Category Archives: Law

Court, Crime in T&T, Death Penalty, General T&T, Law, Violence

Hang them high, high. high and then some

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By Dr. Kwame Nantambu
September 07, 2010

HangingIn normal, civilized and sane times, one can postulate a solid, airtight defence against the imposition of the death penalty for murder. No problem.

However, times, albeit living conditions, in T&T are abnormal, uncivilized and insane to the nth degree; ergo, any defence against the death penalty under these current circumstances is not only absolutely null and void but also totally immaterial and irrelevant.
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Crime in T&T, Death Penalty, General T&T, Law, Violence

Nightmare at Woodford Square

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By Raffique Shah
September 04, 2010

HangingIT’S still dark, wee hours this Sunday morning, the steady drizzle having no impact on the growing crowd that is gathering at Woodford Square. I am dressed in a Rasta wig, fake-Shabaaz beard, jacket sans tie, looking more like a vagrant than the men at the ticket booths at the two entrances to the Square. It’s going to be a good day for hangings. People are queuing, some jostling, others scalping, but all more than willing to pay the $100 entry fee to witness the country’s first public executions since the days of slavery.
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corruption, Crime in T&T, General T&T, Law, Politics

Time to Rewrite the Social Contract

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By Raffique Shah
August 29, 2010

TrinidadiansWe have a new Government, a new dispensation – call it what you will – in place. But change, if it’s going to happen, seems, at this point like being in the middle pack of a snails’ marathon covering all the 100 feet. You ask yourself, especially when you come from the Baby Boomers generation, will change come before I die? Will I live to see my country, my people change for the better?
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Complaints, corruption, Elections, General T&T, Integrity Commission, Law, Media, People's Partnership, PNM, Politics, UDeCOTT

Where are they now?

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Karen Nunez-Tesheira and PM Patrick Manning
Karen Nunez-Tesheira and PM Patrick Manning
By Dana Seetahal
August 27, 2010 – trinidadexpress.com

It is now three months since the People’s Partnership won the general election and, understandably, the focus has been on how it is performing and whether it is capable of keeping its election promises. My take is still that it is too early to make any real assessment as the Government is still settling in; six months might be a more reasonable time. Meanwhile, I believe this is a good time to look back and assess why the last Government lost power. There might be lessons there that could prove useful to not only the current Government but anyone in politics.
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Crime in T&T, Drug Trade, General T&T, Law, Politics, UDeCOTT, Violence

Drug Den for Rich

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By Nalinee Seelal and Alexander Bruzual
Saturday, August 21 2010

GunsA 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.

Investigators estimate the mansion, located on a one acre property in the upscale neighbourhood of Palm Road, Valsayn, is worth more than $12 million.
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COP, Crime in T&T, Finance, General T&T, Law, People's Partnership, Politics, Security, Violence

1990 Enquiry: Exercise in Futility

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Abu BakrI DO not know how Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and her Cabinet arrived at a decision to appoint a Commission of Enquiry into the attempted coup of 1990. I suspect the hype that always surrounds the anniversary date of the Muslimeen assault on the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) government may have prompted the PM and her colleagues to attempt to “put this matter to rest for once and for all”. It certainly was not part of the People’s Partnership manifesto or 120-day action plan.
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Features, General T&T, Law, People's Partnership, Politics, Religion, Security

Probe into 1990 Attempted Coup

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Abu BakrProbe into 1990 Coup
Twenty years later, there is going to be a Commission of Enquiry into the July 27, 1990 attempted coup which was led by Imam Yasin Abu Bakr and members of the Jamaat-al-Muslimeen. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday during at the post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister, St Clair.

PM: Why did it happen?
Cabinet has decided a Commission of Inquiry into the circumstances of the July 27, 1990 attempted coup will take place to find out “what went wrong” and to “bring closure” and relief to citizens traumatised by the event.
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Court, Crime in T&T, General T&T, International, Law, Politics

The ‘Forum Conveniens’

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By Dana Seetahal
July 18, 2010 – guardian.co.tt

Ishwar Galbaransingh and Steve FergusonIn an Advice apparently solicited by attorneys for Steve Ferguson and Ishwar Galbaransingh, former president Ellis Clarke, an eminent attorney-at-law, proferred the opinion that the case for T&T being the “forum conveniens” to try the accused men is lucid and “compelling.” This is not the first time that it has been argued in respect of an extradition matter that local trial for people accused of similar offences in both the US and T&T should be preferred. The point was taken in extradition proceedings in relation to some of the men locally accused of killing Balram Maharaj, a US citizen, and in respect of whom the US had sought extradition for offences involving hostage taking. The accused were eventually extradited.
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corruption, Crime in T&T, General T&T, International, Law, People's Partnership, Politics, USA

Injustice Sows Seeds of Terrorism

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This picture shows a portion of the barrier being built by Israel in the West Bank. This part is in Abu Dis, close to the eastern part of Jerusalem.
This picture shows a portion of the barrier being built by Israel in the West Bank. This is close to the eastern part of Jerusalem.
By Raffique Shah
July 11, 2010

THOSE among us who keep abreast of international developments will have noted huge protest demonstrations in Israel most of last week. This kind of action is unusual. Small numbers of Israelis who oppose their government’s policies towards the Palestinians and atrocities committed by their military, hardly come out in the open for fear of their lives and liberty. Last week’s protests were not only big, but apparently supported by the state apparatus.
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