“[…] It is inappropriate for people to be making accusations and who by their accusations, have already found police officers guilty without getting the facts. These would include the Law Association, an Opposition Senator, and a person who received one percent of the votes in an area he contested in …
Read More »Morris-Julian: Sooman once called Dr Rowley a rapist, Andrea’s death bigger than personal politics
“[…] When Sally Sooman emerged as the [Andrea Bharatt] family spokesperson, I felt a familiar sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. I pushed it aside because I sincerely hoped that Ms Sooman would not allow her personal politics to arise. Unfortunately, I was wrong. “It was on Facebook …
Read More »LATT demands ‘thorough, independent criminal investigation’ into deaths of TTPS’ suspects
“[…] These reports put into question the accuracy of the explanation given by the police for Mr Morris’ death in police custody, that he fell off a chair, and give rise to the obvious need for the institution of a prompt, thorough and independent criminal investigation into the possible homicide …
Read More »Media Monitor—Pt 4: Still sticking it to readers in the time of Covid-19
Remember the OUR OBSCENE TRAGEDY editorial to which the Guardian devoted its front page on Sunday 7 February? The following day, the Express devoted both its front and back pages to continuing outrage and public protests over the most recent killing of a 23-year-old The UWI graduate. And contrary to …
Read More »Dear Editor: Where are the body cameras? Time to bell the CoP and his trigger happy cowboys
“[…] It has already been proven around the world that body cams work two ways: to protect the citizenry from false arrests, charges or death; and to protect the officers from false accusations. “Time and time again, when questioned about the absence of body cameras, the CoP—in his usual rambling, …
Read More »Daly Bread: Entrepreneurial spirit of Carnival artistes provides light in gloom of violent crime
Today on what should have been Carnival Sunday, I find myself in a place where darkness and light have fiercely contested for attention throughout the preceding week. The contest between darkness and light has been triggered, on the dark side, by the murder of Andrea Bharatt; and, on the light …
Read More »Vaneisa: Divided we stand… something has to be done T&T
One group: burning tyres, pieces of wood, cardboard—debris really—in protest against the conditions of roads that are impassable or collapsing; or the absence of water via taps or trucks; or maybe it’s a bridge gone, cutting them off; or a fallen tree yet to be cleared; or a downed electricity …
Read More »Noble: Who really cares? How shallow protests ignore chance for real change
‘Poor children are victims of circumstance/ In life they never really get a chance/Or have opportunities as privileged children do/ The road from the poor suburb to prison leads them/ From broken homes they are condemned to fail/ Their abusive and drug-addicted parents serving time in jail/ Their parents too …
Read More »Media Monitor—Pt 3: Class of 868; taking tired newspaper habits right down to the wire(d)
“Allyuh publishin anything now?” asked a sarcastic commenter on a recent Wired868 story. Wired868’s editor is not the person who spent two years performing autopsies on the two media dinosaurs in Port-of-Spain. But he is nonetheless acutely aware of the adage that enjoins entities to adapt or die. To the …
Read More »Dr Rowley: ‘The most efficient and viable solution for Tobago’; THA to get 15 districts
“In the forty year history of the Tobago House of Assembly, there has never been an even share of seats to respective political parties resulting in such a deadlocked election result in Tobago. “Further, given that the number of electoral districts is an even one there is the real possibility …
Read More »Demming: No nine-day wonder; Andrea Bharatt’s death must lead to action
February 21 will mark nine days after the burial of Andrea Bharatt, and it is likely that the marching, candlelight vigils and accusations of ‘shedding crocodile tears’ will no longer be at the forefront of our minds. We will retreat to the burglar-proofed boxes we call homes and cautiously peer …
Read More »Dear Editor: T&T’s two-tongued on issue of violence and the women whose lives matter
“[…] Gender-based violence is often separated from the larger problem of violence that has pervaded this society. The violence is symptomatic of a country built and driven by bloodshed, which is then propped up by widespread corruption. “[…] If it is acceptable for the police to unlawfully assume the role …
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