<![CDATA[TTonline.org - Trinidad & Tobago Online Community - Crime & Law]]> http://www.ttonline.org/ en Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:54:34 GMT vBulletin 1 http://www.ttonline.org/images/misc/rss.png <![CDATA[TTonline.org - Trinidad & Tobago Online Community - Crime & Law]]> http://www.ttonline.org/ Retirees to Help Fight Crime http://www.ttonline.org/threads/10043-Retirees-to-Help-Fight-Crime?goto=newpost Mon, 06 Sep 2010 16:43:11 GMT This seems like a good move :)

"THERE are plans to call more than 400 retired members of the protective services back out to service to assist in the fight against crime. This is the latest development in the Government’s anti crime initiative. The retirees will be assigned to police stations in “hot spot” crime areas to augment the strength at those stations".
http://newsday.co.tt/news/0,127086.html


Zacky yuh taking up duty? ]]> vaio http://www.ttonline.org/threads/10043-Retirees-to-Help-Fight-Crime Why do we kill our countrymen after an argument? http://www.ttonline.org/threads/10034-Why-do-we-kill-our-countrymen-after-an-argument?goto=newpost Mon, 06 Sep 2010 10:31:22 GMT A lead comment on today's TT guardian web chat. quoted:

"What is going on in TT? two teenagers shot dead, two guys in Penal shot dead? The two students we read there was an argument earlier. Two men in Tobago dead from stabbing. What is going on, Lord Father in Heaven in our TT? Does anyone have any ideas why people stab and shoot their fellow countrymen because they had an argument. Is this a drug, social or criminal problem? Does the Govt consult the psychologists to understand why three arguments: Tobago on wappie game and Penal in a night club and two teenagers at a school, caused 6 people to be killed? Is it the alcohol in the heat that people cant stand the polarised views of their fellow countrymen? I am trying to understand why three arguments no matter how heated can cause 6 people to be killed. Where are UWI psycholgists on this? Do UWI psychologists have a social responsibility to comment on this behaviour? Are there any professors in TT who can shed a light on this behaviour? Is it Alcohol, again, I ask? Looking on to the webchats here onlne TTOL and Guardian, and others you can see how people can disagree even in cyber zone, much more face to face."

Any ideas from my fellow webchatters? ]]> Tipp http://www.ttonline.org/threads/10034-Why-do-we-kill-our-countrymen-after-an-argument The Privy Council and the Death Penalty http://www.ttonline.org/threads/10032-The-Privy-Council-and-the-Death-Penalty?goto=newpost Mon, 06 Sep 2010 01:42:20 GMT The recent statement by the Prime Minister on the issue of hanging is important, especially in light the commentary on this issue. Her position that... The recent statement by the Prime Minister on the issue of hanging is important, especially in light the commentary on this issue. Her position that the law in Trinidad and Tobago (TT) for murder is hanging is the legally correct one. This statement however will do little to allay those calling for regular hangings and even less to allay the concerns of those against it.

Reading the newspapers and commentary from members of the public that can now be added on the internet versions, it is plain that there is much ignorance on the both the law and practice on this issue. Add the disinformation in relation to the role of the Privy Council (PC) and the level of ignorance increases exponentially. As a lawyer and citizen of TT it is necessary to dispel this ignorance and avoid misunderstanding and unfair criticisim. Others learned in the law should also voice their views to ensure that the debate is a comprehensive and enlightening one.

What is the law? Section 4 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1925 Chap 11:08 states “Every person convicted of murder shall suffer death.” On this basis the only sentence for murder is death and a judge must pass this mandatory sentence on conviction.

What happens after the death penalty is passed? After sentence the relevant department of state carries out the court’s sentence, subject to any appeal. It is here that the state and court system control the pace. Neither a defendant in a murder case nor his lawyers have any real say as to when an appeal to the Court of Appeal is heard and this process is not unknown to take years. However, this does not include or affect the time limits for an appeal to the PC, which can expedite appeals in appropriate cases to a few days or months.

As to the legal process in TT in the overwhelming majority of cases a defendant charged with murder at the police station is at the mercy of the criminal justice system. This is because he/she is usually unable to afford a lawyer and languishes in custody (murder being a non-bailable offence) until a lawyer is prepared to take their case on legal aid. (This is perhaps a good indication that many charged with murder come from the poorest and least educated communities in TT.) Due to the poor rates of legal aid few lawyers are prepared to take on these cases and this contributes to delays of years before the case can become effective at the Magistrates’ Court and then the High Court Assizes for trial by judge and jury. The majority of lawyers that take on these cases are regrettably either relatively young, inexperienced, non-specialists and/or not Senior Counsel. Combined with a lack of continuity (i.e. a change of the lawyers at different stages) this has the effect of making the trial far more prone to mistakes and thus more likely to lead to a successful appeal because the verdict is unsafe. In a civilised society no-one can seriously argue that this is acceptable for a death penalty offence.

In England the legal system is similar in terms of charge at the police station, first appearance before the Magistrates’ Court and trial before judge and jury. However, specialist criminal lawyers (usually with a Queen’s Counsel to lead) are assigned at the police station level and remunerated by better rates of legal aid ensuring continuity of representation resulting in fewer or no delays. The effect is that when murder convictions are returned by juries there is little scope for appealing leaving the public assured of an accurate verdict.

What is the role of the PC? The PC is the final appellate court. If TT were to subscribe to the jurisdiction of Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) their role would be identical to that of the PC. The PC is not concerned with basic facts, it defers judgement on that to the High Court Assizes and the Court of Appeal in TT. It is primarily concerned with whether the law of TT has been applied correctly and if so any appeal will fail. In this regard it should be remembered that the PC has upheld many decisions of the Court of Appeal. However, where the law has not been applied correctly or the constitutional rights of the citizen of TT has been violated the PC intervenes only to ensure the law of TT is complied with.

What about the PC decision of Pratt and Morgan and does it stop the Caribbean from hanging? This decision has long been trumpeted as the PC stopping Caribbean states from hanging convicts for murder. Nothing could be further from the truth. This decision has regrettably become a politician’s licence for misleading the public as to what the PC decided.

In Pratt and Morgan (1993) the PC was concerned with the length of time between sentence being passed on conviction for murder and the death penalty being carried out and the consitutional implications. They did not say that the death penalty could not be imposed or carried out. It simply decided that a state which retained the death penalty must ensure that execution follows as swiftly as practicable, allowing a reasonable time for appeals. Long delays of 5 years caused by the legitimate use of all appellate procedures available was to subject the convicted person to an inhuman and degrading punishment in violation of the Constitution. The Constitution of TT is the supreme law of the land. This was not decided by the PC but by those who piloted TT to independence and republican status. As such the courts (including the PC) are duty bound to apply the Constitution as the supreme law and if the Court of Appeal gets it wrong the PC is obligated to set it right.

The PC was concerned with the long delays in the local court system simply taking too long, which was no longer proper in 1993 or indeed now in 2010. Most lawyers, litigants and witnesses are well aware of the delays they must endure before the courts in TT and, if they could, would reduce the delays, but as with defendants in a murder case (who are also litigants) they must wait until the system allows a hearing. Since Pratt and Morgan was decided, certainly in TT, delays have been reduced and cases are disposed of in a shorter period of time. As such there is no reason for the trial and appeals process to take 5 years at all and if they do not the death penalty can be carried out as the law of the land.

Can TT lawfully decide to depart from the decision of Pratt and Morgan thereby avoiding the 5 year limit? Yes. The law of the land is and always will be subject to the prerogative of Parliament to change the law. This has been so since the days of the Legislative Council pre-1963 and remains so today. Parliament in TT, as in any Commonwealth democracy, is sovereign and supreme. If it wishes to change the law that has been handed down by any court decision whether the High Court, Court of Appeal or PC, it can do so by simply passing a statute drafted to reverse the effects of the relevant decision.

In light of the above two matters arise for consideration firstly, why has there been such underinvestment in the criminal justice system in TT leading to the delay and secondly, if TT does not wish to abide by the 5 year limit why does it not simply change the law? The answer to the first question can be found in the statement by the former PNM Minister of Legal Affairs Peter Taylor on 24th November 2009, when he stated that legal aid was intended to be more of a “supplement” rather than a form of income for attorneys. When one considers the implications for an attorney taking on a case where the death penalty is one of two possible results in a trial for which can last for either weeks or months, remuneration on the basis of a “supplement” is no form of incentive to take on that burden and thus delays are inevitable. This is undoubtedly what prompted then Justice Volney (now Minister Volney) to express his frustration with the system for appointing attorneys paid by legal aid about two weeks before Minister Taylor’s statement. In any event any decision for continued underinvestment is simply indefensible.

Further, where the court system requires an increase in the number of judges to try cases in the High Court as well as more resources to pay for much needed upgraded facilities in the local court system, the reality is that this substantially contributes to the delays. This is the result of the former PNM government’s underinvestment in the criminal justice system. Now that the baton has passed any progress in addressing the delays in the system is the responsibility of the new government and an increase in financial investment is the only solution. If this does not happen then as the old saying goes “you get what you pay for”. Minister Volney has recognised this in his remarks on 1st September 2010 about the delays and has stated his Ministry of Justice will be addressing the problem.

As to the second question, the answer is even simpler. A change in the law requires a special majority in Parliament, which means there must be cross-party support to ensure the passage of the necessary legislation to disallow the 5 year time limit. Barbados managed to achieve this by passing the Constitution (Amendment) Act 2002-14 designed to oust the impact of Pratt and Morgan by providing that any delay in executing a sentence of death shall not be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of the Constitution.

In TT there has been no serious attempt by Parliament to change the law like Barbados. Rather the politicians have been content to blame the PC for preventing hanging notably using it as a slogan at election time and an argument to subscribe to the jurisdiction of the CCJ, when in fact all the PC has done is to apply the law of TT as per its Constitution. The comparison with Barbados well illustrates the point. Accordingly, the power and/or solution to implementing the death penalty has always rested with the Parliament of TT not the PC; and this remains true today.

Anand Beharrylal
London, UK ]]> Anand Beharrylal http://www.ttonline.org/threads/10032-The-Privy-Council-and-the-Death-Penalty Ghany: Dodging a death penalty misstep ? http://www.ttonline.org/threads/10021-Ghany-Dodging-a-death-penalty-misstep?goto=newpost Sun, 05 Sep 2010 16:15:43 GMT Now the death penalty is hot on the agenda..There is division in opinions within the Government. but where does the AG stand ?.Seems like alot of... Now the death penalty is hot on the agenda..There is division in opinions within the Government. but where does the AG stand ?.Seems like alot of confusion..
The PM is confused that there is debate over the timing of the death penalty.hmmm..what is your opinion ?:questionmark:

Full Read http://guardian.co.tt/commentary/col...ty-misstep-new

Quote:
The intervention by the Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, to assert that the death penalty is the law of the land and that she does not understand why there is such a public debate on the subject is timely. The tone of the debate was becoming divisive for the People’s Partnership Government and someone had to step in and put an end to the public sparring among Ministers. On the one hand, there was Minister of Works, Jack Warner, calling upon the Attorney General, Anand Ramlogan, to ensure that the death penalty could be resumed. On the other hand, there was Minister of Trade and Industry, Stephen Cadiz, expressing his objection to the death penalty and calling for issues of the family and community to be addressed in order to fix the crime problem.

The essence of the division was that Warner was calling for an end to the moratorium on the death penalty and Cadiz was calling for a continuation of the moratorium. The reality is that neither Minister has responsibility for the implementation of the death penalty. However, the death penalty debate was raised to an intense level by Minister of Justice, Herbert Volney, who called for public hangings in Woodford Square for people to see the executions. At this point, the Government was in full flight for a fracture on a major issue of public policy and law
]]> Jay1985 http://www.ttonline.org/threads/10021-Ghany-Dodging-a-death-penalty-misstep A Trini about to bring down Chief Judge with sex . http://www.ttonline.org/threads/9959-A-Trini-about-to-bring-down-Chief-Judge-with-sex?goto=newpost Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:34:29 GMT http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2010/08/31/judge-manitoba-douglas.html Nude photos of judge contained in complaint Naked photographs of... http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/st...a-douglas.html

Nude photos of judge contained in complaint

Naked photographs of a senior Manitoba judge engaged in bondage are part of a man's complaints to legal watchdogs about the judge's past and that of her husband, CBC News has learned.

A formal complaint was filed in July with the Canadian Judicial Council against Lori Douglas, associate chief justice of Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench (family division). Another complaint has been lodged with Manitoba's Law Society against Douglas's husband, Jack King, 64, a Winnipeg family lawyer.

The complainant, computer specialist Alexander Chapman, 44, alleges that King harassed him in 2003 by pressing him to have sex with Douglas, who was a lawyer at the time.

Over several weeks, Chapman said King showed him about 30 sexually explicit photos of Douglas, showing her naked in various forms of bondage, in chains, with sex toys and performing oral sex.



Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/st...#ixzz0yEXdjHNa


. ]]> Poser http://www.ttonline.org/threads/9959-A-Trini-about-to-bring-down-Chief-Judge-with-sex <![CDATA[Changes To T&T Firearms Act]]> http://www.ttonline.org/threads/9956-Changes-To-T-T-Firearms-Act?goto=newpost Tue, 31 Aug 2010 18:13:16 GMT So if ah get ah pookany thru de Appeal Board an ah happen tuh shoot sumbody in self defence. Yuh tink dey go take way mih pookany an doh give mih... So if ah get ah pookany thru de Appeal Board an ah happen tuh shoot sumbody in self defence.
Yuh tink dey go take way mih pookany an doh give mih bail.

http://www.thecaribbeancamera.com/po...2908-jail-guns

Way Ramesh gorn.... ]]> draja http://www.ttonline.org/threads/9956-Changes-To-T-T-Firearms-Act how many officers are REALLY worth what they get$ http://www.ttonline.org/threads/9874-how-many-officers-are-REALLY-worth-what-they-get?goto=newpost Thu, 26 Aug 2010 09:34:48 GMT The announcement yesterday, on behalf of the TTPS officers, concerning what the may, or may not do in order to get better pay, really got me very... The announcement yesterday, on behalf of the TTPS officers, concerning what the may, or may not do in order to get better pay, really got me very annoyed and upset.

There can be no doubt that good work deserves good pay and conditions.

And as is very obvious right now, to anyone just driving by, even, the state of various police stations is absolutely abysmal. No-one should be expected to work in such conditions as we see in some of these places. Officially we understand that decisions have already been made for that situation to change. And the sooner the better.

Regarding pay and benefits, I honestly do not know how much more money would be fair and reasonable for an intelligent, diligent, honest and hard-working police office to make in T&T.

And THAT said, I don’t know just how easy it is to find many that fit that description.

Now I know from experience how readily some people are ready to leap to the defence of the “service”, (and what a misnomer that is!), and of course to individual officers in it. And some of those so defended will deserve the kind words from their family and friends.

But I know how equally valid my own experiences and those of many others I know, have been. And that there are a large number that right now, (and for however long they remain in the pay of TTPS, i.e. the T&T taxpayers), are being paid far, far more than they are worth.

I refer for example to those that cannot be prevailed upon to do their job. Those that when you go to the nearby station, “cannot be bothered” to make note of the fact that an employer is getting death threats to him and his family, from a fired worker. Those that “have no car, available” to respond to a call, those to be seen daily, dropping their children to school in police vehicles, dropping their wives to the supermarket, picking up family at the airport, or driving around with a weed wacker protruding from the car window. I also refer to those that are widely known, or even photographed, whilst beating or otherwise torturing members of the public. And those that cannot show up after weeks to investigate the disappearance of a teenage girl, simple because she is a teenager, and may have gone in their opinion, of her own free will.

To a lesser degree but equally valid these by taking the pay without doing the job, are thieves, pure and simple. Its not just the cash, the drugs, the guns that have gone missing that constitutes theft.

Or those that say they “cannot stop obvious and widespread looting of a church, because they do not know who owns it.”
And of course, the superiors of all these and others, that cannot get off their lazy, dumb arses to sanction or impose punishment on offending, subordinate officers.

This country has pathetically inadequate standards in so many aspects. And there is little or no visible progress in many of these “living standards”, towards what people want and are entitled to want, in many other countries, that are so much more advanced.

Like housework, it is always possible to find things that need doing, anywhere. But born primarily out of a general societal ignorance, and correspondingly low expectations, there are many in this country that know no better and expect no better, in any appreciable way. It is pathetic to consider what people generally do not get in this country. And one of the fundamentals of what they do not have now, although they certainly did have more of in the days of colonialism, is law and order!

So let us measure the performance, collectively, and individually, of the TTPS, against the detection and arrest records of other country’s police forces, before anyone rushes to approve and accept the sloppy, shoddy and corrupt performance that we get all too often from these people.

Some would attribute far superior law enforcement levels elsewhere to anything BUT the individual officers. But for the time being, we the public need to look no further than these officers to see more than enough that must be fixed, if we are to again feel safe to walk the streets, or even to stay home.

And if the level of hands-on leadership competence and integrity is so consistently lacking, then it is surely not illogical to bring in top level officers from countries with far more acceptable levels of law and order. After all, “fish does start to stink from the head”, as the old saying has it. ]]> J lindsay http://www.ttonline.org/threads/9874-how-many-officers-are-REALLY-worth-what-they-get He Was Not Killed Because He Was A Police ..... http://www.ttonline.org/threads/9866-He-Was-Not-Killed-Because-He-Was-A-Police?goto=newpost Wed, 25 Aug 2010 17:58:50 GMT .....he was killed because he owned a Taxi. The hooligans killed him because he would not give them the keys to his taxi; So why is both his... .....he was killed because he owned a Taxi.

The hooligans killed him because he would not give them the keys to his taxi;
So why is both his mother, and other police officers using this as an excuse to 'lobby' for 'special protection' for Police Offices on or off the job.....he didn't die in 'the line of duty'; I wonder if the thugs even knew he was a Police?


Source Trinidad Guardian: http://guardian.co.tt/news/crime/201...police-service
I begged him not to join Police Service
Published: 25 Aug 2010

……Off duty, they (police) have nothing to protect them,” she said. Thomas said she was against her son becoming a police officer. “They protect and serve and these people (criminals) carrying guns,” she said. “Like they stop killing ordinary people now and killing people in the protective services……


Cops plan to boycott Independence parade
Published: 25 Aug 2010
Source: Trinidad Guardian http://guardian.co.tt/news/general/2...endence-parade
….. he said, the recent killings of officers, including the latest—the murder of PC Jason Thomas, a municipal police officer who was killed while plying his taxi—further angered officers…… ]]> snowbird http://www.ttonline.org/threads/9866-He-Was-Not-Killed-Because-He-Was-A-Police Venezuela more deadly than Iraq- discuss? http://www.ttonline.org/threads/9836-Venezuela-more-deadly-than-Iraq-discuss?goto=newpost Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:17:43 GMT see attached Venezuela, More Deadly Than Iraq, Wonders Why By SIMON ROMERO A debate on Venezuela’s soaring homicide rate was reignited after a... see attached
Venezuela, More Deadly Than Iraq, Wonders Why
By SIMON ROMERO
A debate on Venezuela’s soaring homicide rate was reignited after a court ordered a newspaper to stop publishing violent images.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/23/wo...html?th&emc=th
CARACAS, Venezuela — Some here joke that they might be safer if they lived in Baghdad. The numbers bear them out.

El Nacional
A front-page photo in El Nacional showed homicide victims in a Caracas morgue. More Photos »
In Iraq, a country with about the same population as Venezuela, there were 4,644 civilian deaths from violence in 2009, according to Iraq Body Count; in Venezuela that year, the number of murders climbed above 16,000.

Even Mexico’s infamous drug war has claimed fewer lives.

Venezuelans have absorbed such grim statistics for years. Those with means have hidden their homes behind walls and hired foreign security experts to advise them on how to avoid kidnappings and killings. And rich and poor alike have resigned themselves to living with a murder rate that the opposition says remains low on the list of the government’s priorities. ]]> Tipp http://www.ttonline.org/threads/9836-Venezuela-more-deadly-than-Iraq-discuss <![CDATA[Drug Den at Hafeez Karamath's House.]]> http://www.ttonline.org/threads/9813-Drug-Den-at-Hafeez-Karamath-s-House?goto=newpost Sat, 21 Aug 2010 11:40:44 GMT ---Quote--- A day after they made one of the biggest weapons seizures, police described the Valsayn mansion of late millionaire contractor Hafeez...
Quote:
A day after they made one of the biggest weapons seizures, police described the Valsayn mansion of late millionaire contractor Hafeez Karamath as a drug den for the rich; a factory for the manufacture of exotic high-end hallucinogens.

They reported that “preferred clients” visited the mansion day and night. A ten-foot wall, which has a row of lights all around it, surrounds the compound which had a fleet of heavily tinted Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs).

Residents believe the compound housed a casino which operated daily, and included armed security and a limousine chauffeur service to take clients home after heavy gambling.

It was purely by accident that the police stumbled upon a cache of arms, ammunition and drugs during a search carried out on Thursday at Karamath’s residence as part of the ongoing probe into alleged corrupt activities at the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (Udecott).

They found in a bedroom in the western side of the mansion, boxes containing 18 high-powered guns and ammunition, which have since been traced to the Far East.

The weapons were 12 semi-automatic handguns, two high-powered rifles, two AK-47s and two submachine pistols. Forty-five 9 mm rounds, 12- gauge shotgun shells, .22 ammunition, .302 ammunition and 7.6 rounds were also found.

Apart from the cache of arms and ammunition, officers found equipment used in the processing of high-end exotic hallucinogens.

They discovered labelled bottles and packages containing drugs such as green cockroach, buba kush, sweet kush, Hawaiian kush, lemon skunk, lavender, LA Confidential, salmon, exodus cheese, hash, marijuana seedlings and an assortment of dried mushrooms. Four bongs and a hookah — devices used for smoking—as well as gas masks and other apparatus were also found.
http://newsday.co.tt/news/0,126163.html

so I thinking maybe the police as a matter of principle just search all them rich people houses. we might stumble upon some more interesting things. ]]> skl http://www.ttonline.org/threads/9813-Drug-Den-at-Hafeez-Karamath-s-House Serial Rapist in Point Fortin http://www.ttonline.org/threads/9785-Serial-Rapist-in-Point-Fortin?goto=newpost Thu, 19 Aug 2010 11:39:08 GMT WTH! this is just digusting: A hunt has been launched for a man who police believe is a serial rapist, after four women were attacked in Point... WTH! this is just digusting:

A hunt has been launched for a man who police believe is a serial rapist, after four women were attacked in Point Fortin. The latest attack occurred at Frisco Junction around midday on Monday. Police said one of the victims and her 18-year-old niece were sexually assaulted at an upstairs business place.

http://guardian.co.tt/news/crime/201...t-point-fortin ]]> vaio http://www.ttonline.org/threads/9785-Serial-Rapist-in-Point-Fortin where was de coastguard? http://www.ttonline.org/threads/9772-where-was-de-coastguard?goto=newpost Wed, 18 Aug 2010 19:07:49 GMT i hear a man get killed on the sea, but how come de coastguard and them didn't do a thing to prevent it? ]]> mammadon http://www.ttonline.org/threads/9772-where-was-de-coastguard Dis Have Tuh Happen Rite In Mih..... http://www.ttonline.org/threads/9742-Dis-Have-Tuh-Happen-Rite-In-Mih?goto=newpost Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:02:55 GMT backyard. Steups. Tank Gawd ah not livin dey no mo. Dey shuld sen BZ tuh play wid dey balls ah lil bit. ... backyard. Steups. Tank Gawd ah not livin dey no mo. Dey shuld sen BZ tuh play wid dey balls ah lil bit.

http://guardian.co.tt/news/crime/201...-swift-justice ]]> draja http://www.ttonline.org/threads/9742-Dis-Have-Tuh-Happen-Rite-In-Mih pirates / claxton bay fishermen http://www.ttonline.org/threads/9728-pirates-claxton-bay-fishermen?goto=newpost Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:47:03 GMT i was very disturbed by a report i saw on CNC3 (the report was narrated by Khamal Georges - cannot find the clip online unfortunately) last night on... i was very disturbed by a report i saw on CNC3 (the report was narrated by Khamal Georges - cannot find the clip online unfortunately) last night on the bodies of the fisherman that washed-up on the beach after the pirates attack in Claxton Bay.

according to the report, apparently no coast guard vessels were available to be deployed when this incident was first reported to the authorities, because all vessels WERE INVOLVED IN A PARADE AT THE TIME, TO COMMEMORATE AN ANNIVERSARY FOR THE DEFENSE FORCES / COAST GUARD and apparently clearance could not be given for the release of any of the vessels (boats/helicopter) because they were needed at the PARADE.

what is really going on in this country?
where are the priorities?
what is the official coast guard / police / state response to this?

i really hope that the media pursues this.

the PM is in NY with half of the cabinet, and the coast guard people hold a parade, and refuse to release vessels to a criminal maritime incident because the said vessels were needed at the parade?????????????

madness. ]]> sylvestter http://www.ttonline.org/threads/9728-pirates-claxton-bay-fishermen A non partisan approach to crime http://www.ttonline.org/threads/9668-A-non-partisan-approach-to-crime?goto=newpost Thu, 12 Aug 2010 12:14:58 GMT This article was was written and subsequently published in the press before the last general election. It is my view that the issues raised herein... This article was was written and subsequently published in the press before the last general election. It is my view that the issues raised herein remains relevant in light of the sprilaling crime rate. I Therefore, again make the call for a non partisan approach in dealing with the issue of crime.

Some time ago I defended The Panday administration on the issue of crime. I thought them that Mr. Panday was unfairly blamed for the crime situation. I further commented that if the PNM should ever come into office again they will rue the day they politicized the issue of crime. I guess the PNM thought them that this was a chink in the UNC administration they can exploit with the hope it accrue some benefit for them in their quest to regain the seat of government.
After nine years of PNM administration crime remains the major concern of this country and a thorn in the side of this government. It is not that successive governments have not tried to solve crime but that the nature of crime does not lend itself to the remedies applied thus far. The acquisition of various types of equipments and the introduction of harsher penalties did not serve to deter the recalcitrant few who are inclined to commit crime. These miscreants simply sought new ways of doing things.

This really should not surprise anyone seeing, we all have this gut feeling that there exists much more to crime than statistics. But, in an environment where attaining political advantage is the major focus of opposition political parties ,and, politicians, and where the issue of crime is being used to score political points, one does not readily admit the obvious. After all if the PNM did it while in opposition, it is only reasonable to expect the UNC to respond in like manner.
We are all aware of the many sincere attempts made by both administrations to bring some measure of acceptable to the crime rate. Millions have been spent in this regard with out much success and we still hear of promises to spend even more. I will not call for the depoliticizing of this issue for that will not happen. But, I do want to offer the following suggestions:

1.Compliment any expenditure on crime fighting with initiatives which focus on conflict management from the time children enter schools in other words from kindergarten.
2.Introduce students from as early as possible to have interaction with the police and other authority figures.
3.Introduce national service on a voluntary basis.
4.Introduce sports very early in the curriculum.
5.Make religious studies part of the school curriculum.
6.Establish a disciplinary committee consisting of parents, teachers and the guidance officer in every school

These initiatives are not new. But they do focus on what I believe to be the source of the rampant crime problem we face. Namely, our failure to teach our children to be disciplined and how they ought to respond when confronted with situations which can lead to conflicts.
This is not the sole responsibility of government it is the responsibility of all. What can any government do when a parent fails to properly discipline or train their children? Is the government to be blamed when fathers abandon their children?

Crime is a reflection of human failings. It is a reflection of many social ills occurring over a period of time. Sure the government has its part to play but at the end of the day it is the individual who remains responsible for their actions ,and, this action is usually a reflection of how the individual interprets his/her role in the society.
For what it is worth I admonish all parties to refrain from sensationalizing this issue for it will not go away easily. ]]> Remy http://www.ttonline.org/threads/9668-A-non-partisan-approach-to-crime