Category Archives: Crime in T&T

Crime in T&T, Politics

Mismanaging the economy

7 Comments

By Raffique Shah
July 05, 2015

Raffique ShahIN the pre-election polls conducted thus far, the issues that are of concern to the electorate are crime, unemployment, corruption, health care and rising prices, mostly in that order.

The state of the economy does not feature at all, although it impacts almost all these concerns.

Understandably, crime is the number one issue. Notwithstanding claims by both the Government and the police that there have been significant decreases in “serious crimes”, clearly, most people live in fear of being victims.
Continue reading Mismanaging the economy →

Crime in T&T, General T&T, Law, Police, Politics, Violence

TT scores low on global peace list

By Julien Neaves
July 05, 2015 – newsday.co.tt

ViolenceTRINIDAD and Tobago has received its lowest ranking ever on an international peace list as the country continues to have maximum scores for homicides and violent crimes, and high scores for perceptions of criminality and access to weapons.

Former National Security Minister Gary Griffith, however, says the ranking should be taken with a “pinch of salt” while a local criminologist says it is not telling citizens anything they do not live as a reality.
Continue reading TT scores low on global peace list →

Crime in T&T, Elections, ILP, Law, Opposition Party, People's Partnership, PNM, Sports, UNC, USA

Jack’s revenge

46 Comments

By Raffique Shah
June 21, 2015

Raffique ShahJack Warner is not a mad man—or delusional, as the Prime Minister euphemistically puts it.

If he was, then the PM, who chose him to act in the highest office in the land on several occasions, and assigned him to the national security portfolio three years ago, must be madder than him.

And members of Cabinet and the People’s Partnership hierarchy who clung to him as if he were a latter-day Jesus or Rama or Muhammad, are the maddest people ever to have governed a country.
Continue reading Jack’s revenge →

Complaints, Crime in T&T, Drug Trade, General T&T, Law, Media, UNC

FRESH WEED PROBE

27 Comments

By Nalinee Seelal
June 17, 2015 – newsday.co.tt

MarijuanaPOLICE confirmed yesterday that they found five grammes of a “plant like material resembling marijua-na” at the Prime Minister’s private residence, prompting Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams to order an investigation into the mat-ter.

A report of the find was submitted to Williams at 2 pm yesterday — a day after he said that the police were not in possession of any information on drugs being found at the Prime Minister’s residence. The report, signed by Snr Supt Gould and given to Williams yesterday indicated, that the substance contained in a plastic bag was discovered in the male wash-room of a Gazebo on the western end of the Prime Minister’s residence at Phillipine. The discovery was made by a Special Branch officer on Friday April 19, 2013 at about 8.50 am.
Continue reading FRESH WEED PROBE →

Crime in T&T, General T&T, International, Law, Media, Parliament, People's Partnership, UNC, USA

Jack sorry for missing Parliament: I was in prison

2 Comments

By Carolyn Kissoon
May 29, 2015 – trinidadexpress.com

Jack WarnerPOLITICAL Leader of the Independent Liberal Party (ILP) and Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner turned up for the 1.30p.m sitting of Parliament today and apologised for being absent on Wednesday. “I was in prison” he said.

He made the statement before the Prime Minister question and answer segment in the Parliament. Warner was the lone politician on the Opposition beach. Members of the Peoples National Movement (PNM) are boycotting the Parliament as a result of the suspension of Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley.
Continue reading Jack sorry for missing Parliament: I was in prison →

corruption, Crime in T&T, General T&T, Law, Media, Parliament, PNM

PNM wants Commission of Enquiry into deal

By Richard Lord
May 23, 2015 – guardian.co.tt

TheftThe Opposition PNM is insisting that nothing less than a Commission of Enquiry must be appointed to investigate the award and execution of Petrotrin’s South West Soldado project.

This point was made by St Joseph MP Terrence Deyalsingh during his contribution to yesterday’s House of Representatives debate on a private motion on the project. It was presented for debate by Point Fortin MP Paula Gopee-Scoon.
Continue reading PNM wants Commission of Enquiry into deal →

Crime in T&T, General T&T, Law, Opposition Party, Parliament, People's Partnership, Politics, UNC

Deputy DPP Press Release on ‘Emailgate’

27 Comments

BY THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS

Joan Honore-PaulRE: INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE EMAIL DISCLOSURES IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BETWEEN MAY 20, 2013 AND MAY 24, 2013

Through various reports in the electronic and print media, it has become obvious that certain correspondence from the United States Department of Justice, sent to the Police Investigative team through the Central Authority, has found its way into the hands of parties who are not members of the Investigative or advising Prosecutorial teams. While the articles are numerous, the following excerpts are instructive:
Continue reading Deputy DPP Press Release on ‘Emailgate’ →

Crime in T&T, Elections, General T&T, Media, Opposition Party, Parliament, People's Partnership, PNM, Politics, UNC

Deputy DPP slams PM for Emailgate claims: No One Cleared

16 Comments

By Irving Ward
May 14, 2015 – guardian.co.tt

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-BissessarDeputy Director of Public Prosecutions Joan Honore-Paul last night slammed Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for her suggestion that she and her colleagues should be cleared in the Emailgate probe, saying the police were far from done with their investigations and the case was still wide open.

She also chastised Persad-Bissessar for releasing contents of reports provided to the police from the US Department of Justice, saying that the treaty under which this information was provided prohibited anyone else other than the national security parties probing the matter to use it.
Continue reading Deputy DPP slams PM for Emailgate claims: No One Cleared →

corruption, Crime in T&T, Editorial, Finance, General T&T, Law, Media, People's Partnership

Questions about that $60m theft

7 Comments

Express Editorial
May 11, 2015 – trinidadexpress.com

TheftIt is not enough for Finance Minister Larry Howai to say that he expects all of the $60 million stolen from the National Energy Corporation’s account at First Citizens to be recovered. What is needed is prosecution of those who stole the money and full accountability from officials of the two State enterprises who were entrusted with managing the $60 million in public funds.
Continue reading Questions about that $60m theft →

Crime in T&T, General T&T, Law, Murder, People's Partnership

A horror story

33 Comments

By Raffique Shah
May 03, 2015

Raffique ShahOne year ago, in this space, I wrote a column headlined “Dana’s Death in Vain”. It was written exactly one week after the popular, respected senior counsel Dana Seetahal was shot to death in what everyone who had his or her say, described as a “well-executed assassination”.

As the anniversary of her death passes without anyone being arrested or charged for her murder, I re-read that column.
Continue reading A horror story →