Wired868 Wired868 for smart sport news and opinion
Well, that was bacchanal. Trinidad and Tobago was so hot yesterday even Jack Warner considered asking the US Attorney General for a plane ticket.
At around noon yesterday, Port of Spain inmate Hassan Atwell and two fellow prisoners Allan “Scanny” Martin and Christopher “Monster” Selby made a daring jailbreak.
But first, they had to wait for the 41-year-old Atwell to update his Facebook page with the usual rant about his unwillingness to bend to the oppressive nature of incarceration and to share a “Ent! Breaking News” video.
Of course, thousands of employees across the country do not have access to Facebook at their work place. But Atwell does not seem to be a “glass half-full” kinda guy.
Maybe he wanted Skype.
Incidentally, prior to today, Atwell was not actually guilty of anything, despite spending the last 10 years in prison. Not yet anyway.
Like Warner, Atwell is fighting an extradition request from the United States. While the Chaguanas West MP was allegedly fond of shaking down television companies and World Cup bidding nations for the right to show and host football matches, Atwell’s alleged gig was kidnapping wealthy young men and demanding ransom from their relatives.
Warner remains Chaguanas West MP, holds national press conferences, routinely taunts the Attorney General and United States authorities and spends his free time sparring with international comedians. Atwell was refused bail and probably—but not certainly—has not seen HBO in a while.
It just goes to show that one can never be too careful in picking his or her criminal trade.
One of the three men shot and killed 27-year-old Constable Sherman Maynard, who was on guard duty outside the prison walls, during their escape in which the men were armed with guns and a grenade.
Mr Live Wire cannot confirm whether Atwell received the weapons in an email attachment.
Martin was shot dead by police at the Port of Spain General Hospital, just after 1 pm, although Atwell and Selby remain at large.
From there on, Port of Spain went into meltdown.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar told citizens that the Government was “in full control” and nobody had anything to fear “so long as I am your Prime Minister.”
Strangely, that did not help calm citizens.
Opposition Leader Keith Rowley was campaigning in south Trinidad at the time. But he did have the PNM treasurer and Port of Spain Mayor Raymond Tim Kee on location.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Tim Kee told the Trinidad Express that he was traumatised but assured everyone that his own security was heightened. He went on to say that it is sad when a policeman is killed and there was plenty of traffic, rumours and panic in the capital.
Mr Live Wire cannot confirm that the Express reporter replied: That’s it?! I could flipping get that on Facebook!
As always, there was plenty fodder for conspiracists.
Atwell’s brother, Hamid Ali, was charged, just hours earlier, for the murder of Dana Seetahal SC. His other brother Rajaee Ali, who is a former murder accused and contractor for the Government’s LifeSport programme, is already in police custody for the conspiracy to murder DJ Kevaughn “Lurbz” Savory, who is believed to have had an affair with the wife of ex-Sport Minister Anil Roberts.
Apparently, there are Gru Gru trees with less thorns than the Ali family.
Ali (R) is the son of Hassan Ali who is the Imam for the Jamaat-al-Muslimeen’s Carapo mosque and he leads prayers there himself as well.
It meant another round of questions to Imam Yasin Abu Bakr and his son Fuad Abu Bakr, the political leader of the NNV party, on whether their religious sect was housing and benefitting from crime.
(Copyright Orleen Orr)
“The individuals who they say escaped from prison have been in prison for 11 or 12 years, so if they are members of anything they are members of the prison,” said Abu Bakr (F). “We know there are concerns regarding people affiliated with us. We have come here to say we have nothing to do with the criminal acts.”
Say what you like about young Abu Bakr. But don’t forget to call him a politician. He would fit in just fine in Parliament.
Of course, Government interests seem to run alarmingly close to several criminal cases at the moment, not least the Seetahal murder, which, according to the police, might have been organised by persons who were on the LifeSport payroll at the time.
Four years ago, attorney David West, who is now the PCA chairman, found it “passing strange” that then AG Anand Ramlogan did not appeal a ruling against extradition for UNC financiers Ish Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson since Atwell was in a similar situation.
So should everyone with a criminal matter before the local courts be considered safe from extradition?
“It is passing strange that the State loses one application before a single High Court judge in a complex and highly politically charged case and deems it not fit to appeal,” said West. “An appeal is necessary to clarify this ‘grey’ area in the law…
“Two other accused persons, Hassan Atwell and Gary Govindass are also in this same predicament by having a local charge existing whilst extradition proceedings are ongoing.”
Earlier this week, Works Minister and Tabaquite MP Suruj Rambachan unveiled a $14 million State project that was completed by Galbaransingh’s Aztec Asphalt Pavers company.
Rambachan scoffed at any suggestion that maybe the Government should not be handing taxpayers’ money over to men who are hiding from the law—albeit doing so in plain sight.
“He is free to bid and tender for any project,” said Rambachan. “I don’t think the UNC should distance themselves from him at all.”
Food Production Minister Devant Maharaj, whose ministry oversaw the tendering process, sang from the same hymn sheet.
“Why should we distance ourselves? Is it that he is not allowed to do business in Trinidad?” asked Maharaj, knowing full well that Trinidad is the perfect place for men like Galbaransigh to do business.
On Friday, Atwell decided that he deserved to be free to do business too. So, he updated his Facebook page and then blasted his way out of jail, leaving a dead officer in his wake.
The media called it a “brazen” escape.
Warner and Galbaransingh, who allegedly influenced the last general election with ill-gotten money, must have read the news and shaken their heads disapprovingly, even as their attorneys continue to stave off extradition. This place gone through, oui.
Editor’s Note: Wired868 wishes to offer sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Constable Sherman Maynard, who was tragically killed in the line of duty while trying to keep Trinidad and Tobago safe.
January: The year of our Lord, 2016, started with a swing and a miss as West Indies cricket star Chris Read more
The following is the actual excerpt from an an interview with Raymond Tim Kee on Sky 99.5 FM, just after Read more
Franklin Khan: A thousand armies of the PNM empire will descend upon you. Our arrows will blot out the sun! Read more
It’s been a tumultuous weekend for Trinidad and Tobago, as two of the country’s larger than life characters appear to Read more
Saturday 13 February 2016 would go down in Trinidad and Tobago media history. Or at least it should. Finally, the Read more
Port of Spain mayor Raymond Tim Kee responded to outrage at his comments with reference to late Japanese pannist Asami Read more
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.
Where’s the CJ in all of this? Maybe he should be truthful to the us as to why all this “reform” is taking so long.
A must read
There are many issues and reasons for concern in our justice system methinks. If the presumed “criminals” that the police catch can be in cells for 10 years without being convicted of anything yet.
Then, one way or the other, it is a travesty of justice.
Loophole number one: http://wired868.com/2014/08/22/no-justice-in-police-slayings-ex-magistrate-says-close-legal-loopholes-instead/
Agreed. We need a revamp of the entire justice system From the court house to the police service to the prisons. Because the only problem relocation will solve is an infrastructure one in the short term. Prison breaks here, while they shouldn’t happen, are few and far apart so that’s a minor area of concern imo.
That’s why the Indictable Offenses Bill sounded like a good idea – until the PP fashioned it to free “Itch and Stitch” via section 34.
And a big part of the problem is an intentional loophole left to criminals called the preliminary inquiry.
There is a broader discussion to be had on justice as well. A man is in prison for 10 years without being convicted?
I knock the police plenty. But here we have the capture of what could well be a career criminal and the courts can’t get the job done.
I learned more about what happened here than all the other news outlets combined! Thanks
new day coming after the 7th
Being a first world country is more than vision 20/20 or 20/30 or 20/40, its about changing our mindsight about global issues and having a bit more common sense about things I can’t think of any first world country that has a prison in the middle of the nation’s capital and not in an isolated area just to name an example. Definitely excellent points were raised in this post, it gives hope that there are right thinking persons amidst the haze of stupidity that seems to be more prevalent.
Additionally, nobody should be able to park an escape vehicle outside a prison. That is madness. Escapees should at least have to be on foot for some miles.
This is real shit, what is going on in this country
There are places where foot and vehicular traffic are less than other places and where accessibility isn’t as great. That’s the first thing. The second thing is I am not a “town people” so I don’t know what you are attempting to insinuate.
Nah you really ought not have prisons in well populated areas, ideally they should be isolated.
Or is it that town people feel once is somebody else problem is all good?!
Ummmmm. Unless it’s down d islands. That’s kinda true anywhere a prison is
Solve which problem? The crime problem? The escaping from prison problem? It solves neither of those. But you put a prison somewhere where there aren’t a lot of ppl and where there aren’t multiple escape routes and you reduce the possibility of innocent lives being threatened, traumatised and lost and you give yourself a better chance of recapture.
But we’re getting ahead of ourselves.
First thing first we need prison reform.
In case of jail break the surrounding population is threatened, it also offers escapees sanctuary.
How is relocating the prison going to solve the problem though?
Asked whether the escaped prisoners were members of the Jamaat, Abu Bakr’s son, Fuad, said the Jamaat did not have members per se.” And d sun does rise in the west too…
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2015-07-24/abu-bakr-distances-jamaat-plot
Trinidadians have to reject any administration that refuses to do so.
Not sure what has to happen before the entire jail is relocated…
Once again, very well articulated.
I’m somewhat on the side of the of the Prison officers. Based on the levels of crime, the nature of the crimes, the sophisticated nature of the crimes, my guess is that they are probably ibadly trained to handle these new conditions and stellar personalities behind bars. Imagine for a minute being in their shoes. You have to be really desperate to be underpaid and wake up keen to go to that environment to work every morning for a poor salary. Most just want to get by, support their families. Prohably easy prey for the intelliigent crooks. We are meant to have prison reform, but when will that happen,
That’s why I said I. South American prisons Vernal. That’s not unique to Mexico but the entire continent Is a banana republic ting
Mexico is actually part of North America… minor contrivance.
In Mexico too Nicole.
In fact I’m Mexico there are prisons where sections are administered independently by gangs where gang members live with their entire families, have all the amenities of the outside world and have firearms and cellphones.
The Prison Officers Association should rename themselves the Ostrich Association because according to them, all officers are beyond reproach and it’s the government’s fault these things are happening for failing to control what’s happening inside the prison. But I have one question. Who is responsible for maintaining order within the prison walls?!
Nicole Ulerie that’s truly sad and worrisome, then who guarding the guards? The prison officers association are complaining of their vulnerability but it seems like some of their membership are aiding and abetting the inmates. How much help would be the jammers and scanners Praky was mentioning if these things are currently going on inside the prison walls?
Actually Greer that’s not quite true. In South American prisons there are drug kingpins that live exactly as they do on the outside just in prison. I’ve know someone that worked in the prison system in the BVI and the prisoners all have better smart phones than the POs. there was even one drug accused that acted as a money lender for the POs. I think that is what happens in most under developed nations
Excellent piece. Teri Grice
Brilliant as usual. Only in this country can such rubbish occur where as prisoner can be posting pics on fb that were taken inside the prison walls. When the PM said we had nothing to fear as long as she is PM. I tell you my fear increased. Ppl not serious in this country when Atwell was aided and abetted by a PH driver who was giving advice which areas to avoid.
Brilliant, as usual Lasana, but if the whole situation weren’t so serious, it’d be funny. I truly despair for what we’ve become.
Hard not to agree with Kala that writing this piece with its eclectic mix of so many diverse elements and not ever really offending is akin to walking a long tightrope and never once losing your balance. Splendid work! You’re one step closer to the Pulitzer.
On point, as usual, but I don’t know how to feel after this one.
Chabeth, How does one identify an escape vehicle from an ordinary, non-escape vehicle? Is it tagged? Does it carry a special number plate? Do tell…
Tragically farcical…..
He had a ‘special visit’ with family members after which he blasted his way out. I’d like to know what’s a ‘special visit’
“Mr Live Wire cannot confirm whether Atwell received the weapons in an email attachment.” – Looking for new Android update…
Too sad.
Lasana well said. Condolences to the family of Constable Maynard. Listening to the utterances of the politicians following this event, could I appeal to you, via Wired, to set up a system of disaster relief? SMH! If we’re faced with any serious emergency, other than Kamla of course, we in deep trouble!
Hahaha. Well I’m still to work out if he is an accidental joker or the real deal.
And people still seem to love both. I wonder whether its the sartorial style.
Ian is sillier than Live Wire if you asked me! ?
If Ian is a fan of Wired, might I suggest that, like Endemol, he diversifies the brand a bit and set up one Crime Watch for petty crimes, like the guys stealing guavas and goat, another for dodgy religious leaders, and one for politicians. Oh, and one for football.
Houses of worship are tainted too. Or maybe they always. The Archbishop defending friendship with Warner and brushing aside collecting dirty money, Pastor Samuel sharing the stage with probably our country’s most crooked govt, Sat’s utterly selfish agenda, the Jamaat’s crime links…
Which is a frightening thought. I think all societes – maybe Bhutan less so – have to deal with a manageable level of criminality. Its par for the course. But I fear that certainly since the 80s and esp since 1990, we have crossed the proverbial Rubicon. It has seeped into everything. A free for all. A hardening of attitudes, in spite of an increase in religious programmes, houses of worship (is it for the tax free status or do they just want to entertain us?). As another commentator said,when Crimewatch is the most anticipated bit of nightly entertainment for the masses while they unwind from the stresses of a manic society, we really need, er, to worry.
Thanks Kala. Just trying to provoke some thought and fresh angles.
I suspect these going ons are so messy that we might never really get to the bottom of it.
Brilliant piece, Lasana! The ‘mix’ is certainly an whiffy, noxious one, but you manage to negotiate the high wire that is T&T politics, religion and criminality -not to mention FB updating and fashion sense – and Tim Kee (because he deserves a mention all his own) with the grim humour exceedingly well. Top class.