As a child, I learned a saying, ‘Don’t wait until night comes to light a candle to see what you could see in the day’! By this, my mother meant, ‘Don’t wait for a problem to come upon you when it could have been prevented long beforehand’. As a purveyor …
Read More »Dear editor: Did TTPS ‘plant’ evidence in Morvant killing? Will there be consequences?
“[…] On the fateful day, the Guard and Emergency Branch not only moved the bodies but also picked up spent shells, wrecked the vehicle and left the scene bare—as if nothing happened there 15 minutes ago. It left the crime scene investigators with almost nothing to work with when they …
Read More »Daly Bread: Is Kamla preparing to be ‘martyred loser’? Did Cabinet ignore Laventille MPs?
My principal but probably vain hope for the general election, to be held on 10 August, is that it will not polarise the country further. Realistically, one cannot hope for more and it is mamaguy to feed us dreams of unity and overcoming while our leaders are likely to engage …
Read More »Police lives matter! Griffith rejects PCA recommendation on Morvant killings
Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith has refused to implement the recommendation from Police Complaints Authority (PCA) director David West on the police killings of Joel Jacobs, Mr Israel Moses Clinton and Mr Noel Diamond in Morvant on 27 June. Yesterday, West ‘formally advised the commissioner of police that officers involved …
Read More »Hotep: The ‘powers that be’ need you to blame Morvant—to hide their own crimes against the people
“[…] How many business people can write an honest account explaining their rags to riches story, or share a history that can serve as a roadmap for others? “If any of them opt for the challenge they would have to omit the bribes and protection money they pay, the tax …
Read More »Suspend them! PCA advises Commissioner to suspend officers in Morvant killings
The following is a press statement from the communications department of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA): The Director of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) David West has formally advised the Commissioner of police that officers involved in the 27 June fatal shooting of Mr Joel Jacobs, Mr Israel Moses Clinton …
Read More »Noble: Catch a fire; TTPS should be careful of spark being lit
“A single spark can start a prairie fire,” Mao Zedong, 1930. This observation came back to my mind in the witnessing of the events of the last seven days. Mao had meant then that the revolution would start small but was possible in China—not too different from all the recent …
Read More »Daly Bread: Does minister really think Trinis would face armed police for a few dollars?
The government has called the election for 10 August, plainly in order to have it before the unrest which gripped us last week gets worse and erases the goodwill earned through the management of the Covid-19 pandemic. On Tuesday last, there was widespread unrest in or near several disadvantaged communities. …
Read More »NJAC: Suspend all policemen involved in Morvant killing—as matter of principle
“[…] NJAC believes that contrary to what has been recently expressed by the commissioner of police, the suspension of the officers should not be determined by the number of officers involved—but rather based on principle and process. Such action would ensure that the investigative process is transparent and would engender …
Read More »Nakhid apologises to ‘honest, hard-working members’ of TTPS, after Griffith scolding
“[…] I wish to apologise to the honest, hard-working members of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), all of whom I am sure were hurt and discouraged by the statement…” The following is a response from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) and the United National Congress (UNC) …
Read More »Tye: Removing the Knees: Black Lives and Protests in a Plantation Society
Approximately 50 years ago, mainly young people—disillusioned by the continued colonial nature of the country, the deep racism, classism and limited opportunities—made brave efforts to improve things. Instead of the then government, led by Dr Eric Williams, listening and properly engaging with these persons, the leaders of the movement were …
Read More »Vidale: Brace for more; repressed, unanswered societal problems do not go away
I wrote the following words in 2015: The diminution of a murder to ‘gang related’ has promoted a (group think) consciousness that some deaths are acceptable. Moreso, we embraced extra judicial killings as a justifiable response to a situation which is out of control. “Kill everybody an done!” However, there …
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