Crime in T&T, General T&T, Police, Security

Only 3 per cent of cops corrupt

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By Susan Mohammed – March 26, 2013
www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Only-3-per–cent-of-cops–corrupt-200151191.html

PoliceActing Police Commissioner Stephen Williams said yesterday that no more than three per cent of the officers in the Police Service were crooked.

Speaking following a tour of the San Fernando Police Station where officers had protested poor working conditions, Williams responded to the Selwyn Ryan report which indicated that as much as 50 per cent of the Police Service was corrupt.

On Monday, Williams told reporters the figure used by Ryan was “crazy”.
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Crime in T&T, Culture, Entertainment, General T&T, Media, Music, People's Partnership, Politics, Violence

Ryan crime report: Soca music breeding criminals

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Selwyn Ryan – March 26, 2013
www.guardian.co.tt/news/2013-03-25/ryan-crime-report-soca-music-breeding-criminals

Selwyn RyanSoca, dancehall and hip-hop music are said to be influencing youths into criminal behaviour. This is according to a report by the Ryan Committee on Youth at Risk. The report was laid in Parliament by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Friday. The committee’s report said while it was impossible to draw a definitive correlation between violence or explicitness of lyrics and the level of criminality among youth, the lyrics of 2012 soca hits “tend to support the idea of a contemporary youth culture that is very consistent with the rebellious behaviour of previous generations of youth.”
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Crime in T&T, General T&T, Media, People's Partnership, Politics

Ryan report on Laventille crime: Dagger aimed at POS’ belly

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By Richard Lord – March 23, 2013
www.guardian.co.tt/news/2013-03-23/ryan-report-laventille-crime-dagger-aimed-pos-belly

Selwyn RyanGovernment is being warned to do “whatever is necessary” to silence the guns in the hands of the criminal element in Laventille. If those carrying the guns are allowed to run rampant, they could eventually train those guns on the capital city itself.
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Crime in T&T, General T&T, Opposition Party, People's Partnership, Police, Politics, Security

Don’t demonise soldiers

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By Raffique Shah
March 23, 2013

Raffique ShahTHE purpose of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2013 is to add soldier-power to Government’s crime-fighting initiatives, although if you read the one-clause legislation you would think otherwise. The bill simply speaks of extending to soldiers engaged in assisting the police in maintaining law and order “the same powers, authorities, privileges and immunities as are given by law to members of the Police Service”.
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Crime in T&T, General T&T, Opposition Party, PNM, Politics

Wanted bigger guns for city cops

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By Sean Douglas – March 23 2013
newsday.co.tt

Louis Lee SingPORT-OF-SPAIN Mayor Louis Lee Sing yesterday called for bigger guns to be given to his municipal police force to deter criminals who harass his contractors when they work in the city’s criminal “hot-spots”.

Addressing a Joint Select Committee (JSC) hearing at Tower D, International Waterfront Centre in Port-of-Spain, Lee Sing said criminals are undeterred and unafraid when confronted by city police officers armed with handguns including the Beretta brand.
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Business, General T&T, India, Media, Race and Identity

Mishra pleads for Govt to stop Indian trade fairs

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By Camille Bethel
March 20, 2013
Originally printed at
www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Mishra_pleads_for_Govt_to_stop_Indian_trade_fairs-199283991.html

lettersIndian High Commissioner Malay Mishra is calling on the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to stop the Indian trade fairs that are operating in this country.

Speaking at yesterday’s business forum held by the High Commission of India, in collaboration with the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce, at the chamber building in Westmoorings, Mishra said the Indian government distances itself from the activities of the “so-called” Indian trade fairs.
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Culture, General T&T, Law, Media

ZOO BANS ‘SAGGY PANTS’

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Monday, March 18 2013
Newsday – newsday.co.tt

Front page of Newsday: ZOO BANS SAGGY PANTSResponding to scores of requests from its paying patrons over the last month, the management of the Emperor Valley Zoo took the bold decision to ban entry to men who are inappropriately dressed in sagging trousers which expose their jockey shorts or other choice of underwear being worn.

Athough the origin of “Sagging” is not known for sure, the prevailing opinion seems to be that it began in prison, due to inmates not being allowed to wear belts. Many people believe that bearing this in mind, it is therefore incomprehensible as to why this would gain popularity here in Trinidad or elsewhere, especially among the younger generation,
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General T&T, Media, Opposition Party, People's Partnership, PNM, Politics, UNC

Rowley’s revival of Ramesh

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By Suzanne Mills
March 17, 2013 – newsday.co.tt

Keith Rowley and Ramesh Lawrence MaharajIt’s nigh impossible to gauge precisely what Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley hopes to accomplish by forming an alliance with his former foe, ex attorney general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj.

We can deduce from the evidence Maharaj’s raison d’etre — he was beaten roundly and soundly in the 2010 UNC leadership race by Kamla Persad-Bissessar and likely pique has moved him to join forces with the Opposition to dismantle her regime. By teaming up with Rowley and the PNM, he is guaranteed a political platform, an additional opportunity to maintain a high profile and to bash the government, and possibly another shot at a seat in the parliament.
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General T&T, People's Partnership, Politics, UNC

The Warner way

38 Comments

By Raffique Shah
March 17, 2013

Raffique ShahAND hypocritically, we wonder why the moral-social fabric of the society is torn apart, nay, shredded, by a culture of violence, of lawlessness, of nihilism such as we have never known.

We blame the young, easy targets, never admitting that they are misfits moulded in our own image and likeness, created by elders who are anything but exemplars. We blame foreign influences, television, alien music and art forms. We blame any and everything but ourselves. We never look into the mirror.
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Africa, China, England, Features, General T&T, Media, Race and Identity, Racism Watch, USA, Venezuela, Zimbabwe

Harare: Is It Really the Worst City on Earth?

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Out and About in Zimbabwe’s Capital

By Andre Vltchek
March 15, 2013 – andrevltchek.weebly.com

ZimbabweFor a change, I don’t want to discuss politics. I don’t want to debate whether big bad Mugabe is actually an African national hero, as many on this continent believe, or some brutal dictator, as we are told relentlessly by the BBC, The Economist and virtually the entire Western establishment media.

‘Data’ about Zimbabwe is developed somewhere, to serve Western political interests, and then it is recycled, repeated by hundreds of websites all over the Internet. Old reports are not updated when the situation improves. Incorrect statistics are hardly challenged.
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