Fake news is “active misinformation” that is packaged to look authentic. Over 17 years ago, I came across a website that purported to be an official US civil rights site and bore the image of Martin Luther King Jr, but it was a race hate site funded and maintained by white US supremacists.

That far back, journalists were already being taught how to distinguish between fake news sources and authentic ones.

By the time WikiLeaks came along in 2006, publishing secret information, news leaks, and classified media from anonymous sources, which showed just how much the wool was being pulled over all our eyes, we were all engaged in the incredible social media revolution that soon demolished whatever safeguards existed in helping to define what is real news. During the 2016 US presidential election there was a lot of fake news about Hilary Clinton being a child murderer, which may have got some traction among voters.

Before that, the news that then President Barack Obama was not really a US-born citizen was a successful bit of fake news too.

These are actually personally damaging accusations, quite apart from the fact that they could influence the outcome of the election; and probably did in Mrs Clinton’s case. I often wondered why she did not bring a civil lawsuit against such gross defamation of character.

I reasoned that probably the sheer cost and time it would demand were obstacles. Also, there is the fact that in this kind of case the person found guilty would have to pay damages.

But who were the perpetrators of these defamations? Hundreds if not thousands of people would have re-tweeted the news, each of them guilty. How easily could her lawyers find the person who uploaded the damning YouTube video that portrays Mrs Clinton as being personally involved in the rape and murder of scores of children that got 400,000 views in four days? For that to be ignored, it is clear that a civil suit was not feasible.

If fake news can harm the democratic right of a citizen to make an informed choice about an election candidate then it is against the constitution and it should be possible for a criminal lawsuit to be pursued. But criminal libel is not a federal offence in the USA, and only in some states, which probably means Mrs Clinton’s would have had to take state-by-state action, making affordable, legal action almost impossible, with little chance of success.

The almost total lack of redress brings into question the limits of freedom of speech in the brave new world of the Internet and social media. The rules have changed and there are no new ways of managing a lot of the mores of today’s media world.

President Trump’s most recent, unsubstantiated tweets about then President Obama tapping Trump’s palace during the election is a case in point. It is a criminal offence for a US President to order surveillance of a US citizen except in exceptional circumstances. Mr Obama has described President Trump’s claims as “false,” but any legal action seems unlikely.

Criminal defamation was always controversial as it involves state prosecution, is hard to win, and those convicted face imprisonment.

The UK abolished it as an offence some years ago.

In TT, however, it remains a crime and journalists have argued for its abolition, since it hinders invest i g ative work.

I wonder, though, if every country needs it, given developments in the US?

According to reports, Patricia Achong was seated in a white car which was proceeding along the North Coast Road on Tuesday night.

The driver of the vehicle told police that at 9 pm, when he reached the three quarter mile mark in the vicinity of the look-out, another vehicle, a beige coloured Toyota Yaris pulled alongside and a man pointed a gun at Achong who was seated in the back seat behind the driver.

When a shot was fired, Achong slumped in the backseat while the gunman sped off.

A report was made to police and the semi-conscious woman was rushed to hospital for treatment.

No motive has been established for the shooting and investigations are continuing.

No arrest has been made.

From 2012 to 2016, there was an increase in the amount of drugs seized throughout the Caribbean.

In 2016, with respect to cocaine there were 29,486 kilos seized. For the same period, 1,165,465 kilos of marijuana were seized.

“If we look at the statistics from 2012, there were 20,818 kilograms of cocaine seized. For marijuana, 193,716 kilos were seized with 1,355 arrests. If you look at the difference between 2012 and 2016, you will see a marked increase, notwithstanding during the years 2013, 2014, 2015 there were highs and lows…but always an increase.” He continued, “It has been well established that in the Caribbean we have proven to be a main thoroughfare, especially through Trinidad and Tobago because of our location where it is appropriately situated.” Mc Alpin gave statistical data on drugs, firearms and ammunition seized by the TTPS for the first two months of this year as compared to the same period last year.

He said for 2016, 68.96 kilograms of cocaine were seized and for 2017 so far, nine kilos were seized __ a reduction of 86.95 percent.

In 2016, 225.56 kilos of marijuana were seized in the first two months. For this year, 76.24 kilos were seized, a 66.19 percent decrease.

“Arrest for cocaine… males, last year we had 93, this year so far, we have 116 arrests.

“An increase of 24.73 percent.

Last year during the same period we had three females arrested, and this year we have arrested nine females.

An increase around 200 percent,” Mc Alpin said.

“During the same period for females, we had 31 arrests last year, this year 69 females were arrested for marijuana. An increase 122.58 percent. With eradication exercises during the same period we had four eradication exercises, which resulted in the destruction of 10,650 fully grown marijuana trees.

“This year we had five exercises, which resulted in the destruction of 76,627 fully grown marijuana trees. An increase of almost 700 percent. Last year during the period of January to February we had 168 firearms seized, this year we have 150 firearms seized, a small decrease of 10.71 percent.” Mc Alpin said last year during the same period they had 129 males arrested for firearms, this year 133 were arrested, a 3.1 percent increase in arrests.

Magistrate Forde-John granted Ali, who was represented by attorney Ainsley Lucky, bail in the sum of $35,000 and adjourned the case to March 31. Prosecutor Cleyon Sedan told the court that on Monday at about 7.30 am, Ravi Rampersad of Union Hall, San Fernando, last saw the cash and jewelry on a dresser in a bedroom.

Seedan added that Rampersad made a check in the bedroom and discovered the items missing.

The items included a watch valued $2,500 and gold bracelet and chain together valued $15,000. He contacted the San Fernando Police Station and PC Ramdhanie and others went to a house at Union Hall and met Gokool and another person.

Gokool admitted to stealing the items from his uncle and selling them to someone on High Street in San Fernando. The court heard that police proceeded to Edan Centre, High Street, where someone handed over one of the stolen items. Police also found 1.4 grammes of marijuana. PC Ramdhanie charged him with both offences.

Forde-John fined him $2,000 and ordered that he pay his uncle $7,800 in compensation. She reprimanded and discharged Gokool on the marijuana possession charge.

ASP Roberts was mandated on Tuesday by Senior Superintendent Joanne Archie, who is the head of the Tobago Division, to begin a probe into the leak and yesterday he began interviewing several police officers. According to Snr Supt Archie, the probe will continue until the perpetrator or perpetrators are found. She said all resources will be made available to the investigator to bring closure to this probe.

The Police Cyber Crime Unit is involved in the probe. Archie said this type of action will not be tolerated in the police service. She maintained that to expose the police report into rape and the subsequent medical report of the victim on social media was a low blow. Archie added that she was contacted by her seniors on Monday asking her to ensure a probe is started and every effort made to prosecute the guilty.

In the Senate on Tuesday, Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon also condemned the action of the person or persons involved in such a leak.

On Carnival Monday night, a 27-year-old woman alleged she was raped at her Plymouth apartment by a policeman. The matter was reported to the Scarborough police and the woman was taken for medical examination.

A 22-year-old police officer was arrested, charged and has since appeared in court. However, late Friday the police report on the rape and the medical report of the victim was plastered on Whatsapp which prompted responses from persons in Tobago and widespread speculation about the rape act. This is the second investigation in Tobago Division for alleged misconduct with respect to leakage of sensitive and/or classified information from within the Service.

Christian Young, 21, of Old Train Line in St Margaret’s Village, Claxton Bay pleaded guilty yesterday in the San Fernando Magistrates Court to the two charges. He has two previous convictions, one for resisting arrest and the other for obstructing police. The magistrate further remarked that it appears Young, “just does not like to get arrested.” Court prosecutor Cleyon Sedan told the court that at 3 pm last Friday, PCs Rampersad and Buchoon of St Margaret’s Police Station were on mobile patrol along Southern Main Road in Claxton Bay. On reaching St Margaret’s Junction, the officers observed Young, who was a “suspect of a serious crime”, walking along the roadway.

The court heard that the officers approached Young and asked him to accompany them to the police station.

As the officers began searching him, Young pushed PC Buchoon to the ground. PC Rampersad was also assaulted by Young who then ran away. Both officers sought medical treatment at the Couva District Health Facility.

At about midday on Tuesday, Cpl Suliman met Young at the police station and subsequently charged him. In his defence, Young who was unrepresented, said he had intended to go to the police station. Magistrate Forde- John remarked that in 2015, he appeared in court charged with obstructing police and resisting arrest.

Before she fined him $3,000 to cover both charges, Forde-John suggested that when next he sees the police coming, surrender to them and ask questions later. She further ordered that he pay the officers a total of $1,300 in compensation.

Speaking at the Office of the Mayor in Port-of-Spain, Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister (Gender and Child Development) Ayanna Webster-Roy, thanked Martinez and his office for joining the ground-breaking campaign.

“Each signature today demonstrates the strength of the males in our society and sends a strong message that violence in any form would not be tolerated in such a progressive society in which the rights of men and women are valued and respected,” Webster-Roy said.

Webster-Roy said the signing of the proclamation was not another document to be signed, “but a collective and personal commitment to end violence against the fairer sex.” She said if all men in TT would embrace an initiative like the HeForShe Campaign, gender equality would be realised, making women’s stories matter and promoting real and tangible acti ons.

“Imagine the signal you are sending to the younger generation.

Imagine the message to the school boys who only see violence in their homes but now can plainly see men saying no to violence. Consider the image birthed in the mind of a young girl seeing you, who could have been her grandfather, father or brother, signing a document that has the potential to save her life.” She continued, “Imagine the feeling of joy this brings to our children, to know that there are men and women who want to protect and guard them from harm. Who love and value them and who are clearly stating that ‘this bad man thing can’t work’. What a positive, robust message this would send, the change it would engender, the hope it would bring.” She said there is no way any discrimination can be stopped until all players are acting with the same purpose.

“For us to create a lasting change, men cannot be absent from this debate. Men are part of the problem, but also part of the solution. We at the Office of the Prime Minister will continue the open dialogue on gender-based violence.” Webster-Roy added, “ We will continue to partner strategically with Non-Governmental Organisations and Faithbased Organisations to implement measures that are key to women’s empowerment. We are also deeply committed to building research capacity to systematically and responsibly fulfil the dictates of our mandate.”

With this year’s International Women’s Day theme Be Bold for Change, fashion designer Neha Dawar decided to collaborate with women’s wellness organisation Yes She Can which itself was launched on International Women’s Day 2015.

Roberta Rose Collins of Yes She Can said her organisation’s aim is to empower women to adopt healthier lifestyle habits through messages highlighting the importance of physical activity, healthy eating and self care.

Some young high profile personalities have been chosen to lead the campaign, mainly on social media. They include Desha Rambhajan, Samantha John, Serala Ramlogan and DJ Anna.

These women are contracted to do photo shoots and deliver positive messages to inspire women.

In partnership with the venture is Pratisha Lall of Panache Creative, whose role was to style each of the personalities in a way best suited to their own personality, 24 Frames Production for the photograph and Face Me Artisry to do the personalities’ make up.

The campaign is expected to take over social media in the coming days.

The Tobago East MP pressed Williams to assure that all officers would be paid by monthend, lamenting the plight of a female constituent who remains unpaid.

However, Williams replied, “I must only give honest assurance”, prompting all present to chuckle. He continued to say he could not assure that every officer would be paid because some had administrative issues, but he declared, “The majority will get by the end of March”. In the committee’s role of checking on each public agency’s internal audit processes, acting chairman, Fyzabad MP Dr Lackran Boddoe, asked about a system for keeping track of the TT Police Service’s firearms. “There is a very good system in place. I get reports on a monthly basis regarding the status of firearms.” Williams said he has appointed one officer to visit every police station to keep an account of their firearms, while another officer has a similar responsibility over police vehicles.

The PAAC yesterday also examined the Equal Opportunities Tribunal, Election and Boundaries Commission, Ministry of Works and Transport, Ministry of Labour and Ministry of Energy.

The ministry said now that the legislation was passed by the Senate on Monday and by the House of Representatives on February 23, “the country can now breathe a little easier because we have avoided the adverse consequences of loss of correspondent banking, imposition of withholding taxes, de-risking and de-banking that would have occurred had consensus not been reached on the legislation.” In the Senate on Monday, the bill was passed with 29 senators (Government, Opposition and Independent) voting for it.

Independent Senator Stephen Creese abstained and no senator voted against the bill. In the House last week, all 39 MPs (Government and Opposition) voted for the bill.

The ministry thanked all persons who contributed to the passage of the bill, including the members of the joint select committee (JSC) formed to examine the bill.

The ministry made special mention of the efforts of the hard-working public servants in the Parliament, the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs and within its own ranks who worked tirelessly to provide the required information and draft various amendments to the bill.

In concluding debate on the bill in the Senate on Tuesday night, Finance Minister Colm Imbert praised Attorney General Faris Al Rawi, Opposition Senator Gerald Ramdeen and Independent Senator Hugh Russell Ian Roach (all members of the JSC which he chaired), for the respective roles they played in ensuring consensus was reached on the legislation.

Imbert said Al Rawi put out “120 percent” effort to provide cogent information on the bill, Ramdeen provided written amendments from the Opposition for the first time and Roach made decisive interventions at crucial moments in the committee’s deliberations.