By Raffique Shah
July 26, 2014
When elephants fight, the grass gets trampled, says the African proverb. To paraphrase this, when two generals, one captain-turned-minister, and the acting Commissioner of Police lock horns over the contentious issue of soldiers patrolling the streets, a lowly ex-lieutenant should stay far from the heavyweight battle.
Continue reading Conduct Unbecoming
By Jensen La Vende
Friday, July 18, 2014 – guardian.co.tt
Police are investigating again a video circulating on Facebook where a child is being physically abused by a guardian.
The video was posted by Caribbean Youth Entertainment around 1 pm yesterday. Contacted yesterday public information officer of the Police Service, Insp Wayne Mystar, said the police were aware of the video and the Cyber Crime Unit were attempting to trace its origin in order to bring the culprit to justice.
Continue reading Now shovel beating of child on Facebook
By Sean Douglas
July 16, 2014 – newsday.co.tt
AGHAST at what he has found in the death of a boy incarcerated at the St Michael’s Home for Boys in Diego Martin, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan yesterday announced he has called on the Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard to launch criminal investigations into the operations of this Home.
Among the startling revelations is that a female worker took a young male from the Home to her home. She later became pregnant and has since given birth to a baby, believed to have been fathered by the underaged inmate.
Continue reading BOYS HOUSE OF HORRORS
By Raffique Shah
July 13, 2014
Upon rereading my column last Sunday, I thought I had gone overboard in my effusive endorsement of the army’s direct intervention in the crime “hot spots” of east Port of Spain and neighbouring districts. I realised that I had written in anger, which is never a good idea. So I apologise to readers who might have been alarmed by what seemed to be a call to wipe out gun-toting criminals.
Continue reading Thriving off the ghettos
By Raffique Shah
July 06, 2014
It was only a matter of time before soldiers decided to intervene directly to protect their own, to exact justice if not revenge, against two-bit criminals who dare to attack, to murder, their comrades.
Civil society can shout till it is hoarse about the illegality of the troops imposing a measure of martial law in what have become war zones, they cannot stop the backlash. A few weeks ago I warned the populace, especially the bad boys and their family and community support bases, of this happening.
Continue reading Army backlash was predictable
By Raffique Shah
June 15, 2014
I am writing this column knowing that it will not be read by the target audience—young, black and ‘er…unschooled men.
Few if any in this group read anything, least of all newspapers. If they pick up an Express, it would be to watch a photograph of some dead “bredren”, felled by bullets from police or criminal, same difference, and to wonder if they, upon meeting a similar fate, would make a pretty corpse.
Continue reading Architects of our own demise
By Newsday Reporter
June 12, 2014 – newsday.co.tt
THERE IS to be swift action to recover the $34 million paid to a contractor in the Life Sport programme for work that was never delivered.
The money, paid to carry out Math, English and Modern Technology studies with a focus on numeracy and literacy, was issued in two tranches of $17 million each last year but there is yet to be a stick of chalk or blackboard as proof of this.
Continue reading TAKE BACK $34M
By Cecily Asson
May 17, 2011 – newsday.co.tt
POLITICAL leader of the National Joint Action Committee (NJAC), Ambassador Makandal Daaga, has expressed concern over the level of corruption that continues to play out itself in the country.
Speaking on Saturday at the founding congress of the Movement of Social Justice (MSJ) at Palms Club San Fernando, Dagga called on the government to “open our jail doors, and just pack them in.”
Continue reading NJAC leader concerned over extent of corruption in TT
By Geisha Kowlessar
June 04, 2014 – guardian.co.tt
The media in T&T could be a voice for change but instead they make pornography out of crime, says British High Commissioner Arthur Snell. Snell, a member of the Rotary Club, was delivering the feature address at the club’s luncheon at Goodwill Industries, Fitz Blackman Drive, Port-of-Spain, yesterday. Focusing on the topic, Taking Responsibility, Snell also zeroed in on the issue of childhood.
Continue reading British High Commissioner: Media making pornography out of crime