Man murdered by Perfect Hideout; Live Wire investigates shocking crime wave

Trinidad and Tobago is now officially in a crime wave. And, unfortunately, the criminals are not waving “bye, bye.”

This week, Shawn Joseph, a construction worker, was murdered at “The Perfect Hideout”, which begs the question as to exactly where is safe these days.

Joseph, according to the Trinidad Guardian, was the 30th murder victim since the September 7 elections, which, we can all agree, is a much better way of tabulating murders than say comparing it to similar timelines over the past three years.

Photo: How many kills since September 7? You think I'm a disgruntled EBC worker or something?!
Photo: How many kills since September 7? You think I’m a disgruntled EBC worker or something?!

“It is clear that the PNM has no immediate plans to deter the rampant murder and crime spree occurring in our nation at this time,” said ex-Health Minister and Barataria/San Juan MP Dr Fuad Khan. “Over the past two weeks, many of my constituents along with persons from around the country, have reached out and expressed their fear with me, in hope that I may offer them some comfort or assistance.”

Wait, if Fuad is the answer for concerned constituents, then what exactly is the problem? Does someone want a restaurant review?

Former Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who swapped National Security Ministers like Brian Lara changed girlfriends, also cautioned the new PNM Government.

“The murder rate is (of) tremendous cause for concern for all of T&T,” said Persad-Bissessar. “But what I find very strange is the deafening silence on the part of the Prime Minister who is the chairman of the National Security Council.

“And also, indeed, from all of them on what plans do they have on this—if at all they have a plan—and what they would do to stem the tide of murder.”

Mr Live Wire surely hopes Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has a plan to curb Trinidad and Tobago’s murder rate.

Photo: Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley. (Courtesy Jyoti Communication)
Photo: Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.
(Courtesy Jyoti Communication)

As it turned out, President Anthony Carmona was so unconvinced by new National Security Minister Edmund Dillon that he made the retired brigadier swear his oath of office twice.

But Persad-Bissessar, the former head of the National Security Council, might not be the best person to call ‘Keithos’ out on murders.

Since the total murder count for the year is approaching 320, then it stands to reason that, under Tanty Kamla, there were just under 300 murders in the past eight months.

And what were some of the plans by the last administration for crime?

Former National Security Minister, Gary Griffith, ordered armoured police vehicles and body bags and petitioned for Senior Superintendent Johnny Abraham to be made Police Commissioner.

Give us two weeks of that and Syria would have seemed like a tranquil vacation getaway compared to Trinidad and Tobago.

Under the past regime, in case we forgot, things were so bad that escaped inmates were begging for the safety of their old jail cells!

Photo: Only "Monster" made it back to his cell alive out of three escaped inmates in July.  Thank Allah he was not wearing a kufi.
Photo: Only “Monster” made it back to his cell alive out of three escaped inmates in July.
Thank Allah he was not wearing a kufi.

None of which dismisses the fact that our murder rate is a problem.

But Mr Live Wire suggests that the media finds a more grown-up way of addressing the issue than a bodycount in the two and a half weeks since our change in Government.

Not unless you also want to credit Keithos for the country having no natural disasters since September 7 and an undeniable spike in attendances at local football matches.

Steven Gerrard? Nah, it was the “Rottweiler” that put bums on seats to watch Central FC face LA Galaxy.

That is not to say there is not a proven method of keeping crime off the front page. Just stuff your Cabinet with horny, gaffe-a-day Senators and MPs; and wait for nature to take its course.

In other words, give Fuad, Glenn Ramadharsingh or Chandresh Sharma a ministry!

More from Wired868
Missing the Faris for the trees? Mr Live Wire gets another political lecture from a mysterious man

(Scene: A dapper gentleman examines a humble lodging with notable admiration.) FAR: I love the more intimate office space, boss. Read more

Live Wire sheds a tear as Minister of Hypocrisy uses time-travel to join Boxing Day boat party

24 December: The Ministry of Health urges citizens to ‘keep the festivities at home this year’ and ‘celebrate responsibly within Read more

Live Wire: Why ‘Tanty Kamla’ would be the worst piñata player of all time

The UNC’s star at the 2020 General Election turned out to be Michelle Benjamin, a fresh-faced councillor from Moruga/Tableland who Read more

Party time! Live Wire talks to the god of politics—spoiler: it’s not Colm Imbert

(Scene: A sports bar in Tacarigua. It is nearing closing time. Mr Live Wire sips on his rum and coke Read more

Marlene hogs headlines again; Mr Live Wire gets ‘word on the street’ on the arrested MP

The big story today is, yet again, Marlene McDonald, the Port of Spain South MP who was once fired between Read more

Why Venezuela ‘borderline jam session’ could be Keithos’ biggest challenge since Gumbs

There is no denying it now, people damn vexed. Last night, Trinis offered the first visible sign of dissent against Read more

About Mr. Live Wire

Mr. Live Wire is an avid news reader who translates media reports for persons who can handle the truth. And satire. Unlike Jack Nicholson, he rarely yells.

Check Also

Daly Bread: Government extends blame game while crime rampages on

For some weeks this column had been focused on the good, the bad and the …

17 comments

  1. “More than Brian Lara changes Girlfriends” Holding belly. But seriously i was never a one to advocate that National Security should reveal their crime fighting plans regardless of which government is in power as we are not the only ones who will be informed. Why alert the prospective targets as well? Just tell me you have a plan. Unlike Kamla who still in denial since she lost the election and only acting increasingly desperate and sometimes delusional.

  2. Crime is all over the world people have to change their way of thinking

  3. I find all the PNM bloggers real forgiving all of a sudden. Even Lasana giving honeymoon like he is the President of the Maldives. The radio Dj s suddenly remember how to play nice music too, after all that shouting for the past 5 years.

  4. The foolishness of politics in T & T.

  5. …30 murders since Sept 7 ??..how many have been gun-related??..

  6. Put men like Sexy Armless, Ramadhar-cyah-sigh and Brahmin Boy back in a ministry? What a regressive step that would be. In the last five years, Aunty Kams had a lot of “wares” in her Cabinet that haven’t served the people yet!

  7. If only ex-cabinet members have picong to get this rounds, there’s no happier man alive than krystian!

  8. Yup…because of the gaffes crime was often relegated to the inside pages. But if the math is correct, 300 murders in 8 mths thrn 30 so far is par for the course. Now with all the cold cases for this year, add those for the last few years and let us set up a dedicated cold case department. Is is so clinical stating facts. And excusing it by saying over 90% were gang related (someone said that). What that means is our society failed to put checks and balances in place to protect these vulnerable people and even in death they cannot get justice so doesn’t that just justify their life free from constraints of law or love.

  9. This ball by ball commentary by the MPs of the former govt is ironic. It’s like giving Sancho a mike and ask him to be in the commentary box with Fazeer

  10. In other words….give Fuad or Chandradesh a ministry ?????

  11. Hear nah …… ah have tuh compose mih self before reading this, the headline alone have mih dying! Hahaha

  12. Ah boy, Mr Live Wire is certainly no yellow belly. He ‘s showing his true colours early, defending the Red. Ah boy! Ah!

  13. Thank You for writing this Mr. Liburd!

    It seems that the media houses has started their murder counting from September 8th???

    Very, very, very strange in deed.

    I guess everyone forgot about the crime the past five years when the headlines were basically -:

    Reshmi Ramnarine, Kamla’s Family Vacation (I mean nurse), Section 34 (The Limited Edition), Coming from Moruga (Marijuana), Prison Gate, Email Gate, Loretta Coming, Loretta not Coming, Jack and Rose, Jack and Kamla, Jack with Kamla, Jack not Kamla, Honey Bees and 100 Range Rovers til Christmas and the list goes on and on like Prakash Ramadhar’s ramblings that COP is still a viable force to be reckoned with! (A force that lost all but one safe seat… I guess he won musical chairs lol).

    I guess, this was of national importance rather than someone being killed being aired after the commercial breaks!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.