Ah getting SOE fatigue so ah avoiding the news and all de debates (cuss outs really) on this issue. But the debates in Parliament yesterday had me thinking even more about this SOE.
This kinda long so ah would understand if all yuh steups and move on....but bear with me nah....
As I've said before, I have an uncomfortable feeling about this SOE. The initial problem I had with it (and still is my main problem) is that it came out of left field. As I've also said before, in the weeks leading up to the PM's announcement this government was shouting for all who could hear that the MURDER rate was going down and the plans they have in place will take time to bear fruit but they are working on the problem.
In fact, what Roodal Moonial said (THE DAY BEFORE KAMLA's announcement) sums up what I had been hearing for about 2 – 3 weeks before the SOE…
LEADER of Government business Dr Roodal Moonilal said yesterday citizens ought not to feel insecure following the recent upsurge in killings.
Moonilal disagreed that there was a need for a State of Emergency with the killing of seven people on Friday night, taking the murder toll to 256.
Moonilal said: "I think citizens should still feel secure. I think there is an upsurge in the gang related activity that is creating an unease, but I am very confident in Mr John Sandy and the Police Service to respond to this challenge."
Asked how Government was planning to tackle the crime situation, Moonilal said the Minister of National Security had plans and strategies which he was confident will work.
He said: "I am aware of Mr Sandy's plans and he has a variety of strategies to combat crime. I am very confident that in the short term we will see the results of that."
So all that and then BAM!! SOE in we pweffen!! IT DOH MAKE SENSE!! IT JUST DOH MAKE SENSE!!
Further, the night of the SOE, Madame PM claimed that a number of drug busts being made by the police (and she cited the $22 million bust the week before as an example), was leading to a gang warfare or words to that effect. During the debate, Min. Sandy described this imminent threat as an event that would have made 1990 look like a tea party.
So they called a SOE and I'm assuming that the crisis has been averted. I have to assume because I haven't heard the Cowboy "X" AG pong his chest about arrests made in connection to this particular drug bust. I haven't heard that the people who were going to be a part of the blood bath are safely behind bars. I also haven't heard of who were the officials at the airport (customs for example) or who were the financiers involved in the $22 million drug bust having been arrested. I haven't heard that the fellas involved in the shoot up in Arima has been held.....how come?? It not supposed to take them so long.
The track record of this PP government is PR, PR, PR.....if any of these things had happened the Cowboy "X" AG would have made it his duty to tell us. So I'm left with assumptions.
So 15 days later and the crisis has been averted, I assume.
But, but, but....what are the grounds for imposing a SOE on the country?? This is what the constitution says about the grounds under which a State of Emergency can be called:-
THE CONSTITUTION PART II
Section 8
(1) Subject to this section, for the purposes of this Chapter, the President may from time to time make a Proclamation declaring that a state of public emergency exists.
(2) A Proclamation made by the President under subsection (1) shall not be effective unless it contains a declaration that the President is satisfied-
(a) that a public emergency has arisen as a result of the imminence of a state of war between Trinidad and Tobago and a foreign State;
(b) that a public emergency has arisen as a result of the occurrence of any earthquake, hurricane, flood, fire, outbreak of pestilence or of infectious disease, or other calamity whether similar to the foregoing or not; or
(c) that action has been taken, or is immediately threatened. by any person, of such a nature and on so extensive a scale, as to be likely to endanger the public safety or to deprive the community or any substantial portion of the community of supplies or services essential to life.Its clearly not (a) and clearly not (b) so that leaves (c). I heard this used as the reason for the state of emergency and at first I bought it wholesale without actually reading the clause. I think the key word(s) here are
OF SUCH A NATURE AND ON SO EXTENSIVE A SCALE.
So this imminent threat arising out of these drug busts were going to be so extensive that we would have seen people being shot down all over the place willy nilly then?? I would not have been able to walk the streets without having to duck and run for cover at every turn. We would have been involved an internal war the likes of say Mexico border town gang war fare?? Really?? For a $22 million drug bust?? Really?? Really?? What made this drug bust so different to the other drug busts?? How much was the Monos Island drug bust worth?? Or any of the others over the years??
Hhhhhmmmm…..alright. But why the state needs another 3 months to contain this imminent threat?? 3 months??!! Oh wait, I forget this allows the police to their jobs more effectively. Apparently they can’t work unless there is an SOE in place and 15 days is clearly not enough time. So like we in for about 6 moths at least of SOE in we pweffen!!
I’m turning this over and over in my mind and I seriously doubt this had nothing to do with any 11 murders in 48 hours or any blood bath threat BS.
So what could it be then?? Hhhhhmmmm…..this government is known for PR, smoke screen and BS. Ever since this SOE we have all been collectively distracted from the myriad of issues that were facing us and this government. As I was listening to the debate in Parliament yesterday something occurred to me…..included in the list of right that are suspended right now this one intrigues me….
Legal Supplement Part B—Vol. 50, No. 108—21st August, 2011 437
LEGAL NOTICE NO. 163 REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO CHAP. 1:01 REGULATIONS
MADE BY THE PRESIDENT UNDER SECTION 7 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
THE EMERGENCY POWERS REGULATIONS, 2011
Prohibition on the holding of public meetings and marches
7. (1) Except with prior permission in writing of the Commissioner of Police, the grant of which shall be in his discretion, no person shall hold or take part in any public march or in any public meeting.
(2) Nothing in this regulation shall apply to any meeting of a class or description referred to in the First Schedule.
(3) Notwithstanding the exception of marches and processions provided for in paragraphs (c) and (d) of the definition of “public march” in regulation 2(1), the Commissioner of Police may prohibit any such march or procession in a public place if, having regard to the time at which and the circumstances in which the march or procession is held or is to be held, he had reasonable grounds for believing that the holding of such march or procession may occasion a breach of the peace or public disorder.
(4) The grant of any permission under this regulation may be subject to such terms and conditions as the Commissioner of Police may think fit for giving effect to these Regulations.Ah have a theory but its so crazy it cyar work. In fact, mih theory so crazy that if its true then is crazy people running the place…..all I have to say is folks who happy and excited about this SOE curbing crime....I over the moon for all yuh.....but I really, really, really have my doubts.....
We have another 3 months to go.....let's see......
