The two Special Reserve Police (SRP) accused of allegedly assaulting a disabled man on a wheelchair  in San Fernando on Saturday have been taken off active duty. The announcement was made yesterday by acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams and comes days after a video of the incident sparked massive public outcry after it was posted on several social media Web sites on Monday. 

Addressing yesterday’s weekly police press briefing at the Police Administration Building, Port-of-Spain, Williams described the incident as a “blatant abuse of power.” He said: “As the head of the TTPS I feel compelled to strongly condemn such reprehensible behaviour by the SRPs.” 

As part of his “swift and decisive” response to the controversial video, Williams said he decided to exercise his power to temporarily cease their activity as SRPs, to withdraw their firearm precepts and seize their uniforms and other police issued items. “That is short of revoking their appointment as for me to do that I must comply with the rules of natural justice and the disciplinary procedure in the police service regulations,” Williams said. 

He further explained that the SRP’s would receive no pay during the period of the investigation as they work under an employment scheme whether they are paid based on when they are called upon by the TTPS to work. “If they were members of the TTPS the regulations would provide that the Police Service Commission can only get as far as to cutting their pay by up to a half,” Williams said.

Williams also thanked the unidentified person who recorded the video and posted it as he said the incident may have left unchecked if this was not done. “Police officers are not above the law and they must comply with it. That is why we encourage members of the public to record events which are inconsistent with police functions and bring it to our attention,” Williams said. 

Williams admitted that the incident, coupled with that of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Peter Reyes, had the potential to damage to public trust and confidence the Police Service was attempting to improve over the past year.  When asked to explain the difference in his decision pertaining to ACP Reyes, who was this week transferred from heading the Tobago Division following a incident aboard a domestic flight two weeks ago, Williams identified the video recording of the SRPs as the main factor.

“The clip is obvious and that is why I could speak strongly about it...I can actually see the event so I can take deliberate action,” Williams said as he claimed there were several inconsistencies between media reports on Reyes’ incident and statements given by eyewitnesses. “That is why in the first instance you have to do an investigation to get the facts of the matter to make a determination whether a criminal offence or any other offences would have been committed,” Williams said. 

While he said in both cases he chose to take action that would ensure fairness to the parties involved, Williams expressed the view the Police Service’s disciplinary regulations were outdated and time consuming. 

“It is a pretty slow process because of the bureaucracy built in to the regulations. What i would like to see is a review of the procedures so we can shorten process for speedier tribunals so, we can at the end of the day reach the point where persons can receive the highest level of discipline,” Williams said.

Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Orville London says Tobagonians will support the reassignment of Assistant Commissioner of Police Peter Reyes back to Trinidad. Assistant Commissioner of Community Relations Earl Gonzales is now head of the Tobago Division. The decision to reassign Reyes was made during the commissioner executive meeting on Tuesday at Police Administration Building,  St Vincent Street in Port-of-Spain.

Reyes was recently placed to head the Tobago branch because assistant commissioner Brian Headley went on pre-retirement leave on December 18 this year. In a telephone interview yesterday, London said: “I am comforted by the fact that the commissioner (Stephen Williams) is sensitive to the issues which confronted the people of Tobago and will have the support of the people. The decision to reassign (Reyes) has my support.” 

London said he was informed that Gonzales will be there a short period of time and replaced by another person who will be there long term. “There will be individuals who will integrate with the Tobago public and treat with challenges with respect to security,” he said. 

London said there are outstanding matters concerning unsolved crimes especially the murder of Germans couple Hubertus Keil and his wife Brigid.“We have to strengthen the perception of safety on the island. As long as the person in charge is aware of these issues, and the need for them to maintain the trust of the people,” he said. London said after the incident with Reyes, Tobagonians were concerned.

“There was a consensus among Tobagonians and I had discussions with the commissioner that he made the right call. There was a consensus that he (Reyes) wasn’t the right person,” he said. In light of Reyes’s reassignment, president of the Police Service Social and Welfare Association, Insp Anand Ramesar, said the executive needed to review the suspension of other officers.

“Whilst the transfer is an option, the association feels that there is some level of consistency in treating with this particular case represents a level of inconsistency. In relation to officers to officers who are subjected to investigations where they behaviour is under question and considered within the range of gross misconduct offences,” he said. Ramesar said there are too many police officers who are on suspension for matters of a less serious nature.

“It is necessary for the commissioner to review serious decisions where officers are on suspension in light of this decision. The association remains resolute in its calls for transparency, accountability and consistency.”

Standing among the ruins of the home his parents left him years ago, Rampersad Babute found a reason yesterday to smile for the first time since he was told his house was destroyed by fire on Tuesday evening. Babute and his brother Dhanraj, his (Dhanraj’s) wife, Suzette and their three sons’ Stephon, 14, Sean, 11 and Shane, six, were paid a visit yesterday by Works Minister Surujrattan Rambachan and Unemployment Relief Programme manager Kenrick Castellano.

Rambachan promised the family a new home for 2015 after their house at Cedar Hill, Claxton Bay was destroyed by fire. “We are going to construct a three-bedroom starter house, at least so they could have a roof over their heads,” said Rambachan who spoke to the media during the visit. “With three bedrooms because the family has three little boys.”

The family lost all their possessions in the blaze and are blaming the incident on T&TEC workers who were conducting works in the area at the time. Rambachan said the construction would begin as soon as the final fire reports are completed. 

“All I am awaiting now is the final fire report and the report from T&TEC because they have to do their own independent investigation,” said Rambachan. “Because the family is claiming there was some work being done by T&TEC directly in the area. Once I have those reports in my hand we are going to move forward and help them start to rebuild.”

The minister said arrangements were already being put in place to bring material on site to begin construction. “In fact, I have already spoken to Mr Castanello about bringing the blocks and dropping them off next week and I have already spoken to contractor Mr Lutchmeesingh, who has agreed to clear the rubble from the site.” Rampersad, with tears in his eyes was elated with the news.

“I can’t tell you how happy we all feel today to hear this news,” he said. “It feels like we can finally breathe since this happened.” Rambachan also told the family to visit him with book lists for the children at his constituency office and he would provide them with all the books and uniforms they needed. 

The Homicide Bureau has received a boost of 100 detectives to assist in outstanding investigations. Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams made the disclosure yesterday so as he sought to give a brief review of the Police Service’s annual performance during the weekly police press briefing at the Police Administration Building in Port-of-Spain.

As he noted that the murder toll for the year was due to be five short of 2013 figure of 407, Williams admitted that the Police Service was working on improving its detection rate for homicides, which has been at an average of 15 per cent over the past five years.

“The first thing we did is boost the investigative capacity of the homicide bureau. We are now exposing the members to extensive training to skill them up,” Williams said as he revealed that 119 detectives had been assigned to the unit between August to December for a trial project.

He also said the police will be starting to digitally record interviews with suspects as allegations of coercion and misconduct have been levelled against the police in several High Court trials. Williams also said the Police Service would be testing a experiment with body cameras for officers early this year. 

“In any country where the detection rate for homicides is high there is a strong contribution of eyewitnesses. we know for a fact that this will come with time because confidence and trust must first be built,” Williams said. Asked about the investigation into the murder of Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal, who was shot dead in Woodbrook in May, Williams assured that there will be  closure in the case early this year. 

“Lead investigator DCP Glenn Hackett is dealing with this. The investigation has been proceeding and advancing,” Williams said. While he hailed 2014 as having the lowest number of serious crimes in over 30 years, he said he closely monitoring an increase in reports of sexual offences over the past 12 months.

However, he was unwilling to say conclusively whether the increase meant that there more sexual offences during the period or if it was due to more victims coming foward to report attacks than traditionally expected. “What we have seen is an increase in reporting. I don’t want to give that as a clear reason but there is a corelation between this and the increase,” Williams said. 

Williams also praised preliminary statistics which showed an over 25 per cent increase in illegal firearm seizures and a 34 per cent drop in stolen vehicles.

Despite the large public attention and sympathy paraplegic Robby Ramcharitar has been receiving after Saturday’s alleged police beating, he said he remains broke and homeless. 

On the last day of the year, he wheeled his chair around the San Fernando General Hospital’s car park, meeting people and shaking their hands like he was a celebrity. After living on the streets for the past five years, he hopes 2015 will bring happy changes to his life: A house, a caretaker and disability grants. He said he cannot stay at Court Shamrock’s Centre for Socially Displaced Persons because it is not suitable for disabled people.

He said he also wants the Government or the Police Service to compensate him for the alleged beating that was given to him by two Special Reserve Police officers attached to the Rapid Response Unit at the Mon Repos Police Station. Both officers are expected to be interviewed by the Professional Standards Bureau on tomorrow. 

“I need a house and somebody with a vehicle to take care of me, and that person will inherit everything I have. No brother, uncle or aunt will get what I have. The person who takes care of me will get everything,” Ramcharitar said. He said he could not apply for disability grants because his identification card and birth paper were lost, but a social worker at the hospital was helping him to get his life in order. However, he said the social worker was on vacation until February.

“I am not living, I am surviving. I don’t get disability grants from the government and I don’t have a house to stay in. I’ve been homeless for the past five years and living at the hospital for the past six months. I have to move around with a urine bag because I cannot get up and I have to do everything myself.” He said there is corrective surgery for his spinal disease, but he opted against it after doctors told him that their was a 50 per cent chance that it could leave him totally paralysed.

Relaxing with hospital staff, he said he was waiting on an attorney to begin discussing legal action against the police officers. He said the attorney contacted the head nurse at his ward yesterday to arrange a meeting. He said: “Right now my brain is not functioning too right. I don’t like this big scene. He (police man) did not have to hit me, they could have just tell me to go away. I don’t like the big scene it caused.”

Ministry to help
Manager of the People’s Unit in the Ministry of the People and Social Development, Asauph Ghany said he will try to meet with Ramcharitar next week to assess his circumstances. Ghany said he was surprised that someone in a wheel chair was not receiving any of the ministry’s grant, especially Ramcharitar who would qualify for monthly disability checks.

Ghany said, “If he is not receiving any of the ministry grants, I would be a bit surprised because this is a guy in a wheelchair. Some of these folks, unfortunately, don’t have anyone to help them and as a result they don’t reach to the offices to apply for the help, and people leave them on the wayside to fend for themselves.”

He said under former minister of the People of Social Development Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh a policy was being drafted to have people enrolled in their system from the moment doctors declare them disabled at the hospitals. However, since Ramadharsingh’s dismissal, that proposal has been halted. 

The tradition of ringing in the New Year with a bang is fading with many preferring to have a quiet night at home with family. With not one Happy New Year hat or banner on display, store owners, street vendors and consumers are all saying the same thing—there will be no big celebrations this year. The Guardian took to the streets of San Fernando to find out what preparations were being put in place for the start of 2015 in the Southland. 

However, the streets were mostly clear, with stores empty for the most part, despite discount prices and sales. President of the San Fernando Business Association, Daphne Bartlett, said the lack of a festive spirit was evident as consumers have begun to wise up about falling oil prices. “Sales are still down, people are shopping cautiously now as they have become aware of the falling oil and gas prices,” said Bartlett.

“Consumers are holding on to their cash, even though most stores still have unusually high discounts.” She said business owners would now have to find ways to improve their practices including embracing technology. “Its not all doom and gloom, once you can diversify your business you will survive. Putting part of your business online could be a viable option.” She called on government to move decisively to diversify the economy as well. Street vendors also complained of slow sales.

Celebrating at home
The Guardian spoke to people on the street to find out how they would be bringing in the new year. Shenelle Dabreau, from Princes Town, said she would treasure the time with her family, even though there would be no big celebration. Fareed Hosein, of South Oropouche said he was looking forward to spending the night with his children at church. 

Contractor Alana Goodridge-George, expressed her wish for 2015. “I am hoping for work. I run my own business and government is not giving out contracts like they used to. I hope it picks up because if it doesn’t, I’ll have to start letting go employees.”

Animals Alive on fireworks
Vice president of Animals Alive, Jowelle De Souza, expressed hope that the tradition of bursting fireworks is a dying culture. “I think the public is becoming more aware and much more concerned of the effects fireworks have on our pets,” she said. De Souza offered up some advice to pet owners to keep their pets calm during noisy fireworks displays. “Keep your pets indoors and it helps to turn on the television really loud, so they don’t get too scared by the noises.”

Leader of the Opposition Dr Keith Rowley says last year was a particularly challenging for the nation socially, politically and economically. In his New Year’s message, Rowley said citizens faced those challenges without seeing them as being insurmountable. He said citizens had not lost hope that the country had the capacity to do better in all respects. He said the new year was decision year for the citizens.

“The dawn of 2015 is even more significant for the people of T&T as it is the year of decision. It is our opportunity to examine where we are, what we are faced with and whether we would choose a better option to positively alter our circumstances,” he said. That was an apparent reference to the calling of general elections, constitutionally due by September of this year.

Rowley said while the power of choice was great indeed, it would be citizens’ choices that would determine how their lives evolved. He said the choice citizens made this year would impact greatly the nation’s future. He called on citizens “to take responsibility for our nation’s future development and well being as we welcome 2015.”

Such action, he said, should be taken by citizens regardless of their geographic location or other differences. He said while “we acknowledge 2015 as a year of “great challenge it is also a year of great possibilities.”

Tourism sector critical
​Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly Orville London said most citizens were welcoming 2015 with mixed emotions. In his New Year’s message yesterday, London said 2015 arrived during a period of financial and political uncertainty. He said it was time for “sober reflection, clinical evaluation and decisive action, at every level and in every sector.”

London said it was time to strive for balance. “The leaders must strive for balance between fuelling unrealistic expectations and fostering unnecessary panic. The business sector has to achieve the balance between maximising profit and stimulating sustainable growth,” London added. 

London said the challenges facing the country in 2015 provides “an opportunity for us, as an island and a country, to rekindle that spirit and to display the qualities, which have propelled us to a preeminent position in the region.” According to London, 2014 was a very good year for the people of Tobago in many respects, including a “signalled increased optimism in the tourism sector.” He said there was also encouraging growth in the traditional markets of the United Kingdom and Germany. 

London said the cruise ship season has started and he anticipates an increase from 15,000 visitors in 2014 to 60,000. “The importance of the tourism sector has become even more critical, in light of the present challenges in the energy sector,” London said. He said all leaders must now put the island above their self-interest and ensure there was a proper system of internal self-government for Tobago.

Economic survival vital
New leader of the National Joint Action Committee (NJAC) Kwasi Mutema says the new year, 2015 brings citizens to a new economic reality that “could force us to reverse that process by looking inward.” In his first New Year message since being elected recently, Mutema said the economic reality could also force citizens to seek “new impetus for our economic survival as well as rediscovering deeper values for building our nationhood and human existence.” 

Mutema said this year can be very challenging because of declining oil and natural gas prices internationally, which can be a blessing or a curse for this nation. He said with the oil boom in this country in the 1970’s there was an increase in the standard of living but also a decrease in the quality of life. “We became more consumed by materialism and less caring as a society,” he added.

He called for certain values and principles to be adopted in this new year, including greater love and protection of the nation’s children, guidance to youths, elevation of women and the building of stronger family units.

“A campaign of hate against the nursing fraternity is being waged,” says PSA president Watson Duke. He was speaking at the carpark of the San Fernando General Hospital on Tuesday where he met with nurses to discuss allegations of high absenteeism. During the meeting, Duke also defended media personnel who were harassed by security guards.

Chastising hospital officials for making “reckless and inaccurate” statements, Duke said he examined the attendance registers on Christmas Eve and found that none of the restorative nursing assistants were absent from their shifts. “On the afternoon, we had 249 persons present. On Christmas Day, less than ten persons were absent from 152 nurses based on the records,” Duke said. 

“On Boxing Day, we had about ten persons absent out of a staff of 179 RN, (registered nurses), so this whole plot to denigrate nurses and devalue them and make them the object of hatred in the eyes of the public will not work and we will not stand for it.” Duke called upon the South West Regional Health Authority CEO, Anil Gosine to explain the discrepancy. While nurses continue to work, Duke said the hospital conditions remained deplorable.

“Nurses have been giving yeoman service here, right now in the surgical wards there are several nurses working there and they are working without proper air condition. We have a situation where the basic tools, equipment and resources are lacking, and we are calling on Anil Gosine, instead of trying to make war with the media and making war with the nurses, to fix the SWRHA hospital,” Duke said. He said in the new year he planned to mobilise a campaign against all RHA’s.

“For far too long, they have been underpaid and overworked. We are saying they must be paid properly and properly as defined by a job evaluation as completed in 2010 which says a nurse should receive, in 2010, $12,000 as a basic salary,” Duke said.
Saying negotiations must be settled immediately, Duke said all nurses should be given a housing allowance.

LOG BEING KEPT
Asked about the actions of the security against members of the media who were on the hospital’s compound to cover the meeting with the nurses, Duke said, “I am disheartened by the level of thuggery displayed by these so-called security officers.”

Medical director Dr Anand Chatoorgoon said he had nothing to say about Duke’s accusations. Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan said yesterday that he had mandated all RHA officials to keep a log of absenteeism. He said although sick leave could not be deemed fraudulent, investigations were ongoing to determine whether doctors were indiscriminately issuing sick leave. Efforts to contact Gosine proved futile as calls to his cellular phone went unanswered.

Suspended Special Reserve Police (SRP) officer, 32-year-old Roger Rajkumar, has been gagged by his attorneys and can no longer speak about his alleged involvement in the violent slapping of a wheel-chair bound paraplegic Robby Ramcharitar.

The T&T Guardian met with Rajkumar at a relative’s home in Princes Town yesterday and while he is abiding by his lawyer’s instructions, Rajkumar denied that he has ever spoken to any media house since the alleged incident occurred on December 27. “If I wanted to speak to any media, I would speak to them just like I am speaking to you. But I have not spoken to anyone and I seeing myself quoted. What is that?” Rajkumar said.

He had copies of two other newspaper reports, highlighting and underlining portions of the published article that he plans to send to his lawyer. “This is malicious and damaging to my character,” Rajkumar said.

Rajkumar was working on extra duty, hired by the owners of a nearby jewelry store as security during the busy Christmas season. But while Rajkumar is refusing to speak on the actual incident that led to his suspension, a close relative described the situation as an “edited set-up”. The relative denied that Rajkumar slapped Ramcharitar, describing it as a swift reaction to the threat of being spat on.

His family is supportive, also denying that Rajkumar slapped Ramcharitar, saying that with his eight years of martial arts training, he reacted quickly to the threat of being spat on and that he pushed Ramcharitar’s face away on two occasions. 

The incident, which was recorded by an unknown individual and uploaded to Facebook, allegedly shows Rajkumar slapping Ramcharitar. The video was quickly shared on social media pages and became a popular topic of discussion. Both Rajkumar and a female officer also seen in the video have since been suspended pending investigations.

Rajkumar said he was not aware of the actions of the female officer until he saw the video and does not know who she is. This, his relatives suggest, is more cunning video editing done to make it look like both officers attacked the man in succession. “I did not know that happened, I was just crossing the road when he approached me asking for money, when he saw my police identification, then he became abusive,” Rajkumar said.

A relative said yesterday that the video was deliberately edited to remove the cursing and obscene language by the man in the wheelchair. The edited version of the video, he claims, also removed the Ramcharitar’s threat to spit on Rajkumar. “The street was quiet, yet you hearing a Vibez Kartel song while the man speaking, why is there no other noise, no other background noise but that song and only when the man speaking?” the family member questioned.

Family members said there had been several previous encounters with the owners of stores opposite where the officer was working and they believe that the editing of the video was done deliberately to “get back” at Rajkumar. “Several times he had to buff them for parking on the wrong side of the road and for blocking his view of the doorway of the store he was hired to protect,” he said.

This too he is discussing with his attorney. “He has said that when the real video is shown, the unedited version, he doesn’t mind if people judge him on that,” the relative said.

Rajkumar has been an SRP for just nine months and in that time has written out over 350 citations, including several for obscene language and driving under the influence. “He studied martial arts for years, believe me, if he slap someone, they will lay down,” the relative said.

Rajkumar’s relatives believe that the decision to suspend him and the female officer was as a result of public outcry. “Nobody asked my side of the story yet but still I got suspended,” Rajkumar said. The T&T Guardian has since learned that Rajkumar and his legal representative will be meeting with the investigators today.

Former prisons orderly Sheflan Rampersad promised to leave a life of crime after serving a jail sentence at Carrera Convict Prison two years ago for drug possession.

However, despite his attempts to live a crime-free life, Rampersad, 32, of St Johns Trace, Claxton Bay, was shot dead yesterday morning. Investigators said around 5.30 am they received news that a man was bleeding on the roadside close to a gas station at St Margaret’s Junction.  When they arrived they saw Rampersad lying with multiple gunshots to his chest. He was taken to the Couva District hospital but was pronounced dead. 

At the family’s home yesterday, Rampersad’s parents Samnarine Rampersad and Tara Susan Sookraj were inconsolable. Samnarine said his son lived with a friend and worked as a tradesman assistant since he left prison. “I knew he was doing drugs so I could not let him live in this house. He moved out but every holiday he would come home,” Samnarine said. While wishing his sister a happy new year, Samnarine said he got news that a body was seen on the junction. “I changed my clothes and went out the road and that was when I knew it was my son,” Samnarine said. Tara said during his incarceration at prison, Rampersad was made an orderly for good conduct. “When he came out of prison he told us he will change. He was a drug addict so when he do a hustle he would use his money to buy his drugs,” Sookraj added. She said she often spoke to Rampersad about quitting drugs. “I told him I would put out money for rehab but he has to want to do it or else it doesn’t make sense,” Sookraj added. 

Officers of the San Fernando Homicide Bureau are continuing investigations.

Despite the new year being marred by the murder of pensioner Vernon Carter, National Security Minister Gary Griffith assured that the law enforcement bodies will continue to display the determination to keep crime and criminal elements at bay.

Griffith also boasted that homicides and serious crimes were drastically reduced when compared to the previous years. He said this would not have been be possible without hard-working lawmen who continued to risk their lives for the country. “I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the hard-working men and women of our combined law enforcement community for the sterling performance demonstrated in the last 12 months. “Immense thanks to all the heads of divisions who made this possible, including the acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams and the Chief of Defence Staff Major General Kenrick Maharaj who rallied the troops on a daily basis to ensure criminals were pegged back,” Griffith said in an interview yesterday.

He said in the latter part of 2014, due to a massive effort by the Ministry of National Security, there was a major reduction in homicides which resulted in a reduced homicide rate when compared to 2013. Saying there was also a reduction in violent crimes Griffith added, “2014 set a record for with the lowest number of serious crimes in this country in 31 years. It must be noted that 2014 could not have ended on a better note given that in the last two weeks of the year this country recorded the lowest homicide rate in comparison to the corresponding period for the last six years.”

He said in 2014 there were 11,600 serious crimes which, compared to five years ago in 2009, was over 22,000. “What this means is that there was one less serious crime every hour throughout the year when compared to 2009. The last full year before we were in office there was one less murder, one less rape, one less kidnapping or attempted kidnapping, one less car theft, one less assault, one less incident of armed robbery or grievous bodily harm every hour,” Griffith said.

Focusing on incidents which brought the Police Service into disrepute Griffith urged the public not to lose confidence. “It would be remiss of me to not touch on the couple of issues that brought the protective services into disrepute in the closing month of the year, but in a team this size there would unfortunately be members who lose their way. “That must not be allowed to affect the morale of those who remain focused on our mission to make T&T crime-free, and it certainly should not affect the confidence placed in us by the public,” Griffith added.

T&T marred by savagery-PNM
But the PNM is not convinced by Griffith’s assurances. The party’s public relations officer Senator Faris Al-Rawi yesterday questioned the true figure of this country’s detection rate. “T&T is in 2015 and we are politically five years away from 2010. Criminality and savagery  is no respector of good tidings or positive intention. We had a murder just five minutes into the new year and oddly enough the commissioner of police is today reported as admitting that the detection rate has stood on average at 15 per cent for the last five years. “We simply do not believe or accept this figure is 15 per cent especially as the detection and conviction rate for murders stands at most three per cent and that includes murder suicide statistics," Al-Rawi said.

He said the admission of more officers to the homicide investigation bureau does not speak to the fact that it has taken five years to begin to reoutfit that unit. “One wonders therefore why the government stoutly refuses to introduce anonymous witness evidence measures into our laws which are successfully utilised in other jurisdictions and which of course has been proposed by the PNM in its multipoint plan. “Instead the government plays smart with foolishness by yet again raising the spectre of constitutional amendment to reintroduce hangings. This is an absurdity because the current law is that the punishment for murder is death by hanging,” Al-Rawi said.

He added that no explanation has been given by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar as the head of the National Security Council as to why not one single execution has taken place under her watch over the last give years.
 

At the stroke of midnight on New Year’s, 71-year-old Vernon Carter was at outside his home in Maloney Gardens watching fireworks. Moments later he was fatally shot by a stray bullet which came from an illegal gun gangsters were using to fire into the air representing their way of ringing in the new year.

A few hours after Carter was killed Homicide Bureau officers in south Trinidad were probing the shooting death of ex-convict Sheflan Rampersad of Claxton Bay.

The deaths of Carter and Rampersad opened 2015 with a murder toll of two. And earlier in the night on Wednesday Sherwin Skeete, 40, of Punette Drive in Pinto, was also shot dead. 

Police said Carter, who lived at Woodstar Avenue, Maloney, was standing outside his house with neighbours at the corner of Kingbird and Woodstar Avenue watching fireworks about five minutes into the new year when he was struck by a stray bullet.

In an interview at his house yesterday relatives said he was not a target of gunmen but was somehow shot. “He slumped to the ground and said he was getting a stroke. He had a recent bypass surgery but then we saw that he was bleeding,” one relative said.

Carter was taken to the Arima Health Facility where he died. “The doctors said they saw a bullet wound on the left side of his chest. He just said his prayers and came out to watch the fireworks,” the family member said.

The relative said Carter had recently bought a tablet to go on Facebook. Investigators said before Carter was shot police officers had responded to the area because certain residents were firing guns into the air during the new year celebration.

However, the shooting continued and officers of the Guard and Emergency Branch moved into the community. Law enforcement officers said there were two separate parties on the streets. They said the fetes merged causing a ruckus. Police said the party goers were blocking vehicles and creating havoc. The police dealt with the problem and left. 

In the incident before (Wednesday night) Skeete and Simon Bravo, of the same area, were shot around 10 pm by gunmen 

According to police, Skeete, Bravo and a group of men were liming on the roadway when a car drove up. A man wearing a hat came out of the car and opened fire on the group.  Skeete and Bravo were taken to hospital. Skeete died. Bravo remains warded in critical condition. 

Skeete, a barber and father of one, had been back in Trinidad for the past two years. Relatives did not wish to comment on his death at his Arima home yesterday.

The 17-year-old boy who captured on his cell phone two Special Reserve Police (SRP) officers allegedly assaulting paraplegic Robby Ramcharitar says he does not know how to edit videos. “Just how I tape it, it’s just how I upload it,” the teenager said at High Street, San Fernando, yesterday.

Responding to a claim by a relative of one the accused officers that the video was edited to omit Ramcharitar cursing and threatening to spit on the officer, the teenager said whatever his phone recorded was loaded to social networking site Facebook days after the incident. He said it was the same video that investigators from the Professional Standards Bureau got from his phone when they took his statement at the San Fernando Police Station yesterday.

Clarifying last Saturday’s incident again, the teenager said he was not expecting anything like this to happen. He claimed a man was using obscene language while talking to the police. He said another man came out of a van and confronted Ramcharitar. The teenager said he never saw the man before that day. 

Despite the video going viral and generating heavy criticism against police brutality, the teenager said he regretted capturing the incident as it was frustrating giving interviews everyday since last Monday when the video went viral. 
“Everyday people coming to bother me. Next time I am not taping anything. Whatever happens, happens,” he said. Asked why he recorded it, he said, “because it seemed funny at the time.”

Police marking us
Co-workers of the teenager claimed that since the video was captured, police officers have been marking their movements and trying to intimidate them. One of the men said a dougla police officer had been constantly passing their workplace, looking at them.
They said last Saturday, he followed them from the top of Lord Street to Library Corner, San Fernando, and eventually lined them up against a wall and searched them, but found nothing illegal.

“Police have been marking us since the day it happened. They have been talking to us, asking us questions to see if we will say something out of the way. Look, I really don’t want to say anything more because they are passing right through and they will see us talking to the Guardian.” Southern Division Senior Supt Cecil Santana said he would not tolerate any officers interfering with witnesses, and he would investigate any claims of threats or intimidation taking place.

He said, “We are not going to tolerate that kind of behaviour, certainly not in this division. We are not going to encourage that kind of behaviour. I want those guys to come into my office on Monday morning where I will interview them. “We will pay some attention to what is happening and whatever action has to be taken will be taken. We are not going tolerate that kind of the behaviour from police officers. They can’t interfere with witnesses. That is an offence.”

More than 150 workers from the Central Statistical Office (CSO) are expected to report for work at Capital Plaza, Port-of-Spain, next week. For several months during the past year, the workers have been signing the register and returning home because they had no physical space to work. Other workers have been housed at an office on Park Street, Port-of-Spain.

Capital Plaza is owned by the Nicholas Group. Government is also renting office space from the same group at Nicholas Towers and on Independence Square. The Customs Division is located on Independence Square. The CSO was previously housed at Furness Building on Independence Square, Port-of-Spain. It was declared unfit for human occupation by the Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA) in May 2013 because of electrical problems and leaks in the building.

The majority of the employees were relocated to offices on Park Street, Port-of-Spain, where they still work. Planning and Sustainable Development Minister Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie said yesterday the workers are to be accommodated on two floors at Capital Plaza, Frederick Street, Port-of-Spain, on a temporary basis. 

Tewarie could not say exactly how long they would work there and also could not say what was the monthly rental of the plaza but insisted that it was “within government’s limit.” He said the workers were preparing to move in next week.  According to Tewarie: “Early in the new year the workers are expected to be relocated to a new building at upper Frederick Street, Port-of-Spain.” 

He said the Government could not continue to have about 100 workers stay at home because there was no physical space to accommodate them. Tewarie said negotiations were taking place to have new premises, located at upper Frederick Street, rented for a period of five years. He said the entire CSO staff would be housed at that location when it became available shortly. 

Other CSO staff with responsibility for the GDP, trade, inflation and unemployment data continue to work from offices on Park Street. CSO staff are responsible for censuses and collecting, compiling, analysing and publishing statistical information relating to all social and economic activities of citizens.

A 38-year-old Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) pilot was killed in a car accident in Maracas on Thursday afternoon. He was the first road fatality for the year. According to reports, shortly after midday, Nicholas Hospedales, of Santa Cruz, was riding along North Coast Road with a group of fellow motorcycle enthusiasts. 

Shortly before reaching Maracas Bay, Hospedales was attempting to manoeuvre a corner when his black and red motorcycle collided with a black Honda Civic driving in the opposite direction. Hospedales was thrown from the bike and landed at the side of the road. Besides the damage to his car, the driver of the car escaped without any injuries. Hospedales, who was employed as a first officer with CAL, was taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

There were 156 road fatalities recorded for last year. Detectives of the Maracas Bay Police Station are continuing investigations.

Relatives of 23-year-old Kevin Francis believe he was murdered over a bottle of champagne he was accused of stealing from someone’s house on Christmas Day. Francis’s body was discovered face down at Maharaj Trace, South Oropouche, around 2 am, yesterday, by passersby. Police believe Francis, the father of a four-year-old child, was attacked when he left a house party at Partap Trace to urinate. 

In an interview at their Duke Street, South Oropouche home, yesterday, Naomi Francis said her brother left home around midnight to attend the party by “Crabbie.” Sometime later she said someone called and told them Francis was lying on the road. Their cousin Peter Edwards, who is visiting from London, went down to the scene and saw Francis’s body.

Edwards said Francis, a construction worker, was lying face down with a hole to the back of his head. There was also a gunshot wound to his arm. “He had no pulse and his body was cold.” Edwards said there was a “whole heap” of people gathered but no one would say what happened to his cousin. 

“People feeling intimidated. There is a gang in the area there and people keeping their mouth shut. But is a small village; someone will come out and talk. Everyone there was intoxicated and somebody get trigger happy.” Edwards, who arrived in the country six weeks ago, recalled that Francis came home intoxicated on Christmas Day with a bottle of champagne. “People saying Kevin steal the champagne. I believe that is what really trigger this whole thing.”

Edwards said Francis was supposed to visit his mother in London in March which would have been the first time he would have seen her since she migrated 11 years ago. Edwards said he was also putting things in place to open a car wash for Francis. He said his cousin was “very mouthy,” but was not a gang member or gunman. ASP Rodriguez, Insp Anderson Pariman and Insp Peter Ramdeen from the South Western division visited the scene. 

Stay out of the water. This was the warning from Chief Meteorologist Shakeer Baig yesterday, as the T&T Meteorological Service continues its rough seas bulletin into the weekend. Baig issued the warning in anticipation of crowds at popular North Coast beaches this weekend, since normally thousands flock to the seaside for a last lap cooler before schools reopen on Monday.

Baig is urging all beachgoers and those involved in marine activities to exercise caution if they choose to head to the beaches. He said rough seas continued to pound the North coast and were producing huge waves. “We are advising people who are actually going to the beach for fun to try and stay out of the water because these waves are very high, sometimes they are in excess of ten feet, which is three metres,” he said.

Baig said if a bather came into contact with those high waves they would be pulled into the ocean and might encounter strong currents. “Even (good) swimmers sometimes have difficulties getting out of these things and when we have instances like these we have rip tides/rip currents which are the types of currents that can drag you into the ocean or take you from one area to another. If you know you are going to the beach, stay out of the water,” Baig warned. 

He said the Met Office was maintaining the rough seas bulletin and was advising everyone who would be going to the beach and residents along the coastline “to exercise all caution and stay away from the water, if they can.” The bulletin remained in effect, Baig said, since ground reports from the North Coast and other exposed coastlines indicated that the seas were still very rough. 

Baig made a special plea to surfers, who enjoy rough seas because of the large waves, to exercise due care and follow instructions from lifeguards on duty.

Bulletin 
The Meteorological Service says it expects sea conditions along the exposed coasts to continue to be moderate to rough. Wave heights are 2.5 to 3.0 metres along the exposed coastlines. This is attributed to relatively strong winds in the lower levels of thermosphere. These strong winds are currently agitating surfaces of the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea.

It said Numerical Weather Prediction (NAP) models forecast similar conditions for at least the next 24 to 48 hours with wave heights in open waters reaching 2.5 to 3.0 metres near-shore for both islands but occasionally reaching in excess of 3.0 metres offshore for the northeast exposed coasts. As such rough seas will persist.

Seas in open waters will continue to be affected for at least the next 24 to 48 hours. Although wave heights in sheltered areas are below 1.0 metre, seas can become choppy at times. Additionally, conditions may become aggravated during high tides.” 

The release said rough seas may lead to dangerous marine conditions, which will include localised disruption to sea bathing and sea travel by small crafts, as well as fishing boats. Fisher-folks and those living along the coast are warned of the possible occurrence of big waves associated with the system.

Citizens, especially those residing along coastal areas are advised to be on the alert for above normal sea conditions. All necessary measures must be taken to preserve life and property. Small craft operators, sea bathers and all other marine interests are asked to exercise extreme caution in any sea activities.

Fishermen: Rough seas a bad start to 2015
Some 18 families have suffered a total of $500,000 in losses as their boats have been either damaged or destroyed by the rough seas. General secretary of Fishermen and Friends of the Sea, Gary Aboud, said the rough seas had been devastating for Las Cuevas fisherfolk. He is calling on Government to help the fisherfolk on humanitarian grounds. 

“Fishermen cannot obtain insurance on their vessels, engines and nets. We have lobbied for insurance and no government has done anything to help or support us. Our members are without insurance... How many business people have been operating without insurance?” Aboud contended. He said fisherfolk had never encountered such water before along the north coast, which exceeded storm surges. He said boats and engines had sunk since the rough seas began. 

Aboud said the rough seas did not augur well for 2015, especially since the fisherfolk already had to contend with oil spill pollution, declining fishing stock and seismic testing around the island.

More Info
On December 27, the Met office issued its first rough seas bulletin. Baig explained that a low pressure system in the Atlantic Ocean led to disturbed seas to the north of T&T and northerly swells. Following that, he said, a sub-tropical high pressure system started to establish itself where the low system was in the Central Atlantic system and produced very strong easterly and north eastern winds that ontributed to the rough seas. 

This, he said, was not unusual for this time of the year because the existence of the sub-tropical high pressure system heralded the start of the dry season. While he did not announce the official start of the dry season, Baig said T&T had been experiencing lots of strong surface winds from the high pressure system, which were producing rough seas and high waves.
 

The United States Embassy’s International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) section recently collaborated with High Court Judge Gillian Lucky and a team of leading attorneys and professionals to train members of the Police Service. A release from the embassy yesterday said the training was in keeping with the legacy of state prosecutor and attorney Dana Seetahal SC.  

The statement said the training focused on conducting “intelligent investigations” and gathering evidence for successful prosecutions. The exercise, the release said, began with a discussion on Seetahal’s positive impact on the advancement of T&T’s criminal justice system.  

The training team included director of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) David West, who discussed investigative techniques for money laundering offences; Rajiv Persad, a highly-accomplished attorney and judge, who spoke on the need to reshape the landscape for successful prosecutions; and Dr Sheila Rampersad, who addressed participants on the critical role of effective communication in the work and functions of police officers.  

The training took place at the Police Academy and concluded with a graduation ceremony on December 13. The courses are part of a long-term training collaboration between the US Embassy and the Government of T&T under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, to strengthen this country’s capacity to investigate and successfully prosecute serious crimes.

National Security Minister Gary Griffith is concerned about minors who attend all-inclusive fetes and play in semi- and all-inclusive bands in which their alcohol consumption is not monitored. This, he says, is against the law and someone must be held accountable.

Speaking during a media briefing at the National Operations Centre (NOC), Port-of-Spain, yesterday, Griffith said he was expressly concerned about this trend, as a review of last year’s celebrations revealed that young people were not able to control themselves after consuming alcohol, which led to an increase in fights and other incidents.

“It is unacceptable that you can have persons under 18 years old in Carnival bands, and then they call the bands all-inclusive, and the minors are being given alcohol by persons on trucks because they have a wrist band,” Griffith said. He said that “something needs to be done about this.” Griffith said the authorities would now be working with band leaders, fete promoters and event co-ordinators to reduce such incidents.

Urging band leaders, promoters and co-ordinators to contact the NOC to discuss security arrangements for their events, Griffith said: “We all have a part to play.” The NOC can be reached at 623-5202 or 624-5316. He sought to remind them that they had a responsibility and obligation to adhere to the laws of the country, and that although minors could attend their party or fete, the people behind the bar did not have the right “just to hand over alcohol to minors because they have a wristband.”

Griffith said: “It has to stop.”

He warned that if minors attempted to enter Port-of-Spain and other carnival venues with alcohol in their possession, it would be seized and they would be disciplined. Griffith said: “It is not going to be accepted in any form or fashion and if it is that you want to hide behind the cloak of ‘I am not selling the alcohol to the minor,’ you are breaking the law and somebody will have to be held accountable for it. Whoever it is going to be, whether it is the fete promoter or organiser, we cannot and should not be giving alcohol to minors.” 

Further, Griffith said, they were exploring the possibility of banning the use of glass bottles—at least during the J’Ouvert celebrations. Griffith said the decision would be confirmed within the “next few days,” as they were in the process of liaising with the relevant stakeholders including suppliers and vendors.

Former Port-of-Spain mayor Louis Lee-Sing had called for such a ban, but Griffith yesterday explained that there had not been enough time to ensure the proper legislation was enacted. However, Griffith said: “We did our homework and we have confirmed that glass bottles have proven to be something that has caused many incidents during the J’Ouvert period.” He added that while such a ban was critical and warranted, it could not be done without stakeholder input. 

National Security Minister Gary Griffith says everything is in place for Carnival 2015. His announcement follows a detailed threat assessment by the National Ebola Prevention, Information and Response Team (NEPIRT), which is headed by Vice Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Anthony Phillips-Spencer.

During a media briefing at the National Operations Centre, Port-of-Spain, yesterday, Griffith said, “I wish to inform the public that there is a full green light for Carnival 2015 as at this time, and based on the very good work we have seen by this committee.” He assured citizens that the Ebola situation had been “properly locked down at this time.” Griffith added: “All concerns have been dealt with and during the course from now until Carnival, all matters to ensure that T&T will be Ebola free will continue.”

Following Griffith’s statement, Phillips-Spencer confirmed that the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) risk for T&T continued to be low. He said the land-based early warning surveillance programme’s design was now complete, enabling its use at all major carnival events.

Phillips-Spencer said in addition to improving screening at all legal ports of entry, site readiness surveys had been done at both the airports and seaports. He added that officials were prepared to efficiently respond to any probable or confirmed case of EVD and effectively contain its spread. Referring to the public campaign blitz which was done between December 15 and 19, 2014, to educate citizens about the virus, Phillips-Spencer said NEPIRT was moving ahead with its preparedness measures.

He revealed that the Ministry of Health had recently acquired 20 hand-held thermal scanners and all port health workers were currently being trained, so that by January 12, “All persons entering T&T may, based on intelligence and information, be required to submit themselves to thermal scanning.”

Promising an increase in the public awareness campaigns over the coming weeks, Phillips-Spencer urged the public to utilise the hotline numbers of 511 in Trinidad, and 211 in Tobago, to report any information. Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Clive Tilluckdharry said the isolation ward at the Caura Hospital was prepared and work was being done daily to ensure that both the staff and physical facilities were ready.

NCC: Carnival route to be announced soon

Happy with Griffith’s announcement, chairman of the National Carnival Commission, Lorraine Pouchet, said the Queen’s Park Savannah was the hub of all carnival activities in Port-of-Spain, and as such, additional cameras had been installed to provide adequate security surveillance since it was a Venue Operating Centre (VOC).
Pouchet said although the official Carnival route had not yet been determined after meetings with bandleaders, constituents and burgesses it should be announced within one week.

Security checks
As Griffith sought to assure the public that all systems were in place for Carnival 2015, he spoke of the successful security measures during last year’s celebrations. “In 2014, most persons, if not all, had admitted that because of the good work, dedication and operational success that we have seen, that T&T’s Carnival was recognised as the safest Carnival in history,” Griffith said.

“We intend to emulate that feat in 2015 and even go beyond that,” Griffith said. He said the National Operations Centre (NOC) would co-ordinate a plan which would focus on all-inclusive fetes, band-launchings, private events and even block-o-ramas.

He urged fete promoters, band-leaders and coordinators to contact the NOC to discuss the event they wish to hosted, so security arrangements could be determined. Griffith said a threat assessment would then be made and a decision taken about the measures required to ensure the well-being of citizens attending an event.

more info
Persons can contact the NOC at 623-5202 or 624-5316. Dubbed “Operation ALERT—All Levels Extremely Responsible and Together,”—this year’s security arrangements will be handled by Deputy Police Commissioner Harold Phillip who has been assigned as the Gold Commander, with ACP Stephen Ramsubhag being assigned as the alternate.

Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams said the men had been selected on the basis of their involvement in last year’s security plan, and he was confident that they would raise this year’s arrangements to new heights. Williams said all police officers had been placed on the alert and that leave had been restricted, as had been done in previous years. “We expect to have adequate manpower available to effectively police Carnival 2015,” Williams said.

Following recent incidents involving officers which might have undermined public confidence, Williams reminded officers to act in a professional manner always when dealing with members of the public. Griffith echoed Williams’ confidence in the officers, as he boasted that 2014 had proven to be the year with the lowest number of serious crimes recorded in 31 years.

Declaring this a “fantastic achievement,” Griffith said the facts showed that there had been a 25 to 80 per cent decline in serious crimes in the last five years.