Samaroo, of St Helena Village, Piarco, served as a soldier for 27 years and was a Special Forces officer until last October, when he was suddenly transferred to Camp Cumuto as a Warrant Officer Clerk II. Sources said Samaroo became depressed after his transfer. The depression intensified two weeks ago and Samaroo kept to himself and began behaving in unusual ways.

At about 9.40 am on Tuesday, colleagues found him with the gunshot wound and administered emergency medical treatment.

His service weapon, a Sig Saur was retrieved. He was taken to the Arima Hospital but was transferred to Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex. He was unconscious and already brain-dead.

Yesterday, Northern Division police said they were treating the matter as a suicide and had no reason to believe it was a murder.

An autopsy confirmed death was due to a single gunshot wound.

Sources said his colleagues are receiving counselling and other officers of the Welfare Department of the Regiment have been assigned to assist his relatives.

Chief of Defence Staff Rodney Smart and Commanding Officer Colonel Dexter Francis extended condolences to Samaroo’s relatives including his wife and three children. Sgt Denoon is investigating.

According to reports, at 9.30 pm, PC Morang of the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) was driving a Land Cruiser west along the PBR, when Dennis ran across the road, was knocked down and died on the spot.

Morang was interviewed at the St Joseph Police Station and police are continuing enquiries.

On June 2, 2015, at 4 am, Dennis gave birth to a baby girl on the pavement in Curepe and became an unwitting video sensation. At the time, she had set out with her common-law husband, 53-yearold Anthony Abraham, to get transport to hospital.

The birth was captured with a camera phone by a passer-by and posted on social media, where it went viral. Mother and baby were subsequently taken to the Women’s Hospital and later transferred to the nearby Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EW MSC) after nurses reported she had been behaving aggressively and cursing them.

The repugnant law stated, “It shall be an offence for any person to hold or to take part in or to attend any Shouters’ meeting or for any Shouters’ meeting to be held in any part of the colony indoors or in the open air at any time of the day or night.” The ordinance was repealed by way of another ordinance passed on March 30, 1951, and today’s holiday marks that fact.

It is important to look back at history to understand where we have come from. What are some of the lessons that society as a whole has learned from the Shouter Baptist experience? The origins of the Spiritual Shouter Baptist religion are not well known but the consensus is that it came about during the 19th century. With animus against the religion being officially sanctioned by the State, it is easy to see why many aspects of it became clandestine.

While the religion can be found in various forms throughout the Caribbean, the name Spiritual Shouter Baptist is indigenous to Trinidad and Tobago.

It is unique, comprising elements of Protestant Christianity and African doctrines and rituals.

It is also one of the few religions indigenous to this country.

Therefore the ability of citizens to practise this religion freely has always been bound with our ability to be independent, to acknowledge and cherish what is ours and to take pride in our own unique ways of approaching life, even if we, too, comply with universal standards and values.

The repeal of the prohibition in 1951 was not only a victory for a group of people of a certain faith. It was a victory for all of us.

It sent a signal that we live in a society that values human rights and fundamental freedoms. Particularly, the freedom of religion.

In a way, the repeal was a precursor to the insertion of the values of our current Constitution which enshrines “freedom of conscience, religious belief and observance;” “freedom of thought and expression;” and “freedom of association and assembly.” The State had cited concerns about security to justify its excesses.

The prohibition had allowed police officers to enter premises without warrants at any time as long as they had “good ground to believe or suspect” a Baptist meeting was going on, or recruitment was happening.

It is not fashionable in some quarters to remember it, but it was the important figure of Albert Gomes who is credited with introducing legislation that put an end to the persecution of the Shouter Baptists in this country.

That contribution, alongside the efforts of people like Tubal Uriah “Buzz” Butler, must not today be forgotten, even if as a society we have failed to adequately memorialise it.

Gomes’ contribution is a reminder of another lesson: this is a country of wondrous diversity.

That diversity sometimes leads to tensions when groups ignore the humanity of their fellow citizens. But generally, we overcome.

Reform of the law in relation to Shouter Baptists also teaches another lesson. Eventually all unjust laws must be abolished.

Today as a society there is need for us to reconsider the law as it relates to the practice of child marriage, the death penalty, and the rights of LGBTI people — be it in the Sexual Offences Act or the Equal Opportunity Act.

Ironically, those who support child marriage cite freedom of religion, even though religions have long gone away from the practice and even though we now know enough scientifically to override the premises on which religions have operated.

We should learn the main lessons that we today commemorate: times change and we must all, eventually, be just.

In most other advanced countries, mid-life (45-54) mortality rates are falling among all education classes, so the findings by US economists, Nobel Prize-winning Angus Deaton and his economist wife, Princeton University’s Angela Case, have come as a bit of a surprise.

Back in 2015, they revealed that the peculiar trend had been developing in certain parts of the US since the late 1990s — in the southwest mainly — but today the trend has spread nationwide in every level of urbanisation.

Their more recent research is still more shocking as it shows that while the mortality rate among poor whites was around 30 percent lower than African- Americans in 1999, it grew to 30 percent higher than blacks by the end of 2015 and it is worse among men. Since 2000, these poor white men have been dying at double the rate of poor white women and four times more than educated white men.

They are dying from escalating drug and alcohol abuse and suicide, and from increased incidence of heart disease and cancer, the two biggest illnesses of middle age. In their report, Mortality and Morbidity in the 21st Century, Deaton and Case dub the deaths as “of despair.” It seems like poor whites, and “poor” means under and uneducated people, ie, having only a high-school diploma or less, are in crisis.

Their low level of education did not matter while manufacturing and agriculture were still heavily dependent on unskilled labour, but since the 1970s and the rise of new, more efficient technologies and globalisation they have been displaced. The economic crisis of 2007 did not help, nor has the slow recovery.

Unlike African Americans who were always used to acute deprivation and scarce and low-paid employment, which was also the plight of many Latin American immigrants going back a long way, those poorly educated white people have been unable to adjust to the difficult, altered realities of their lives.

The authors report the group growing more socially dysfunctional with the steady deterioration in economic and social well-being experienced by each succeeding generation. The marriage rate has dropped, fewer people have jobs, and they suffer an increase in mental and physical health issues.

Of course, their response was to vote in last year’s presidential election for Donald Trump who promised he would turn their lives around by bringing back jobs.

That huge underbelly of US poverty and deprivation can be still more negatively affected by the failure of President Trump to deliver on his ambitious policies.

It is quite a feat to pull off and impossible without radical social policies to return a very sizeable section of the population to functional levels.

It would be interesting to see a similar study on why in TT we are growing increasingly socially dysfunctional and locate it among certain identifiable groups.

Although our citizens are living longer, which reflects an improvement in social provision, the homicide rate reveals a deep sickness. Our violence rates reflect, probably, the same hopelessness among the young in our society as in the middle-aged white US male, married to a deep anger.

Why are there nearly 200 gangs in operation in this country? What are they seeking and why? These seismic transformations do not happen overnight and we are not so inept that we cannot analyse the situation and come up with some answers. The problem seems to be that we are utterly daunt – ed by the task n e c – e s s a r y because the ans w e r s are not easy.

In the Diego Martin incident, Casife George and Arindel Atwell were both shot following an argument.

When police arrived, George’s charred body was found in a burning car while Atwell’s body was in a yard, a short distance away.

While Atwell’s family was unwilling to speak on his death, George’s relatives said they were only able to recognise him by remnants of his clothing, a defect to one of his toes and a scar from a previous shooting. “He is totally unrecognisable,” said a relative.

“He has no hair and almost all his flesh was burnt away.” According to reports, residents of Sea Trace in Bagatelle, heard an argument between a group of people. Moments after, gunshots were heard. When residents checked, they found a blue Nissan Almera car on fire. When the fire was doused by a passing water truck residents called the police.

Police cordoned off the area and later found George in the car. Atwell’s body was also found.

George’s relatives yesterday said his death took place simply because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“He was a normal, loving fella, but we are from the ghetto and everything is hard. So we would do what we have to do to survive. He was a plumber and never bothered anyone. What the police are telling you is wrong,” a relative said. Police believe the shooting stemmed from a drug deal which went sour.

In the other incident, a 43-yearold man was shot dead near his 23rd Street, Beetham Gardens house. Garvin Douglas’ body was discovered at about 12.50 pm yesterday by relatives who went to check on him.

He was found in a room with his five-year-old daughter standing nearby. Police have not established a motive for Douglas’ murder.

No arrests have been made in either incidents and investigations are ongoing.

In Thomas’ case, she was reported missing to the Central Police Station by her mother Camille Thomas. She was last seen along Independence Square, Port-of- Spain, at about 4.30 pm last week Thursday.

She is described as being 5 feet, 6 inches tall, of African descent with a brown complexion. She was last seen wearing blue jeans and a white tank top.

Villaroel was last seen leaving her home at about midday last Sunday.

Newsday understands she left home to attend classes at her school, SWAHA Hindu Primary.

Villaroel is of mixed descent, with a heavy build, has a brown complexion and long, curly, black hair.

She was last seen wearing a blue top, black pants and gold coloured sandals.

Police reported that a 16-yearold boy of Crown Trace in Enterprise, Chaguanas who was reported missing by his mother Charlene Francis last Sunday, has been found and is safe.

Ronald Willams was found by police yesterday and is said to be with his family.

The police, in a press release thanked all those who assisted in his safe return. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the missing girls are asked to call 800-TIPS or contact the police at 555, 999, 911 or any police station

Davis, who is assigned to the Court and Process Branch in Port-of-Spain, was riding along the Priority Bus Route (PBR), near Constantine Park Tunapuna on Tuesday, when his motorcycle crashed into a red-band maxi at about 1 pm. In a brief interview, Davis’ mother, Sherry-Ann Tudor said she is thankful her son is alive. “When I got the news on Tuesday I was in a mess,” Tudor said.

“My pressure went up really high. I am overwhelmed to know that he is with us today. I must say the doctors and nurses at the hospital are taking really good care of him and I am thankful for all that they are doing for him.” Although PC Davis, who was identified as a woman officer — in error — in a previous Newsday report, is in and out of consciousness, Tudor said he is responding to family members and they are all praying for his speedy recovery.

Justice Ricky Rahim found that Ashram Pariagsingh, a retired corporal with over 37 years service, was entitled to reasons after his leave was suddenly reclassified as nopay leave after almost three years.

Rahim said Williams’ conduct was an affront to the principles of natural justice.

Pariagsingh was assigned to the La Brea Police Station when, on May 8, 2012, he slipped and fell on the wet floor at the back of the station.

His lawsuit claimed the area was slippery because of a leaking PVC pipe. He said he suffered serious injuries to his back.

According to his lawsuit, the Human Resources Department of the Police Service classified his sick leave as injury leave with pay.

Three years later, however, Williams reversed that and classified Pariagsingh’s leave as extended sick leave with no pay.

He also told Pariagsingh he would have to repay all the salaries and benefits paid to him from May 2012 to March 2016.

Pariagsingh said he is unable to work and was shocked and disappointed as he did not have any money to make such a massive retroactive payment. He said Williams was threatening to deduct these sums from his gratuity and retirement benefits which meant he would have no financial cushion in his later years.

Faced with mounting medical bills and this bleak prospect, Pariagsingh’s attorney Anand Ramlogan, SC, wrote to Williams asking him to reconsider his decision on the ground that it was harsh, oppressive and unfair.

Ramlogan demanded that Williams provide a statement of reasons to justify his action, but he refused to do so and a claim for judicial review was filed.

Rahim found that Williams had a duty to perform his function in accordance with the principles of natural justice and was under an obligation to provide reasons, especially as Pariagsingh was now suddenly faced with having to repay a large sum of money.

Pariagsingh was also represented by Kent Samlal and Douglas Bayley, while Williams was represented by Niquelle Granville and Laura Persad.

“The TTPS has set its benchmark a detection rate of 30 per cent for 2017, which is in keeping with the international benchmark for crime detection…Overall the TTPS has realised a 29 per cent detection rate for serious crimes, 2017, thus far. There has also been a 24 per cent reduction in serious reported crimes for January to present, from 3,409 to 2,585, a difference of 824 when compared to the corresponding period (in) 2016.” Pierre was speaking yesterday at the weekly press briefing at the Police Administration Building, Port-of-Spain.

He said the police were approaching the close of the first quarter of 2017, and had experienced both highs and lows in their achievements.

Pierre said although Portof Spain was long deemed a hotspot, it had experienced the highest reduction, of 47 per cent, from 572 in 2016 to 301 in 2017, followed by Western Division with a reduction of 34 per cent, and Tobago Division with 29 per cent.

Among the crimes classified as serious are murders, wounding and shooting, rape, incest and other sexual offences, kidnapping, fraud, burglaries and break-ins, general larceny of motor vehicles, narcotics offences, and the possession of firearm and ammunition.

He said in terms of fraud offences, there had been a 58 per cent reduction from 302 to 126 reports, a 20 per cent reduction in wounding and shooting from 166 to 133, and a 20 per cent drop in robbery from 689 to 552 reports.

Pierre said whilst the police divisions had achieved some success in the record of performance for 2017, they recognised that reports of violence and murders __ for which guns remained the weapon of choice __ were of serious concern to the citizenry.

He said the police had found and seized 199 firearms of varying types, and 2,026 rounds of assorted ammunition.

“The TTPS will be intensifying its efforts to achieve a reduction in such crimes. We will continue to work assiduously by conducting exercises, road checks, increase visibility through foot and mobile patrols, intensify investigations and other measures to ensure that illegal firearms and ammunition are seized and removed from the streets of Trinidad and Tobago.”

In a statement issued by his office yesterday, Rowley said our nation recognises and celebrates, each year on this day, the triumph of the faithful to openly and freely practice their religion.

“We remember the oppression, struggle and humiliation of a group of people whose only ‘crime’ was a desire to praise God in their own way, as was afforded to other segments in the country,” Rowley said.

“Today the practitioners of the religion, described as indigenous to Trinidad and Tobago, may sing, pray, read the Bible, clap and shout without fear of punishment.

“Each act of violence against you, each arrest, each incarceration meant to break your spirit only fuelled your determination to have the Shouters Prohibition Ordinance repealed.

“Today as a nation, we too face many hurdles. We continue to adjust to a new economic reality. As a Government we continue to do all in our power to reduce the crime and murder rate and we share your concern about the level of inhumanity which we are witnessing in our communities.” Rowley said our situation, at times, may seem reminiscent of other violent periods in our country’s history but called on citizens to live by the example of the Spiritual Shouter Baptists and “all those who walked the path of hardship, brutality and injustice in our nation’s history.” He said in their journey to freedom is the constant refrain of strength and hope, of never giving up and of never buckling under the pressure.

“On this special day, together with our Spiritual Baptist sisters and brothers, we clap and raise our hands in celebration, we lift our voices in praise and we dance because although the memories are painful, our sisters and brothers were never broken and the taste of freedom is always sweet.”