San Fernando First Court. She was not represented by an attorney.
Several relatives were present in court when Wellington denied bail, saying, “I am not fixing bail until her condition improves.”
He advised Cross of the right to apply to the judge in chambers for bail, and asked the prosecutor to update him on the child’s condition at the next hearing.
Prosecutor Sgt Gordon Maharaj said the child was still warded at the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital. He provided the magistrate with a medical report, detailing the child's injuries.
Wellington read the charge to Cross that on March 26 at Solomon Street, Vistabella she wounded Cherise Cross with intent to do her grievous bodily harm. She was not called upon to plea.
It is alleged that Cross stabbed her sister four times during an argument at their home. The child underwent emergency surgery.
The matter was adjourned to April 14.
(http://www.guardian.co.tt/sites/default/files/field/image/IMG_9379.jpg)
Dion Cross, 22, charged with wounding her 10-year-old sister Cherisse Cross with intent to do her grievous bodily harm, is escorted to the San Fernando Magistrates Court by police on March 31, 2015. Photo: Rishi Ragoonath
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Abusive lover stabs girlfriend to death
By Jensen La Vende (Guardian).
A hostile relationship, a jealous lover and alleged poor policing are being blamed for the murder of Nikita Griffin, who was stabbed to death early yesterday at her Clifton Hill apartment, St Paul Street, East Dry River, Port-of-Spain. Police said around 5.30 am, Griffin, a 28-year-old mother of three, was at her apartment, having just returned home from partying with friends when she and the suspect began arguing.
The man then pulled out a knife and stabbed her repeatedly in front of her 13-year-old child. After stabbing the woman the man placed her in a car and took her to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival. The man, police said, is now in hiding. Speaking to the media at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, yesterday, Griffin’s friends said she and the man were together for the past five months and were continuously arguing.
The man, they said, was always jealous of any attention Griffin received from the opposite sex and that was the cause of most of the almost daily arguments. The women lamented that Griffin’s killer was arrested by police after the two got into a heated argument recently but was later released.
Griffin’s killing was one of three which occurred between Tuesday night and yesterday morning. In the other killings, police are clueless over the motive for the murder of Alyrio Sergio Howard.
Police reports are that around 8.50 pm on Tuesday, Howard, 35, of Queen Elizabeth Avenue, Petit Valley, was driving east along Carlton Avenue, St James, when a Nissan B-13 stopped in front of his Hyundai Elantra. Two men came out and shot him several times before driving off. The car was later found abandoned. Speaking at the FSC yesterday, his mother, Lorraine Howard, said her son was a loving young man who had recently returned from abroad after completing his studies. He had two children aged two and six and was an accountant with Sagicor.
An unidentified aunt called on the media to highlight the ills of society so that they could be addressed. She added her nephew’s murder was “a sign of the times in T&T,” adding: “T&T is not becoming a nice place. It really isn't.” In the other killing, homicide detectives say they are reviewing closed circuit television footage in the hope of apprehending the killer/s of Shane Harper.
Police said around 11.30 pm on Tuesday, residents of Belmont Circular Road heard several gunshots and called the police. When police arrived they found Harper, of La Canoa, Santa Cruz, dead at Carr Lane, off Carr Street, Belmont Circular Road. Police are unsure of a motive behind his killing. With the three murders the toll is now 94. The figure for the same period last year was 113.
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Abusive lover stabs girlfriend to death
By Jensen La Vende (Guardian).
A hostile relationship, a jealous lover and alleged poor policing are being blamed for the murder of Nikita Griffin, who was stabbed to death early yesterday at her Clifton Hill apartment, St Paul Street, East Dry River, Port-of-Spain. Police said around 5.30 am, Griffin, a 28-year-old mother of three, was at her apartment, having just returned home from partying with friends when she and the suspect began arguing.
The man then pulled out a knife and stabbed her repeatedly in front of her 13-year-old child. After stabbing the woman the man placed her in a car and took her to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival. The man, police said, is now in hiding. Speaking to the media at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, yesterday, Griffin’s friends said she and the man were together for the past five months and were continuously arguing.
The man, they said, was always jealous of any attention Griffin received from the opposite sex and that was the cause of most of the almost daily arguments. The women lamented that Griffin’s killer was arrested by police after the two got into a heated argument recently but was later released.
Griffin’s killing was one of three which occurred between Tuesday night and yesterday morning. In the other killings, police are clueless over the motive for the murder of Alyrio Sergio Howard.
Police reports are that around 8.50 pm on Tuesday, Howard, 35, of Queen Elizabeth Avenue, Petit Valley, was driving east along Carlton Avenue, St James, when a Nissan B-13 stopped in front of his Hyundai Elantra. Two men came out and shot him several times before driving off. The car was later found abandoned. Speaking at the FSC yesterday, his mother, Lorraine Howard, said her son was a loving young man who had recently returned from abroad after completing his studies. He had two children aged two and six and was an accountant with Sagicor.
An unidentified aunt called on the media to highlight the ills of society so that they could be addressed. She added her nephew’s murder was “a sign of the times in T&T,” adding: “T&T is not becoming a nice place. It really isn't.” In the other killing, homicide detectives say they are reviewing closed circuit television footage in the hope of apprehending the killer/s of Shane Harper.
Police said around 11.30 pm on Tuesday, residents of Belmont Circular Road heard several gunshots and called the police. When police arrived they found Harper, of La Canoa, Santa Cruz, dead at Carr Lane, off Carr Street, Belmont Circular Road. Police are unsure of a motive behind his killing. With the three murders the toll is now 94. The figure for the same period last year was 113.
Terrible situation... BTW, she was 28 with a 13 year old child???
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she was 28 with a 13 year old child???
Meant she "molested" at the age of 15.
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I watching the close up shot of the pavement. Imagine we used to play barefeet on that long ago. Jeez!
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Man drowns near Hyatt
T&T Newsday
Depression and problems at home may have been why Satyam Mahabir, 32, apparently committed suicide on Thursday evening by jumping into the sea near the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain.
Mahabir, a resident of Cipero Road, Golconda Village, San Fernando, was reportedly walking along the ledge by the Waterfront shortly before 8 pm on Thursday when he jumped into the sea.
Persons who witnessed the shocking incident contacted the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG), which then dispatched Coast Guard Interceptor 021 to rescue Mahabir.
TTCG Public Relations Officer, Lieutenant Commander Kirk Jean-Baptiste, told Newsday “the interceptor responded with divers on board and at 9.45 pm, a body was retrieved from the water and handed over to the EHS (Emergency Health Services), who attempted to revive (Mahabir) but were unable to do so.”
This is not the first time such an incident has occurred at the Waterfront.
The body of Chinese national, Xiao Suc Hao, 22, was found floating near to the fountain on Monday, June 29, 2009 two days after he jumped into the sea near to the Breakfast Shed.
Eyewitnesses said the young man, an employee of Shanghai Construction Group, had his hands clasped when he jumped. When his body was retrieved, his hands were said to be still clasped, as if praying.
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FIND HONG’s KILLER
By Marlene Augustine and Ryan Hamilton-Davis
Thursday, April 9 2015
The murder of Chinese businessman, Hi Hong Huang, on Tuesday in Curepe is generating widespread fear among the Chinese community in Trinidad and Tobago, and has also triggered a round of diplomatic talks scheduled for today between resident Chinese Ambassador Xingyan Huang, and Minister of National Security, Brigadier General Carl Alfonso.
Ambassador Xingyan is going into the discussions with the Minister further to his initial reaction yesterday to the murder: “Find the killer, and bring the killer to justice as soon as possible, for the murder of Hong Huang.”
Hong, 35, was fatally shot on Tuesday outside his businessplace, Happiness Supermarket, off the Southern Main Road, Curepe, as he was entering his premises from a panel van he had just parked with a large sum of money in a box.
CCTV cameras showed Hong being wrestled violently to the ground by a man who approached him from the pavement and who was seeking to grab the box. As Hong and his attacker wrestled on the ground, another man approached and loud explosions were heard. The two men were then seen escaping with the box containing an undisclosed sum of cash as Hong stumbled toward the building. He was assisted by an employee of the supermarket and taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC), Mt Hope where he succumbed to his injuries. An autopsy revealed yesterday that the businessman died as a result of a single bullet to the chest.
In a statement issued yesterday Ambassador Xingyan, disclosed he would meet with Alfonso today over the local crime situation.
Alfonso, who was at the sitting of the Parliament to discuss the Police Regulation Amendment Bill, confirmed he will meet today with the Chinese Ambassador to discuss this most recent murder of a Chinese national in Trinidad and Tobago.
“With me will be a member of the Police Service as well, to be able to give him any updates as to what is happening as far as investigations go,” Alfonso told Newsday.
Alfonso expressed regret at the recent killing, saying, “I have concerns, about the killing of anybody, including a Chinese national. I’ll speak with the Ambassador. I want to hear what he has to say, and how best we can deal with it. I’m just as saddened as the Ambassador is. I want to offer my condolences to the family on behalf of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.”
Ambassador Xingyan’s statement also noted the Embassy has the responsibility and obligation of ensuring the Chinese nationals’ legitimate rights and interests, including their safety, are being properly protected.
The statement revealed that since Tuesday’s murder of the Chinese businessman, the Embassy has been receiving calls from Chinese nationals living in TT about their concerns over crime in the country.
The statement read, “Around 2,000 Chinese nationals are living in TT. Since Tuesday, the Embassy has received phone calls from Chinese communities, Chinese companies and many local friends. They all said they were very frightened, saddened and concerned, and hoped that justice could be done as soon as possible.” The statement indicated that when the Ambassador heard the news of the murder, he was very shocked, and immediately visited the family of the victim.
He expressed his high concern to “pertinent authorities of TT”, requesting the TT Government to find and bring the killer to justice.
The Embassy noted the murder occurred in broad daylight which added heavy clouds about the current safety of all the other Chinese nationals.
It added that the safety of Chinese nationals has been under threat recently in some areas, where cases of stealing and robbery often occurred, and went on to warn Chinese nationals living in Trinidad and Tobago of “safety hazards.”
Hong was the fifth Chinese national to lose his life to crime in Trinidad and Tobago.
Last year, at a press conference Ambassador Xingyan mentioned that several Chinese nationals had been robbed in recent years, often at gunpoint, while four were murdered in 2012.
On January 14, 2012, 22-year-old Yu Quan Ue was stabbed to death at a restaurant in Chaguanas. On July 12 of the same year Wu Xiuhua 60, and her husband Jianhua Yang, 60 were shot in a restaurant in Cunupia. Xiuhua died on the scene while her husband, Yang, succumbed the following day to his injuries while at the EWMSC. Later that year in October, Chang Xiao Feng, 33, was shot dead in Barataria. No arrests have been made in any of these murders. Reactions by relatives outside the Forensic Science Centre, St James yesterday underscored the concern of the Chinese community over the rate of police detection, especially when it comes to murder cases.
“The entire Chinese community is very disturbed and taken aback by this latest incident,” said Abrahim Ali, former president of the San Juan Business Association. He added that they reflect on the past murders of Chinese nationals for which no one has been arrested.
He added, “They are hoping with the amount of information and evidence in this murder, that something happens,” said Ali, a friend of the deceased for ten years.
The proprietor of a chain of supermarkets, Hong had been a resident of Barataria years before he had opened his first supermarket. He was described as a humble, polite and easygoing person who assisted the less fortunate in his area on a daily basis.
Hong left behind a wife and three children. According to Ali, the family is in shambles after learning of the man’s murder.
“His wife is totally distraught and very shaken-up” said Ali.
Although there had been no arrests up to press time, police have retrieved the CCTV footage of the incident and, according to homicide officials, enquiries are being conducted.
In his television programme yesterday, Inspector Roger Alexander suggested to the two bandits that they turn themselves in since television cameras had exposed their faces to the elements.
“We are not begging,” Alexander said,“We are giving you an opportunity to come and come quick.”
He cautioned business persons about the steps they take to secure money.
“Now there were some mistakes made and we do not want the same to be done across the board,” Alexander continued. “You have large sums of money, yet you choose to move around with it, money in box here, money in box there and then you are carrying it in one location to count the money.”
Yesterday, the grocery where the murder occurred was opened for business. However, according to employees, there was a significant drop in the number of customers.
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Safety officer killed 2 hours after shift ends
T&T Guardian
A 56-year-old health and safety officer at the Piarco International Airport was found murdered in Carenage less than two hours after he left work on Monday night.
Western Division Police made the grisly discovery shortly before midnight Monday, when they responded to an anonymous report of a dead body seen at the side of the road at Raymond Street, Carenage.
When they arrived they found Gerald “Figaro” Stone, of Bonasse Village, Cedros, lying across a drain near the roadway with his head touching the pavement. Residents told police they had not seen Stone in the area before, but saw a gold Nissan Almera speeding out of the community minutes before his body was discovered.
Stone, who had two wounds to his chest, was pronounced dead on the scene by a District Medical Officer (DMO). A post-mortem performed at the Forensic Science Centre (FSC), St James, yesterday revealed he was stabbed to death.
Speaking with reporters outside the FSC yesterday, Stone’s friends and relatives said they were still in shock from the news of his murder. They described him as hard working and nonconfrontational.
“This man, what they do him that for? I have known him for over 20 years, he was a hard-working and loving man.
“He was just a pleasant man. Always reading his Bible, always friendly. He was a real gentleman and he didn’t deserve this at all,” a friend who asked to remain unidentified said.
Homicide detectives are yet to establish a clear motive for his murder but have ruled out robbery as his wallet and its contents were found in his pocket. But they believe Stone was killed elsewhere and was already dead when his body was dumped in Carenage, as there was very little blood on the scene.
Police are expected to interview Stone’s co-workers and friends to determine where he went and whom he was with between the time he left work and the time his body was found.
The murder toll for the year stood at 110 up to late yesterday.
Investigations are continuing.
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Sex ‘accused’ killed in Arouca
T&T Guardian
Homicide detectives are investigating the death of Isiah Jackie, who was beaten and shot and his body dumped at Jitman Drive, Arouca.
According to police reports, around 1 am yesterday officers attached to the Arouca station were called by residents who claimed that Jackie, 25, was being beaten by villagers. Some time later the officers found his body in a bushy area off Jitman Drive. He was beaten and shot, police said.
Police said Jackie, of Sunset Drive, Arouca, was accused of sexually assaulting someone recently and that may have been why he was killed.
In an unrelated incident, relatives of murdered teenager Renaldo Hill said yesterday he was no gangster and they were clueless as to who would want him dead.
According to police reports, around 6.45 pm on Saturday, Hill was at Waterhole, Cocorite, when he was approached by a group of men, one of whom he knew. One of the men pulled out a gun and shot him. He was rushed to the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital where he died while being treated.
Police said Hill’s killing was linked to the shooting of Brandon Lutchman on April 8 in Cocorite. Lutchman is a suspect in the murder of David “Sprang” Wilson, who was murdered one week before Lutchman was shot. Relatives of Hill, who spoke with the media at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, said Hill had taken six weeks off from school to enlist in an electrical installation course.
He was scheduled to resume classes at the Mucurapo Secondary School yesterday.
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Woman shot while walking
By Jensen La Vende (Guardian).
Cops start patrols at Lady Chancellor…
Police say they will be increasing their patrols along the Lady Chancellor Hill, St Clair, after a woman was shot while walking along the popular training spot.
According to police reports, the woman, who will not be identified because she is currently in a home for battered women, was walking down the hill around 10.30 am yesterday when she was attacked.
The woman told police she noticed a man bending over as if he was tying his shoe laces as she was walking along the road. But when she got close to the man, he grabbed her by her shoulder and shot her once in the leg. The man then jumped into a white Nissan Tiida and drove off.
Police said the woman could not identify her attacker, but told them she believed that it may be linked to her being at the home. Following the shooting, the woman was taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where she is currently warded in a stable condition.
PC Hinds of the St Clair Police Station is continuing investigations
Speaking with the T&T Guardian yesterday, public information officer of the T&T Police Service, ASP Michael Pierre, said the police would increase patrols at the popular training spot. However, he denied the increased police presence was due to the fact that wealthy persons lived and also exercised in the area.
Cricket legend Brian Lara and business mogul Arthur Lok Jack live in the community.
“When things like this happen patrols are usually heightened in the area. There are a number of people who jog and exercise along the roadway, so there is that need to assure them that the police have things under control,” Pierre said.
Meanwhile, police are also investigating the murder of Jason “Point” Williams Jr, who was shot in his car a mere 100 metres from his Augustine Lane, Belmont home on Thursday night.
According to police reports, Williams was ambushed by a gunman while driving his Nissan Wingroad along Belle Eau Road around 7.45 pm. Williams, a garbage truck driver and part time PH taxi driver, was on his last trip for the night when he was killed.
Police said a woman and her child were in the back seat while another woman was in the front seat when the gunman opened fire. The car was found crashed into a wall with Williams slumped over onto the front passenger seat. The gunman calmly walked away after the attack.
Speaking with the media at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, yesterday, Williams’ sister-in-law, Joy Phillip, described him as an easy-going man who usually didn’t go into the Belle Eau Road area. She said Williams was the father of two boys, seven and 13.
Grace Phillip, Williams’ wife, said the 38-year-old had just moved back into the family home two months ago and was focused on caring for his family.
Phillip questioned why Williams was killed, as he was not in any gang or affiliated with any gang and had moved out of the area initially to remove himself from a war between two rival gangs in the community who sought to claim him as one of their “soldiers.”
“He was about his family and providing for his family so he had a good reason not to get involved,” Phillip said.
In an unrelated incident, police said 27-year-old Hassani Wharwood was killed during a drug deal that went sour on Thursday. According to police reports, Wharwood, of Sixth Avenue, Malick, Barataria, was in a Toyota Yaris with Nathaniel Guerra along Pundit Street, El Socorro, San Juan, when a gunman approached and shot the duo. Wharwood, a labourer with the San Juan Regional Corporation, died at the scene while Guerra was taken to the Eric Williams Medical Complex, Mt Hope, where he is currently warded in a stable condition.
The killings have taken the murder toll to 119 for the year. The toll was 143 for the same period last year.
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Husband gunned down as wife runs for help
By Kevon Felmine (Guardian)
Cops probe Claxton Bay murder
A Claxton Bay woman narrowly escaped an encounter with a gunman who took the life of her husband yesterday even as she ran for help.
Police say Super Industrial Services Ltd (SIS) supervisor Vijay Basdeo, 35, was preparing for work at his Abraham Street, Claxton Bay home around 5.30 am yesterday when he walked into his garage, and was approached by a gunman.
Basdeo was ordered back to the house and was forced to tie his wife Feroza Mohammed’s hands with duck tape. He was then taken to a bedroom where he too was tied by the gunman.
Mohammed was able to free herself, but as she ran to neighbours for help, Basdeo was shot once in the head.
Even though she heard the gunshot, it was only when she saw undertakers removing her husband’s body that she believed that he was dead.
Comforting words from relatives and neighbours did little, as she sat in front of her home, crying loudly.
Cops question motive
Central Division police did not reveal much, saying that they needed to protect the witnesses.
“We are looking for a man who left the scene in a blue coverall with an orange stripe and we have certain leads that we are working with and I really don’t wish to disclose it for the safety of the people involved. So far, the villagers are assisting us well, it seems to be a close-knitted community,” Sen Supt Johnny Abraham said.
“Looking at what happened here, I don’t want to believe it was a robbery because if you really come to rob a family, I don’t think you will duct tape them and then shoot someone in their head without resistance. He was found in a bedroom with both hands and feet tied."
He said this was the fifteenth murder in the Central Division for 2015.
SIS link?
Police are probing whether the murder was work-related as his attacker was seen fleeing his home in a coverall resembling those worn at the company.
Among the dozens of colleagues who gathered outside Basdeo’s home, some debated whether Basdeo's murder was connected to his place of employment.
One supervisor said that it could have been a grudge created by someone who was laid-off after working on a plant shut down.
But the victim’s younger brother Kashav said while there were speculations that the murder was work related, his brother had no enemies nor did he complain of any problems.
“Vijay was a very loving and caring guy. At work he was stern, but respected. He worked there for 15 years and if he was facing a problem and did not talk anybody, he would have come to me. Vijay always looked like things were bothering him with work because he was a workaholic, a person who cherished his work over other things,” Kashav said.
“One of the other supervisors said that because they work with SIS and they have a lot of shutdown work, they tend to hire a lot of people and lay them off as the shutdown is done. He said that is the only way he sees a grudge being made. Other than that and from talking to some of his co-workers, Vijay did not have arguments or any quarrels with his co-workers."
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Five employees held in car dealer’s murder.
T&T Guardian Reports.
Less than a month after used car dealer Mark Mohammed was shot dead in front of his wife and seven-year-old son, five of his employees were arrested on Tuesday in connection with the crime.
The group of men were arrested by detectives of the Morvant CID at Mohammed’s business located off the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway in Macoya. After receiving information about the suspects this week, the officers led by Senior Supt Radcliff Boxhill and Sgt Raymond Austin searched the premises and found a loaded 9mm pistol.
The men, of Piarco, Tunapuna and St Helena, were then handed over to detectives of the Region Two Homicide Bureau and were being interrogated at the Arouca Police Station up to late yesterday. The illegal gun was taken to the Forensic Science Centre in St James where ballistic testing will be done to determine if it matched spent shells recovered on the scene of Mohammed’s shooting. Mohammed, 26, was shot dead as he drove his Mercedes Benz into the driveway of his Ross Street, St Helena, home.
Mohammed was returning home with his common-law wife Adana Lalla and their young son. Lalla was also wounded in the shooting but survived, while the gunman spared the child.
Investigations are continuing.
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$75,000 bail for mom charged with killing son
By Sascha Wilson (Guardian).
A Couva magistrate yesterday advised that young mother Alisha Hilaire, who is charged with unlawfully killing her 18-month-old son, receive counselling. Hilaire, who is four months pregnant and has twin sons, ages four, was granted $75,000 bail with her mother and aunt as surety when she appeared before Senior Magistrate Lucinda Cardenas-Ragoonanan.
The 20-year-old mother has been in custody since her son’s death almost two weeks ago. She is accused of unlawfully killing Rojel Jeremiah Hilaire Farrow on May 17 at Exchange Lot, Couva. The child was pronounced dead on arrival at the Couva District Health Facility. An autopsy found the child died from internal bleeding caused by blunt force trauma. She was charged by PC Harripersad.
Asking for reasonable bail, her attorney Joseph Honore said Hilaire dropped out of school in Form Four because she got pregnant, lived with her mother and worked temporarily as a store clerk. While the accused was in custody, he said, she was hospitalised because of anxiety and asthma. Given the circumstances in the matter, her age and being a first-time offender, Honore asked that she be granted reasonable bail so she could be reunited with her sons who are attending pre-school.
Court prosecutor, acting Sgt Wayne Waite, said he did not have any recommendations. Asked where her children were, Honore said they were staying with their father at his Gasparillo home. Given the sensitive nature of the matter, the magistrate suggested that social services got involved and that she got psychological help.
“It is not just a simple situation. Victims and even accused persons ought to be put in a position to handle the matter as it goes along,” the magistrate said. After putting the mother and aunt as surety and explaining to them their responsibilities in terms of ensuring she attends court, the magistrate advised them to also seek assistance from the Victim Support Unit.
The magistrate also asked a state prosecutor, who was present in court, to expediate the process of appointing a state prosecutor in the matter. The matter was adjourned to June 26.
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Pensioner killed in home invasion
By Kevon Felmine (Guardian).
Unaware that her husband had been stabbed to death by bandits, a wounded Dolly Sooknanan sat on the floor next to his body waiting for him to awake from his sleep. Police said Sooknanan, 86, was in a state of shock after bandits broke into their Spring Trace, Siparia home, sometime between Saturday night and Sunday morning and stabbed both she and her husband, Balkaran Dookie, 76, before ransacking the house.
Up to yesterday she was being kept under police protection while undergoing medical treatment. Dookie’s son, Mukesh, who lives a few houses away, said he was working at Quarry Village, when around 11.30 am his wife called and said the neighbour had not seen his father and stepmother for the morning.
Knowing that the elderly couple routinely sit in their porch for breakfast every morning, he said he immediately went to check on them.
“I went by the house and I called out ‘mammy’ and she answered and said come inside and see if I could wake up the old man, she don’t know what wrong with him. I went inside the living room and I saw him slumped in a recliner with a stab to his chest. He was already dead and she had blood on her face and like she got stabbed on her back and chest too. I went outside and called 999 and the police came,” Mukesh said.
He said when he asked Sooknanan what happened, she first replied “It was a lady and two men,” but later on, she said someone just dropped him (Dookie) there. Although the house was ransacked, Mukesh nor the police were able to say whether anything was stolen. Mukesh said his father had no quarrels with anyone, adding that Dookie lived with Sooknanan for the past three years.
Confused over the killing, he said even if bandits wanted money they could have got it easily from two elderly people. “Yesterday morning I shaved his head because tomorrow was their big day. They had to collect pension so both of them would have gone to do that.”
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GRANDPA, 73, KILLED
By Cecily Asson
Monday, June 1 2015
A vicious knife attack yesterday morning on an elderly couple at their Siparia home has left a 73-year-old grandfather dead and his 78-year-old common-law wife barely alive, nursing stab wounds in hospital.
Balkaran Dookie, a pensioner of Spring Trace, Quarry Village, Siparia was found motionless on a couch in his living room with multiple stab wounds to his chest. Seated on the floor next to the couch where the dead man lay, was his common-law wife Bhanwarie Ramoutar still alive but bleeding from her stab wounds, crying out for help. Police said she was stabbed three times in the chest and twice to the back.
Investigators suspect robbery may have been the motive; they are however yet to determine what items, if any, were taken from the couple’s home.
The murder has shocked the close knit community as grieving relatives and neighbours described the couple as “peaceful and loving village elders” who were always kind to everyone. Many say they knew them since they were children as they each ran separate businesses in the area. Dookie and Ramoutar have been together for eight years.
According to a police report, at about11.49 am, officers led by Supt Jimmy Palloo, Sgts Corrie, Jitmansingh and PC Sahadeo responded to a report of a stabbing in Quarry Village. Upon arrival at the house, officers found the elderly man on his couch in the living room and his wife was next to him on the floor, both of them with stab wounds. An ambulance was contacted and the woman was taken to the Siparia District Health Facility where she was attended to and transferred to San Fernando General Hospital.
The District Medical Officer viewed Dookie’s body and ordered its removal to the hospital’s mortuary for transfer to the Forensic Science Centre, St James today where an autopsy is expected to be performed.
Grieving relatives and neighbours lined the streets and looked on in horror as police carried out their investigations.
Newsday was told the couple had been living together for the past eight years. Ramoutar once operated a bar in the village and sold the property and she and Dookie built a house next door to where she once ran the business. Two of Dookie’s sons also live in the house.
Speaking with Newsday yesterday, a female relative said she was contacted by neighbours who informed her they had not seen the couple for the morning and became concerned.
“We were calling the phone but no one was answering,” the woman told Newsday. “Everyone thought something had to be wrong because they had a routine and would sit every morning in the gallery.”
The relative continued: “I came and when I went and saw what happened, I got frightened and ran back out and went and get my husband. His (Dookie) wife was bawling out for help as she sat on the ground next to him.”
They said they observed the gate was half-way open as well as the front door.
Relatives told Newsday, every evening the couple usually locked their gates at about 5 pm and retired to their living room where they would watch television until they were ready to go to bed. Ramoutar is still recovering from a stroke she suffered some time ago.
A neighbour asked, “Who would want to do these nice people such wickedness. They are people who once you go by them they offer you something to eat, real nice old people.”
Two of Dookie’s daughters, Pavwanti Ramsingh and Shanti Ramsamooj, wept uncontrollably when they arrived on the scene.
Ramsingh collapsed after viewing her father’s body, others screamed as the hearse drove off. Dookie was the father of seven, grandfather of 27 and great grandfather of 30.
Officers of the Southern Homicide Bureau are continuing investigations in the murder, the 157th for the year.
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Boyfriend kills girlfriend over computer chat
By Richardson Dhalai (newsday)
Sunday, June 7 2015
A 22-year-old Princes Town woman was brutally chopped by a man she allegedly had an on/off relationship at her Knolly Street, Princes Town, home on Friday night.
According to reports, at approximately 10 pm on Friday, Samantha Darbasie, who celebrated her 22nd birthday on May 31, had returned to her two-storey home when she was allegedly attacked in the front porch by a man wielding a cutlass. The man reportedly dealt her several chops about her head and face. Darbasie fell to the ground in a pool of blood.
The man then went into the house where he reportedly hung himself from a concrete beam with an electrical extension cord.
Darbasie was later pronounced dead at the scene and her body removed to the San Fernando mortuary while the man was identified as Clayton Charles, 30, who was originally from Basse Terre, Moruga.
When Newsday visited Darbasie’s home yesterday, blood stains could still be seen in the yard leading to the house while there were still more blood stains on the front door.
Darbasie’s mother, Cheryl Darbasie, 52, who was in a state of shock, recalled that relations between her daughter and the man seemed to have been normal after an incident involving the use of a tablet computer earlier on Friday evening.
“She was always on the tablet and he wanted to know who she was talking to so I told her to give me the tablet because I didn’t want any bacchanal,” Darbasie said, adding her daughter left sometime later to go by a neighbour to assist with fixing her hair.
Darbasie said she too left the house later in the evening to go by a nearby parlour and while there, another neighbour ran up the hill to inform her that her daughter had been killed. “It was a shock. I said no because she was by a neighbour when I left home.” Darbasie added that when she returned home, her daughter was lying on her side in a pool of blood with a large chop wound across her face.
She said her daughter, who was born in the United States, had wanted to return to New York.
“She was a sweet person,” her mother said. Meanwhile, at Charles’ Moruga home, his mother, Joanne Charles seemed to also be in a state of shock over the incident saying she had last spoken to her son on Friday evening and had told him to return home if he was having problems in his personal relationship.
She said her son, whom she described as soft spoken, had previously confided to family members that he was having “woman problems” and had also been told by them to return home.
“I told him to come home and he said he was coming home, up to Friday I told him to come home,” Charles said, though noting that Darbasie seemed to be a “cool person” who had previously visited her home.
“Nobody knows what caused this and there is nothing I can say that would bring him back and all I can say is may he rest in peace,” she said.
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Father, son murdered
By JANELLE DE SOUZA (Newsday).
Family and friends of Dominic and Wendell Robinson were thrown into a state of shock and mourning yesterday when the father and son were found dead, covered in blood at Wendell’s home at the Heights of Guanapo Road, Arima.
The bodies of Wendell “Green” Robinson, 37, and his son Dominic, better know as Ryan, 15, were found when friends, workers at a nearby quarry, decided to stop by to say hello at about 12.30 pm yesterday.
According to police reports, the men were shot several times in the head and about their upper body in the early morning, at about 4 or 5 O’clock. Police believe they were both asleep when they were executed as the bodies were found on a bed with no visible signs of struggle.
Dominic’s mother, Camille Woodley, told Sunday Newsday her son left their Hamilton Siding, Wallerfield home on Friday at about 4pm on his bicycle to visit his father at Heights of Guanapo Road, as he did almost every weekend. She said, as he usually did, he had called her just before he lost service on his cell phone to let her know he was safely on his way to his father’s home near the quarry.
Dominic’s brother, Akiel Woodley, said many of the men near their home were often involved in illegal activities which Dominic wanted no part of, so he would visit his father at the Heights of Guanapo whenever he could to get away from it all.
“He was a really caring, loving, respectful child. He was everything to his father and his father was everything to him,” Camille said, voice quavering, with tears in her eyes.
She said even if he was hungry, Dominic would go without food to give someone else. He also loved sports and would cycle, throw the javelin and even played for the Coryal Secondary School badminton team. In addition, he liked to work and would “hustle” at the quarry on weekends for extra money even though his father would provide everything he needed, she said.
Camille said she and Wendell were together for 16 years and even though they separated three years ago, they had an amicable relationship. She described him as a good father, not only to Dominic but to her two older sons as well.
She said Wendell would often carry coffee and food for his coworkers at the quarry as he too worked there, in addition to doing security work at night.
She said the family was shocked, not only because Wendell and her son were such friendly, kind people, but because the area in which he lived was very quiet and isolated, so the family never expected crime to touch the father or son.
The “quarry road” leading to the concrete house where Wendell lived was a 25-minute drive on a rough, winding road from the Eastern Main Road in Arima. The house is without electricity or pipe borne water and far away from any neighbouring houses.
There were, however, several dogs in the yard. Woodley said Wendell loved these dogs dearly and he would spend at least $200 in groceries every month in order to cook for them.
“I know he (Wendell) is not a killer. He is too soft-hearted for that. So soft hearted that people would dig out his eye and take advantage of him. For him to die like that, that person is real cruel,” she said.
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Bandits kill cop’s brother in robbery.
By Kevon Felmine (Guardian).
With his feet and hands bounded, Barrackpore father Ramcharan Maharaj was helpless as he was shot dead by bandits who invaded his family home early Monday morning.
Police said Maharaj, 45, the brother of Cpl Vishuamath Maharaj, was asleep at his home at Cunjal Road while his wife Amelia, 37, was preparing breakfast and his son, Gabriel, 17, was in his bedroom.
Around 2 am, when Amelia, a traffic warden, opened their front door, she was ambushed by two bandits, one with dreadlocks and the other with a gun.
The bandits tied up the family using plastic straps before filling several bags with jewelry, cash, perfumes, wallets, purses and cellphones.
They also took two television sets. Before leaving, the gunman shot Maharaj in his right temple and escaped in his silver Toyota Corolla car, which was later found abandoned in Lengua.
Recalling the incident yesterday, Gabriel, a form six student of Naparima College, San Fernando, said his father, a truck driver at Gosine Enterprises, had to leave home at 2.30 am to reach a quarry in Sangre Grande.
He said he was chatting on the phone with his girlfriend when one of the bandits walked into his room.
“As my mom opened the front door and turned around, two men came in and pushed her on the couch.
“It was like they were waiting outside for her to open the door. I was on the phone with my girlfriend and I heard mumbling outside, then someone opened my door.
“I turned around a few seconds later, I saw a man and he said ‘Soldier, turn around.’
“I put a pillow over my head and turn over, and he took a tie strap and tied my hands together.
“He closed the door and went outside where he had already tied up my mother and father.
“They came back to my room, ransacked it, emptied all the compartments in my wardrobe, took all my gold, clothes and perfumes.
“I heard when a man asked my mother where the car keys were and she pointed them out on the wall.
“They started the car and I heard the back door closed. As I came out to see about my mom, the man said ‘Soldier, go back inside,’ so I went back to my room and he tied my hands and feet together behind my back.
“A few minutes after I heard a gunshot and a car driving away. My hands were sweaty because I was nervous so I wriggled my hands out of the tie-strap and went to help my mom.
“When we went inside the next room, we saw my dad lying in a pool of blood,” Gabriel said.
Maharaj’s father, Kissoondath Maharaj, 72, believes it was not a mere robbery and his son knew his killers.
He said having robbed the family, there was no reason to shoot his son who was tied up in his bedroom.
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Female Dj killed
By LAUREL V WILLIAMS
A MAN could only watch helplessly as his daughter — who was due to graduate in November with her Bachelor’s Degree in Education — fell from the back of his three-tonne music truck, landing on the road head first and succumbing to her injuries minutes later at a health centre on Sunday.
Deyan Samantha Ramdhan, 21, was looking forward to wearing her graduation garb and taking the podium to collect her degree but the dreams and aspirations of the young disc jockey, who worked in her family’s music truck business, will forever remain just that - dreams.
Tragedy struck while Ramdhan and her family were on their way to attend and play at a friend’s wedding. Ramdhan of John Persad Trace Extension, Freeport, died at the Couva Health Centre minutes after she fell off the three-tonne truck on Sunday morning.
Relatives said she recently completed her BA in Education at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (Valsayn) and worked part-time at a travel agency at Grand Bazaar. She also worked as an assistant back up DJ and Computer technician with the family’s business — J & D Sound System.
On her Facebook page on May 28 at 9.57 pm, Ramdhan posted a picture of herself in a graduation gown as she expressed happiness having completed her programme at the university. “These pics have made me teary eyed as they remind me that I’m on the home stretch. They remind me of what I’ve accomplished at such a young age. They remind me that the struggle is over,” Ramdhan wrote on her Facebook page.
Yesterday relatives recalled that Ramdhan together with her parents Gobin and Babita, and two siblings left home shortly before 11 am on Sunday to provide music at a wedding in Caroni.
On reaching about 300 metres from the Chase Village flyover on the north- bound lane of the Solomon Hochoy Highway, Gobin Ramdhan, who was driving the music truck, looked at the rear view mirror only to see his daughter falling off the back of the truck on to the highway.
“He pulled aside on the shoulder and stopped. Her mother and nine-year-old sister Diane were in the front seat next to Gobin. Dillon was with her on the tray of the truck but he had on his earphones so it was only when the truck came to a halt that he realised what had happened. She fell on her head,” said a relative.
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Female Dj killed
By LAUREL V WILLIAMS
A MAN could only watch helplessly as his daughter — who was due to graduate in November with her Bachelor’s Degree in Education — fell from the back of his three-tonne music truck, landing on the road head first and succumbing to her injuries minutes later at a health centre on Sunday.
Deyan Samantha Ramdhan, 21, was looking forward to wearing her graduation garb and taking the podium to collect her degree but the dreams and aspirations of the young disc jockey, who worked in her family’s music truck business, will forever remain just that - dreams.
Tragedy struck while Ramdhan and her family were on their way to attend and play at a friend’s wedding. Ramdhan of John Persad Trace Extension, Freeport, died at the Couva Health Centre minutes after she fell off the three-tonne truck on Sunday morning.
Relatives said she recently completed her BA in Education at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (Valsayn) and worked part-time at a travel agency at Grand Bazaar. She also worked as an assistant back up DJ and Computer technician with the family’s business — J & D Sound System.
On her Facebook page on May 28 at 9.57 pm, Ramdhan posted a picture of herself in a graduation gown as she expressed happiness having completed her programme at the university. “These pics have made me teary eyed as they remind me that I’m on the home stretch. They remind me of what I’ve accomplished at such a young age. They remind me that the struggle is over,” Ramdhan wrote on her Facebook page.
Yesterday relatives recalled that Ramdhan together with her parents Gobin and Babita, and two siblings left home shortly before 11 am on Sunday to provide music at a wedding in Caroni.
On reaching about 300 metres from the Chase Village flyover on the north- bound lane of the Solomon Hochoy Highway, Gobin Ramdhan, who was driving the music truck, looked at the rear view mirror only to see his daughter falling off the back of the truck on to the highway.
“He pulled aside on the shoulder and stopped. Her mother and nine-year-old sister Diane were in the front seat next to Gobin. Dillon was with her on the tray of the truck but he had on his earphones so it was only when the truck came to a halt that he realised what had happened. She fell on her head,” said a relative.
Incomplete reporting. Who is Dillon? There's no mention of him previously. He had earphones on, but he wasn't blind. Distracted? Maybe. But how would we know? By asking Dillon, Ms. Williams, by asking Dillon!
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9 murders in 4 days (http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,212713.html)
By RYAN HAMILTON-DAVIS and RICHARDSON DHALAI Tuesday, June 16 2015 (T&T Newsday)
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Arima_Murder_-_15.615_1_CC.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Arima_Murder_-_15.615_1_CC.jpg.html)
CRIME SCENE: Officers gather near the body of Shane Patino, one of nine persons killed in eight unrelated incidents within a four-day period starting from Friday last and ending yesterday.
Patino was shot dead in Arima. Author: ROGER JACOB
NINE bodies were kept on ice at the Forensic Science Centre (FSC) in St James awaiting autopsies yesterday after a particularly bloody weekend which saw the country’s murder rate leap from 172 to 181.
The killings, which included the slaying of a man and his teenaged son as they slept in bed, have left the victims’ relatives and friends in a state of shock and bewilderment and the police searching high and low for the killers.
Murder at tyre shop
The bloodbath began on Friday at about one o’clock in the afternoon when Shastri Dean, 22, the manager of a tyre shop was attacked and shot from behind as he spoke to a customer at the businessplace.
The gunman shot Dean in the leg first and as he fell to the ground, he was shot several times in the back by the gunman who stood over him and fired repeatedly. The killer escaped while other persons rushed Dean to the Eric Williams Medical Science Complex (EWMSC) in Mt Home where he was pronounced dead. The customer who Dean was speaking to, escaped unharmed.
At the FSC yesterday, relatives told Newsday of the shock they felt when they heard of his murder. They described him as a responsible young man. “He hardly used to lime and drink,” said relative Shawn Dean. “He only liked to go to car shows and when he went it would be with his brothers and his sister.”
Killed for fighting back
A little over an hour after Dean’s murder was committed, 18-year-old Shmeichel Bynoe was shot dead. Newsday understands bandits attempted to rob the young man of his jewelry and personal valuables near his home on Private Lane, Laventille and when he had the temerity to fight back, he was shot and killed. The murder took place at 1.15 pm.
Wendy Ann Campbell, the mother of the slain teen yesterday said her only son was her joy.
“He loved music, he loved to make people laugh. He was a happy child...my joy. They took away my joy,” Campbell sobbed.
She added that her son worked with his stepfather doing construction work and had aspired to elevate himself and his family to move out of Laventille.
Murdered on his birthday
On Saturday at 1.30 am, Nicholas Mohammed of Havelock Street, Curepe was fatally shot as he celebrated his 36th birthday with friends at the Spotlight Bar in Curepe. It was reported that Mohammed was liming with a group of friends when two men, one armed with a gun, walked up and opened fire. The assailants then ran to a car which was parked nearby, got in and drove off.
Mohammed was rushed to the EWMSC where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Three of his friends - Darren Ali, 37, of Rapsey Street, Curepe; Mario Gardiner, 42, of St Ann’s Road, St Ann’s and Shernel Villanna, 35, of Jubilee Street, Tunapuna were also shot and taken to the EWMSC where they were treated and discharged. No arrests have been made.
Killed at Christening
At 9.45 am on Saturday, Nigel Maloney, 37, was killed during a christening in Sangre Grande. Relatives yesterday told Newsday Maloney had confided to them that he had received death threats. On Saturday, the threat was carried out as he was shot dead by a gunman outside the house where the festivity was taking place.
“He worked hard to take care of his family. Now he did tell me he get some threats before, to be honest. But he never told me who had been threatening him. Some people said there were men who had it out for him. I don’t even know what for,” said the mother of Maloney who asked not to be identified.
‘Cooler Red’ gunned down
Later, at 11.05 am on Saturday, a murder took place in Diego Martin. Police said Ronald “Cooler Red” Marcano, 29, of River Estate Diego Martin was at Upper Bournes Road assisting his friend Derrick Wilson with moving some household appliances from a house to a van.
As he stood at the side of the road after helping with the moving, Marcano, who was a self employed technician, was approached by a man who without warning, pulled out a gun from his pants pocket and shot him several times before running off. Marcano was pronounced dead at the scene. No motive was established for this murder.
Father, son shot dead
Also on Saturday, a quiet village in the Heights of Guanapo was thrown into shock and sadness when Dominic Robinson, 37, and his son Wendell, 15, were found dead — their bodies riddled with bullets inside the elder Robinson’s house.
The bodies were discovered shortly after midday when a group of persons on their way to work at a nearby quarry, decided to stop at Robinson’s home to say hello. They met the door open and on checking found the bodies of father and son. Police believe the man and his son were shot to death sometime during Saturday morning as they slept.
Yesterday at the FSC, Robinson’s ex-wife and Wendell’s mother Camille Woodley told Newsday the two were inseparable. “When I say father and son I mean father and son. They were very close,” she said. She added that since her son and ex-husband’s deaths, the entire family was left shocked and dazed.
“Words cannot explain how we feel. We feel lost. We are at a loss for words. We are in shock,” Woodley said.
Bullet to the head
On Sunday, Shane Patino, 28, was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head. According to reports, at about 8 pm, officers of the Arima Police Station responded to reports of gunshots being heard at the corner Boodoo Avenue and the Eastern Main Road.
A party of police officers led by Inspector Ali and Sgt Rene Katwaroo went to the area and found Patino’s body on the road with a gunshot wound to his head. Relatives who gathered outside the FSC yesterday, were reluctant to talk to reporters.
Robbery ends in murder
The ninth and final murder, involved that of a 45-year-old Barrackpore man was shot dead in a robbery at his home during the early morning hours yesterday. According to reports, at about 2.30 am, two masked bandits forced their way into the home of Ramcharan Maharaj at Cunjal Road, Barrackpore and tied up his wife and son in two separate rooms while Maharaj’s arms and legs were tied with tie straps at the front room of the house.
The bandits ransacked the house as they searched for cash and jewelry. The bandits then shot Maharaj once in his head, killing him almost instantly before loading up Maharaj’s silver- coloured Toyota Axio car with two television sets, a DVD player and clothes. The killers escaped in the car.
When Newsday visited the scene yesterday evening, Maharaj’s grief stricken relatives and friends were huddled under a tent which was set up in a neighbours yard directly opposite Maharaj’s home.
His son Gabriel, 17, a Lower Sixth Form student at Naparima College, San Fernando recounted the ordeal saying one of the bandits had entered his room and tied up his hands and feet before ransacking his room.
He said the man then left the room and while he was attempting to free himself, he heard a gunshot from another room in the house. Gabriel said he managed to free himself and went into another room where he discovered his mother Ameena, stilll secured with tie straps. They then discovered Maharaj’s body. A report was made to the police.
Newsday was told that the victim’s brother is a police constable based at the Mon Repos Police Station. Investigations are continuing.
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http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/07/05/trinidad-pm-launches-joint-effort-by-police-soldiers-to-combat-gang-violence-in/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+foxnews%2Fworld+%28Internal+-+World+Latest+-+Text%29
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Schoolboy gunned down
By Cecily Asson (Newsday)
A 17-YEAR-OLD Moruga schoolboy was gunned down as he stood at his workbench hustling to complete some wrought iron windows for a customer in order to pay the insurance for a car he recently purchased..
A student of Moruga Composite School, Tylon Dyer of Petit Café, Indian Walk Road, collapsed between the workbench bench and material on being shot. He died on the spot. His father Victor “Ping” Marcano found his body with a gaping gunshot wound at the back of the head. Dyer would have entered Form Five at the start of the new school term in September.
Relatives believe the young welder paid the ultimate price for a close male relative who in 2010 faced murder charges but was released from prison two months ago and returned home to live.
Quick work by police officers resulted in them impounding a silver colored Nissan Tiida car believed to be used as the getaway vehicle. Police are also using footage from CCTV cameras installed on the premises to assist with their investigations.
Dyer’s death has come as a shock to those who watched him grow up in the close knit community. Everyone agreed that he was honest and hard working and was never involved in criminal activities.
“He worked hard and always worked honestly for his money. But good things don’t last long,” grieving father Marcano said yesterday of his son as he stood in shock outside the scene of the incident.
Ping is the owner of the welding/fabricating shop where he and his son worked. The teen was described as one of the best young welders in the community who had a bright future ahead of him.
“He was my right hand. He was disciplined although just a boy. If he told you he is finishing your job tomorrow, don’t waste your money betting against him keeping his promise. He worked very hard. At his age it was all about the girls and making an honest dollar,” Marcano said.
The shocked father said he had been suffering severe back pain and was at home nearby when the shooting took place. By the time reached the work area, his son was already dead. “When I saw the hole in the back of his head, I turned stupid,” Marcano said.
At about 1.30 pm, Dyer was inside the welding shop when the Tiida car pulled up outside the businessplace and a masked gunman exited the vehicle. The gunman opened fire as he entered the shop, hitting the unsuspecting teen multiple times at the back of the head.
Inspector Don Gajadhar along with officers of the Princes Town CID, Southern Division Task Force and Southern Homicide Division visited the scene. The abandoned vehicle was found in the La Romaine area.
The teen’s mother Margaret Dyer of Contention Street in Princes Town was inconsolable as she arrived on the scene. “I begged to come and live with me. But he never wanted to, he always wanted to live with his father and learn the trade from him. My son was doing so well. I can’t believe that is him lying there dead,” she cried.
“He got shot and paid the price for another relative who recently came out of prison after being cleared of a murder charge,” Dyer said. As her son’s body was being placed in the hearse, Dyer screamed. “Tylon! Don’t go in the dead people van. Come back home son,” she cried.
Friends of the youth man wept unashamedly at the side of the road near the welding shop.
No arrest has been made and investigations are continuing.
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Black men doing real good in TT. f--kin pathetic!!!
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Pretty woman shot dead
Mother of five gunned down
By Gyasi Gonzales (Express)
NEIGHBOURS yesterday recalled the horror of seeing their neighbour's seven-year-old daughter running towards them in a bloodstained nightdress just after her mother was murdered on Sunday night.
At that horrific scene 37-year-old Jamie Fitzworme was shot dead at a Housing Development Corporation (HDC) townhouse at Bellbird Avenue, Malabar. She shared the home with her husband of two years, Gregory Fitzworme, 40, and her two daughters from a previous relationship.
She was also the mother of three other girls.
A male relative of Jamie's who is said to be in his 50s is currently being sought by the police for questioning in connection with the murder.
The Express was told by both the police and neighbours that Jamie and the man were to attend court yesterday morning on a matter.
The Express was told by the police that around 9.20 p.m. Jamie and her husband, Gregory were having dinner in the porch of their townhouse, having just returned to their home after visiting relatives.
As the couple were eating, and with Jamie's two daughters inside, they noticed two men wearing overalls walking briskly towards them. As the men drew closer they each pulled out guns. Gregory then grabbed his wife and got her inside but while he was attempting to close the door the gunmen rushed forward and pushed against the door preventing him from closing it.
The two gunmen forced their way in and opened fire on the couple.
All the shots they fired at Gregory missed but Jamie was shot four times at close range and was killed on the spot.
The gunmen then calmly walked out the townhouse and escaped.
Jamie was very pretty
With Gregory apparently still in shock the elder of the woman's two daughters ran out of the house and went to her neighbour's, telling them what happened and they contacted the police. Her nightie had been stained with blood.
Attempts to interview the murdered woman's family at the Forensic Science Centre in St James yesterday were unsuccessful as the family stated they had no comment and quickly headed to their cars.
The Express then visited the Malabar neighbourhood.
The neighbours spoke and pointed out the couple's town-house with a front door that appeared to have been smashed in.
They described both Jamie and Gregory as a nice couple but none wanted to be named . As they spoke an unmarked police vehicle kept circling the area.
“Jamie was very pretty and she was friendly anytime we met her,” said one woman.
“Every time they passed around they waved hello as everybody in this community does live nice,” she added.
As she continued speaking however she lowered her voice.
“But Jamie and (name called) had a bitter separation because at one time she was living with this man and what we understand is that he used to beat her,” she said.
They said he was an aggressive man that used to drink a lot.
They recalled that they themselves arrived at their home around 9.10 p.m. and minutes after they heard gunshots.
“This thing sounded loud so I remain inside frightened,” said the woman.
Children in the middle
Another man also spoke to the Express.
The man was not a neighbour of the couple but rather a contractor who was about to carry out work on the couple's townhouse. He said a female relative of the man in question attempted to take the children to her home over the weekend but she was prevented from doing so by Jamie.
He said he could not understand why she and not the man came to get the children but apparently the arrangement had not been properly worked out and Jamie refused to hand them over.
Inspector Remy, Sergeant Katwaroo and Cpl Samaroo visited the scene.
A post-mortem which was done yesterday morning concluded that the mother of five died as a result of the gunshots she received.
Region Two Homicide Bureau officers are continuing investigations.
The murder toll for the year to date is 202 compared with 234 for the same period last year.
(http://www.trinidadexpress.com/storyimage/TT/20150713/LOCAL/150719785/AR/0/AR-150719785.jpg&MaxW=730&imageversion=Article)
(http://www.trinidadexpress.com/storyimage/TT/20150713/LOCAL/150719785/EP/1/1/EP-150719785.jpg&W=730&imageversion=Article)
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Sorry this kind of brazen killing going on. And sadly, doubt this crime will be solved. make me a liar. Don't know what caused all of this, so I will reserve further opinion. Now the five girls go have to deal with this trauma for the rest of their lives. But what do they mean by she pretty. Prettiness don't subject you to get a pass from criminals, you know.
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Too much black crime.
By Marlene Augustine (Newsday).
Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams yesterday bemoaned alarming research which reveals the majority of murder victims and offenders in jail are African-Trinidadians.
As the nation today observes the abolition of African slavery, with the celebration of Emancipation Day, Williams spoke of how troubled he felt to see so many blacks in prison that he did his own research, which showed much more had to be done to reduce crime among African- Trinidadians.
“When entering the prisons, what I see is a large majority...almost all, the majority are the Africans in prisons. I did some research around murder, and generally killings in Trinidad and Tobago, and who I see as the majority victims, and who we identified as the offenders, are the Africans,” Williams told his audience at the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service’s (TTPS) annual Emancipation Day celebrations at Police Administration Building, Sackville Street, Port-of-Spain.
Williams’ remarks come during a week when videos from behind prison walls showed many African- Trinidadian prisoners in the Remand Yards, seeming to enjoy the spoils of illicit drugs, contraband cell-phones and even partying.
Williams did not disclose any results of his research but was hopeful of being an agent of change in prison reform.
“I always ask to bring down the power of love,” Williams said, quoting local powerhouse singer Ella Andall, who later sang her African-themed anthem, “Bring down the Power”.
The top cop continued, “I have the opportunity of being part of the Cabinet-appointed committee to look at the improvements in the prison system of Trinidad and Tobago.” As an African-Trinidadian, Williams said his experiences have shown African descendants still have a long journey to personal emancipation.
“It touches my heart deeply to know for a fact by way of Emancipation (Day) there is still a long journey for us, and as African people we need to do everything possible to make that journey one we can travel at a faster rate, so we can cover the distance within the shortest period of time,” he said.
Williams even addressed the issue of patriotism, in the month in which the nation will observe its 53rd anniversary of Independence, through his observance of how few people even sing the National Anthem. Again, quoting a line from the Anthem, “every creed and race has an equal place,” Williams said, “One of the key things I recognised as a society, and it is not limited to the Africans, as a society we don’t really even appreciate our National Anthem. There were only a few persons that sang the Anthem.” He noted that at the very Emancipation Day function he was presiding over, not many sang the Anthem, saying “If everyone sang the Anthem it would have rang out loudly into the atmosphere. I am not here to please anyone...only a few sang the National Anthem.” Yet again, using another quote, this time from Jamaican reggae icon Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song”, Williams declared, “Emancipate yourself from mental slavery.” Williams indicated the nation is enslaved in so many ways, and citizens need to change their mentality.
“We have to start as individuals to focus on how we can go forward, and by way of contributing to individuals. We have a collective impact as a society to move forward.
Each and every one of us has a role to play to make this place better, not only for the Africans, but for everyone in this land,” he said.
The commissioner stated the nation needed to reflect on the past in order to go forward, and not for the past to repeat itself.
“We focus on celebrations like these... Emancipation celebrations, we need to be able to reflect, reflect on the past not for it to repeat, but to guide us to go forward into the future. The TTPS itself has to find ways and means to ensure that as an organisation we can travel the part for Emancipation,” he said.
Responding to the commissioner’s comments yesterday, chairman of the Emancipation Support Committee Khafra Kambon said based on statistical information, “it is true”, that as far as arrests go, “you see the majority (Africans) in the prisons.” “As far as I know where convictions and arrest go, the people who you see frequently in prisons with these type of matters, you see the majority of the people (Africans),” he said.
“You can take what is true statistically...if the statistic say 60 percent of the persons who are held for shooting are Africans then you can say that it is a fact. But I can use that fact for one purpose or another,” said Kambon.
As of July 29, by Newsday’s count there were 233 murders, most of which were African men.
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So what's new mr policeman?
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Man shot to death along road (http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,217648.html)
By STACY MOORE Monday, September 28 2015 (T&T Newsday)
THE country’s murder toll climbed to 322 following the shooting death yesterady of a 32-year old Chaguanas man. Police at first believed they were responding to a report of a fatal accident along the Southern Main Road in Chase Village.
However, when they arrived on the scene they found the victim Marcus Cudjoe lying on the road with a bullet wound to his head.
He was killled a short distance from the Miracle Ministries International Church along the Southern Main Road. According to police reports at about 2.10 pm Cudjoe was walking south along the main road when on reaching the corner at Gurahoo Trace, he was shot by a man who was riding a bicycle. As Cudjoe slumoed to the ground, the killer rode off.
Residents of Gurahoo Trace along with customers at nearby business places lined the main road as Cudjoe’s body lay in a pool of blood. Spent shells were found near Cudjoe’s body. Officers led by Snr Supt Johnny Abraham and including Inspector Angus Harry, Sgts Jitindra Toolaram and James visited the scene. The area was cordoned off as District Medical Officer (DMO) Dr Ravi Kawal viewed the body and ordered it removed to the Forensic Science Centre in St James for autopsy.
One of the onlookers, Ingrid Aberdeen, a close friend of Cudjoe’s family screamed as she saw his body on the road. “They just killed your cousin and now they come and kill you? Oh God!” she cried. Speaking to Newsday at the crime scene, Cudjoe’s aunt Hermelin Cudjoe of Orange Field Road in Carapachima said she received the news that her nephew was killed, from her sister.
The emotional woman said that in the brief telephone call her sister told her that her nephew was shot and killed in Chase Village. Hermelin said that she rushed to the crime scene.
The shocked woman said she could not understand the killing as she described Cudjoe as a good boy. She said that Cudjoe who was originally from Orange Field Road and moved to Crown Trace in Enterprise, had no children. Investigations are continuing.
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Man shot to death along road (http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,217648.html)
By STACY MOORE Monday, September 28 2015 (T&T Newsday)
THE country’s murder toll climbed to 322 following the shooting death yesterady of a 32-year old Chaguanas man. Police at first believed they were responding to a report of a fatal accident along the Southern Main Road in Chase Village.
However, when they arrived on the scene they found the victim Marcus Cudjoe lying on the road with a bullet wound to his head.
He was killled a short distance from the Miracle Ministries International Church along the Southern Main Road. According to police reports at about 2.10 pm Cudjoe was walking south along the main road when on reaching the corner at Gurahoo Trace, he was shot by a man who was riding a bicycle. As Cudjoe slumoed to the ground, the killer rode off.
Residents of Gurahoo Trace along with customers at nearby business places lined the main road as Cudjoe’s body lay in a pool of blood. Spent shells were found near Cudjoe’s body. Officers led by Snr Supt Johnny Abraham and including Inspector Angus Harry, Sgts Jitindra Toolaram and James visited the scene. The area was cordoned off as District Medical Officer (DMO) Dr Ravi Kawal viewed the body and ordered it removed to the Forensic Science Centre in St James for autopsy.
One of the onlookers, Ingrid Aberdeen, a close friend of Cudjoe’s family screamed as she saw his body on the road. “They just killed your cousin and now they come and kill you? Oh God!” she cried. Speaking to Newsday at the crime scene, Cudjoe’s aunt Hermelin Cudjoe of Orange Field Road in Carapachima said she received the news that her nephew was killed, from her sister.
The emotional woman said that in the brief telephone call her sister told her that her nephew was shot and killed in Chase Village. Hermelin said that she rushed to the crime scene.
The shocked woman said she could not understand the killing as she described Cudjoe as a good boy. She said that Cudjoe who was originally from Orange Field Road and moved to Crown Trace in Enterprise, had no children. Investigations are continuing.
Check the gruesomeness of this scene. Maybe it does not mean much to anybody anyhow.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20150927/news/gunman-on-bicycle-shoots-victim-10-times
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20150928/news/ramdial-crime-surge-could-hurt-carnival-tourism
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That was hard to watch...very sad indeed
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Murder toll now 327
T&T Newsday
THE LIVES of two men were snuffed out in separate incidents on Thursday night, bringing the murder toll for the year to 327.
Police are also investigating an unrelated incident in which a gunman who tried to fire his way into a businessman’s property was shot dead by a security officer who at the time, was on guard duty.
Christian De Craine was shot dead in front of a mini mart in Sangre Grande while Akini Ramdin was murdered in front of his home in Santa Cruz. Quaine Rossford was killed during a shootout with a security guard in Arima.
The killings took place between Tuesday night and just after midnight yesterday.
Police said the violence on Tuesday began at about 9.50 pm.
Police said a white Nissan Tiida car pulled up along the road outside the Sierra Vista Drive, Arima home of a businessman. Three men, all armed, alighted from the car and opened fire at a guard booth where an estate constable working with SWAT Estate Police Company, was on guard duty.
The guard drew his service pistol and returned fire at the bandits, hitting one of them --- later identified as Rossford --- who slumped to the ground while the other two gunmen fled the scene.
A report was made to the Arima police and officers visited the scene. Rossford was pronounced dead at the scene. Police sources said while investigations are continuing, they are not deeming this case a murder but rather as a justified killing. The guard was unhurt.
Police sources said Rossford was well known to them and had been implicated in several criminal incidents. The gunmen’s car has been impounded while investigators are trying to trace the owner.
About 30 minutes after the Rossford shooting, De Craine, 43, who owned a clothing store, was liming outside a mini mart at the corner of Graham and Foster Streets in Sangre Grande when a masked man wearing dark clothing approached and shot De Craine once in the head, killing him instantly. The killer ran off.
A team of officers, including Superintendent Neville Sankar, ASP Ramkhelawan, Inspector Tom and Inspector Lutchman visited the scene.
In the third incident, 31-yearold Akini Ramdin was found dead just after midnight yesterday.
Police say residents of Moraldo Trace, Santa Cruz heard several explosions coming from a house but no one went to investigate on account of being fearful for their safety.
At about 6 am yesterday, relatives of the 31-year-old man went to check on him in his room and found Ramdin’s body on the ground.
Police were alerted and officers of the North Eastern Division Task Force, Santa Cruz Police Station and the Homicide Investigations Bureau visited the scene.
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Latest Crime stats says its 328 murders for the years so far: http://www.ttcrime.com/stats.php
This puts the murder rate at approx. 1.2 murders per day up until Sept. 7th and approx. 1.3 murders per day since then. See how I made calculations below.
There were 297 murders up until Election Day; I made a note of it via the T&T crime stats website at www.ttcrime.com/stats.php. This website is not politically influenced like some of our T&T newspapers and has been reporting the real murder figures for the past 10 plus years since 2006.
So since elections there have been an additional 31 murders to take the total to 328 for the year so far. Now there were 250 days in the year up until Sept.7th which puts the murder rate at approx.1.2 murders per day (calculation 297/250).
Since then there have been 31 additional murders over last 24 days since PNM won the elections which works out at almost the same rate, 1.3 murders per day (calculation 31/24) which is fractionally more that the 1.2 murders per day as it was all year before the PNM got voted in.
Hopefully PNM can quickly takes serious measures to close back our borders from guns, drugs and human trafficking along with other social measures to create more long term jobs within the poorer communities in T&T and then we will start to see a drop in the murder rate. However making those required changes will not be achieved overnight as it will take some time to implement and will need the support of the next budget by the new Finance Minister.
I also think a gun amnesty period of two weeks should also help where folks are encouraged to hand in all illegal guns and ammunition at various locations around T&T with no questions asked.
Thereafter the police backed by the army should do a systematic house by house sweep of the country for illegal guns and ammunition with no households being spared; Any illegal weapons should be seized with the owner of the property being given a possible 5 years prison sentence for housing illegal weapons on their property regardless of how high up in society they may be.
This house by house sweep of the country for weapons should be accompanied by a simultaneous closing of our porous borders to guns, drugs and human trafficking so that all the illegal weapons which are removed from our streets are not quickly replaced by more illegal weapons coming in.
Once this operation has been completed our murder rate should at least be halved in the short term (3 to 6 month period).
More social measures to create more long term jobs within the poorer communities in T&T in addition to more educational, training, cultural and sporting programmes will then start to have an impact on reducing the murder rate further in the long term.
We will also need to see some of the BIG fish in the richer communities who bring in the guns, ammunition, drugs and who co-ordinate the human trafficking being held and being given long term prison sentences with their ill-gotten asserts being seized by the state and being used in the ongoing fight against crime.
With this serious crime fighting initiative in place we can see our annual murder rate in T&T reduced to under 100 murders within the space of just 1 year but for it to happen we will need the general T&T population behind this initiative; Also a major cleaning up of the corrupt elements from our police force, army, coast guard and working at all our legal ports of entry will need to take place for this major crime initiative to work.
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PM unveils plans for police...
Murder detection rate unacceptable (http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2015-09-30/murder-detection-rate-unacceptable)
Published: Thursday, October 1, 2015 (T&T Guardian)
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley says the ten per cent murder detection rate by the T&T Police Service is unacceptable, adding the People’s National Movement will do all in its power to give the service all the tools it needs to address crime.
He made the comment in a wide-ranging interview on I95FM’s evening drive radio programme yesterday.
Rowley said the police must work diligently to improve the detection rate, noting: “That is not the teacher’s job, or the parson’s job, or the telephone operator’s job... that is the job of the police.”
He said the Government was aiming to put security services in a position to prevent or detect crime and prevention would include getting firearms off the streets and preventing trade in illegal guns. Information gathering to identify the criminals would be an important part of the process, he added.
He admitted, however, that the police were being hampered by a lack of motivation within its ranks and the failure of the public to co-operate with their crime-fighting initiatives.
“We have a Police Service which we know is demoralised and does not have the support of the population to determine who is doing what in the neighbourhood.”
Noting that the existing anti-gang legislation had done little to curb the gang violence, Rowley said among possible anti-crime actions by his Government would be the idea of local constabularies in the regional corporations. He said although this would add to the cost of running the country, crime also had a cost.
“If we can't secure ourselves everything else would fall by the wayside so we have to make the sacrifice to incur the cost of making our streets and our neighbourhoods safer and detect crime when criminal conduct is displayed,” he added.
On the issue of corruption, Rowley said the PNM would have to ensure systems were put in place to root it out.
“Many citizens are disturbed at the way we have spent a lot of money and a lot of it went into the hands of people who ought not to have handled it. The level of waste and corruption in this country is unacceptable,” he said.
He added: “We always point to the public sector as the source and the area where corruption is a problem. That's a mistake.
“The private sector is an integral part of the corruption in T&T because public officers usually have to integrate with elements of the private sector to carry out corrupt practices... and the systems have to be such that governance and spending public money is more open and transparent. Without that, we will have this going on forever.
“So what we are going to try to do is to put more open systems in place. It is the light of openness and consequences for wrongdoing that will change.”
On the issue of Government priorities after next Monday's budget and ensuing budget debates, Rowley said Government would be focussing on three areas: Whistleblower legislation, local government reform and initiating national discussion on campaign financing.
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PM: Sacrifices to win war on crime (http://www.newsday.co.tt/politics/0,217864.html)
Friday, October 2 2015 (T&T Newsday)
PRIME Minister Dr Keith Rowley declared that sacrifices have to be made in order to curb the level of crime taking place in the country.In an interview broadcast on I95.5 FM on Wednesday, the Prime Minister said he has been in regular conference with National Security Minister, retired Major General Edmund Dillon, about crime in the country. “ I know he’s working quite assiduously with the agencies that are involved to come up with an arrangement which will make it less attractive for the criminals to be so unfettered in their actions,” Rowley said.
Noting that crimes can be classified into various categories, the Prime Minister said, “We don’t want to do anything other than to, at the moment, put the security services in a position to either prevent crime or detect crime.” Identifying stemming the flow of illegal guns into the country and reducing the accessibility of these weapons to persons, Rowley said,
“ You prevent it (crime) by doing certain things before, one of it is to try to get all these firearms that are on our streets, off our streets and persons who are trading in firearms and persons who choose firearm handling and firearm industry, identify them and get those firearms out of their hands and off the streets. that’s a prevention aspect.
” He added, “The other one is information gathering to determine who is involved in crime, to be able to detect the crime when it occurs.” Reiterating the Government’s intention to establish 100 member constabularies in all 14 local government corporations to assist in the fight against crime, Rowley admitted, “That would add to our cost of operating the country.
” However the Prime Minister added, “If we can’t secure ourselves, everything else would fall by the wayside. We have to make the sacrifice to incur the cost of making our streets and our neighbourhoods safer and detect crime when criminal conduct is displayed.
” Expressing concern that an environment has been created over time in this country that has allowed the criminals to prosper, Rowley said, “We have to change that.
” The Prime Minister continued, “It is unacceptable that we are talking about a less than ten percent detection rate for murders and murders make news at the time of the killing.” Rowley said the question which must be asked is, “Who is following up to find out who committed this act?” Rowley asked, “Is it the same person going to commit it again? Is it one murderer killing ten times or is it ten separate murderers?
” Declaring, “that is not the teacher’s job or the parson’s job or the telephone operator’s job,” the Prime Minister said, “That is the job of the police. The Police Service is the agency in this country that is required to secure us along with the other agencies and we have to make sure that they are in a position so to do.” However he said one of the major challenges in this regard is, “we have a Police Service which we know is demoralised and does not have the support of the population to determine who is doing what in the neighbourhood.” Rowley said steps must be taken to restore the public’s trust and confidence in the police, if any success is to be achieved in the war against crime. On the legislative front, the Prime Minister observed that while the Anti-Gang Bill was passed in the 10th Parliament, “we are not seeing that law impacting on the environment.” Asked whether the legislation to establish a Police Management Agency would require a special majority for passage in Parliament, Rowley explained, “Some of these things are entrenched in law and may require a special majority, but I would like to believe that all of us, regardless of which side of the divide that we are on in the Parliament, that all of use are concerned about the state of the country’s lack of security.
” The Prime Minister also disclosed that Government intends to hold a national consultation about campaign finance legislation, to get the public’s views on what the legislation should contain.
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Lawman on low murder detection rate:
Let cops do police work (http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2015-10-01/let-cops-do-police-work)
Published: Friday, October 2, 2015 (T&T Guardian)
Political unity, increased manpower, intelligence gathering and a more trusting witness protection programme are some of the things, if given to the Homicide Bureau, may improve the detection rate.
To date 328 people have been murdered with arrests in 52 of them. Speaking on i95FM on Wednesday Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said the police had a ten per cent detection rate.
Rowley said the ten per cent murder detection rate was unacceptable, adding the People’s National Movement will do all in its power to give the service all the tools it needs to address crime.
In a telephone interview with the T&T Guardian yesterday, Senior Supt Oswald Cudjoe, operational head of the Homicide Bureau, said human resources were major components in increasing the detection rate.
“We need to get back our resources, namely human resource. Homicides are taking place rapidly and we need a central location where all data pertaining to homicides will be collected and analysed,” Cudjoe said.
The senior officer, who spent time working in various intelligence-gathering units of the Police Service said there also needed to be a fusion centre between the Homicide Bureau and two other units, the Organised Crime, Narcotics and Firearms Bureau and the Criminal Gang and Intelligence Unit.
Those two units, he said, oversaw the three main factors that contributed to murders, gangs, drugs and guns.
Cudjoe said the fusion centre would relay vital information among the units while investigators sought to solve the murders.
“The intelligence unit will guide the cause of the homicide, getting information is not sufficient. Accurate and timely information is needed along with a more robust intelligence unit and a fusion centre,” Cudjoe said, adding the executive of the Police Service has a draft strategic plan and operational plan that is being looked at to facilitate the idea.
Cudjoe said apart from that, police officers should be allowed to do police work while many of the social aspects recently adopted went back to social groups, such as churches.
He said in many cases police officers were being made to do so much more than policing that they were unable to be police officers effectively.
He added that in years past the Homicide Bureau was a small unit with homicide officers attached to the nine divisions and dealing with murders within their own division.
He said: “We need to concentrate on our core functions as well, no one is judging us on community work, they are judging us on crime, and the barometer is murders. There needs to be a broad based intelligence apparatus, a justice protection unit and fusion centre,” he said.
Cudjoe added that other units of the Police Service could play a vital role as well, highlighting the Traffic Branch as the guns used to kill were not transported via helicopters of flying saucers but on the roadways. He called for a better and more effective way of car searches.
“There is too much politics playing in the country. It is only when people get serious that things will change. If people come together, it could change. This thing is not beyond us,” he said.
During the interview on Wednesday Rowley said the Government was aiming to put security services in a position to prevent or detect crime and prevention would include getting firearms off the streets and preventing trade in illegal guns.
Information gathering to identify the criminals would be an important part of the process, he said.
He added, however, that the police were being hampered by a lack of motivation within its ranks and the failure of the public to co-operate with their crime-fighting initiatives.
One measure to decrease the crime and specifically the murder rate was the idea of local constabularies in the regional corporations, Rowley said, adding this will incur an increased cost at running the country but “crime also had a cost.”
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2 held in $2.5m Tobago drug bust
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20151006/news/2-held-in-25m-tobago-drug-bust (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20151006/news/2-held-in-25m-tobago-drug-bust)
Two men from Parlatuvier in Tobago have been held in possession of 27.9 kilos of marijuana, with a street value of $2.5 million.
The men were arrested by police in Tobago around 1.30 a.m. on Monday while driving their vehicles in Parlatuvier.
Officers of the Tobago Divisional Task Force, acting on information, searched the vehicles of both men and the drugs were found.
Both men have been charged and will appear before the Scarborough Magistrates' Court.
In other news, last Saturday, more than 10,000 marijuana trees were destroyed by Tobago Divisional officers, in Mason Hall.
The exercise was co-ordinated by Supt Garth Nelson.
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A new government just coming into power cannot do much to change the murder rate within 3 weeks of coming into power as they would not have had enough time to seal back T&T's porous borders from guns, drugs and human trafficking nor would they have had enough time to implement initiatives to remove the thousands of illegal weapons from our streets.
With this in mind the month of October will give us a better idea of if the PNM’s policy against crime is starting to have a positive effect rather than the 50 murders that took place in September.
Based on the latest crime stats at (http://www.ttcrime.com/stats.php) the murder toll is now 336.
Noting that the murder toll was 328 on the 1st of October and that today is 17th October that means that there have been 8 murders over the last 17 days which shows a marked reduction in the murder rate in October as compared with September.
If the October rate does not change there will be less than 20 murders in October which is less than half of the September total which seems to be a positive sign.
The goal is to get the murder rate down to zero murders per month so we can get back to the good old days in T&T when if a murder was committed anywhere in the country the whole nation would go into a state of shock!!
We cannot afford to continue losing any of our talented youngsters to murders and crime as we can be losing potential scholars and Olympic gold medallists that could make T&T proud if they are given the right guidance and opportunities to shine and fulfill their dreams.
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Maybe less than 20. We should not accept that.
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Maybe less than 20. We should not accept that.
Who is saying that we should accept less than 20 murders per month? I simply made a prediction for the month of October based on the current murder rate.
The point is that the UNC/PP government who just got deservedly voted out of office were trying to blame the high murder toll of 50 murders in September on the PNM coming into office.
Now that we are into the month of October and the murder rate has dropped to half of what it was in September I've noticed that all the sore-losers who were trying to play politics with the murder toll have gone quiet.
The goal for any serious T&T government is getting our monthly murder toll down to zero but such a task will take time and serious effort but is not impossible.
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Here is some serious crime in Trinidad we should all be concerned about.
"ATTORNEYS Gerald Ramdeen and Varun Debideen represented a client in court for two years even though he was dead.
The attorneys claim they did not know their client was dead."
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20151017/news/case-of-the-living-dead
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Here is some serious crime in Trinidad we should all be concerned about.
"ATTORNEYS Gerald Ramdeen and Varun Debideen represented a client in court for two years even though he was dead.
The attorneys claim they did not know their client was dead."
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20151017/news/case-of-the-living-dead
Acting Attorney General Stuart Young has requested a Solicitor's General report on the Attorneys who represented a dead client for 2 years.
https://www.facebook.com/cnewslive/videos/10153644367520610/ (https://www.facebook.com/cnewslive/videos/10153644367520610/)
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Elderly British man, wife chopped to death in Tobago
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Elderly-British-couple-chopped-to-death-in-Tobago (http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Elderly-British-couple-chopped-to-death-in-Tobago)
CARNBEE, Tobago (Trinidad Express) – An elderly British man and his wife were brutally hacked to death in the quiet village of Carnbee in Tobago.
Attorney Richard Wheeler, 73, and his wife, Grace Wheeler, 67, were found murdered at their Riseland Gardens in Carnbee, home yesterday morning.
Wheeler, who was originally from Sheffield, England, was a partner in the Tobago law offices of Lex Caribbean and specialised in conveyancing and property development.
His wife was a real estate agent attached to Island Investments.
They had been living in Tobago for the past 16 years.
The couple was attacked by unknown assailants between Monday night and early yesterday morning.
Attorney Martin George said Crime Stoppers was offering a reward for information that could help solve the murders.
“In my capacity as the (Tobago House of Assembly) representative on the board of Crime Stoppers, I have been able to get the board to agree to offer a special reward of $100,000 for information leading to the arrest and capture of the suspects in this matter,” said George.
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Don't know what to make of this. Why?
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Don't know what to make of this. Why?
they say the dogs ent bark self...that tells you that someone known very well to the couple did this...what a shame >:(
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I was listening to the radio yesterday and there was a huge public outcry because a video went viral about a man beating a toddler because she didn't want to drink her milk. Most callers wanted vigilante justice and I thought the man may not have made it to see today. Didn't think he was arrested yet. Anyone seen that video?
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Elderly British man, wife chopped to death in Tobago
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Elderly-British-couple-chopped-to-death-in-Tobago (http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Elderly-British-couple-chopped-to-death-in-Tobago)
CARNBEE, Tobago (Trinidad Express) – An elderly British man and his wife were brutally hacked to death in the quiet village of Carnbee in Tobago.
Attorney Richard Wheeler, 73, and his wife, Grace Wheeler, 67, were found murdered at their Riseland Gardens in Carnbee, home yesterday morning.
Wheeler, who was originally from Sheffield, England, was a partner in the Tobago law offices of Lex Caribbean and specialised in conveyancing and property development.
His wife was a real estate agent attached to Island Investments.
They had been living in Tobago for the past 16 years.
The couple was attacked by unknown assailants between Monday night and early yesterday morning.
Attorney Martin George said Crime Stoppers was offering a reward for information that could help solve the murders.
“In my capacity as the (Tobago House of Assembly) representative on the board of Crime Stoppers, I have been able to get the board to agree to offer a special reward of $100,000 for information leading to the arrest and capture of the suspects in this matter,” said George.
VIDEO Report; https://www.facebook.com/CNC3Television/videos/10153716539812996/ (https://www.facebook.com/CNC3Television/videos/10153716539812996/)
TOBAGO POLICE ON DOUBLE MURDERS
Police officers in Tobago are questioning two men and a woman they have held in connection with the murder of a British couple.
At a press conference Thursday, ACP Vincel Edwards says the officers are doing all they can to solve the crime.
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UK warns of crime in T&T
…updates travel advisory
http://www.tv6tnt.com/news/UN-warns-of-crime-in-TT-335946571.html (http://www.tv6tnt.com/news/UN-warns-of-crime-in-TT-335946571.html)
The UNITED KINGDOM has updated its travel advisory to Trinidad and Tobago, alerting its citizens of the double murder of British national Richard Wheeler and his Trinidadian wife, Grace, at their home in Tobago on Tuesday.
The advisory, updated on Thursday, warned citizens of a high level of gang related violent crime in Trinidad, particularly in the inner city neighbourhoods east of Port of Spain's city centre, Laventille, Morvant and Barataria.
British visItors were advised to avoid travelling outside major populated areas late at night and before dawn.
And the advisory warned that there have been incidents of violence and fatal accidents caused by erratic driving to and from Piarco International airport, particularly on the Beetham/Churchill Roosevelt highway and Lady Young Road.
?Always drive with windows closed and doors locked,? it stated.
British citizens were advised to use a hotel or pre-booked taxis and drivers who work with set fares. Private taxis in Trinidad and Tobago are unmetered and unmarked but can be identified by vehicle registration plates beginning with "H", the travel advisory stated.
The visitors were warned against carrying large amounts of cash or wearing eye-catching jewellery. And they were advised not to walk alone in deserted areas even in daylight.
The advisory stated that theft from vehicles and property occurred in parts of downtown Port of Spain and other towns/cities. And noted that there was a higher risk from opportunistic crime during the festive period and carnival season.
When travelling to Tobago, British nationals were reminded that although the island was generally "trouble free" tourists have been robbed.
The advisory stated. ?The inability of the authorities to catch and prosecute offenders remains a concern. Incidents of violent crime in Tobago are rare, but 2 German tourists were murdered in November 2014, on Minister's Bay in the Bacolet area. A British national was murdered in the Riseland area of Tobago in October 2015.
Visitors to Tobago were advised against walking alone in deserted areas even in daylight and to always be part of an organised group when visiting beaches including Englishman's Bay, King Peter's Bay and Bacolet.
Wheeler, 73, and hos 67-year-old wife were found dead at their Riseland Gardens home. Wheeler, an attorney, was found hacked to death, while his wife's throat was slashed. The couple had made Tobago their home 16 years ago.
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the UK got some nerve. that's like a loin warning his cubs to look out for zebras. i lived in birmingham for most of my adult life and the things i have seen there i have never seen in new york or port of spain. for those who don't know england is the domestic violence mecca of the world, in fact most english men could say unequivocally that he had at one time slapped around his slag.
england is the easiest place in the world for a woman to catch a beat down. then there's the pick pockets of london, the street gangs, the hooliganistic football firms,and lets not forget the original terrorist group and england's KKK the "teddy boys" who tortured migrant blacks in england for better part of four decades, until recently.
let them stay there with that misconception those foolish english people. the caribbean is no heaven, and white tourist should stop treating it like it is when they go on vacation with their unrealistic expectations.
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I was listening to the radio yesterday and there was a huge public outcry because a video went viral about a man beating a toddler because she didn't want to drink her milk. Most callers wanted vigilante justice and I thought the man may not have made it to see today. Didn't think he was arrested yet. Anyone seen that video?
Found it here. You'll see it from 13:30 https://www.facebook.com/tntcrimewatch/videos/10156372119615144/
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TOBAGO POLICE ON DOUBLE MURDERS
Police officers in Tobago are questioning two men and a woman they have held in connection with the murder of a British couple.
At a press conference Thursday, ACP Vincel Edwards says the officers are doing all they can to solve the crime.
VIDEO Report; https://www.facebook.com/cnewslive/videos/10153657813520610/
Two men have been charged for the gruesome double murder of Richard and Grace Wheeler. This was revealed by Assistant Commissioner of Police Vincel Edwards at a Police Press Conference at the Scarborough Police Headquarters on Monday afternoon. "We approached the Director of Public Prosecutions this morning, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the Director has given us certain instructions. He instructed that two of the persons arrested, the male, that we should charge them for murder of Richard Wheeler and Grace Wheeler."
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I was listening to the radio yesterday and there was a huge public outcry because a video went viral about a man beating a toddler because she didn't want to drink her milk. Most callers wanted vigilante justice and I thought the man may not have made it to see today. Didn't think he was arrested yet. Anyone seen that video?
Found it here. You'll see it from 13:30 https://www.facebook.com/tntcrimewatch/videos/10156372119615144/
Iz it same fella here? I did not get a chance to dig more into this
http://www.tv6tnt.com/sevenpm-news/-BAIL-FOR-COUPLE-IN-CHILD-ABUSE-CASE-3133---337335011.html (http://www.tv6tnt.com/sevenpm-news/-BAIL-FOR-COUPLE-IN-CHILD-ABUSE-CASE-3133---337335011.html)
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I was listening to the radio yesterday and there was a huge public outcry because a video went viral about a man beating a toddler because she didn't want to drink her milk. Most callers wanted vigilante justice and I thought the man may not have made it to see today. Didn't think he was arrested yet. Anyone seen that video?
Found it here. You'll see it from 13:30 https://www.facebook.com/tntcrimewatch/videos/10156372119615144/
Iz it same fella here? I did not get a chance to dig more into this
http://www.tv6tnt.com/sevenpm-news/-BAIL-FOR-COUPLE-IN-CHILD-ABUSE-CASE-3133---337335011.html (http://www.tv6tnt.com/sevenpm-news/-BAIL-FOR-COUPLE-IN-CHILD-ABUSE-CASE-3133---337335011.html)
Yup, that's him self.
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"Tonight we ask, Do you agree parents are the real crime stoppers?"
https://www.facebook.com/cnewslive/posts/10153687308835610 (https://www.facebook.com/cnewslive/posts/10153687308835610)
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the elements of crime start with the disfunction of the family. Youths from broken homes turning to gang leaders to be their role models. A life where one has the desire to get rich quick instead of working hard for gradual success. With this type of mindset if things don't go your way then you look to rob and possibly kill to achieve the life you desire. And who to blame? Instead of looking in the mirror you blaming the system and others for keeping you down.
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Just read the news about Keron Cummings. So sad. We should hear more on this situation. If it is indeed robbery, it is indeed f--king sad.
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deeks if the people in trinidad is willing to be totally honest they will tell you that they like it so. i believe trinidad will have to get a lot worst before it gets any better. i also believe the shootings will have to hit home with the people who have wealth and influence for things to change.
believe what you will but these people would not stand up and hold the government accountable. they are too bust partying and having a time, and no one in charge is in any hurry to create a proper judicial system to bring criminals to justice and ensure their incarceration.
it is my belief that if the people in that country cared enough and was not so struck on image as opposed to efficiency the people in charge would have no choice but to get up and work in the best interest of the people. trinidad is no place to live right now and it is not because of crime, but the people in charge have no solid interest in fixing a fixable problem.
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the elements of crime start with the disfunction of the family. Youths from broken homes turning to gang leaders to be their role models. A life where one has the desire to get rich quick instead of working hard for gradual success. With this type of mindset if things don't go your way then you look to rob and possibly kill to achieve the life you desire. And who to blame? Instead of looking in the mirror you blaming the system and others for keeping you down.
And what about those who importing guns and drugs into the country... them come from broken homes too? The politicians and state employees/appointees and contractors who thiefing taxpayer money, them come from dysfunctional homes too? Or we only talking about crime committed by poor people?
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Pull stones, Breds, not being critical of you. but how worse must it get, before WE don something. Was Keron supposed to die first, so that we would finally say, enough is enough.
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Too early to expect any measurable change/betterment or start pointing fingers at the newish administration?
With all the talk about the sorry state of the economy should we expect an even drastic rise in crime?
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What a way to start the new yr..
Headline this morning... "Six-year-old Beetham Gardens boy shot and killed early Friday morning!"
6 f**king years old.
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And a 13 year old get chop up saving his mom from a bandit.
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2015 murder toll highest in five years
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20151230/news/2015-murder-toll-highest-in-five-years
THIS year’s murder toll is the highest in five years according to statistics.
The murder toll for 2015 currently stands at 414 with two days left for the year.
The murder toll for last year was 403.
For the last three years the country’s murder toll has crossed the 400 mark.
In 2013 the murder toll was 408, according to statistics on the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service’s (TTPS) website.
The lowest annual murder toll in the past five years was in 2011 when the country faced a three-month-long State of Emergency.
The murder toll in 2011 was 354.
In 2012 the murder toll was 383.
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and the People’s National Movement (PNM) Government were voted into office in the September 7 general election.
The murder toll at that time was 288.
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(https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/12510458_1205229266157115_4520954691827820409_n.jpg?oh=ab47d443f4d7483c30deeb4cf37a5790&oe=57422502)
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Allyuh think it wise to go home for Carnival?
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Allyuh think it wise to go home for Carnival?
To be blunt, NAH!!!
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A 59-Year-Old Sangre Grande man is T&T’s 19 murder victim of the year (after just 14 Days)
https://www.facebook.com/cnewslive/videos/10153812706940610/
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There need to be a public national engaging dialogue around the country among every group of people about crime in T&T.
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A team of Parliamentarians including MP Edmund Dillon, MP Shamfa Cudjoe, MP Cherrie -Ann Crichlow-Cockburn, MP Adrian Leonce, MP Dr. Lovell Francis, MP Maxie Cuffie, MP Ayanna Webster-Roy, MP Glenda Jennings-Smith, MP Ancil Antoine, MP Nicole Olivierre along with Councilors Akil Audain and Hillan Morean with Raphael Pantera accompanied myself to the homes of deceased Mark Richards & Denilson Smith students of Success Laventille Composite School. The country grieves in unison by this travesty that has occurred and we as a nation support the families of both young men painfully gone to soon. We joined in prayer for the bereaved and all those who continue to pray for salvation. From our mouths to the ears of the Almighty Father guide us through these perilous times.
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=961931483891344&id=826120904139070
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(http://www.trinidadexpress.com/storyimage/TT/20160122/LOCAL/160129845/AR/0/AR-160129845.jpg&MaxW=730&imageversion=Article)
FULL FORCE*
Schoolboys slain: Rowley announces permanent patrols by soldiers in laventille, Enterprise, Diego Martin, Tobago and elsewhere
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160122/news/full-force
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley yesterday announced the establishment of permanent patrols by soldiers of the Defence Force on the streets of “Laventille, Enterprise, Diego Martin, Tobago” and other parts of the country.
He was speaking one day following the murders of schoolboys De-neilson Smith, 17, and Mark Richards,16, in Laventille.
“If anyone is taking over the streets...it will be the security forces of Trinidad and Tobago,” the Prime Minister said at a news conference held in Tower D, International Waterfront Centre in Port of Spain, which was also attended by National Security Minister Edmund Dillon and Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General Stuart Young, both of whom joined the Prime Minister in expressing condolences to the families of two victims.
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(http://www.trinidadexpress.com/storyimage/TT/20160122/LOCAL/160129845/AR/0/AR-160129845.jpg&MaxW=730&imageversion=Article)
FULL FORCE*
Schoolboys slain: Rowley announces permanent patrols by soldiers in laventille, Enterprise, Diego Martin, Tobago and elsewhere
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160122/news/full-force
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley yesterday announced the establishment of permanent patrols by soldiers of the Defence Force on the streets of “Laventille, Enterprise, Diego Martin, Tobago” and other parts of the country.
He was speaking one day following the murders of schoolboys De-neilson Smith, 17, and Mark Richards,16, in Laventille.
“If anyone is taking over the streets...it will be the security forces of Trinidad and Tobago,” the Prime Minister said at a news conference held in Tower D, International Waterfront Centre in Port of Spain, which was also attended by National Security Minister Edmund Dillon and Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General Stuart Young, both of whom joined the Prime Minister in expressing condolences to the families of two victims.
Just one day after Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley gave instructions for the Defence Force to permanently be stationed in hotspot areas, four men believed to be connected to last Thursday's shooting death of two teenagers have been held in Laventille.
WATCH: https://www.facebook.com/cnewslive/videos/10153832625205610/
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JUSTIN IN: Police shot and killed a suspected bandit in Kelly Village, Caroni last night. According to reports, Police were responding to a report of a stolen Hyundai Tucson SUV in Malabar. The stolen vehicle was spotted on Rattan Street just off Caroni South Bank Road at around 9:30 PM. A man of African descent was seen walking near the vehicle. Officers called upon the man, but he ran off. Gunplay followed and the man was hit during the fire fight.
https://www.facebook.com/cnewslive/videos/10153836193435610/
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Ah love the comments! people are waking up! It's about your Life decisions!
https://www.facebook.com/cnewslive/posts/10153836505010610
Tonight we ask, Do you agree Sports & Culture could help resolve turf wars?
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RAW VIDEO: Police are currently searching the premises of 51 Degrees and Town Restaurant for a suspected robber.
http://www.tv6tnt.com/home/rotator/Police-standoff-at-51-Degrees-Nightclub-366829541.html
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RAW VIDEO: Police are currently searching the premises of 51 Degrees and Town Restaurant for a suspected robber.
http://www.tv6tnt.com/home/rotator/Police-standoff-at-51-Degrees-Nightclub-366829541.html
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A 28-Year-Old Chaguanas man has been held by Police after attempting to rob the 51 Degrees Night Club in Port of Spain. According to reports bandits entered Town restaurant on Cipriani Boulevard and stole money and alcohol. Three men escaped and another man entered the night club upstairs the restaurant. At around 5:13 this morning security officers at the night club alerted their firm that someone was attempting to break into the building.
WATCH: https://www.facebook.com/cnewslive/videos/10153839921695610/
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Love to see more and more people becoming engaged. The crime culture should not be glorified.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10205670479861340&set=a.1016948464036.2002450.1234846515&type=3&theater
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Two men are now in police custody after Coast Guard officers seized over 30 kilogrammes of cocaine in the Gulf of Paria on Saturday night.
https://www.facebook.com/cnewslive/videos/10153846463095610/
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New sophisticated Coast Guard radar equipment to help in fight against drug trade
http://www.cnc3.co.tt/press-release/new-sophisticated-coast-guard-radar-equipment-help-fight-against-drug-trade
Drug-runners will find it even more difficult to elude the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, following the installation of sophisticated radar equipment on some of the vessels.
Kelvin Hughes, a designer and supplier of navigation and security surveillance systems, has announced the installation of its new SharpEye upmast radar system on four new vessels commissioned by the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force.
It named the four vessels (CNC3 has opted not to name them) outfitted with the equipment, all of which will patrol Trinidad and Tobago's coastal waters and are also capable of operating in its Exclusive Economic Zone.
The company says the SharpEye radar was selected as the surveillance radar due to its superior target detection capability especially in poor weather conditions such as heavy rain and high sea states.
Dedicated primarily to surface search and surveillance to counteract illegal activity, the radar will also be used in support of the vessels’ navigational magnetron radar to provide the safety and situational awareness required in high clutter conditions.
With its longer range target detection capability and low power output - reducing the probability of detection by ESM equipment - the SharpEye radar will enable the craft to remain out of visual sight and out of conventional radar detection range whilst still being able to track and monitor vessels under investigation.
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(http://www.guardian.co.tt/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/EDMOND%20DILLON_5.jpg?itok=YTIM_QbE)
24 detained during PBR operation
Clampdown on illegals; Tightening of land and sea borders
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2016-02-05/clampdown-illegals
Illegal entry into T&T is being made more difficult as the Government steps up border security on land and sea.
National Security Minister Edmund Dillon yesterday confirmed moves to step up border security following Wednesday’s exercise by police and immigration in which 30 people were questioned and 24 detained.
During the exercise, authorities checking vehicles along the Priority Bus Route asked commuters for identification. The 24 people who were detained were placed at the Detention Centre.
The National Security Ministry yesterday confirmed that the exercise was the latest phase of operations to deal with illegal immigrants. It said those detained in Wednesday’s exercise included four Jamaicans, one Dominican Republic national, two Cubans, one Grenadian, ten Guyanese, one Nigerian, three Chinese, one Vincentian and one person from Sierra Leone.
In February 2015, then National Security Minister Gary Griffith, in announcing a “crackdown on illegals,” estimated that there were 110,000 illegal immigrants from 16 countries living in T&T.
He said they would have been given the opportunity to regularise their status and if non-compliant would be located and returned to their homeland. He added that there were many illegal immigrants in T&T contributing heavily to crime and gang activity and if these undesirables were removed it would have a positive impact on the anti-crime fight.
Yesterday, Dillon said maritime borders—prime points for illegal entry—were being tightened, as were entry points on land in his government’s heightened efforts to deal with crime and gang warfare.
Dillon is planning visits to various areas and agencies in coming weeks to reinforce those plans.
Dillon said he would visit the Detention Centre soon since it was in a “terrible” state.
He said he has called for certain rearrangements to be done at the centre and for the processes regarding Caricom nationals to be expedited when such individuals have to be returned to their homeland.
He said discussions had been held with the Jamaican high commissioner on such matters.
The minister said halting illegal access to T&T was also geared towards clamping down on foreign culprits involved in terrorist activities entering T&T.
Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, meanwhile, told the T&T Guardian that the Government was using a multi-pronged approach to dealing with returning T&T-born terrorist fighters—those who had served with ISIS in the Middle East—and this would involve operationalising existing law plus co-operation with international parties.
That is currently being finalised at various levels of the Government.
“A special Anti-Terrorism Unit has also been established in the Attorney General’s office to handle such matters,” Al-Rawi said.
“We’ve retooled arrangements which had existed in the AG’s office, but hadn’t been used. The past administration, which had co-sponsored the United Nations anti-terrorism resolution, however, didn’t operationalise what they were doing.”
Al-Rawi also said authorities who mounted a surprise search in the Port-of-Spain prison between Wednesday night and early Thursday morning found 28 new high-tech cell phones.
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Body of woman identified*
Assault not ruled out...
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160210/news/body-of-woman-identified
A young Japanese woman was found dead in her Carnival costume at the Queen's Park Savannah in Port of Spain yesterday morning.
Police last night identified the woman as Asami Nagakiya.
The Police Service said in a statement that she is believed to have been a regular visitor to Trinidad Carnival and played for a Port of Spain steelband along with a group of other Japanese nationals.
Investigators told the Express last night that Nagakiya may have played pan with Silver Stars but this was not immediately confirmed.
Police said that about 9.30 a.m. yesterday, two cleaners employed with the Port of Spain City Corporation found Nagakiya's body.
They were sitting on a bench on the western side of the Savannah, near Queen's Royal College, when they observed something under a nearby tree.
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Body of woman identified*
Assault not ruled out...
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160210/news/body-of-woman-identified
A young Japanese woman was found dead in her Carnival costume at the Queen's Park Savannah in Port of Spain yesterday morning.
Police last night identified the woman as Asami Nagakiya.
The Police Service said in a statement that she is believed to have been a regular visitor to Trinidad Carnival and played for a Port of Spain steelband along with a group of other Japanese nationals.
Investigators told the Express last night that Nagakiya may have played pan with Silver Stars but this was not immediately confirmed.
Police said that about 9.30 a.m. yesterday, two cleaners employed with the Port of Spain City Corporation found Nagakiya's body.
They were sitting on a bench on the western side of the Savannah, near Queen's Royal College, when they observed something under a nearby tree.
(https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/12670282_10153243964012657_324770987808663335_n.jpg?oh=d58bb9fa7e4bda3881b34fb66aea067e&oe=5730B0C4)
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Police to review CCTV footage
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160212/news/police-to-review-cctv-footage
Homicide officers are this weekend reviewing footage captured on CCTV cameras that line Picton Street and the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain, in a bid to find workable footage showing Asami Nagakiya’s last living moments and her potential killer or killers.
Senior homicide sources confirmed they were poring over footage from these cameras after receiving information that the Japanese pannist was seen walking along Picton Street in the company of a man sometime late Carnival Tuesday evening into the night.
The street goes in a northern direction to the Queen’s Park Savannah not far from where Nagakiya’s body was eventually found on Wednesday morning.
Investigators are hoping, with the help of the cameras, to retrace and piece together the final steps of the Japanese national.
Sources say several people have come forward and have been assisting police with the investigation, and they believe they will make a significant breakthrough in the case soon.
Yoichi Watanabe, a friend of Nagakiya who spoke exclusively with TV6 News and the Express at his Carenage home in the company of Japanese reporters yesterday, said he was still trying to come to terms with the horrible reality.
“I didn’t want it to be true, I really didn’t want it to be true... The first information I received was that it was an Asian woman... I didn’t want it to be true and I waited a whole day hoping it wouldn’t be true...
“I went with the police and identified her body...It’s so unfortunate, it’s really so unfortunate,” Watanabe said.
Yoichi like so many others described Nagakiya as a talented pannist who gave her all in everything she played. He added the gap she has left in the musical pan world will be hard to fill.
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One man who was held for questioning in connection with the murder of Japanese pannist, Asami Nagakiya, was released this morning without being charged.
The man, who was a friend of Ms. Nagakiya, was held at an abandoned structure on Woodford street in Newtown, which he was allegedly using during the carnival period.
WATCH: https://www.facebook.com/cnewslive/videos/10153872163020610/
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Police seize $4.2m in coke, marijuana in South :applause:
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2016-02-13/police-seize-42m-coke-marijuana-south
Southern Division Task Force officers seized $4.2 million worth of cocaine and marijuana and arrested two men, including a Dominican Republic national, who were transporting the drugs in a sports utility vehicle in Woodland.
Police sources said the 44-year-old foreigner and a 39-year-old Carenage man are being detained at an undisclosed location for security reasons as police conduct further inquiries.
Police believe the drugs were smuggled into the country from an illegal port of entry along the southwestern coastline.
Led by Sgt Parasram and Cpl Joseph, officers set up a road block along the M2 Ring Road near the La Romaine intersection after receiving a tip-off.
Around 8.50 am, the officers stopped and searched the Hyundai Tucson occupied by the two men.
Inside the vehicle, the police found 7.1 kilogrammes of pure cocaine and 23.3 kilogrammes of high-grade marijuana. The drugs were seized, the men arrested, and the vehicle impounded.
Also involved in the exercise were PC George, PC Ramdhanie, PC Ruben, PC Samaroo, PC Langcaster, WPC Penty, WPC Joint and WPC Noel.
The officers came in for high praises and commendations from their seniors, including Snr Supt Hackshaw, ASP Ramdeo and Insp Gajadhar, for a job well done.
Investigations are continuing.
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http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2016-02-16/businessman-detained
Chaguanas car dealer Sheron Sukhdeo was detained yesterday by police officers in connection with a report of domestic violence.
Up to late last night he was at the Chaguanas Police Station being questioned but no charges were laid.
Yesterday morning, a team of police officers from the Chaguanas Police Station, led by Inspector McIntyre, went to the businessman’s home near the Chaguanas Government Primary School.
He was later handcuffed and taken to his businessplace on the Caroni Savannah Road and then to the Chaguanas Police Station where he was questioned overnight.
Investigating officers have obtained an official statement from the alleged domestic violence victim, a 28-year-old mother of two.
The statement was taken from her on Sunday following an interview she had with Head of the Central Division, Snr Supt Jayson Forde. Investigating officers were also able to obtain medical records from the respective health institutions, including the Chaguanas Health Centre, to add to their file.
The woman and her two children — ages seven and five — are said to have been under heavy police guard since Sunday.
Early on Saturday morning, the woman took to Facebook to post recent photographs of herself showing blue black marks, cuts, bruises and a bloodshot eye that she said she sustained last week during an alleged confrontation with a close male relative.
Speaking out publicly for the first time, the woman alleged she has been a victim of domestic violence for the last 12 years.
Thousands of comments were made in support of the woman and her children and on Sunday the police intervened, saying she would also receive counselling from the Victim and Witness Support Unit and the children would be referred to the Child Protection Unit and the Children’s Authority.
THIS MAN LIVING LARGE
https://www.instagram.com/sherons_auto/
The Story Behind The Story | Sheron Sukhdeo's Instagram
https://www.facebook.com/SpeakOutTnT/videos/958786217541505/?video_source=pages_finch_main_video
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18% drop in domestic violence reports in 2015
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160217/news/cops-18-drop-in-domestic-violence-reports-in-2015
Police are urging victims of domestic abuse to come forward.
Even though there was a significant drop in the number of reported cases of domestic violence last year compared to 2014, the issue continues to be a major concern to members of the Police Service, public relations officer with service Ag ASP Michael Pierre said yesterday.
Speaking at the weekly police news conference in Port of Spain, Pierre said there was an 18 per cent drop in domestic violence reports from 2014 to 2015, and that police officers will continue to investigate and adopt a zero-tolerance approach to such offences.
He was speaking in light of recent reports of a woman in Central Trinidad who recently posted photos of herself on social media alleging she was being abused by her husband for a number of years. The alleged perpetrator has been charged.
“It is the mandate of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service that a police officer shall respond to every complaint or report alleging domestic violence, whether or not the person making the complaint or the report is the victim or whether the report is made in person or by phone...
“The primary concern of the police officers responding to reports of domestic violence should be the safety of the victim, whether or not the threat of violence is immediate or remote,” said Pierre, adding all reports will be investigated with impartiality. He said in 2014 there were 1,931 reports of domestic violence, but in 2015 this number was reduced to 1,632.
He explained victims of domestic violence can also apply for a protection order at the district Magistrates’ Court, restraining a person from engaging in abusive behaviour in any way. In explaining who can apply for such an order, Pierre said: “A spouse, a member of the spouse’s household, that is, a child, a dependant, a parent or sibling of either the spouse or respondent of that sibling or parent who is not a member of the household; a person who has a child in common with the respondent, a person who is or has been in a visiting relationship with a person of the opposite sex for a period exceeding 12 months, a police officer, a probation officer or approved social worker on behalf of an alleged victim.”
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CHARGED FOR TRAFFICKING: Coast Guard officers seized a quantity of marijuana after intercepting a pirogue in the Gulf of Paria yesterday.
WATCH: https://www.facebook.com/cnewslive/videos/10153882364880610/
CHARGED FOR TRAFFICKING: Coast Guard officers seized a quantity of marijuana after intercepting a pirogue in the Gulf of Paria yesterday. Officers boarded the pirogue and searched the vessel, they recovered a black package containing a plant-like substance. The Coast Guard officers handed over five men who were on the pirogue to the Organised Crime, Narcotics and Firearms Bureau. Two of the men were eventually charged for trafficking 500 grammes of marijuana.
In another incident, police officers responded to a theft at Damion Jewellery on the SS Erin Road in Debe. When they arrived on the scene, they found four men seated around a table under a shed. Three of the men ran into some nearby bushes when they saw the officers approaching. The officers recovered a quantity of gold jewellery on the table and arrested one man in relation to the find. He had remained seated at the table while his companions ran away.
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Manhunt for three others.
By Jensen La Vende (Guardian).
The two bodies found in a forested area in St Augustine on Tuesday evening were identified yesterday as teenage schoolboys Stephan Singh and Daniel Halls.
In a week in which the national conversation was on troublesome students, particularly teenaged boys and their links to school violence and gangs, how the two came to be target of killers yesterday once again drove home just how real a concern it is.
At least one of the victim’s relatives expressed little shock at their untimely demise so early in their lives. According to police reports, around 4.40 pm Tuesday, residents of St John’s Road heard gunshots and alerted the police.
Officers responded and found the bodies of Singh, 17 and Halls, 16. Police said they were told that the teens were seen as part of a group of five entering the bushes and after the shooting only the two deceased were found. Singh, a student of Trinity East College, had an empty revolver on him.
Police said they had not ruled out the possibility that the other three people who entered the bush with them were suspects but they were still searching the area yesterday for them as possible victims of a crime.
But police said they believed the teens had gone to either purchase drugs or to steal from someone’s marijuana garden when they were ambushed and killed. Police also speculated that the two boys may have been set up to be killed by the other three missing people.
In speaking about her son yesterday, Halls’ mother, Joy, referred to the Old Testament admonition handed down to the Jews by God for children to obey their parents lest their lives be shortened.
Halls quoted from the scripture: “Honour your father and your mother so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you”, taken from the book of Exodus, as she spoke to the media yesterday at her home at Bamboo Trace, Upper Fairly Street, Tunapuna.
“There is a penalty for disobedience and scripture tells when you disobey your parents you will not live long. I did the best I could do and this is the way God chose for him to go,” Halls said, adding that the only advice she could offer was for parents and children alike to walk in obedience.
Halls said her son, who wanted to be a police officer, recently began associating himself with “bad influences” and was not listening to her whenever she told him to stay away from them. Halls said when she learned her second son was killed she was not surprised at all because of the life she saw he was living.
“I was not surprised at all because he was a disobedient child. Being around in the neighbourhood you will hear stuff and then he was not coming home. He was not rude but he was disobedient,” Halls said, adding that her son, a fourth former at Aranguez North, never spoke much.
About a half-an-hour drive away at Ramgoolie Street, Curepe, Singh’s godmother, Shalimar Gibson, said her godchild was like her son.
Saying she last saw him the day before he was murdered, Gibson said Singh was nicknamed “Puppy” by relatives because his father was nicknamed “Doggy”. She said the last time she saw him she heard his friends call him “Monster”, but said she rebuked them from doing so in her presence.
Gibson said the Fourth Form student wanted to be a footballer and was a very good striker. Another relative said the teen also once played for local football club San Juan Jabloteh.
“He was just jolly, always laughing and giggling. I don't know what he used to do with friends. I’m not with him 24/7 but when he in this house it was a level of respect he showed,” Gibson said. Gibson added that on Tuesday she dreamt of her godchild and when she heard of two people being killed she instinctively knew it was him but hoped it wasn’t.
“This was a shock because I dreamt him last night and I kinda knew he was gonna go but didn't know he was gonna go that time. The dream was a funny one from what I remember,” Gibson said.
She said Singh lived in Cunupia with his mother but would regularly visit her, and was due to visit his school this week after he was suspended for having his cellphone in class.
“Don't let negative people follow you and don't follow negative people. Have your own head and don't let other people think for you. The same bad man who putting gun in allyuh hand and have allyuh killing each other while them old bad man home rock back,” Gibson advised youths who may be inclined to follow bad company.
Gibson said Singh had also recently joined the Muslim faith and believed his killing may have been gang-related. Halls’ mother also confirmed he had recently joined the Muslim faith.
In a telephone interview with the T&T Guardian yesterday, Derek West, principal at Trinity East, described Singh as an average student. West added that there was counselling provided for the students who knew him yesterday and they had also sought assistance from the Ministry of
Education for guidance officers. “We are working on the healing process for our boys now,” West said. Attempts to contact teachers at Aranguez North were unsuccessful as all calls went unanswered.
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http://www.economist.com/news/americas/21694586-foul-crowded-and-dangerous-regions-jails-need-reform-blue-seas-black-holes
Note the sentence regarding a former Guyana NT coach.
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One man who was held for questioning in connection with the murder of Japanese pannist, Asami Nagakiya, was released this morning without being charged.
The man, who was a friend of Ms. Nagakiya, was held at an abandoned structure on Woodford street in Newtown, which he was allegedly using during the carnival period.
WATCH: https://www.facebook.com/cnewslive/videos/10153872163020610/
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Autopsy: Japanese pannist was not raped
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160315/news/autopsy-japanese-pannist-was-not-raped
MURDERED Japanese pannist Asami Nagakiya was not raped.
This was contained in the results of a foreign forensic analysis of tissue samples and swabs taken after Nagakiya’s body was found at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain, on February 10 (Ash Wednesday).
An autopsy performed at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, confirmed Nagakiya, 30, had been strangled.
Analysis of samples sent to the Centre showed that Nagakiya was not raped or sexually assaulted and was forwarded yesterday to homicide detectives, the Express was told.
Detectives also received dental moulds of bite marks found on Nagakiya’s body which police believe could be helpful in finding her attacker.
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How much funds will the powers that be continue to waste behind bad ideas that wouldn't make a scratch on the surface of the issue.
CCTV cameras in schools
Thursday, March 24 2016
CLOSED-CIRCUIT Television (CCTV) cameras have been installed in some “high-risk schools”, says Chief Education Officer in the Education Ministry, Harrilal Seecharan, to monitor for incidents of violence and indiscipline .
Smh..
How about a camera in the homes and a camera in the drug deals and dens outside the school and a few I under the bridges, in case ppl try t hide..and a few more behind God back in case ppl try to run there. Wait, let me get my 2 no cousin to start importing some..of course, it the cost must also double too..as my other breeds have to install them.
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Residents in Crown Trace, Enterprise call for justice and appeal for help against the criminal elements and corrupt police. They made the call after a stand off between the residents and a particular leader in the community who they claim has the police in his back pocket.
https://www.facebook.com/cnewslive/videos/10154043850585610/
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Ministry: Lockdown part of routine exercises
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2016-04-18/ministry-lockdown-part-routine-exercises
Security, which was increased around the Port-of-Spain State Prison over the weekend, was part of routine exercises being deployed around the facility since the July 2015 jailbreak and not due to any impending “jailbreak,” the National Security Ministry stated last night.
Corporate communications manager of the Ministry of National Ministry, Marcia Hope, explained the situation yesterday, after an increase in security around the Frederick Street facility coupled with widespread breakdown of telephone services in Port-of-Spain and environs and Chaguanas sparked rumours of a possible “jailbreak.”
Such rumours have been simmering in recent weeks. Rumours increased on Saturday when it was noticed that security around the prison was beefed-up. Security around the Frederick Street facility has been tightened at various intervals since the July 2015 jailbreak when three inmates broke out in a hail of gunfire and escaped.
Allan “Scanny” Martin was shot dead by police who cornered him shortly after the breakout, near the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. Hassan Atwell was shot dead in east Port-of-Spain reportedly by gang members. The third, Christopher Selby, gave himself up at the Barataria Police Station two days later.
Since then security has been heightened around the prison at various intervals. Yesterday, the Frederick Street block around the prison was blocked at the corner of Gordon Street and surrounding corners. There was also a heightened mobile police presence.
Saying that the tightened security was part of exercises around the prison which take place from time to time, Hope added that authorities will not announce when exercises take place. But she acknowledged that the “sudden” increase in security fostered fears of a “jailbreak.”
Hope said barricades have also routinely been placed on the pavement around the prison for two reasons.
“One is to let the public know not to walk too close to the prison and another reason is to minimise any opportunity for people from the outside of the prison to throw anything into the prison, from over the wall,”
Prison authorities recently said items have been thrown over the wall of the Frederick Street facility including drugs, weapons and other contraband items secreted in the bodies of pigeons. Hope said yesterday’s prison security increases had no connection with the phone system breakdown in the capital and other areas.
TSTT yesterday issued a statement confirming the service outage affecting customers in the East-West Corridor including Port-of-Spain and Chaguanas. TSTT said this was due to a fibre cut, causing interruption to one or more TSTT services. TSTT stated the company was working to resolve the issue in the shortest possible time.
Yesterday’s heightened prison security and the simultaneous phone system breakdown had also led to speculation and “jailbreak jitters” about whether the security had been increased due to a higher level of intelligence-gathering resulting from state’ “jammer” systems—and what any such intelligence might have revealed.
Last Friday in Parliament, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, in the final debate stages of the Strategic Services Agency (Amendment) Bill 2016—which involves interception of communication to track crime, said under the PNM Government, cellphone “jammers” have blocked some 1.5 million calls, 126,000 SMS texts and 364 illicit phones in one prison.
Al-Rawi had said he had visited a jail and seen scanning equipment locate shaving implements, wi-fi spots, digital scales, cocaine, marijuana, bullets and a 22-inch flat-screen TV in Death Row.
On concerns about wire-tapping by the SSA, he said this can only be approved by the Commissioner of Police, Chief of Defence Staff and SSA head, and that old information must be destroyed.
Calling for greater accountability of national security operations, Al-Rawi said the National Operations Centre must be moved from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) to the SSA.
The SSA bill must now be dated by the Senate this week. The Opposition UNC has however questioned Al-Rawi’s claim of cellphone jammers “blocking 1.5 million calls.”
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Decline in murders for Western Division
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2016-04-28/decline-murders-western-division
Western Division has recorded a 53 per cent reduction in murders for the year to date. This also represents the highest reduction in murders as compared to other divisions.
But there was an increase regarding sexual abuse against children as there have been 27 reported cases to date, compared to 17 for the same period last year.
So said head of Western Division Senior Supt Basdeo Ramdhanie at yesterday's police press briefing at the Police Administration Building, Port-of-Spain. He said most of the sexual offences cases were solved.
"Most of these crimes were perpetrated against children who were left unsupervised and we appeal to parents to ensure children are properly supervised by responsible people.
"Some of the crimes committed were by relatives," Ramdhanie added.
The division, Ramdhanie said, recorded seven murders for the year as compared to 15 for the corresponding period last year. He said there was also a significant reduction in shootings and woundings and a 22 per cent reduction in serious reported crimes as compared to the corresponding period last year.
For the year, officers have seized 37 guns and last week alone nine guns were recovered, including five in one day along with a quantity of ammunition.
Ramdhanie said the reduction was attributed to hard work, dedication to duty and strong ties with the community which in turn provided key information to the police. He added that patrols have also been intensified, particularly in hot spot areas.
On reports of burglaries and break-ins, he said that was prevalent in the St James, Carenage and Four Roads districts in particular.
Most of those occurred at private homes and Ramdhanie warned owners to secure premises properly and ask neighbours to keep an eye on their property while away. He also advised in the investment of CCTV cameras which are exempt from taxes.
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Decline in murders for Western Division
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2016-04-28/decline-murders-western-division
Western Division has recorded a 53 per cent reduction in murders for the year to date. This also represents the highest reduction in murders as compared to other divisions.
But there was an increase regarding sexual abuse against children as there have been 27 reported cases to date, compared to 17 for the same period last year.
So said head of Western Division Senior Supt Basdeo Ramdhanie at yesterday's police press briefing at the Police Administration Building, Port-of-Spain. He said most of the sexual offences cases were solved.
"Most of these crimes were perpetrated against children who were left unsupervised and we appeal to parents to ensure children are properly supervised by responsible people.
"Some of the crimes committed were by relatives," Ramdhanie added.
The division, Ramdhanie said, recorded seven murders for the year as compared to 15 for the corresponding period last year. He said there was also a significant reduction in shootings and woundings and a 22 per cent reduction in serious reported crimes as compared to the corresponding period last year.
For the year, officers have seized 37 guns and last week alone nine guns were recovered, including five in one day along with a quantity of ammunition.
Ramdhanie said the reduction was attributed to hard work, dedication to duty and strong ties with the community which in turn provided key information to the police. He added that patrols have also been intensified, particularly in hot spot areas.
On reports of burglaries and break-ins, he said that was prevalent in the St James, Carenage and Four Roads districts in particular.
Most of those occurred at private homes and Ramdhanie warned owners to secure premises properly and ask neighbours to keep an eye on their property while away. He also advised in the investment of CCTV cameras which are exempt from taxes.
while murders up every where else, so why even bother to mention this when we have 150 murders and the highest in years. rowley talked a good talk now let him walk the walk. he had a lot to say about kamla, now its his turn to take some stick.
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8 Jamaicans among 14 held in police exercise
http://www.looptt.com/content/8-jamaicans-among-14-held-police-exercise
Eight Jamaican nationals were among 14 persons held yesterday during a police exercise in Sangre Grande.
The exercise was spearheaded by Snr Sup Forde, with assistance from Inspector Lutchman, Sgt Fuentes, Sgt Williams, Cpl Castillo, Cpl, Khan, as well as other officers from the Sangre Grande CID and the Eastern Division Task Force.
According to reports, officers went to an apartment building at Brooklyn Settlement at about 4 am where they detained the Jamaicans — five women and three men.
Some of them have been in this country since 2012. One of them arrived approximately one month ago.
Some told police they were on vacation while others said they were gainfully employed.
Immigration authorities were called in to ascertain if the eight Jamaicans are in this country illegally.
Officers then proceeded to Upper Cunapo Road where a 19-year-old man was arrested after he was found to be in possession 56 grammes of marijuana.
The exercise then took officers to Barker Trace, Coalmine, where they stopped a silver AD Wagon with a man and a woman, ages 30 and 33. A check of the vehicle revealed 315 grammes of marijuana concealed between the two front passenger seats. The two were arrested for possession of marijuana.
The police team went to Toco Road, Sangre Grande, and arrested a 20-year-old man on an outstanding warrant. A search was also executed at the Mc Shine Street home of a 37-year-old-man who is a person of interest in the Sangre Grande area. Two gadgets used for smoking cocaine were seized.
The officers then made their way to Foster Road, Sangre Grande, where a 21-year-old man was held with 13 grammes of marijuana.
The anti-crime exercise forms part of the initiative to rid the Eastern Division of illegal arms, ammunition, drugs and illicit activities.
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The SSA Amendment Bill
http://www.looptt.com/content/ssa-amendment-bill-explained
2)The SSA is currently authorised to police only drug-related offences. The amendment seeks to extend the agency’s mandate to operate in relation to serious crimes
3) Clause 3 of the Bill broadens the scope and functions of the Strategic Service Agency by including an expansive definition for serious crimes. The following areas are now under the remit of the Agency: Offences related to homicide; treason; terrorist acts; terrorist financing; cybercrime; chemical, biological and nuclear weapons; money laundering; weapons of mass destruction; trafficking in children & persons; gangs; Illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursor chemicals; corruption; offences which carry a penalty of not less than five year’s imprisonment; firearms and ammunition; and smuggling.
4)The Agency will now be charged with the responsibility for maintaining databases of persons involved in “serious crimes” .
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Please put them up in the Hyatt before they are deported.
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COP, SOLDIER SHOT DEAD*
Officers ambushed, killed at Arouca and Wallerfield homes
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160524/news/cop-soldier-shot-dead
THREE bandits escaped with a box of costume jewelry and a car after they robbed a Wallerfield family and shot dead a soldier who was relatives said was a devoted father and husband who swore he would always protect them
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Last night, one of the suspects was arrested and was assisting police in their investigation.
The step-daughter of Regiment soldier Cpl Jerry Leacock recalled yesterday he was an officer in the Regiment's Engineering Battalion.
Kerneill Henry, 17, spoke to the Express at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, and described Leacock as a calm, loving and fiercely devoted family man. Leacock was killed at 5.30 a.m. at his Jacob Hill, Wallerfield, home.
Police said three bandits entered the house and Leacock's wife, who was in the kitchen when the bandits broke in, screamed when she saw them.
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Acting Commissioner: Serious crime at lowest in 33 years
The acting police commissioner says serious crime is at its lowest in 33 years, but guns continue to plague the country being the weapon of choice for at least 83 percent of the homicides committed this year.
Akash Samaroo has more.
WATCH: http://www.cnc3.co.tt/news/acting-commissioner-serious-crime-lowest-33-years
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(http://loopassets.s3.amazonaws.com/styles/carousel_large/s3/thumbnails/image/cocaine_2.jpg?itok=iJ5u8OCy)
Coast Guard seize monster cocaine haul worth $39M
http://www.looptt.com/content/coast-guard-seize-monster-cocaine-haul-worth-39m
A mega haul of cocaine was seized by the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard this morning, one of the largest hauls for the year so far.
Over $39 million worth of cocaine was seized during an early morning exercise near Trinidad's north coast.
According to reports, around 1:00 am the Coast Guard's men spotted the pirogue named “El Libertadores”, registered to the Port of Guria in Venezuela, acting suspiciously.
The boat then sped off and a chase ensued.
The vessel was intercepted and returned to Staubles Bay for investigation.
Searches at Staubles Bay resulted in a discovery of three crocus bags containing a massive 84 packs of cocaine, weighing a total of 98.5 kilogrammes with an estimated street value of TT$39,400 000.
This brings the total street value of drugs seized for the 2016 to a whopping $58, 971, 760.
The men and the drugs were handed over to the Organised Crime Narcotics Firearm Bureau (OCNFB) attachment of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service for further processing.
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http://www.newsday.co.tt/crime_and_court/0,230153.html
so why the name of the chief perp not in the news, why no report on his charge. Why his business not shutdown and assets seized ?
maybe SWN lawyers can explain.
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PM invites Kamla for crime talks
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2016-08-30/pm-invites-kamla-crime-talks
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has agreed to meet with Opposition Leader, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, and her delegation on Friday at the Office of the Prime Minister, St Clair, to discuss rising crime in the country.
The talks are scheduled even as the National Security Council meets today to discuss a video in circulation from one of the country’s major criminal gangs, Rasta City gang, displaying a cache of weapons usually used by soldiers on the combat fields and moves by the Ministry of National Security to put more pressure on divisional commanders of the Police Service to be accountable for increasing crime detection in their respective areas.
In a letter, dated August 24 titled “Crime Crisis”, Persad-Bissessar requested an urgent meeting with Rowley and members of their respective national security teams so that they could engage in a “non-partisan dialogue on a way forward to combat serious crime.”
Persad-Bissessar said she hoped the meeting would blossom into a joint anti-crime initiative informed by representatives from both sides of the bench and, with the input of key national security stakeholders.
Yesterday, Rowley sent a letter to the Opposition Leader inviting her and her team for the meeting. However, it gave a deadline of the end of today to submit an agenda of items to be raised in the meeting.
Just last week at the weekly post-Cabinet media briefing, Rowley assured the population that the structure of the State to respond to those involved in crime was intact, vigorous and on the front burner.
He said he also welcomed talks with Persad-Bissessar on the issues, saying, however, that he hopes that it will not be used to score political points.
One of the topics that may be possibly be discussed is the issue of extending the life of the Bail (Amendment) Act and the Anti-Gang legislation.
In a previous release, Persad-Bissessar had expressed concerns that the Attorney General, Faris Al-Rawi, failed to be honest about the empirical data about how many people are in jail without bail under the existing law and who would become entitled to apply for bail post August 15.
Two points, she noted was that: Al-Rawi does not have the statistical data to show how many persons were denied bail under the Anti-Gang Act and Bail (Amendment) Acts and secondly, the release of prisoners who are on charges of kidnapping for ransom could be a security risk to the country after August 15.
She stated that Government’s rush to renew the law relating to the Anti-Gang Act and Bail (Amendment) Acts without any examination and analysis of the empirical data must be condemned.
“On what basis was the Parliament being asked to consider the renewal of these laws in the absence of such basic and vital information?” Persad-Bissessar said, in a previous release.
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T&T to spend US$17.5m on crime fighting initiatives
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/T-T-to-spend-US-17-5m-fighting-crime
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, says his administration will be spending US$17.5 million on equipment that will enable the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) to boost intelligence-gathering efforts in the fight against crime.
Rowley, in a 37-minute address to the nation late SundaY, said the twin island republic has been grappling with an increase in crime even as the government also deals with some economic challenges.
“We wake up each day to the numbing news of the depressing actions of a proportionately small number of our citizens; non-stop killings; from the revenge murders among the organised criminal gangs to the ever too frequent tragedies of domestic violence; to the inexplicable mindless acts of wantonness which defy logic, causing us to believe that amongst us there are warped minds which place no value on human life.”
He said his government is resolute in its commitment to confront those who choose crime as a way of life and undertake to work tirelessly to rebuild a sense of safety through meaningful reduction of crime and removal of the fear of crime in our communities.
The Prime Minister said the Government will sustain its resourcing of the TTPS and other security agencies to allow them to better engage in crime prevention and detection.
“To this end recently the National Security Council had Cabinet authorise a US$17.5 major equipment purchase to upgrade the intelligence gathering efforts of the Police… this is expected to significantly boost evidence gathering and greatly assist the law enforcement capabilities of the security agencies.”
The Prime Minister also said the government is eagerly awaiting the appointment of a Police Commissioner, and live in hope to bear fruit from the new spirit of collaboration and cooperation between the Government and the Opposition.
“Only time will tell….steps have been taken to initiate the still cumbersome process with the intention of having a substantive Commissioner of Police appointed. It is the intention of the Government to invite the Opposition to cooperate with us to abolish the current failed process and replace it with some new arrangement such as an accountable Police Service Commission cloaked with the responsibility and authority to supervise an effective modern Police Service.”
Rowley also noted that the government has been encouraging the TTPS to decentralise its efforts by concentrating its manpower and leadership over an aggressive regional substructure. He suggested that this would bring greater accountability alongside more actionable information and boots on the pavement over more hours of the day.
The address comes ahead of the Budget for fiscal 2016-2017 which is expected to be presented in Parliament by month’s end.
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Trinidad & Tobago Government rolls out new crime-fighting plan
https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Trinidad---Tobago-Government-rolls-out-new-crime-fighting-plan_73716
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley says his Administration will be spending US$17.5 million on equipment that will enable the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) to boost intelligence-gathering efforts in the fight against crime.
Rowley, in a 37-minute address to the nation late Sunday, said the two-island republic has been grappling with an increase in crime, even as the Government deals with economic challenges.
“We wake up each day to the numbing news of the depressing actions of a proportionately small number of our citizens; non-stop killings; from the revenge murders among the organised criminal gangs to the ever-too-frequent tragedies of domestic violence, to the inexplicable, mindless acts of wantonness which defy logic — causing us to believe that amongst us there are warped minds which place no value on human life,” Rowley said.
He said his Government is resolute in its commitment to confront those who choose crime as a way of life and undertake to work tirelessly to rebuild a sense of safety through meaningful reduction of crime and removal of the fear of crime in our communities.
The prime minister said the Government will sustain its resourcing of the TTPS and other security agencies to allow them to better engage in crime prevention and detection.
“To this end, recently the National Security Council had Cabinet authorise a US$17.5 million major equipment purchase to upgrade the intelligence-gathering efforts of the police… this is expected to significantly boost evidence gathering and greatly assist the law enforcement capabilities of the security agencies,” Rowley stated.
The prime minister also said the Government is eagerly awaiting the appointment of a police commissioner and live in hope to bear fruit from the new spirit of collaboration and co-operation between the Government and the Opposition.
“Only time will tell… steps have been taken to initiate the still cumbersome process, with the intention of having a substantive commissioner of police appointed. It is the intention of the Government to invite the Opposition to cooperate with us to abolish the current failed process and replace it with some new arrangement such as an accountable Police Service Commission cloaked with the responsibility and authority to supervise an effective, modern police service,” he explained.
Rowley also noted that the Government has been encouraging the TTPS to decentralise its efforts by concentrating its manpower and leadership over an aggressive regional substructure. He suggested that this would bring greater accountability alongside more actionable information and boots on the pavement over more hours of the day.
The address comes ahead of the budget for fiscal year 2016-2017, which is expected to be presented in Parliament by the end of this month.
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Asami's case 'moving apace', police on search for killer of Japanese pannist
By JENSEN LA VENDE (NEWSDAY).
FOUR years ago today, Japanese pannist Asami Nagakiya’s body was found in Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain, on Ash Wednesday. Police are no closer to solving the case than they were in 2016.
A homeless man stumbled upon the 30-year-old among a pile of leaves and debris. She had on a Carnival costume.
The police Cold Case Unit is still investigating her death. "It is moving a pace," said a homicide detective.
Police believe Nagakiya was killed sometime between Carnival Tuesday (February 8.) and Ash Wednesday (February 9) in 2016. She was last seen alive on Carnival Tuesday around 6.15 pm walking with a man near Picton Court, Newtown. The man and two women were questioned but were released without charge. An autopsy concluded she was strangled.
Her killer was left-handed and missing four to six front teeth, Russian forensic pathologist Dr Valery Alexandrov revealed in public lecture at UWI, St Augustine in 2017.
He lamented the length of time it took for her body to be taken to the Forensic Science Centre in St James saying "it was frozen" when he began the autopsy. He could not determine the time of death. However, he was able to build a profile of her killer referring to marks of violence on her neck from which he determined her attacker was left-handed. Bite marks on her cheeks showed that the attacker was missing a few front teeth. Ten suspects were cleared based on this information, said Alexandrov, who now works abroad.
Nagakiya's unsolved murder is just one of many unsolved murders women in TT which must not be ignored, Stephanie Leitch, founding director of Womantra, said when asked to reflect on the case.
“Not being able to bring Asami’s killer to justice is not unlike the lack of response or ability of the TTPS to bring to justice any of the perpetrators who have murdered women throughout these years,” Leitch said.
Womantra was at the forefront of a protest over the Port of Spain mayor, Raymond Tim Kee, who tried to link Nagakiya's death to Carnival culture, in comments about vulgarity and women's costumes.
“You have to let your imagination roll a bit and figure out was there any evidence of resistance or did alcohol control?” he told reporters at a press conference in 2016.
“It’s a matter of, if she was still in her costume – I think that’s what I heard – let your imagination roll,” he said.
Outraged Womantra and may critics called for Tim Kee's resignation which led him to step down. Tim Kee died last year.
Today, Womantra now has an online petition demanding that Government respond to gender-based violence. The petition, which can be found on change.org, had a target of 1,500 signatures – as of Saturday it had 1,215.
The six demands they have are: increased effectiveness, accountability and transparency of the State; sufficient financial and organisational support and resources; amending the Domestic Violence Act; establish a social fund to support NGOs; create a multi-stakeholder co-ordination mechanism to work together to end gender based violence and investing in social reformation programs to teach non-violent communication.
On January 21, the Gender-Based Violence Unit was launched. The unit will be manned by police specially trained to handle reports of domestic violence and similar acts of abuse and criminality.
This week, Nagakiya's name surfaced in Parliament when Opposition Senator Saddam Hosein spoke of her as one of the more than 2,000 people murdered in the past four years. He was piloting a private members' motion on Government's failure to deal with crime in the Senate on Tuesday.
"I speak on behalf of the victims of crime. The families of the thousands of citizens who have been brutally murdered," he said in a roll call of slain women, men and children.
He referred to Nagakiya as he highlighted tourists were also being attacked and murdered.
Nagakiya has been hailed a talented musician and pannist, embracing TT's culture which she shared with other musicians in Japan.
She played with several steelbands, where Japanese players could be seen ably executing their skills on the pan alongside experienced local players.
In a 2018 interview, Phase II Pan Groove arranger Len "Boogsie" Sharpe said Government should officially apologise to the people of Japan.
“No one has stood up yet and apologised to the Japanese people for what happened. They are such beautiful people...kind and humble,” he said. “Maybe the pan body or the Ministry of Culture should send an apology letter to them for what happened here..” Pan Trinbago dedicated a fund-raising concert to Nagakiya.
(https://newsday.co.tt/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/552357-1024x683.jpg)
Japanese pannist Asami Nagakiya was found dead in Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain on February 9, 2016. Police said her murder is still under investigation. -
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6 killed in 24 hours
By KEVON FELMINE, RALPH BANWARIE and Rhondor Dowlat-Rostant
T&T Guardian Reports.
The country faced another bloody day yesterday, with a triple murder in Rancho Quemado, a double murder in Arima and a murder in Embacadere.
A schoolgirl was also stabbed in Belmont and late yesterday evening homicide officers were called out to a stabbing incident in Laventille.
Triple murder—Rancho Quemado
Police were on the scene of the fatal triple shooting in Rancho Quemado late yesterday where three people were shot dead.
Up to press time, a fourth person was being treated for gunshot wounds at the Siparia District Health Facility.
His condition was reported as critical.
Erin police said they got a report of a shooting outside a house near the Rancho Quemado Government Primary School around 6 pm. When officers responded, they found three men lifeless in a car and one man lying on the ground.
Investigators were trying to verify the victims’ identities and were taking statements in an effort to determine what happened.
Double murder—Arima
Northern Division Police launched a man hunt for the killers of two men who were shot dead outside Rambaran’s Bar on Tumpuna Road in Arima around 2.10 am.
Two armed men opened fire on two La Horquetta men killing them on the spot and injuring two others, including a Venezuelan national.
The murdered men were identified as Rondell Samuel, 20, of 322 Phase 1 La Horquetta and Rahim Mitchell, 24 of Sunny Ramadin Phase 1, La Horquetta.
The injured who were identified as Mercedes Diaz, 29, of Venezuela who was shot on her right finger and Shaquille Infill, 26 of Phase 7, La Horquetta, who was shot on his left shoulder.
They were taken to the Arima Health Facility where they were treated before being transferred to EWMSC, Mt Hope Hospital.
The shooters ran away from the scene towards the highway before escaping in a waiting vehicle.
Murder—Embacadere
Residents of Embacadere believe they know who murdered their neighbour Marlon “Triple” La Guerre yesterday morning. However, investigators said information from witnesses has been slow in coming. When Guardian Media visited the housing development in San Fernando, the suspected killer’s name was being mentioned, but the residents would not say why La Guerre was shot dead.
A report stated that around 8 am, La Guerre’s son, Isaiah Mason, 19, was standing about 50 feet away from their home when he heard the gunshots. He ran home and saw La Guerre, 49, bleeding in the porch. La Guerre was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital where he died.
ASP Andrew John led Southern Division Task Force, Crime Scene Unit, San Fernando CID to the scene along Circle Drive Extension. Officers searched the perimeter for the killer but were unsuccessful. Sgt Randy Ramjag and detectives from the Homicide Bureau of Investigations, Region Three also responded and interviewed residents.
Investigators were told that a masked gunman dressed in dark-coloured clothes emerged from a track between Circle Drive and the seafront in Embacadere. He opened fire on the La Guerre, even killing his mastiff.
A witness said La Guerre had just returned home from taking his children to school. She said she was working in the area and heard the shots. By the time she and others reached the area, the killer was gone. However, she believed the person was a stranger.
While a clear motive has not been determined, investigators said he has been held for drugs and robbery offences in the past. Therefore, they will be looking into his recent activities.
Schoolgirl stabbed
Meanwhile, a 16-year-old schoolgirl was stabbed yesterday afternoon shortly after she left the compound of Providence Girls’ College. Police said at about 3 pm the teenager was standing at the corner of Belle Eau Road and Belmont Circular Road when she was attacked by two female students from another school. She was stabbed three times with a compass, an instrument from a geometry set. The schoolgirl was taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where she is warded in serious but stable condition.
Up until late last night police were at the scene of a stabbing incident on Robinson Lane in Laventille but officers were unable to give information on the incident up until press time.
Yesterday’s killings follows the murders of seven people on Sunday, including that of a 61-year-old grandmother and a US citizen.
Up to last night, the murder count stood at 67.
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Coryal Man Charged with Murder
T&T Guardian Reports.
A Coryal man is expected to appear before an Arima Magistrate today, charged with the murder of Paul Carrera, which occurred on Friday 31 January 2020.
Following advice received from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions on Tuesday 11 February 2020, murder charges were laid against 45-year-old GLEN JOSEPH of Carmichael Village, Coryal.
According to official police reports, 51-year-old Paul Carrera, of Cumuto Main Road, Tamana, was standing along the roadway at Talparo Junction, on Wednesday 29 January 2020, when he was approached by an assailant armed with a piece of wood.
The assailant proceeded to hit the victim several blows to the head with the piece of wood before escaping.
The victim was taken to the Arima Health Facility for treatment before being transferred to the intensive care unit of the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, where he died on Friday 31 January 2020.
A suspect subsequently surrendered to officers of the La Horquetta Police Station on Monday 3 February 2020.
Investigations were supervised by ASP Sean Dhilpaul of the Homicide Bureau of Investigations (Region 2). Glen Joseph, was charged by PC Marvin Burke, of the San Raphael Police Station.
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Man shot dead in Sangre Grande
By Ralph Banwarie (Guardian).
A land dispute at Turure, Sangre Grande, left one man dead and another wounded and hospitalised.
The dead man who was shot on his chest and neck has been identified as Preston Brent Taylor, formerly of Laventille, but resided at 24 Pineapple Drive, Valencia.
Police records revealed that he is well known to them and was hiding out at Valencia and Turure. He is also an employee of URP.
The wounded man, who is a close friend to the deceased, who he went to visit was identified as Marlon Charles 55, who occupies illegal lands at Turure.
Police reported that around 11 am on Monday they responded to shooting at Squatters Land, Turure, which is opposite to the Guaico Government Primary School and Early Childhood Centre which is close by.
A team of police officers led by Supt Wayne Doodhai, ASPs Dave Revanales and Doodnath Jankee along with Sgts Keith Leon, Harper, Cpl Ramnarine and Cpl Shawn Jones of Homicide Bureau Region 11 responded.
On arrival, they observed a group of people gathered outside a house at Turure.
The police found a man of African descent lying in a pool of blood in the yard of one of the squatters’ house.
He bore gunshot wounds to his neck and chest and was lifeless.
Police also found another man with gunshot wounds to his neck.
He was rushed to Sangre Grande Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery and is reported warded in stable condition.
The crime scene area was cordoned off to allow homicide officers to process the scene.
Neighbours said they heard loud explosions earlier.
Officers later arrested a suspect who was later detained at the Sangre Grande Police Station, where he was interrogated by police.
District Medical Officer Dr Prince viewed the body and ordered its removal to the Sangre Grande Mortuary.
Cpl Jones of the Arouca Homicide Bureau, Region Two is continuing investigation.
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4 die in Rancho Quemado shooting
BY RIA CHAITRAM (NEWSDAY).
The men shot and killed in Rancho Quemado Village on Tuesday evening have been identified.
They are brothers 28-year-old Antonio Alexander of Hill Top, Springvale in Claxton Bay and Shaquille Duttin, 22, of Rancho Quemado, Erin; Jabari Toby, 17, of Eight Road, Palo Seco who died at the scene.
The fourth person, Alifa Augustine, 17, of Alexander Settlement, Erin died at the San Fernando General Hospital around 7.30 pm while being treated.
Police said the men were in a silver-grey wagon when they were shot around 6 pm near the Rancho Quemado Primary School.
Two of them were found dead in the back seat of the car, another was slumped on the front passenger seat and the fourth man managed to crawl out of the car.
Homicide Bureau Region Three is investigating.
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Teen stabbed by schoolgirls in Belmont
BY SHANE SUPERVILLE (NEWSDAY).
A 16-year-old schoolgirl is being treated for stab wounds she received when she was attacked by two other girls in Belmont on Tuesday afternoon.
Police said the girl, a student of Providence Girls' College, was standing at the corner of Belle Eau Road and Belmont Circular Road at around 2.58 pm when she was attacked by two girls from another school.
She was stabbed three times with a compass from a geometry pan.
The girl was taken to the Port of Spain General Hospital where she was treated.
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Dog tried to protect murdered man
BY SHANE SUPERVILLE (NEWSDAY).
Blood, the dog, died the way he lived – by protecting his master, Marlon Le-Guerre, who was shot dead in San Fernando on Tuesday afternoon.
Newsday spoke to Le-Guerre's relatives at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, on Wednesday. They lamented the spate of murders in T&T.
One relative said La-Guerre, 48, worked as a plumber and was a devoted family man.
They said criminals had become so cold-blooded that they could murder La-Guerre's cherished pet dog.
"He raised that dog from a puppy. That dog was a part of his family.
"If he and the dog were walking along the street, nobody could attack Marlon without getting bite. I know that Blood would have died protecting him. There was no other way they could attack him."
Relatives said Le-Guerre had eight children and eight grandchildren, and did not know why anyone would want to kill him.
Asked what could be done to reduce murders, one relative said while the police should do more, more should be done by social workers to fix broken homes.
"Long time when someone was killed, the police would step up patrols in the area. Sometimes they would even call the families of the victims just to find out how they are going. You don't see that anymore.
"But you can't blame the police alone. Social Development should put things in place to deal with these youths coming from broken homes because they are the ones doing the killing."
RELATED NEWS
Man and dog shot dead
BY LAUREL V WILLIAMS (NEWSDAY).
A masked gunman shot and killed a 45-year-old man and his dog on Tuesday morning at the family’s Embacadere, San Fernando home. Dead are Marlon Le Guerre, and the dog, a mastiff.
Police said at about 8.30 am, the gunman who was dressed in black, ran through a track and into Le Guerre’s home at Circular Drive Extension. Residents heard several gunshots and contacted police.
Le Guerre who was in the gallery of his home was shot several times. He was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital where he died. The dog died at the scene. A resident told Newsday that Le Guerre had just returned from dropping his children off at school in San Fernando.
The woman, who asked not to be identified, said, "That killer is not from this area. We do not know that person." Another man said he heard the gunshots and ran in the opposite direction.
ASP Andrew John, Sgts Teeluck and Ramjag, Cpl Elbourne, PCs Mohess, George, Lewis and others from the Southern Division and Homicide Investigations Bureau (Region III) were at the scene. No arrest has been made. Police and residents do not know the dog’s name.
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Doubles vendor murdered in Marabella
By RHONDOR DOWLAT-ROSTANT (Guardian).
A case of a robbery gone awry for a doubles business family in Gasparillo…
Doubles vendor and father of two, Daniel Sooklal, was shot and killed shortly before midnight on Thursday.
According to a police report, 30-year-old Sooklal was selling doubles along Union Road in Marabella, in the vicinity of the Harmony Hall Presbyterian School, together with his wife, Azeema Almeen and worker Stephanie Khan when a masked gunman approached them and announced a hold up.
Police said Sooklal, his wife and worker attempted to run away; however, the gunman opened fire, killing Sooklal on the scene.
His wife and worker escaped injuries but both are said to be highly traumatised.
A relative told the Guardian Media that Sooklal grew up in the doubles making and selling business with his mother and the family is well known in the southland, as he owned several stalls.
The relative described Sooklal, as a hardworking individual and one who loved what he did.
Police said the armed bandit is believed to have been lurking around the area waiting on the family to close their sales for the night to rob them of their earnings.
An autopsy will be conducted on Sooklal's body on Friday, at the Forensic Science Centre in St James.
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f**king pathetic. Why? Tell me Why ? I went to Calypso Monarch last night. Chalkie’s 10 thousand murderers among we, is correct.
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Four ministry employees get $750,00 for non promotion
By Derek Achong (Guardian).
The State has been ordered to pay over $750,000 in compensation to four employees of the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, and Fisheries, who were bypassed for promotion.
High Court Judge Ronnie Boodoosingh ordered the compensation for Vijay Singh, Rishi Singh, Sunil Ramnarine, and Marsha Sookoo in a judgment delivered at the Hall of Justice in Port-of-Spain, on Tuesday.
In their lawsuits, the four co-workers contended that their constitutional right to equality of treatment from a public authority was breached as the ministry had promoted their co-workers with the same degree in Resource, Recreation, and Tourism from the University of Idaho.
Vijay Singh's lawsuit was chosen to be the test case, that would determine the outcome of the others, but it was initially dismissed by Boodoosingh.
He appealed and his claim was eventually upheld by the Court of Appeal in June 2018.
In deciding the case, Appellate Judges Allan Mendonca, Peter Jamadar and Peter Rajkumar looked at the promotion of three of Singh's colleagues and questioned why he was treated differently. While they ruled that seniority may have been a factor, they said that should not have made him ineligible for promotion. "No acceptable explanation has been given for the failure to treat him similarly," Jamadar said. As part of the ruling, the judges ordered that Singh and by extension his colleagues receive compensation for his loss of opportunity at being promoted and for the inconvenience he suffered.
In the second limb of his lawsuit, Singh was challenging the ministry's delay in determining whether his degree was recognised as equivalent to a degree in forestry, which was required for the post. While ministry stated it was not, in a letter to Singh in 2014, it also endeavoured to seek clarification on the issue from the Public Service Commission.
The ministry was unable to give an answer even as the appeal was heard by the panel. The judges ruled that the ministry's delay was both unfair and unreasonable. They noted that in 2006, Singh applied to study at the University of Guyana but was told by the then Ministry of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education that his scholarship did not cover studies at that educational institution. His decision to study in the United States was based on the ministry's advice and because that institution was recognised by the Accreditation Council of T&T.
In assessing the compensation, Boodoosingh awarded the four co-workers a total of $350,000 for their loss of opportunity. The figure each received was based on when they should have been promoted and the salaries they would have received.
Boodoosingh also ordered that the State pay each employee $100,000 to vindicate their rights to equality of treatment.
The employees were represented by Anand Ramlogan, SC, Alvin Pariagsingh, and Alana Rambaran.
The ministry was represented by Coreen Findley and Jenna Gajadhar. Karlene Seenath, Daniella Boxhill, and Amrita Ramsook represented the Public Service Commission.
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Woman beaten to death
By Rhondor Dowlat-Rostant (Guardian).
A Guyanese man is now in police custody after he was found covered in blood by police officers when they responded to a domestic argument at a house in El Dorado yesterday.
The victim, who has been identified as Nicole Hackshaw of Kiskadee Drive, Trincity, later died at hospital.
According to a police report, at about 3.50 pm officers of the Northern Division Task Force responded to a domestic violence report at #268 Eastern Main Road.
Police said upon arrival they met the suspect standing in the doorway wearing a white vest and a checkered coloured short pants, covered in blood.
Police said the suspect made certain utterances and pointed to a room inside the house. The officers checked the room and saw the victim covered in blood.
Hackshaw had open wounds to the face.
Police found and seized a piece of wood next to the victim.
The suspect was subsequently detained.
Hackshaw was taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mount Hope where died.
Police say the man will be charged with murder.
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A Florida woman is being accused of zipping her boyfriend into a suitcase and leaving him to die
acollman@businessinsider.com (Ashley Collman)
INSIDER
Sarah Boone, 42, was arrested on charges of second-degree murder on Tuesday in the death of her boyfriend, Jorge Torres Jr.
The Winter Park, Florida woman called police Monday afternoon after finding her boyfriend dead in a zipped-up suitcase.
She said that she had zipped him up in the suitcase during a game of hide-and-seek, and went to bed without realizing he was still in the luggage.
But police later saw videos on her phone showing her taunting him for cheating on her as he struggled to get out of the suitcase.
A Florida woman was arrested on Tuesday after her boyfriend was found dead in a zipped-up suitcase.
Sarah Boone, 42, claimed that Jorge Torres Jr's death was the result of a hide-and-seek game gone wrong. But police decided to arrest her after seeing two troubling videos on her phone, showing Boone taunting Torres as he struggled to get out of the luggage.
According to the arrest affidavit written by Detective Chelsey Connolly, which was reviewed by the Orlando Sentinel, Boone said she and her boyfriend spent Sunday evening sharing a bottle of Chardonnay while painting and doing puzzles. Later in the evening, they started playing hide-and-seek, at which point they thought it would be funny for Boone to zip Torres into a blue suitcase.
Orange County Sheriff's Office
Boone initially told police that she left the zipper slightly unzipped and that two of Torres' fingers could get through. She says she wandered off and went to bed, figuring that Torres had gotten out of the suitcase by himself and followed her to bed later.
The next morning, she told police that she woke up to several calls but ignored them, thinking they were from her ex-husband. She finally woke up around 11 a.m. and figured Torres was just downstairs job-hunting.
But when she finally went downstairs, she couldn't find him, and then realized he might still be in the suitcase — which turned out to be true.
By the time she opened the suitcase, Torres was unresponsive and not breathing, the affidavit reads.
She didn't call authorities immediately, and instead calling her ex to come over first. When he got there, he told her to call 911, Connolly writes. Torres was pronounced dead by paramedics shortly after, around 1 p.m.
The affidavit noted that there were long fingernail scratches on Torres' upper back and neck, he had a busted lip, and that there were bruises on his shoulder, skull, and forehead consistent with blunt force trauma. It didn't say the precise cause of death.
Boone gave police consent to look through their phone, and they found two videos on it showing Torres struggling to get out of the suitcase, according to the affidavit.
In the first video, Torres is heard yelling Boone's name and trying to get out of the suitcase while she laughs.
"Yeah, that's what you do when you choke me. You should probably shut the [expletive] up." Boone said in the video, according to Connolly. "That's on you. Oh, that's what I feel like when you cheat on me."
"I can't [expletive] breathe, seriously," Torres said, according to the affidavit.
The second video shows Torres crying out and struggling to get out of the suitcase from a different position.
During a second interview with investigators, Boone was confronted with the videos, and couldn't even get halfway through watching one of them, according to the affidavit.
She said she doesn't remember recording the videos and admitted that they "looked 'bad,'" according to the affidavit.
Boone said she couldn't say why she went to bed without freeing him from the bag. She then "contradicted her original statement" that she wasn't intoxicated "and began to blame the consumption of alcohol," Connolly wrote.
Boone is currently behind held without bond at the Orange County Jail. If convicted, she faces the possibility of spending the rest of her life in prison.
(https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/XlXO5fMXbgqCu9p7fOvqsw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTcwNTtoPTM1Mi41/https://media.zenfs.com/EN/insider_articles_922/92ddbcb4193175cb317079cf9c91b932)
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Maracas woman among 3 killed in an hour
BY RYAN HAMILTON-DAVIS (NEWSDAY).
A woman believed to be an innocent bystander to a shooting was one of two people murdered in a shop in Maracas St Joseph. The two were among three people killed in separate incidents within an hour on Tuesday.
Police said at about 4.30 pm, the two victims, identified as 34-year-old Darie Simon and 37-year-old Charlene Ramkissoon, both of Acono Road, Maracas St Joseph, were at the shop when gunmen stormed in and started shooting.
Simon and Ramkissoon were both hit multiple times and died on the spot.
Police found 5.56 mm bullet casings at the scene, suggesting the gunmen used high-powered rifles in the shooting.
At around the same time, Lyndon Pierre was shot metres away from his house in Dibe Road, St James.
Police said Pierre was standing at a car wash on the road when gunmen pulled alongside and shot him several times before escaping.
He was taken to hospital, where he died. The murder toll for the year now stands at 107.
Last year for the same time period the figure was 92.
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Two men held transporting this through PoS.
T&T Express
Police officers stopped a truck transporting a washer and dryer in Port of Spain on Monday night.
The appliances contained an arsenal.
Officers found 3,058 rounds of ammunition, an AR rifle, an AK 47, and four magazine.
(https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/trinidadexpress.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/39/939b0586-62d3-11ea-962c-8b7d20b9976a/5e67973ce1092.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C900)
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$500m never converted to polymer—police probe.
By Gail Alexander (Guardian).
Police, the Financial Intelligence Bureau (FIB) and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) may currently be exploring who has the “missing” $500 million missing in paper $100 notes which haven’t yet been converted to new polymer notes, says Finance Minister Colm Imbert.
Imbert spoke about the matter in the Senate yesterday replying to queries. Independent Senator Paul Richards had asked what percentage of the $8 billion in “old” paper notes which had existed, was converted to polymer up to January 31.
Imbert said at that date, the value of $7.525 billion in paper $100 bills had been converted.
“This would be approximately 94 per cent of the estimated $8b in paper-based bills that were in circulation prior to the demonetisation process,” he said.
Richards asked if there was any mechanism envisioned to identify and collect the remaining percentage.
Imbert said, “I wish I could find that out too, Senator Richards. I’d love to know who has that missing $500m.”
“I assume through a process of auditing in terms of banknotes that would have been sent out to commercial banks it may be possible to discover who has that extra $500m. But it’ll be very laborious. Perhaps the police, the FIB and FIU may be investigating this matter—as we speak. I wouldn’t want to say much more.”
Richards asked if there was information if the money is in T&T or outside. Imbert replied, “T&T currency has no value outside of T&T. If someone shipped it out, I don’t know why they’d do that so I’d have to assume it would have to be somewhere in T&T.”
“I wouldn’t take bait from my friends to say that it’s buried under somebody’s house. But I think most of it would be here,” he said.
Imbert also replied to a question from UNC senator Saddam Hosein on the number of polymer $100 notes ordered and received by Central Bank. Imbert said $94m worth of new polymer notes were bought out of which $80m have been received to date.
“I can’t give a precise time to receive the other $14m,” he added.
He said the Central Bank would take delivery of the (rest) when required to change the old notes.
“Polymer notes have a lifespan of about seven years as compared with paper notes which have a lifespan of about two to three years. Central Bank will take delivery of the remaining $14m as and when existing notes become destroyed or worn out,” he said.
(https://www.guardian.co.tt/image-3.2532071.9b6d9dedce?size=1024)
Over $500 million in old $100 notes have not been converted to the new polymer bills.
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US Embassy gives T&T level 3 travel advisory for crime, covid19
SHANE SUPERVILLE (NEWSDAY).
Although travel restrictions to T&T remain in place, the US Embassy in T&T has issued a advisory to its citizens in T&T to exercise caution, owing to the coronavirus and crime levels.
The advisory, which was issued on Thursday on the US Embassy's website, warned US citizens to exercise increased caution not only for covid19 but also violent crimes.
The advisory urged visiting US citizens to avoid Laventille, Beetham, Sea Lots, Cocorite, and the interior of Queen's Park Savannah in Port of Spain because of crime, saying violent crimes such murder, robbery, assault, sexual assault, home invasion, and kidnapping, were common.
US Government workers were prohibited from travelling to Laventille, Beetham, Sea Lots, Cocorite, and the interior of the Savannah.
These workers were also advised against travelling to downtown Port of Spain, Fort George, and all beaches after dark.
A level-three travel advisory or orange alert is one step away from a red alert, which warns travellers to avoid a particular destination.
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Trinidad Records 25% Decline In Crime Compared To Previous Year
Media channels in Trinidad and Tobago are reporting that the Trinidad and Tobago police service (TTPS) has recorded for the period January to September 2020, there has been a 20-25 percent reduction in crime compared to the same period in 2019. Speaking to the media, police commissioner Gary Griffith stated "We've come to the end of the third quarter of this year and what we have achieved...today is the first time in the history that there's been 100 less murders at any time in a year in comparison to the same period last year." Griffith said that hopefully this pattern can continue and thanked the public for their participation and cooperation. Read More https://socamusictv.blogspot.com/2020/11/going-in-right-direction-trinidad.html?fbclid=IwAR03J3QVta_9l9vSTEekBJ9rf-OycV0IG-TAukU5dxJI4SZfb7EU4D6_UzQ
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Police arrest Miya Ponsetto after she falsely accused Black teen of stealing her phone
Investigators coordinated with the New York City Police Department to arrest Miya Ponsetto, 22, for a fugitive warrant in Piru, California - By Wilson Wong and Diana Dasrath.
The woman who was caught on camera attacking and falsely accusing the teenage son of jazz musician Keyon Harrold of stealing her phone in a New York City hotel was forcibly arrested, police said.
Ventura County officers coordinated with the New York City Police Department to arrest Miya Ponsetto, 22, on a fugitive warrant in front of her home in Piru, California, on Thursday, according to the Ventura County Sheriff.
A spokesperson for Ventura County Sheriff told NBC News Thursday Ponsetto did not stop her car after officers contacted her until she reached her home. Officers forcibly removed Ponsetto from the vehicle, saying she resisted arrest, refused to get out of the car, and tried to slam a car door on one of the deputies, the spokesperson said. It was not immediately clear what charges Ponsetto faces, but she awaits extradition to New York.
In an interview on Thursday, attorney Sharon Ghatan said her client, who was not a guest at the hotel but was intending to check-in, briefly left her items unattended in the lobby when she went to retrieve an item from Starbucks in the restroom.
When she came out, Ponsetto realized her phone was missing and asked several people in the lobby, including an “Asian gentleman,” whether they had taken her phone, Ghatan said.
The next people she asked were the Harrolds, who had just left the elevator, Ghatan said. A one-minute viral video of the Dec. 26 incident showed Ponsetto accosting the Harrold family before reporting her missing phone to management.
Tensions escalated, with Ponsetto allegedly attacking 14-year-old Keyon Harrold Jr. Police in New York City said the father “sustained scratches to his hand,” but no other injuries were reported. His father has suggested racial bias played a role in the altercation.
In an interview on Thursday, Ghatan, who is also representing Ponsetto in an unrelated case, doubled down on Ponsetto’s mental health issues and said the incident was “not about race.”
“She suffers from a lot of anxiety attacks,” Ghatan said. “She was alone … 22 years old in a city she doesn’t know, absolutely nobody there and her phone had everything about it.”
Ghatan said she was concerned for Ponsetto’s well-being, saying she was “emotionally and mentally unwell.”
On Tuesday, the attorney confirmed that her client left her phone in an Uber. Ghatan said that had the Uber driver returned her phone 15 minutes earlier, the altercation would not have happened.
“She lost her mind for a hot minute. She is sorry," Ghatan said. "Sadly, these poor Harrolds had to deal with the aftermath.”
Ghatan added that her client wanted to “move forward and put this behind her.”
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Woman who called cops on Black birdwatcher made 2nd 911 call, prosecutors reveal
abc7ny.com
CENTRAL PARK (WABC) -- The woman who called 911 on a Black man that she incorrectly claimed was threatening her in Central Park briefly appeared in court, as her lawyers work out a plea arrangement that will likely require her to perform community service.
Cooper was caught on video back in May in a verbal dispute with birdwatcher Christian Cooper, no relation, whom she accused of threatening her and her dog and then, of trying to assault her.
Recent Stories from ABC7
Amy Cooper (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZwPL1F4PJQ) answered her desk appearance ticket for filing a false report on Memorial Day and appeared virtually in arraignment court on Wednesday morning.
The court appearance and paperwork revealed Amy Cooper made a second call to 911, alleging the man "tried to assault" her inside the Ramble in the park.
It was the first time authorities revealed a second 911 had been made.
Only the first call -- alleging the man was threatening her and her dog, with Cooper stressing he was an "African-American man" -- had been previously reported, after it was posted to social media.
When police arrived, Cooper told the officers that she made the calls. The officer asked if the man she was describing "tried to assault or touch her in any way, and she said no."
"Using the police in a way that was both racially offensive and designed to intimidate is something that cannot be ignored," assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi said. "This process can be an opportunity for introspection and education. Over the next few weeks, we will be exploring with the defense, a program designed to have the defendant take responsibility for her actions, but also educate her and the community on the harm caused by such actions. We hope this process will both enlighten, heal and prevent similar harm to our community in the future."
Cooper was ordered to return to court on Nov. 17, when the possible plea arrangement would expect to be finalized.
Christian Cooper declined an interview amid news of the arraignment, but released the following statement:
"My focus has been and continues to be fixing policing and addressing systemic racism. The immediate thing we can do to address systemic racism is vote the White nationalist out of the White House on November 3rd."
Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance, Jr. released the following statement:
"Our Office is committed to safety, justice, and anti-racism, and we will hold people who make false and racist 911 calls accountable. As alleged in the complaint, Amy Cooper engaged in racist criminal conduct when she falsely accused a Black man of trying to assault her in a previously unreported second call with a 911 dispatcher. Fortunately, no one was injured or killed in the police response to Ms. Cooper's hoax. Our Office will pursue a resolution of this case which holds Ms. Cooper accountable while healing our community, restoring justice, and deterring others from perpetuating this racist practice."
In a Facebook post back in May, Christian Cooper claimed Amy Cooper's dog was "tearing through the plantings" and told her she should go to another part of the park. When she refused, he pulled out dog treats, causing her to scream at him to not come near her dog.
He pulled out his phone and started recording Amy calling the police to report she was being threatened by "an African-American man."
The widely watched video posted on social media sparked accusations of racism and led to Amy getting fired from her job and surrendering her dog. The group that took the dog did return it to Amy after an evaluation from a veterinarian and a coordinated effort with law enforcement.
Amy Cooper released an apology through a public relations service after the initial incident, saying she "reacted emotionally and made false assumptions about his intentions."
"He had every right to request that I leash my dog in an area where it was required," she said in the written statement. "I am well aware of the pain that misassumptions and insensitive statements about race cause and would never have imagined that I would be involved in the type of incident that occurred with Chris."
Christian Cooper told "The View" he accepts Amy Cooper's apology, but he believes the incident is part of a much deeper problem of racism in America that must be addressed.
"I do accept her apology," Christian said. "I think it's a first step. I think she's gotta do some reflection on what happened because up until the moment when she made that statement ... it was just a conflict between a birder and a dog walker, and then she took it to a very dark place. I think she's gotta sort of examine why and how that happened."
New York City's Commission on Human Rights also launched an investigation into the verbal dispute.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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A White Man Kills 6 Asian Women, and a White Cop Says He 'Had a Bad Day'
By Ishena Robinson
It’s already been a heartbreaking and devastatingly unrelenting year of blatant, dehumanizing and violent acts of racism. It’s echoed four years of ever-escalating incidents in the same vein, not to mention centuries of a state of rotten affairs that is as American as apple pie.
I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted and completely over the cultural tolerance of racism in this country that allows injustices of the kind that stole the lives of six Asian women in Atlanta on Tuesday.
You know who doesn’t seem tired? Law enforcement.
Just hours after 21-year-old Robert Long drove across Atlanta, stopping at Asian-owned spas and systematically killing the women of Asian descent in them (along with two white victims, a man and a woman), Capt. Jay Baker of the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office gave a press conference Wednesday, during which you might have thought he was Long’s defense attorney.
“He understood the gravity of it,” Baker said, describing the mass killer’s feelings. “He was pretty much fed up, kind of at the end of his rope, and yesterday was a really bad day for him, and this is what he did.”
Excuse me while I try not to vomit out my disgust, outrage and disbelief at this heinous statement from a law enforcement officer the morning after several people lost their lives at the hands of a maniac who, unsurprisingly, managed to be taken into police custody unscathed.
It’s almost a cliche, at this point, to say that it’s impossible to imagine any police officer in this country giving a similarly empathetic description of a non-white man suspected of mass murder. Black men, women and children, have been beaten, pepper-sprayed, choked, shot with ketamine and with multiple bullets while experiencing mental health episodes, walking home from convenience stores and for holding everything from sandwiches to cellphones.
Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in the U.S. are already living in fear amidst an upsurge in hate crimes that has continued since the coronavirus reached our shores, when the former president quickly launched his racist habit of tying the deadly disease to China, which more racists have followed by casting the blame for the pandemic on random Asian people.
The family and loved ones of all those killed by Long in Atlanta last night are undoubtedly in deep mourning.
But apparently Capt. Baker couldn’t help himself from telling the country the that the victims’ alleged killer was just “having a really bad day,” when he reportedly chose to hunt them down and shoot them.
It’s deeply disturbing whenever we are reminded how far into the realms of inhumane, unbelievable behavior that defenders of whiteness will go to diminish, explain away and understate that very heinous behavior.
What hope do we have for this sickness of white supremacist violence to end if, in a tragedy where women of color were obviously targeted, the people in charge of criminally investigating it are publicly empathizing with the assassin in the IMMEDIATE aftermath?
Indeed, Capt. Baker made sure to publicly pass on the suspect’s word that his actions were “not racially motivated,” but that the women he killed were a “temptation he wanted to eliminate.”
(I should point out here that Baker actually chose to refer to the places the women worked in as being what the killer wanted to eliminate, again providing cover for the white shooter who in actuality specifically “eliminated” HUMAN BEINGS.)
The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department has issued a statement that continues to promote the shooter’s own victim-blaming narrative, i.e. that his actions were not racially motivated but in fact are the fault of the massage parlors where he chose to focus his so-called addiction to sex on.
I’ll pause in sharing my own outrage to lift up the words of members of the Asian American community who are also reeling from this double tragedy of a targeted attack on people who look like them, and then law enforcement’s willingness to parrot the attackers’ excuses in a way that predictably allows for denying the deadly threat and pervasiveness of white supremacy, and for those who are already inclined to turn away from the latest slain bodies which prove its perniciousness.
A lot of us are tired of racism. But too many in America are not even reasonably disturbed by the kind of terrorism that comes from people who look like them.
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It is always with dismay to read and to hear of the wanton crime and perpetual violence which is pervasive in our society. However this does not seem to be endemic to just TNT.
There are those with a simplistic answer who would want you to believe that the crime situation is attributed to the government or as the cronies of the opposition would perpetuate their utter hatred and spew venom at the PNM. Recently in scanning the news , this crime pandemic is also a concern for countries like Canada-
https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadas-violent-crime-wave (https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadas-violent-crime-wave)
Nearly 20 years of progress on Canadian violent crime have effectively been erased as the country emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic with a homicide rate worse than any time since the mid-2000s.
In fact, if you remove gang-related killings from the equation, Canada would be eking out a homicide rate roughly on par with that of Iceland, Belgium or Finland.
Could a return to capital punishment be a deterrent to the rising crime?
https://researchco.ca/2023/03/17/death-penalty-canada-2023/ (https://researchco.ca/2023/03/17/death-penalty-canada-2023/)
I wonder if we did a similar analysis of the situation in TnT if the results would be on par? As oppose to government bashing and blaming, I think we need to take a closer look at the over all situation than fall into the trap of donkeys braying to gain political mileage.
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This is a AfroTrini problem. These people who are committing these crimes apparently had no effective guidance(parental or otherwise) during there 12 to 18, 12 to 20 age period. Very few can be brought back in line without incentives to turn their lives around. To late for them. Until AfroTrini community come up with effective and concrete plans to steer these young men from that lifestyle of quick money, die young, then there is no hope. We AfroTrinis have to resolve our issues. Then the crime situation will abate. That is my take. And I stand by that.
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It's insidious erroneous and totally callous to categorize and attribute the spike in crime as an ' Afro Trini' problem; secondly to suggest 'these people' were p[poorly parented shows not only your bias, but possible racial tendencies.
Far for me to be an authority on the causes of the situation but I do know and have provided links in my post to suggest that TnT is not the only country faced with a high spike in crime. You may stand by your take but it is rather simplistic to come to a simple solution of a complex issue.
I would hope that detailed analysis by learned criminologists and researchers alike will yield possible causes rather than by individuals who continue to attempt to destabilize governance by attributing cause to the government and spewing racial bias towards sectors in society.
The notion that crime and an individual's mental health are intertwined is not surprisingly new but in raising this to a conscious and public level is one we should be addressing:
Regional Symposium: Violence as a Public Health Issue – The Crime Challenge
OPENING REMARKS BY DR THE HON. KEITH ROWLEY, PRIME MINISTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO TO THE REGIONAL SYMPOSIUM: VIOLENCE AS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE – THE CRIME CHALLENGE, APRIL 17, 2023
Fellow Caribbean Leaders, peoples of the Caribbean, from Mexico to Suriname, Welcome…welcome to this Symposium, this unique exchange of experiences and perspectives, among the people of the Caribbean.
This morning we, the many components of Caribbean leadership, stand here as a collective body speaking to, and with you, the whole of the Caribbean, above all in our geographical, social, racial, religious, economic and democratic complexities, and diversity.
This is a historic moment.
What brings us here is not that diversity, it is not the usual command gathering to deal with Trade, Education, Finance, Tourism, Health or Diplomacy. We have assembled here in this unity of purpose to confront a problem — one that is common and threatening to every aspect of every individual’s life in the Caribbean.
The Founding Father of this great Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr Eric Eustace Williams, standing before a similar audience, at the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas, in 1973 noted that:
“All of us here today are genuine representatives of the Caribbean, with a common history based on the Caribbean trinity – colonialism, monoculture, and racism – the symbols of fragmentation…and isolation of one territory from another.”
He added that there could be no new Caribbean dispensation, no Caribbean future which does not truly mean the integration of the peoples of the region, and their economies.
Dr Williams then referred to what he described as “a larger aspiration”, a larger purpose, advising that the Caribbean’s strength is in its union, and that the Caribbean’s danger is in its discord.
This morning, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Caribbean, we are here to address an aspect of that “larger aspiration” that Dr Williams spoke of, displaying our union of purpose, and, hopefully, we are all fully aware of the dangers that await us in discord.
As we are now well into the 21st century, the record will show that for all of the new era we all have continued to be haunted by violence from the domestic quarters at home, to our school yards, to our streets and our borders. In short ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, violence is threatening to destroy our paradise in the Caribbean Sea. This is not to say that we have not been struggling to cope with this truth, on the contrary we have been, but if we are not careful its stubbornness and metastasizing malignancy could overwhelm us. Violence in the Caribbean is a public health emergency which threatens our lives, our economies, our national security and by extension every aspect of our well-being.
In Trinidad and Tobago, in the years 2011 to 2022 we have lost and had to grieve for 5,439 lives to violent murder, largely through the use of imported firearms and ammunition. In 2011 we lost 352 lives and by 2022 the annual count was over 600, a new record, already being challenged by the murder rate for 2023. Except for Covid, in a pandemic, none of the listed dangerous diseases have taken lives like this in our population.
For the thousands of wounded, victims and perpetrators alike, a surgical intervention to the head costs approximately $170,000, a surgical intervention for a chest wound would cost about $135,000. A shot to the leg requiring surgical intervention would cost just under $100,000 and a leg shot without surgical intervention would cost about $40,000 in medical care and attention. All of these frequent daily incurred costs are to be borne by the taxpayers at every level from scarce revenues diverted from other more deserving productive priorities.
Our current laws acknowledge a suite of afflictions, Yellow fever, Smallpox, Plague, Cholera, Ebola, Novel Corona virus as notifiable, warranting emergency responses if even only a few cases are known to appear. Violent behaviour, violent crime, violent crime involving the use of firearms, the associated individual and group mental health trauma accompanying violent behaviour , so ever present amongst us now, pose a far greater destructive threat than these diseases and on that basis alone qualifies violence as a public health emergency.
During the last 15 years, using the Trinidad and Tobago example, in the growing quest for safety and security we have seen a significant increase in the allocation in the national budget for National Security. In 2008 policing alone represented 32 per cent of the $4 billion National Security budget. By 2017 this rose to 38 per cent. Even in the tighter budgetary environment of 2023 policing still accounted for 43 per cent of the National Security allocation.
In the political arena some believe it is all about having the right National Security Minister, others share their epiphany of separating the Ministry of National Security into fragments of Homeland Security and Defence; wish it was that simple. In fact, Trinidad and Tobago’s own experience put those theories to the test. In recent years we have had ten (10) Ministers of National Security sourced from career politicians, (including that of Prime Minister), the military and the private sector. One administration (PNM) had one Minister who served for seven unbroken years grappling with the upsurge of violent crime and insufficiency in policing. A succeeding administration, (UNC), in a five year term, had five (5) National Security Ministers (with junior assistants) with tenure ranging from a few months each to two years. This current administration (PNM) has had 3 Ministers in eight (8) years and the one indisputable fact in all these musical chairs is that the violence has not abated, it has, in many instances, increased and become even more cynical. Clearly the problem does not exist and grow because of a shortage of Ministers or even Ministerial output.
This forum has been long in coming. Recently CARICOM Heads of Government began looking at rising Crime and Violence in the region as a Public Health issue, with commitments to mount a symposium as this one in 2019, but all efforts were understandably displaced and delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic. It is against this background that when Trinidad and Tobago announced its intention to have its own national discourse and our Caribbean neighbours gladly agreed to join in that we had no hesitation in making room for widest participation. As Booker T and the MGs say, ‘’Time is tight” so let us all ,very conscientiously, make the most of it in small doses as we speak, listen and absorb, in preparation to fight this demon.
Ladies and Gentlemen, just look at media reports. They appear to be telling us that across the region, territories are under siege from the acts of crime and violence from elements of our own society, just minorities, who are today creating larger atmospheres of fear, despondency, trauma, surrender, and hopelessness, among us all. This is a battle in which we must all be engaged. This is a war that we cannot afford to lose.
In this engagement Governments are open to uncomplimentary charges of, some say, indifference, others say impotence, unimaginative planning, discrimination, abdication of duties, poor leadership, and with repeated calls for resignations. Ole talk is cheap, we know that but let us try and extract some light from the expressions of the next two days, in the fervent hope and expectation that the beast of violence which has stalked us for virtually all our existence in this blue Caribbean Sea, will be starved of its sustenance, condemned to wither and die so that we all may live in peace, safety and harmony from the home to the school to the streets to the borders.
Our presence here is admission that Crime and Violence are now a major part of the Caribbean’s overall plethora of problems, ranging from petty theft, to school violence, home invasions, domestic violence, sexual abuse, human trafficking, drive-by shootings, drug-gang warfare, mindless daily revenge murders, etc.
When such a situation arrives at the door, it is said that there was a failure of the society to spot an oncoming crisis. Then there may be the later failure to perceive the extent of that arrived situation, as a societal problem. Further, there may be problems of finding solutions, and whether the solutions, selected, may even succeed.
Today, if there is one aspect that we…we all may be guilty of, is that the problem of criminality and violence was not dealt with sufficiently, in a much earlier time frame, in the homes, in the schools in the prisons, in the courts and in the Parliaments.
There was what can be described as “a creeping normalcy”; we allowed slow, moderate, deviant behavioural trends to increase; we allowed slips in our aged-old standards, in ethical and moral norms in our family homes, in our schools, in public institutions, on our roads and in public places.
All of which, hindsight reminds us that we should have checked very early.
Instead, we seemed to have been saying that these times are different; this is the modern age of American gun culture, as we adopt, the internet revolution with its tremendous promises and all its warts. An age of selfish individualism has been allowed to flourish at the expense of the society itself.
So, morals and values are now considered flexible, their lines are blurred, and they occupy spheres of their own, determined and shaped by one’s personal whims, the present, fashionable social trends, and, worst, the political and bureaucratic shortcomings of something malleable called “the system” .
So, over the next two days, Caribbean people, helped by inputs from cross-sections of the Caribbean citizenry, will attempt to address the full scale of the problems of Crime and Violence, in the context of a Public Health issue.
Hopefully, there will be elements of operational consensus, after the planned examination and exchanges, which will form a plan of action, that will give the Caribbean people their much-needed assurance that something — beyond talk — will be done, using the same planned, programmed and strategic methods that were adopted to confront the challenges of Covid-19.
Ladies and Gentlemen, again Welcome to the twin islands of Trinidad and Tobago, and I pray that as we have done here in our Constitution in Trinidad and Tobago, that we recognise the Almighty’s presence throughout all our deliberations.
Finally, I must assure you that Caribbean peoples, in spite of our circuitous history, we have evolved, and continue to stand strong today.
May Almighty God continue to Bless us all.
Anyhow Deeks you seem to enjoy debating my posts and it's your prerogative to do so. Let's do so without malice or prejudice.
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Lately friends and family have been bringing my attention to the alarming number of homicides taking place in TNT. It is disconcerting to say the least. It reviewing the news and the show' Crime Watch' it appears that the preponderance of salient crimes are homicides which gets the lime light.
What I find most discouraging is the lack of a concrete action to deter and to lower these occurrences. Some talk shows, political pundits, and other sectors of the populations have given attention to blaming: the government, the P.M, the National security Council, the opposition, Minister of security yet no one seems to be looking at accountability as a collective endeavor.
I do not adhere to political bashing, government criticism or personal character attacks of political figures when there seems to be a lack of action- I find that disrespectful to be calling out individuals as 'chupid' or otherwise- when former ministers or commissioners go on talk shows and decry others I don't think that is getting us anywhere but creating public sentiments, accruing props and allowing for people to lose faith in the system.
WHAT DO WE EXPECT?
Do we expect to know and to be at each vicinity prior to a homicide occurring to prevent it? preposterous notion- however do we expect to see: a better police response to reports of impending threats which may lead to a crime? do we expect to see more active policing in areas of higher areas where crimes may occur?
Should we expect some joint defense force /police increase patrols? Should we expect to see implementation of police dragnet - a system of coordinated measures for apprehending criminals or suspects; including road blocks traffic stops, widespread searches in areas in all regions, and general increased police/ army/ coast Guard presence?- patrolling streets- villages- communities and the seas.
I am amazed that a National Security minister could absolve himself of not being plan of creating a crime reduction plan!!!!!
Mr. Minister if yuh cyar think up ah plan - go google what other countries are doing- It is very clear that we are not the only country dealing with this issue. For example look at the following initiatives:
The National Crime Prevention Strategy (NCPS) is an integral part of the Government of Canada's continued efforts to tackle crime in order to build stronger, healthier communities.
The NCPS is the policy framework for the implementation of crime prevention interventions in Canada, by providing funding to strategically selected projects that contribute to preventing and reducing crime in Canada and to increasing knowledge about what works in crime prevention.
For more information
Contact the Regional office nearest you, call 1-800-830-3118 or send an email to ps.prevention-prevention.sp@canada.ca.
Register for the NCPS mailing list to receive updates on the NCPS, including notification on funding opportunities.
Visit the Crime Prevention Funding Programs page[/i]
“As Minister of Public Safety, I am pleased to respond to the Report of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security entitled A Path Forward: Reducing Gun and Gang Violence in Canada.
It matters little as to which political entity is in power; what needs to occur is that the safety of this country's citizens should be placed first and foremost; that as a society we need to do better for the common good than reduce ourselves to politicizing each and every action for political gains and power.
If you think you have the answer, let's get a standing committee together invite - concern citizens, the crime watch man, Ian A , former ministers, police commissioners, inspectors, faith leaders from all walks of life all political parties. put aside differences- race , religion and politics- put at the forefront the country of TNT.
This country is under siege and it is not the sole responsibility of the government to solve it but the government do have a role to play in seeking out all possible solutions and to accommodate all possible perspectives and actions to deter the erosive and malicious miscreants in society. Let's leave no stone unturned in cleaning house and state- Each citizen has a duty to ensure that criminal elements do not reside within nor are they benefitting from the proceeds of criminal activity.