Shots fired, debris thrown on highway after 2 arrested
By Ryan Hamilton-Davis
November 24, 2017 – newsday.co.tt
After the arrest of two of their own, Beetham residents vented their anger by throwing debris onto the highway and then firing shots when police arrived to clear the rubble and restore order.
What followed was hours of gridlock on the east-bound and west-bound sections of the highway, the Priority Bus Route and the Eastern Main Road.
Head of the Port of Spain Division, Snr Supt Floris Hodge-Griffith told Newsday she and her officers had to duck for cover when they were shot at on arriving at the Beetham. Hodge-Griffith said she was driving in a marked police vehicle on the Beetham Highway at about 10.45 am when she encountered the blockade.
She and another officer got out of the car and began clearing the debris when gunshots rang out. “We had to duck and take cover behind our vehicle while officers called for back-up,” Hodge-Griffith said. Traffic came to a halt on the east-bound lane of the highway as some drivers, fearing being assaulted and robbed, turned their vehicles and proceeded west on the highway back into the city.
Full Article : newsday.co.tt
Also:
Rowley orders fight-back: ‘Zero tolerance for lawlessness’
…’we are not going down this road any further’
PM to criminals: Your day will come
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, in address to the nation, warned the criminal element and those seeking to support the criminal element by preventing the police in the execution of their lawful duty, that, “your day will come.”
PM draws line in sand on Beetham anarchy
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley in condemning the lawlessness that took place in two Port-of-Spain communities on Thursday, and is warning criminals his Government will not tolerate anarchy.
Cops to hunt down Beetham badmen
…review of security camera footage
Robinson-Regis: We cannot condone this lawlessness
Criminals getting access to state $$
Criminal elements have been intercepting State resources directed to needy communities, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said at a press conference yesterday.
Warner on Beetham crisis: black boys holding country to ransom
Former Minister of National Security Jack Warner criticised government for its failure to contain Thursday’s Beetham protest, adding that it was unfair a handful of young men were holding T&T hostage.
No justification for terror tactics
THERE is no denying that the Beetham Gardens community has suffered abject neglect over the years, but that could never be justification for what transpired on Thursday morning when residents threw debris onto the Beetham Highway and Priority Bus Route and terrorised commuters on both roadways.
Empty talk by the Prime Minister.
He should be asking the Commissioner of Police how many arrests were made arising out of that incident yesterday and if none was made, why.
Shots were fired at the police. Why was there no return fire? Why were there not casualties, if not fatalities among the Beetham hooligans?
We cannot have hooligans and criminals holding the country to ransom. And I and quite sure that if people like me were to take to the streets in peaceful protest to condemn both police and government for their failure to enforce the law and protect citizens, we would be the ones arrested.
It’s time we adopt a confrontational stance against the likes of these Laventille/Morvant/Beetham/Sealots residents, all of them. When they come to pull us out of our cars to rob us. Run their asses over with our cars, knock them down, drive into their crowds at full speed, spatter their useless polluted blood on the roadway.
Maybe then, the Government and the Police would remove the Balisiers that they have been wining on from their backsides and get serious with criminals.
How is it sensible to respond to these people who have been, marginalized, stigmatized and oppressed with more violence?
It is not just the state but the wider society contributes to the marginalization of the people on the Beetham. These are people forced to live in communities without access to proper healthcare, recreational facilities, educational facilities etc. People robbed of job opportunities because of discrimination and a perception of them held by the public and employers that they are all criminals.
The reaction of Beetham residents should be taken in context, the context of a people being forced to live under very challenging conditions, the air they breathe is polluted, and their community is a hot bed of criminal activities and hostile policing. These people face trauma every day of their lives whether inflicted by criminals or the police. How do you expect people under such conditions to react?
The unfortunate situation that occurred on Thursday is the result of a failed state. The state has failed Beetham residents. And this is where criminal elements step in and fill this gap, providing for residents where the state has failed. Any ‘help’ given to these residents by the state was given to secure votes and to keep them from protesting. The arrest of these persons threaten the livelihood of many and they refuse to allow that to be cut off.
I am in no way saying that the actions taken by these residents are right or good. We should not expect persons in such situations to react in ways we deem acceptable as we do not live and face the conditions they do on a daily basis. Some of us may never face such circumstances and therefore should not be so quick to judge or make such degrading and dehumanizing comments or suggest militarization and more violent responses.
Poverty is no excuse for criminal behaviour. That is a cop-out and a flawed hypothesis. There are simply too many decent, hard working, totally honest and law abiding POOR people out there for that theory to hold water.
And conversely, the fact that there are so many rich people out there who are themselves lawbreakers and criminals, albeit of a different type, repudiates that poverty/crime nexus.
There is no shortage of educational and vocational opportunities in this country for young people to take advantage of so as to escape the poverty net.
What more can any Society do to empower its citizens?
In Trinidad, the State actually pays young people who are not academically inclined a more than adequate stipend to attend vocational and other self improvement courses.
Some take advantage of the opportunities others do not.
Yet those who do not and who as a result remain unqualified and unemployable are the ones demanding “wuk” and who are prepared to rob and kill if “dey kyant get wuk”. And dey ent qualified to do sh*t.
And when people like me and you still give them “wuk”, they looking to bring in their criminal friends to rob, kidnap and murder us and our families even as we are extending the hand of brotherly assistance to them.
But when we take the position that enough is enough, that we will no longer take the risk of assisting and employing them, they looking to create chaos and mayhem in the streets, citing alienation/marginalization/victimization and the most popular of all cop-outs, racism.
Woman, gimme ah break!
Nowhere did I claim poverty is an excuse for crime. Anyway, these educational and vocational opportunities you speak of as a means of escaping poverty have been a failure. Most young people that graduate from these programs remain unemployed or underemployed and stuck in unfulfilling jobs that do not match the skills they were taught. Furthermore, how can you sell this story to young people today when they see many unemployed graduates and big-time criminals being praised and glorified as successful business people or even the man who runs the drug block appearing materially successful?
There are many qualified persons unemployed. And alienation, marginalization, victimization, and racism are very real challenges these youths face, particularly young African males. Don’t take my word for it do some research, read Selwyn Ryan or Ramesh Deoseran, they speak to these realities that the young African male face in Trinidad and Tobago.
Start here:
Selwyn Ryan- No Time to Quit: Engaging Youth at Risk
Executive Report of the Committee on Young Males and
Crime in Trinidad and Tobago
http://www.ttparliament.org/documents/2197.pdf
“these educational and vocational opportunities you speak of as a means of escaping poverty have been a failure”
Failure you say? What about those who have achieved success? Why are you dismissing those programmes as having failed when many have benefited?
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“Most young people that graduate from these programs remain unemployed or underemployed and stuck in unfulfilling jobs that do not match the skills they were taught”.
Again that mindset. Is it any wonder that we experience what we do from the Beetham element? Many of us are stuck in unfulfilling jobs but I think an unfulfilling job is better than no job at all. But how many of us in unfulfilling jobs go out there to tief, rob and kill because we ‘ent like we wuk”?
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“There are many qualified persons unemployed. And alienation, marginalization, victimization, and racism are very real challenges these youths face, particularly young African males”
Ah Ha! Why particularly young African males?
Monitor asked, “Why particularly young African males?”
The fact that you asked this question makes it appear you are not really interested in any answers because I posted a source for this information.
However, for the benefit of those who may be interested, I will comment a little further.
“Failure you say? What about those who have achieved success? Why are you dismissing those programmes as having failed when many have benefited?”
Yes a failure, if these opportunities were a means of escaping poverty, after all these years we would have had a significant reduction in poverty.
People who participate in these programs and appear successful are not successful solely because of participating in such. Many times it is because of who they know etc. the others are few and far between.
Everyone writing long long posting… I go say in in music… Reggae Music…
It’s crunch time…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNZcf8WtBiY
http://newsday.co.tt/2017/11/24/warner-on-beetham-crisis-black-boys-holding-country-to-ransom/
“Former Minister of National Security Jack Warner criticised government for its failure to contain Thursday’s Beetham protest, adding that it was unfair a handful of young men were holding T&T hostage.
Newsday spoke yesterday to Warner, who said that the Beetham has been a hotbed of criminal activity since his term as National Security Minister in 2012, and police are understaffed and poorly equipped to treat with incidents of violence. He added that
“Imagine that a group of young black boys are holding Port of Spain and this nation to ransom. A black nation, with a black Prime Minister, a black National Security Minister, a black Police Commissioner and a black Chief Justice. They are making our leaders look impotent, and it is about time something is done.”
Well said, Mr. Warner.
The State has the Might and the Right to impose a violent solution to the crime problem. Why is it taking so long?
More Violence is not the solution. Social sciences as Cooper suggested is important. The violence and criminal activities on the Beetham is a reaction to certain circumstances. What are the circumstances these residents are reacting too? How can these circumstances be changed for these citizens lives to be improved? Doesn’t more violence make their circumstances worse, which can then lead to more feelings of hostility towards a system that has marginalized them?
The use of social sciences and the humanities can help to answer some of these questions which has the possibility of bringing meaningful change in our society and to help address historical injustices that has produced inequalities in our society.
As I wrote elsewhere in this blog, there is hardly anything to be said about crime and criminals that has not already been said. From headlines that glorify criminal conduct, to editorials that condemn the very crimes glorified by the headlines, to myriad opinions about the causes of crime and the solutions, we’ve read, seen and heard it all.
There is no emotion to vent that has not been already been vented, no plea to make that has not already been made, no stern warning or threat from the authorities that has not already been issued and no anti-crime plan that has not been tried, tested and proven a waste of time and resources.
The criminal element has absolutely no compunction about simply taking what it wants from Society and killing in the process of doing so.
We have had more than twenty years of talk about the causes of crime and suggested solutions from among the Nation’s top sociologists, psychologists, criminologists and virtually every religious denomination. Nothing has worked.
How much longer will we keep talking and pussyfooting on the issue?
Its time we stop trying to understand crime and start dealing with the criminals, ruthlessly and decisively.
The State has both the Right and the Might to impose a violent solution to the problem of crime.
It’s time to speak to criminals in the only language they understand, respect and fear: the language of violence, State imposed, uncompromising, punitive and of unprecedented magnitude.
When the full force of the State’s iron fist in all its retributive fury comes crashing down on their miserable, lowly backsides, human nature being what it is, all dem ‘bad boys’ from Morvant, East Port-of-Spain, Sea Lots, John John, Laventille, Beetham Gardens, Cayacoo, Beverley Hills, Canada, The Congo, Jones Town, Bangladesh, Boot Hill, Gun Hill, Enterprise and Africa, all dem Rasta City Gangstas, all dem Unruly ISIS idiots, criminals in general, would be shocked into a state of awe, followed by panic and compliance, if not total submission, to both the letter and spirit of the Law.
Big Gangstas would literally sh*t themselves
Criminals who survive that initial assault would readily welcome the State’s secondary approach, the holistic ‘velvet glove’ approach, forever mindful and fearful however of the smouldering iron fist still couched within.
Lest we want the national wailing and gnashing of teeth to continue over the wanton slaughter of our children, our elderly, our productive citizens at the hands of the criminal element, we need to grab that runway criminal Bull by its criminal horns and put a bullet between its blood-shot criminal eyes.
We may have had many talks about the causes or crime and solutions suggested by sociologist etc. but how many of these have been implemented? What are these tried and tested anti-crime plans put forward by academics you speak of?
There have also been many talks and suggested solutions about diversifying our economy and becoming more self-reliant put forward by economist and sociologist in the region; the likes of George Beckford, Norman Girvan, and Lloyd Best. Again, how many of these solutions have been implemented? None. Governments past and present consult with experts to say they did so and then do as they please anyway.
It still happens today. Caribbean intellectuals are very aware that governments here do not desire real change, they want suggestions that will get them short-term popularity and most importantly re-elected.
These make-work programs you speak of that pay young people stipends exist to mask our true unemployment rates so the CSO and ILO can quote low figures. Many of these programs do not make these youths employable.
More violence is not the answer, look at Mexico where the police have been militarized and launched a war on criminal elements but yet still after a decade of this approach it failed to improve the situation.
“The State has the Might and the Right to impose a violent solution to the crime problem. Why is it taking so long?”…TnT Monitor
I was going to put a label to this statement but I will allow those who saw it to have their say. It is true and sad that we have not yet come up with a well thought of plan to fight crime. We are a small country and everybody is connected to everybody and that forms the primary paths to there problems that we have to endure. We were brought up to the saying that “crime does not pay” (and that is the proper way), but in reality and in Trinidad and Tobago today it just might be a fallacy. Criminals are sometimes tied to the most credible offices in this country, so to eliminate it might be taking some bite out of the revenge that many seek using the criminal element.
It is true those who commit these foolish crimes are ignorant but that is exactly the qualifications those who seek their services need. There must be a studied plan, understanding the history and motives behind the criminal culture and how to defeat it. It takes some studying and planning but it can be done but we are too lazy and hurry “to solve crime”. I re-irterate what I have mentioned before, the citizenry must be involved in any crime plan to rid ourselves of these undesirables.
With your Moniker, Monitor, it has dawned on me that you may be either Indentured, Arab or remnants of the European invaders. Why don’t you take within yourself and run them over? why do you use the term we? as a coward, you hide lurking in the shadows behind your Moniker, the waste basket that you are, obsolete is the only connotation to describe you. Crime continue be echoed in T&T, but what is the History and root of Crime in the former Slave and Colonial states? Trinidad, have never faced up into building an equal society, does the Motto, “Every Creed and Race find an equal place” is there any relevancy? Trinidad society, say what you may is made up of 5 different converging groups, Whites, Arab, Chinese, Africans and Indians, with the exception of the Africans, the rest are non-inclusive, a State that up to the present, have refused to exorcise the Demons past, while masquerading behind Every Creed and Race. The 1% Slave descendants, took over the position of the slave Masters, instead of Decolonization, they continued with Devision, Inequality, while masking it with Democracy. The laws enacted, is to keep Slave descendants in their places, Jails were and continue to be built, because of the mass surplus of Africans, Zero tolerance, to this day, have been the Mantra, the force have been handed over from the White Man, to the indoctrinated Africans, who act with pure joy in brutalizing his like kind, the victim, is now the victimizer. Beetham/Sealots may have changed some what with infrastructure, Dr Williams was instrumental in taking out the unsightly Slum of South Port of Spain, the Market was built, but nothing else happened, Trinidad, is not a poor country, but a very divided one, our historical oppressors post colonialism, have been the African, with adequate help coming from the Whites, Arabs,Indians and Chinese. As a Child, i would stay on top of San fernando hill, and look as far as the eye can see, the landscape from Retrench Village, all the way to Palmiste, Philippine and Penal, Penal was very Rural back then, we live to see the transformation of the said Penal under Kamla’ administration, while under numerous African led administrations, Laventille/Beetham/Sealots Movant and many more African enclaves have remain the same. Trinidad is not isolated in this, Jamaica also, where ever the African is domicile from the USA to Brazile and Europe, the cry is the same. Some years back, while working with a Defense Contractor, i was sent to England for two weeks to complete separate jobs, one in Gambria northwest England, the other at the MOD in Bristol, the Sunday, i drove my rental vehicle to the water ways to get a glimpse of Bristol England, the Barbaric history of England i knew, But Bristol held deep dark secretes for me personally, The slaves leaving Africa on British Slave Ships, docked in Bristol before continuing their journey to the so-called new World. After the European war of the 1940′ the HMT Empire Windrush, took the very same Slave descendants, back to the very same port in Bristol, to continue their horroring experience. The conditions of Africans in in England, ain’t different to Trinidad, In England, the Whites can be embarrassed where as in Trinidad, the self hate among Africans, is very well embodied. Scorn is pored on the wretched of Trinidad’ world, a Mahatma, have not been able to put their case in perspective, like in India. Point Lisas was developed into an industrial stronghold, Beetham, on the very same coastline, remains in abject poverty, the benefits of the Social Sciences are not practiced in Trinidad, no one to mirror the Wrongs, with the Africans in Trinidad, managing Division, Inequality, and all that goes with it,SEARCH YOURSELVES. The Beetham residents are not gated, we see them every day, nothing to call their own, nothing belongs to them, no community centers, no trade schools, no playing fields to redirect their mindset, people can only take so much, it will get much worse before turning the curve for the better, until then? Trinidad have no choice but to live with it.
Cooper,
You are living in the past, blaming Slavery that ended more than a hundred and fifty years ago for the underachievement of your people.
I wonder how many of today’s AfroTrinBagonian criminals know or understand anything about slavery to the extent that they can justifiably attribute their criminality and underachievement to that historical injustice.
On second thoughts they don’t even have to make that claim and they don’t.
You know why, Cooper?
Because they have backwardly entrenched, bleeding heart apologists like you to do so for them.
Woe is you, Cooper and Woe to de Cooper Klan, yuh great, great, great, great grand muddah or faddah was ah slave in de year dot so dat give yuh chirren, yuh grandchirren and yuh grand chirren chirren de right in 2020 to tief, rob, rape and kill.
And that is the mentality and level of backward thinking that is supposed to propel this country into developed country status by the year 2030.
Boy I sorry for you and yours because with that mentality orl yuh go still be burning tyres, scattering and burning rubbish, shooting up de place, tiefing, robbing and killing in the year 2100.
Message to JACK WARNER, with your corrupted and fraud derived benefits, was it used to empower people who look like you? look at your enterprises, which group make up the greater part of your employee work force? say what you may, your days are numbered in Trinidad, your final days and hours, will be spent in the prison presently being prepared for you, like the house Slave and Uncle Tom that you are, no sympathy you will get.
Prime Minister Rowley, Zero tolerance, must also be for your political friends and PNM party harks. As the political manager you are, you need to look at your self in the mirror, are you willing to give shot on site orders to your state militia apparatus, against Trinidad’ wretched? do you have soft skin,seeing that you react to everything? why don’t you employ a SOCIAL SCIENTIST who is going to report directly on the ills of the Country?, All the security arms of Trinidad are in the hands of corrupt minded Africans, mis-educated ones at that, Mr Prime Minister, you need to thread very carefully, Trinidad is about to boil over.
I’m vearing for a sec from the Beetham issue to respond to Sando Mayor’ comment pertaining to our Sister African land of Jamaica. Mr Regrello is totally right, in San fernando, we speak Truth and straight to the point, from Afghanistan, Kuwait, Dubai, Franch, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, they all would ask the same question, are you Jamaican? though i’ve never accept the given flags of the caribbean, my response would be, i was brought to the caribbean to create wealth for the White man, i cherish the progressiveness of the Africans domicile on the Island of Jamaica. My sister sent me a video from the door of no return in Senegal, the guide was saying a vast number of Africans did not make the direct voyage from Africa to Jamaica, he said, where ever there was an uprising against Slavery in the western hemisphere, the Africans involved, was shipped to Jamaica. the most of all English speaking . They have taken the Calypso music of West Africa, not Trinidad, twist it from SKA, Rock Steady, Roots Reggae, and Dance hall, Soca music only became viable, when it merged with dance hall. A proud group of Africans, that Africans in Trinidad can learn a lot from. their exploits historically in Track and Field, Music, intellectualism, True Woman power is unsurpassed. Mayor Regrello is right on.
“TO THE TROLLING MONITOR” I really don’t know why i’m responding to your lacking in Knowledge. “HISTORY IS LIVED IN THE PRESENT” are you different from the the people you termed Criminals? i say that you are worst, because of your ignorance, an ignorant man, is also a borderline criminal, you are the reflection of what you seems to be totally against. ARYAN doctrine, have made millions of people in India perpetual slaves, “THE MONKEY NEVER KNOWS THE LENGTH OF ITS TAIL”, i8 million people, or 1.4% of India’ population live in slavery. India has more people living in Slavery, than the entire population of Holland.Monitor, your lack of knowing, leaves you with minimal access, but to TROLL on the comment of others, Great shame. Ancient knowledge/Wisdom told us, that “A DAY IN THE EYES OF GOD, IS EQUIVALENT TO A THOUSAND YEARS IN EYES OF MAN”, the day is quickly coming, when the likes of you will be no more, and NEW DAWN Trinidad will be enlightened, Until then? you will remain the SHABDKOSH that you are.
“THE MONKEY NEVER KNOWS THE LENGTH OF ITS TAIL, i8 million people, or 1.4% of India’ population live in slavery. India has more people living in Slavery, than the entire population of Holland”.
The above statement like so much of what you write is irrelevant. So India has more slaves than the population of Holland, you say. In what context is that relevant to anything that I’ve written here or elsewhere?
What you call “trolling” on my part in this topic is anything but trolling. What I have been doing is simply discrediting the comments that seek to explain, excuse and empathize with Afro Trinbagonian criminality in this country
Jearlean defends residents
Former Housing Development Corporation (HDC) managing director Jearlean John has come out in defence of the Beetham community, saying the residents were not bandits but people looking for hope.
Long-standing conflict between residents, police
While members of the Beetham community have repeatedly blamed neglect and lack of jobs for protests, which have included blocking roads and the highway, a brief look at the community’s history shows that the majority of protests have been due to some type of conflict with police.
‘It’s easier to trust gangsters than the police’
Beetham community has a recorded history of violence and protests. It is a community grappling with poverty and residents often complain of neglect. This week, following protest action, which saw motorists and commuters traumatised, the Sunday Guardian interviewed a young adult on the problems plaguing the community. He did not want to be named for fear of being victimised.
Dillon: Beetham unrest not like 1990
National Security Minister Edmund Dillon said there was no comparison between the failure of intelligence in the recent Beetham protest and the 1990 attempted coup.
This topic is very close and dear to me, let me say one thing, i’ve never had to go through the Judicial system, but i practically grew up at 99A circular road San fernando fighting against the Social mis-givings experienced by the two dominant ethnic groups, Africans more so. Kamla’ statement, on the PM Rowley’ enticing the T&TPS to enter into confrontation with certain community groups, is a throw back to DR Williams giving the “MURDEROUS FLYING SQUAD” access to carry out extra judicial killings of our young men and women. When ever the economy is at a down turn, we see the impact to it, directly and indirectly of Trinidad’ wretched. When election time comes around, the very marginalized are those you court voting, I have always asked myself, Where is Prime Minister Rowley’ sense of history? crime in San fernando, have historically been very, very low, the reason? is being the bread basket of the nation, our Africans in south Port of Spain, can’t say the same, can you imagine South Port Of Spain being part of UNC’ constituency? i don’t have to say of the transformation that would have entailed, particularly a coast line? the ideals spoken out against in my time at OWTU, continues to destroy the Twin Island State, and that is the Perils of winner take all so-called Democratic Elections. Now tell me, in a multi ethnic society like T&T is it right to have all the security arms of the state in the control of one ethnic group? this structure, shows the imbalance of what we have presently. I wonder , how many individuals of Indian descent applied for the post of Commissioner of Police? the statement reads, “LONG STANDING CONFLICT BETWEEN RESIDENTS, POLICE” why does it have to be this way? Jobs,Jobs alleviate all ills in any community, not part time, but self uplifting jobs, Social science, is not part of any Geology class, it must be cultivated, Humanity compels and deserve it, especially in T&T Twin Island, multi ethnic. Jearlean John’ statements of supporting the South Port of Spain community, is only talk, political gimmick, why don’t she embark on a mass mobilization footing, educating the major ethnic groups of the wrongs of both the PNM and the UNC? both are truly, truly bad for the future of T&T.
I think you have raised some very poignant and excellent points, Cooper. What I would add is that the title of the article may be indicative of a broader narrative that many Trinidadians and Tobagonians believe with regard to criminality and the African in our troubled land. I always get the sense that the implicit message in the denunciations of many is that there is something in the spirit of Afro-Trinbagonians that makes them always inclined towards criminal activity.
If this narrative is to be believed, then what of Tobago? Tobago is a predominantly African island, and I can attest to the fact that crime was ridiculously low when I used to frequent the island as a teenager in the nineties. My father worked over there and on occasion, I would accompany him and stay at his apartment.
On many occasions, he was so comfortable there, he neglected to lock his apartment when we went out. When we would come back, nothing would be disturbed and everything was intact.
Even today, although there has indeed been an increase in crime activity in the sister isle, it still does not seem to be the per capita levels experienced in Trinidad, where things have been deteriorating for a while now.
We should not underestimate the political nature of the crime phenomenon. The media as the avenue of messaging, has done a very poor job in informing us on the nature of crime. It is for this reason, I do not fault the thinking of people like TnT Monitor towards the black communities they label as hotbed of crime. We have come to believe that, if the crime was not committed in Beetham, Laventille, Morvant or any such designated places then scoundrels do not live there.
In our history, we have had massive crime stories about crime and criminal activities, but many, if not most of them took on celebrity like status, making them more about the personalities than as bad behavior. We have experienced the Boysie Singh era, the Poolool Brothers era, latterly there was the Dr.Naraynsingh murder of his wife (also doctor) and the seemingly involvement of criminals to commit the crime, Vindra Naipaul’s murder and the seemingly involvement of the criminal element, Attorney Dana Seetahal’s murder in more recent times, have been the subject of a crime done why hired hands.
In these type of murders, although not conclusively proven, were the subject of criminal empires helping with the committal of the crime of murder. In view of all this, we are nurtured to believe that real crimes are only committed in the designated places I mentioned before.
Why do we sensationalise murder committed by well-to-do people an only denounce it when committed by people from poor neighborhoods?
How sick can we be as a society? How much do we need to be fooled by the media? Is crime a sin that’s only committed by people of African descent? Is crime something that outside of the African community we should not worry about? Any right thinking person would answer these questions in the negative, but our minds are trained to believe it to be so. Why? It is because we have allowed politicians who do not have the interest of the country at heart to decide for us what constitutes a crime. I have not even struck the most dangerous and constitutionally destructive area of “white color crime”. That kind of crime robs us of billions of tax payers money going into the hands of politicians and their friends. When they (the politicians) are so accused, they either tell us its a lie, or they accuse the other side of doing the same thing. Meanwhile, our Treasury remains empty and much needed money is needed to run the government.
Let us be open minded and be thorough about crime and criminal activities. Let crime be the constitutionally defined word it was meant to be, not the cultured meaning that it was changed to mean. Let the citizenry take back the fight towards crime in all its variables and see it for what it is. When we do, I am sure we will evidently be serious about the scourge it is.
“There is none so blind as he who will not see”.
What should we say about he who sees but pretends not to see and who deliberately conflates issues, who introduces extraneous arguments designed to prevent the ventilation of a particular point of view by bogging down a discussion with irrelevance upon irrelevance.
That is the concerted effort of many participants here, ably supported by like minded Blog moderators.
Kian writes about the Boysie Singh and the Poolool Brothers era but refuses to acknowledge that those constituted and represented aberrant behaviours by aberrant individuals.
Kian writes just as irrelevantly about the murders of Chandra Narayningh, Vindra Naipaul-Coolman and Dana Seetahal by hired hands, but again he refuses to acknowledge that those were crimes that targeted specific individuals for whatever specific reason.
That type of crime is different to the type of random, senseless, unnecessarily violent and widespread Afro Trinbagonian criminality that has Society under siege.
No one has tried to downplay the evil of white collar crime, certainly not I, and no one has suggested that white collar crime should not be pursued vigourously and eradicated. But the fact of the matter is that white collar crime does not fill the citizenry with terror because its is not white collar criminals who are slaughtering us, our children and our elderly, not only with impunity, but soon with immunity as well, given the Afro Trinbagonian rebellion and violence that takes place whenever Law Enforcement attempts to arrest an Afro Trinbagonian criminal.
Funny how we don’t see Caroni and Lagoon People (as Cooper likes to call Indo Trinbagonians) coming out in defense of “Indian” criminals blocking roads, burning tyres, shooting at police, threatening to kill people randomly if an “Indian” criminal is arrested.
“But the fact of the matter is that white collar crime does not fill the citizenry with terror because its is not white collar criminals who are slaughtering us, our children and our elderly, not only with impunity, but soon with immunity as well, given the Afro Trinbagonian rebellion and violence that takes place whenever Law Enforcement attempts to arrest an Afro Trinbagonian criminal.”……..TnT Monitor
Anyone familiar with my writings will know and understand that this is EXACTLY the type of thinking that is profiling crime and making a political case against black people. Let us for one moment direct the thinking of Monitor: ” white collar crime does not fill the citizenry with terror”… REALLY?
A simple question to ask him is How come we have so many guns and ammunitions in the street in the first place?. Who provides the machinery for those blacks that you fear so much to hurt you? Who are the ones profiting by illegal importation of illicit drugs, that these people you fear so much will sell to your children? Who are the ones that use the legal and political structure illicitly to secure the funding and transportation of these illicit activities?
It would appear that TnT Monitor has a different kind of morality based strictly on perceived racial and ethnic bias. In my upbringing, I was taught that the “upholder is worse than the thief”, in Monitor’s thinking it does not matter how the thief was empowered, the act of thieving is what is important. That is his morality and we should not argue with him because he “chooses” to see things differently. Empowerment does not is one act sustain reality.
People with that kind of mentality, talk for the sake of talking and no amount of rationale will satisfy their thwarted mindset because their reality is ONLY what they believe. It is for this reason, I will end my discussion as it pertains to points raised by Monitor. I think his point of view has generated needed discussions but we are now becoming monotonous by saying the same things over and over again. The one good thing he has done is to bring forward people like Leanna, now Danielle and has re-invogorated JustRight. He has allowed us to know a little more of Cooper who was magnificent in his contributions and I hope we can continue with intelligent comments coming from those mentioned.
Cooper, you struck many notes with your summation of the crime problem in the Beetham area. You addressed the question of crime, the politicization of crime, the social ingredients that contribute towards crime, the comparison of the southern black communities as opposed to the northern communities and most importantly the economic makeup of these communities. These are very serious issues that psychologists are best suited to explain and recommend solutions. What politicians do is either point out the problems or they sympathize in order to curry favor as Jerlean John appears to be doing. Politicians almost always look for the quick fix to quell uprisings. They wish to assure the communities that they are on top of it. But the question is, What are they doing about it? What they do is cater to their own political instincts first, by making the afflicted communities feel that they understand their problems, or, if they are politically ambitious, they criticize the crime communities, to show that they can do better on crime. To solidify my argument, let us take into consideration the late Dr. Eric Williams, who ran exclusively for the Port Of Spain south constituency seat, throughout his political career – WHY?
While he, as an intellectual and elitist did not share the same social backgrounds, the empathy he showed to this impoverished community made him a welcomed ‘brother’. While he benefitted from the trust the community placed in him, he did nothing to elevate the structures of the community to make it a better place to live in.
Another case of this kind is the affinity of UNC operatives to appear friendly to crime infested communities. Sadiq Baksh did not share in the social and cultural narratives those communities espoused, but he made us valiant efforts (bad ones) to appeal to them. He tried to muster earnest efforts to make them feel affiliated with the UNC and they should not rely on the PNM. But that effort, while not officially UNC, was low-keyed to gain political foothold for the UNC. That is what Roodal Moonilal is accused of doing and Jerlean John is now trying to validate as Opposition (UNC) concerns for the people of those communities. Truth be told they DO NOT SHARE the concerns of these people or care whether they are uplifted or not.
The emphasis on placing the solutions to crime on the shoulders of the politicians is not one that would bear fruit. Crime has become a complicated and dangerous social problem. The more it is politicized, the more difficult it is to solve. With complications like law enforcement personnel becoming intertwined with the problem, makes an already difficult problem more confused. Legitimate businesses do not prosper in these communities, nor does well paying jobs for the children. We are at a point where we need professionals to identify, diagnose and find suitable solutions to these pressing problems.
We can and do argue vehemently about the politics of crime but that is all we do. Each time we do it, we all come up with the same solution – get the Police to fix it. Never mind the inability of the police solve crime, we continue to insist that they alone can do it. Why can’t we be more socially adventurous to bring in people who really know about crime, have them study our local situation, then come up with untried methods to resolve the issue? We cannot ALWAYS view crime from the vintage point of our political preferences. If we are really serious, then we should use professional means to address and solve the issues.
“We are at a point where we need professionals to identify, diagnose and find suitable solutions to these pressing problems”.
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You people are wrongly assuming that these criminals want better, that they would be receptive to social engineering.
Shame in Beetham Gardens
SOME BEETHAM Gardens residents said they were ashamed that motorists along the Beetham Highway were attacked last Thursday. They said some young people in the area resented the treatment meted out to them every day by the police. “That was a pocketful of people that did that but are we going and stop them? and end up in hospital? but not everybody in here think the same in here,” said Robelto Smith.
Cooper, Leanna and Kian dealt with the historical, sociological and economic components that created and sustains the conditions of the Beetham and similar neighbourhoods. The last comment also clearly demonstrates an absolute absence of political will to effectively reduce crime which is due in no small part but not limited to:-
1. the focus being exclusively on Beetham and similar neighbourhoods all the while ignoring other criminal but affluent neighbourhoods.
2. the fact that there are persons within the political and economic power structure of the country that benefit and sustain themselves from criminal activity e.g. the security industry from security guards services, transportation for prisoners, cameras etc.
Beetham is the low hanging fruit that is poked and prodded by any administration when there is a need to appear as if one is tackling crime. But none have ever, or have a desire to address the causes because Beetham serves the need for the ‘us'(law abiding citizens) versus ‘them’ (those that can bare the burden of our hypocrisy) narrative. It is the easy target of the middle class which allows them to feel superior and it relieves other members of our society of the personal responsibility for our country’s well-being. We are complicit in providing cover for the criminals that live in nicer neighbourhoods by our willingness to overlook and reward corrupt behaviour once it is done by another race or class.
If we were genuinely serious about crime it would first manifest in our willingness not to entertain or encourage it in any form, in our space, no matter how it can materially benefit us or our loved ones. Are we willing to get tough on ourselves?
Monitor,”Funny how we don’t see Caroni and Lagoon people (as Cooper likes to call Indo Trinbagonians) I refute your statement Monitor, at no time did i make such, i was referring to you directly, your callous mindset have separate you as an individual from all clear thinking people. My respect for Indo Trinidad, have been cultivated in me as a very young child, you see Monitor, the Lady who played a part in bringing me up, was Indian born, her name was BANHADIN, born in Calcutta India, came to Trinidad as an Indentured Adolescent, Her Husband died, leaving her a house at the corner of Donaldson street in Gooding village,62 Gooding village for that matter, the house had 4 big apartments, and she lived in a some what basement, a devout Hindu, as the only male child in the entire house, i did all her errands, while helping to keep clean the environment. As a child , i grew up right in the middle of her Hindu Rituals, in my bloggs, i’ve stayed away from the topic of race, particularly between the two great historical groups that have so much in common, if only the true history is taught. The Indian friends i cultivated in school, are some of my best, maybe, had you grow up in my environment Monitor, you discourse , i believe, would be of a different context. I became a young man on upper hillside, Ambard and Marriat street in San fernando, truly Afro/Indo, you feel where i’m coming from? I believe that i’m well rounded to speak truth, from the heart, without prejudice, a clear mind i’ve grown with, i will not be baited by you, MIC-GUIDED MONITOR.
You came close to home Cooper, I grew up in Donaldson St. (1949-2000) The Prudent brothers who played national soccer were opposite to me. Dennis (Spragalang) and Anthony Hall were lower down Donaldson St (#20). In fact we all grew up together. Good memories as well with the Seenaths, Achong, Francis (wine maker), Huggins, Ramkerrysingh and on and on. Yep! you are correct. In fact there was Pundit shop and next door was Sankarlal (Gooding Village). You know when I lost my mother in 1991 (Christmas time) I saw honour and resect accorded to us literally from that whole street as parang and merrymaking was the order of the day but on that date and year not a sound of music nor partying. My mother was a stalwart in the social services at Christ the King church (Blache Fraser St.)
You would observe in my writings, like yourself I completely refrain in stereotyping and denigrating any race because I grew up in a well integrated environment and to this date I firmly believe in that spirit of brotherhood which is a reflection of my upbringing and a valued asset. When I see the fragmentation of our society based on undesirable criteria I speak up to those individuals but never would I channel anybody into a category based on visual characteristics. Unbiased education at the primary level moving up in holistic values and contributions of all local people is the solution in valued human relations.
By the way I know Upper and Lower Hillside very well and trafficking across Coffee and Carib streets heading up to San Fernando Hill picking Rose mangoes close to that transmitting station was one of my youthful taunts.
Well since allyuh older heads (LOL) talking about my hometown… Cooper raised an issue with the Mayor and Jamaica (I cyah find any news on that Mr. Cooper… Can you post any relevant information… Thank you).
Anyway, maybe the Mayor can honor one of our great sons of Sando, Lyn Taitt (was he related to that Taitt store on Coffee Street?). His story is meshed with how oppressive Trinidad was and still is, even in music, they literally stunted the growth of the recording industry here… Mr. Taitt had to go to Jamaica to unleash his creativity in those Jamaican recording studios… He was dubbed ‘The Most influential figure in the development of Reggae Music’.
The Mayor should reserve a day for this great man…
Here we go… Heard it walking down Coffee Street many times… But never knew he walked dem streets too…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30oOXtoBrCg
I veared from the Beetham issue, and may have created a nostalgic storm, from what Loyal Trini espoused, we may have cross paths many times as teens, all what was mentioned is reality growing up in San fernando, Lol, Sprang could say whey he want, his family was very strict, he didn’t have the amount of freedom we had. RamK,when ever the discussion on Reggae music came into play, Lyn Taites name was always in the forefront, some years back i was watching a BBC documentary on Reggae music, and Lyn Tait was highlighted, yes, he did play a tremendous part in the formation of this great genre, as a matter of fact, Jimmy Cliff, said quite clearly, that Reggae came out of Calypso, to me personally? reggae is the TRUE SOUL of CALYPSO. I believe Lyn Tait was the elder son of Mr Taits’ furniture store, he left Trinidad, around the same time Lord Laro, the singing regiment Calypsonian, its a pity that they never came back. Yes RamK, Coffee Street was ladened with Blach businesses then,with Cooper’ drug store being one of them, and his brother a Dental Technician, located directly behind Revoli cinema. The mayor is from this mindset, his Pan Round Neck Band, made San Fernando proud, true winners, San Fernando needs some one like him as we speak, to rekindle the FIRE.