“There is a disturbing trend evolving. There is a marked increase in violent cimes such as murders, robberies and assault. That is telling us that our society is becoming more violent, that our ability to deal with anger needs to be looked at and the values that underpin our society need to be reviewed and implemented.”
Commissioner of Police Hilton Guy made those statments at the launch of the Community Safety and Enhancement Programme (CSEP) under the Ministry of Community Development and Gender Affairs held yesterday at the Hilton Trinidad. In mobilising the national community to join the police service and social groups in their commitment to reduce crime, particularly serious crimes, Guy said that the Police Service is “not left as the vanguard” in achieving community safety and enhancement. “We have partners,” he said. He agreed with Minister of Community Development and Gender Affairs Joan Yuille Williams’ view that all communities need to return to the days when community safety was the business of every resident.
The CSEP has replaced the Neighbourhood Watch Programme which was launched in 1996. It is aimed at promoting community safety and security, through the promotion of crime prevention strategies and projects with resource support from internal and external sources. Admitting that the NWP failed in its effort to reduce crime, Guy said there was need to review “our” situation and come up with another structure. He said that law enforcement will not solve crime problems, but the implementation of crime control methods and strengthening the family unit, since “a number of families comprise the community” will prove effective. Chamber of Commerce representative Everol Dupigny said that the re-launch of the crime stoppers programme, an initiative of his organisation, has resulted in a total of 887 tip offs with 515 cases cleared and solved, 32 murders solved, nine kidnappers arrested and $2.9M in narcotics seized.
Dupigny appealed for national response to making TT a crime free nation and informed of how each individual can be a part of the CSEP. He said: “Take a note of the number 800-TIPS. If witness to a crime you can make an anonymous call. You’ll never be identified, you’ll never be called upon as a witness… There’s even a reward and no one has to know who is receiving the reward. You’ll be given a signed code number which you take to the bank to collect your reward.” He said that the scourge of crime can be beaten and “packing up and flying out is not an option for most of us”. Other speakers at the launch included Chairman of the National Crime Reduction and Prevention Committee Ken Gordon, and Senator Joan Yuille Williams.
ANTI-Kidnapping Squad (AKS) and Northern Division police continued the search yesterday for kidnap victim Syam Ramkissoon — son of poultry magnate Jai Ramkissoon, who was kidnapped on Friday after paying the salaries of workers at a chicken farm in Manuel Congo Road, San Rafael.
“We are out in the fields following up several leads…but so far we have nothing,” stated a senior Northern Division detective who is involved in the investigations. The source also said the Ramkissoons had not received any instructions from the kidnappers. Ramkissoon, 26, was kidnapped by three men around 2 pm on Friday outside Sasa Farms. At the time he was in company with his mother Sumintra, 63, who received slight injuries during the kidnapping incident. Several years ago, Ram-kissoon’s sister Sharon was also kidnapped. She was eventually released seven days later and is now an attorney at law. Syam was married just six months ago. Investigations are continuing.
UNWILLING to let bandits steal his car, a father of two who was described by grieving relatives as a Born-Again Christian, was shot and thrown from the vehicle and left to die on a road near the home of a retired policeman in Tunapuna, during the early morning hours yesterday.
Northern Division police have since launched a massive manhunt for the killers of Derek Primus, 43, whose car had still not been recovered up to late yesterday. “Half an hour after my brother left home to ply his car for hire, he was dead. “The police called me and said he got shot,” a sombre Elizabeth Rivers told Sunday Newsday during a brief interview at her Balthazar Street, Tunapuna home. “When I reach the road, I see a body covered in white sheets and thought to myself ‘nah that eh my brother.’ But when the police lift the sheet I see is Derek,” Rivers cried.
According to police reports, around 12.45 am Primus was plying his silver-grey B15 Sentra for private-hire ‘PH’ and was parked at the Tunapuna Road Taxi-Stand waiting for passengers. He had purchased the car a few months ago. Four men entered the vehicle and asked to be taken to various locations in the Tunapuna area. Police said when Primus reached about 200 metres from the home of retired ACP (Crime) Cecil Carrington, at the corner of Payne Lane and Tunapuna Road, one of the men in the backseat asked to be let off and Primus stopped the car at the side of the road. However, the man placed a gun to Primus’ head and announced a hold-up. Primus tried to fight off the man whose accomplice sat next to him in the backseat.
The other two passengers, one of whom is a soldier, jumped out of the car and ran. Minutes later a single gunshot was heard and one of the bandits jumped out of the car, dragged Primus out of the driver’s seat and onto the road. The gunman then sat in the driver’s seat and drove off with his accomplice still seated in the backseat. The soldier who ran from the car, went to the Tunapuna police station and made a report. When officers arrived on the scene, they found Primus lying face up on the road with blood streaming from a gunshot wound to the left side of his chest. Sources told Sunday Newsday that shortly after the police arrived on the scene, Primus died.
Visiting the scene were Snr Supt Farouk Ghany, ASP Errol Dillon, ASP Nadir Khan, Insp Michael Modeste, Insp Alladin Karim, Cpl Neville Adams and Ag Cpl Durmot Highly. DMO Dr Chinia viewed the body and ordered it removed to the Port-of-Spain Mortuary. An autopsy will be done tomorrow at the Forensic Sciences Centre, Federation Park, St James. Police sources told Sunday Newsday that Primus had been deported from the United States, where his common-law wife and their two children reside, after he was freed of a criminal charge late last year. However, at the Primus residence in Balthazar Street, Tunapuna no mention was made of Primus being a deportee. “My brother was a family man. He was a Born-Again Christian and his whole life revolved around his family. He was an honest man who did not deserve to die the way he did,” stated Elizabeth Rivers, who along with another brother, had identified the body to police.
Primus’ father, Ralph, 68, sat on a chair while his daughter was being interviewed by Sunday Newsday. The elder Primus appeared to be in a state of shock and did not say much on his son’s death. Rivers told Sunday Newsday that her brother’s common-law wife and his children, who all live in the United States, were informed about his death. Up to late yesterday no arrests had been made and detective Cpl Neville Adams of Tunapuna CID, is continuing investigations.
A NEW York deportee who allegedly threatened to shoot a man at a bar was arrested, along with four other suspects of robberies in the district, when police swooped down on a Point Fortin house early yesterday morning.
Lawmen went to a house at Second Street, Techier Village, with a warrant to search for firearms and ammunition but instead found the deportee and four men with a quantity of marijuana. According to reports, around 1 am they received information of a fight at Legend’s Bar, Point Fortin, and that the deportee threatened to go home and return with a gun to shoot one of the bar patrons. Police were contacted and lawmen from the Siparia and Point Fortin branches responded to the call. The five men are expected to appear on identification parades in connection with reports of robbery and woundings in the Point Fortin area.
Meanwhile, Marabella detectives are investigating the shooting of a 21-year-old man outside a blocko early yesterday morning. Police said Shevon Breton, of Pearl Avenue, Battoo Lands, was shot on the right side of his chest following an altercation with the gunman. According to reports around 2.30 am Breton was liming on Premiere Street when he was seen in a heated exchange with a man. During the argument, police said, the assailant pulled out a firearm and fired a shot at close range at Breton then ran off. Breton was rushed to the San Fernando General Hospital where he was warded in a serious condition. Cpl Livia is investigating.
A SUPERVISOR at State-owned Petrotrin will appear before a Princes Town magistrate tomorrow charged with possession of marijuana, after he was arrested by Tableland police on Friday when the officers searched his car and found a quantity of the illegal narcotic.
The arrest of the 36-year-old man of Lengua Road, Princes Town, came during a road-block exercise in the Tableland/Princes Town areas which is part of a new-anti crime initiative. The exercise was led by Sgt Simboonath Rajkumar and included Cpl Jagroop, PC Kishore Ramsingh, PCs Maharaj and Nandlal. The exercise was carried out between 8 am on Friday and 6 pm. During that time, seven tickets were issued to errant drivers for several violations to the Traffic Laws. These tickets totalled $1,500 in fines. While on the roadblock, PC Singh stopped the Petrotrin supervisor’s car and during a routine search allegedly found the marijuana hidden under one of the seats. The man was arrested and charged by PC Singh for the offence.
TWO armed bandits, one dressed in the full official uniform of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, shot a Diego Martin supermarket proprietor after robbing the businessplace and escaped by hijacking a car and forcing the owner to drive them away, on Friday evening.
Western Division police have launched a massive manhunt for the bandits who made off with an undisclosed large sum of money, jewelry and other items. According to police reports, around 6 pm businessman Alexander Koo, 35, was conducting sales at his businessplace, Why Chru Koo Supermarket which is located on the Diego Martin Main Road, Diego Martin.Two men, both armed with guns, entered the supermarket and announced a hold-up. The bandits forced Koo to open the cash register and hand over the day’s takings. They also robbed several customers who were in the supermarket of cash, jewelry and cellular phones. Before leaving, one of the bandits fired a shot at Koo, striking him on the right leg. The bandits then ran to the car-park at the front of the supermarket and jumped into the backseat of a Nissan Sentra car which was occupied by Suchit Singh and his girlfriend Rasheeda Hosein, both of Morne Coco Road.
With a gun to his head, Singh was ordered to drive. While he was driving, Singh begged the bandits to leave the car promising them not to report the matter, but he was struck a gun-butt at the back of his head by one of the bandits. On nearing the KFC fast-food restaurant on Simeon Road, Singh crashed his car into a wall and he and his girlfriend alighted from the vehicle and ran. A report was made to the Four Roads police and a team of officers led by Insp Roland Thomas and including Sgt Stephen Ramsubhag, Cpl Hayden Hannays and PC Marvin Gonzales visited the scene and carried out a futile mobile search for the bandits. A Fire Services Ambulance arrived at the supermarket and took the injured Koo to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he was treated for the gunshot and warded in stable condition. Police have since issued an All Points Bulletin (APB) advising all police precincts to be on the look out for Singh’s car, which up to yesterday, had not been recovered nor were the bandits arrested. Cpl Hayden Hannays of Four Roads CID, is continuing investigations.
WITH THE energy sector poised to maintain the position as the highest provider of revenue in Trinidad and Tobago, Energy Minister, Eric Williams explaianed on Friday night that the country needs trained nationals to ensure that this bcomes a reality in earnest.
Williams was one of three government Ministers who spoke at Harpe Place in support of four Port-of-Spain City Corporation candidates for the July 14 Local Government elections. The other Ministers who spoke were Dr Keith Rowley – Planning and Development and John Rahael – Agriculture, Land and Marine Resources. The four candidates are Janice Wallace-Henry, Port-of-Spin North, Jennel (Millie) Young, Belmont South; McDonald Morris, East Dry River and Neuburn Clarke, St Ann’s River North. Eric Williams preambled his speech by stating that having returned from an energy conference in Tokyo, he could say with confidence that Trinidad and Tobago is on the world energy map, in a big way. “They only sang the praises of Trinidad and Tobago as being the number one exporter of ammonia, methanol and urea in the world”, said Williams.
Also, he said, Trinidad and Tobago is recognised as the fifth largest exporter of Liquefied Natural Gas in the world, “and the revenue is coming”. Disclosing the the National Energy Skills Centre will be located at the Old Rum Bond in Laventille,” he called on the people of Trinidad and Tobago to take advantage of the opportunities being offered with the current state of affairs. Then he disclosed that there will be a shortage of over 1,190 engineering technicians over the next five years. “Also, there will be a shortage of 590 skilled craftsmen and machinists over the next five years”. This was why he implored young people to pursue higher education if they want to fit into the scheme of things. Stressing that the government is in the process of expanding the energy sector, Williams advised that tertiary education is the way to go. “This is why we are building a new University at Wallerfield — the University of Trinidad and Tobago”. And here is where people from behind the bridge, meaning East of the St Ann’s River — the East Dry River — could come in and Laventille as a whole could come in. “They can achieve too.” He stressed that he was talking from the bottom of his heart when he advised: “Black brothers must stop killing black brothers. And you parents must stop encouraging this foolishness.”
North America Caribbean Teachers Association (NACTA) polling director, Vishnu Bisram, has refuted Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday’s charges of bias in its recent poll which showed the PNM routing the UNC in the July 14 Local Gover-nment elections.
Denying Panday’s claim that the poll was politicaly motivated to benefit the ruling PNM, Bisram said: “To describe the organisation as an agent of the PNM is absolutely ridiculous. It should be noted that when the findings of the NACTA polls showed the UNC ahead in previous elections, the polling organisation was not described as an agent of the PNM.”
Bisram recalled that NACTA had correctly predicted a tie in 1995, a UNC victory in 2000, a tie in 2001, and a PNM win in 2002, and foresaw election results in Guyana in 1992, 1997 and 2001 and in India and New York. Bisram said: “It is very difficult for the UNC to accept that its popular support has fallen to less than 40% after a superb showing of 54% just three years ago. But instead of attacking NACTA, the UNC should engage in a serious internal analysis of why support is falling very rapidly.” Bisram further explained: “NACTA’s polls are not intended to influence the outcome of an election.”
Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday on Friday evening lambasted the 170 days of hearings of the Commission of Inquiry into the Piarco airport development project, saying it was deliberately “dragged on to fill pockets.” He also said the proposed disbanding of the Integrity Commission was to set up a Commission “like that under Bernard.”
Chairman of the Inquiry, retired Chief Justice Clinton Bernard was also labelled several names by both MP for Couva South Kelvin Ramnath and the UNC’s Chairman Senator Wade Mark. Ramnath insisted that the Inquiry did not just end, but Bernard was instructed by the PNM “to get the hell out.” The criticism of the Inquiry came at the UNC’s meeting in Sangre Grande on Friday night, in support of its candidates in the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation, for the July 14 Local Government elections. It was Mark who launched the first attack on the Inquiry, which ended public sittings on Friday. Mark told the audience, of a couple hundred, that finally “the circus” on Richmond Street had come to an end. He said the Inquiry was “a national embarrassment and a spectacle of nonsense.”
Mark said at the end of the day, despite the ranting and ravings, Trinidad and Tobago had the most beautiful airport which was still standing and would be for a long time. He said just like the Commissions into the EBC and Biche High Court, nothing would come out of the Piarco Inquiry, except that it had one person going home with $1.5 million and another, with $1 million. Panday, during his turn at the podium, alleged that the PNM was so corrupt that they knew they would have to answer for it sooner or later, hence the proposal to abandon the Integrity Commission. But he said no such thing would be done. Government is considering replacing the Integrity Commission with an Anti-Corruption Commis-sion.
Panday added that the Piarco Inquiry was “deliberately dragged on and on, so that men could fill their pockets.” He describing the Commission as a “monumental waste of taxpayers’ money” pointing out that at the end of May a total of $5.5 million had been spent for the Commission. He detailed for his audience the fees paid to attorneys and Bernard to demonstrate his point. He said it was a political witch-hunt against the UNC. Panday noted that the DPP and the Law Association had criticised the Commission and a journalist was dragged before the Commission. He noted too that Sadiq Baksh was hounded and Bernard even used his position to call the late Justice Richard Crane a drunkard.
A CUREPE woman and her six children, including a 14-year-old schoolgirl, were arrested by St Joseph police who raided their home and seized over $20,000 in marijuana, during an all-day exercise on Friday.
During the exercise, a total of 18 persons were arrested for various offences and close to $500,000 in marijuana seized. During the exercise, a party of officers, acting on information, went to a house at Ramgoolie Trace, Curepe and executed a search warrant. The officers searched the house and seized more that two kilos of compressed marijuana with an estimated local street value of $20,000. A 42-year-old woman and her six children, ranging in age from 14 to 25, were arrested and taken to the St Joseph police station for questioning and are expected to appear before a Tunapuna magistrate tomorrow.
