Children wanting to be children cannot enjoy their childhood because they are being watched over by men holding guns.

This was the disheartening revelation made by a 13-year-old girl at Wednesday night’s T&T Police Service town meeting at the Mango Rose Community Centre in Port-of-Spain.

The little girl, who took to the microphone during the open floor segment, said the children in the community “need some kind of love in Mango Rose.”

“As a child, I do not like what is going on in Mango Rose. We could be in the yard and men sneaking up in the building watching over we, the children, with guns and shooting over,” she said.

“The boys playing football and they saying they ‘fraid they break glass and shooting over them. We in the court they come shooting at us.”

A businessman, who after earning an associate degree in Culinary Arts, said he started his own business, said many times he is confronted by gunmen either when leaving very early on mornings or arriving home late at nights.

He called for regular police patrols in the area, especially at nights, in a bid to keep the “normal and hard-working residents safe.”

Acting Snr Supt of the Port-of-Spain Division Floris Hodge-Griffith, in an immediate response, said her heart breaks to see people crying out to live and to go about their lives like normal people. She, however, added that whilst regular police patrols were not guaranteed “we have to find a way that the people can live.”

“I was here some time ago when there was shooting and it was a hell of an experience, very disheartening, but we are doing our part and would like to do more to ensure that the youth have a better future.”

Hodge-Griffith said she believes the rise in gangs and gang shootings stemmed from a “level of ignorance.” She told the story of a recent walk in a crime hotspot where she questioned why the youths were turning to a life of gangs and guns.

She said she was given no reason and instead suggested to their parents that if they wanted to live that kind of life, that donor cards should be signed to give permission for the donation of their respective organs when they are killed.

“I told them I will tell their parents that they should sign cards to be an organ donor because when you go to the mortuary and to forensics you see strong contributors to the progress of this country lie down flat We just throwing away blood. Blood running down the streets of POS like nothing,” she added.

The residents also called for the re-introduction of the Mango Rose Police Youth Club, saying they are afraid to go to the existing police youth club on Nelson Street as their lives are threatened by those residents.

The senior police officers made it clear that they would not encourage segregation and gang rivalry by implementing a youth club so close by but added that they will provide a security escort for those interested to attend.

The officers explained that through this it can foster unity between both sides.

Police officers have praised the efforts of an unknown “Good Samaritan” for his actions in rescuing a 24-year-old woman who had jumped from a moving vehicle in a bid to escape her attacker on Wednesday night in Montrose, Chaguanas.

According to a police report, at about 9.30 pm the woman, whose identity was not released, was walking along Enterprise Street when she was forced into a vehicle by a man she knew who was armed with a gun.

The woman was reportedly badly beaten about the body with the firearm by the man inside the vehicle.

However, upon approaching Montrose Junction, the woman jumped out of the moving vehicle. But the man stopped the car, got out and chased after the woman. It was during the chase that a passer-by intervened and took the woman into a vehicle. The attacker fled the scene upon seeing this.

Police said the “Good Samaritan” took the woman to the Chaguanas Police Station where an official report was taken. She was subsequently taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope, where she was treated and warded in a serious but stable condition.

When the T&T Guardian’s team visited Enterprise Street yesterday, a woman said she was liming with three other people when she noticed a silver station wagon drive into the street from the Old Southern Main Road.

She said in a few minutes she saw the same vehicle heading back towards them but this time heard a man’s voice loud “cussing and carrying on.”

“The man had his window down but we could not see who he was quarrelling with inside the vehicle, but it had to be someone smaller than him in size. He was cussing very hard and driving like a madman that I telling my friends and them that I hope that man don’t crash,” the eyewitness said.

The eyewitness said she knew the man to be from the Cunupia area.

“I also notice the car swerving from side to side and hearing the loud cussing but we didn’t hear any details like what he was so mad about…but coming to think of it he had to be beating the woman in the car because I really hear a woman’s voice too in the melee,” another eyewitness said.

Police sources said they received information that both the man and woman were from the Cunupia area. It is believed the man went into hiding after the incident.

In a media release yesterday, the TTPS commended the brave actions of the passer-by, “which resulted in the victim’s rescue from further physical injury.”

Investigations are continuing and an arrest of the suspect is imminent.

A 33-year-old man was shot outside his business by thieves in Arouca yesterday. He later succumbed to his injuries at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mount Hope.

According to a police report at about 6.45 am Quincy Gill, of Region Park, D’Abadie, had just parked his silver Toyota Corolla outside his food outlet and was opening his business, located at the corner of the Eastern Main Road and Lopinot Junction, Arouca, when three men confronted him.

Police said Gill was shot three times by the men, who escaped in a waiting vehicle.

Police are yet to determine a motive for the killing which has brought the murder toll to 259 for the year thus far.

Investigations are continuing.

Parents, teachers and students of the Success Laventille Secondary School paid tribute to their murdered schoolmate Joshua James with a silent protest on Thursday afternoon. The demonstration took place at around 2 pm on the Eastern Main Road, Laventille, along the southern perimeter of the school.

A memorial to James has been erected in his classroom.

Among the placards carried by the participants was one which listed children from the area, including students at the school, who have been murdered in recent years.

One of the teachers, who asked not to be identified, said too much innocent blood has been shed and the “poor/nil response” from the relevant authorities is disappointing.

“All this senseless killing and nothing being put in place,” the teacher said.

A relative of the slain teen said he was working on a school project on drug abuse and violence when he was killed.

“He did not like the crime that was going on . . . all this gun play. It was a pain for him to hear gunshots all around him,” the relative said.

She said James wanted to either become an underwater welder or a member of the T&T Coast Guard.

“He was very intelligent and did well in his schoolwork. He loved to work for honest money and would do chores for people around, including washing their vehicles and helping them sell food. He was loved by all and very well-respected and full of respect for others.”

James was killed last week Friday while he was playing a video game at his home. Two bystanders were also killed—Carlos Abraham, 38, who was celebrating a friend’s birthday, and Curtis Hepburn, 49.

According to reports, at around 10.45 pm, a car stopped at the corner of Erica Street and the Old St Joseph Road and gunmen opened fire.

James died on the spot. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.

Officials of Novo Communications Limited have described as “reckless and damaging” statements made about their company by Javier Figueras, Corporate Vice President of HBO Latin America Group.

On Tuesday, at a conference on Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement: Video Content Piracy hosted by Alianza at the Hyatt Regency, Port-of-Spain, Figueras described the increase in use of android boxes as a “new frontier being explored by pirates.”

He said: “It is true there are many android boxes, there are many people paying for that but they don’t know how long it will last and for which distributors are not even paying a penny, such as companies like Novo in this country pushing the android box and pushing services that are totally illegal.”

In response, Novo Communications said it is an internet service provider authorised since 2015 by the Telecommunications Authority of T&T (TATT) and they “fully abide by the terms and conditions of our concession.”

Novo’s Director of Corporate Communications, Larry Holder, said the company does not sell android boxes and is not in the business of broadcasting illegal content.

“This is an irresponsible claim made by Mr Figueras which he failed to support by any admissible evidence,” Holder said.

He added that the statement could easily be interpreted as an alleged “deliberate attempt by Mr Figueras and the HBO Latin America Group to tarnish Novo Communications’ good name and reputation by linking our company to illicit and illegal activities.”

He said: “Again, we categorically refute this irresponsible and reckless statement and reiterate that Novo Communications does not broadcast illegal content,” Holder said.

“Novo Communications takes pride in being the only Internet Service Provider with a niche licence granted by TATT to provide 100 per cent fibre to the home network, especially in often neglected rural communities. Our pristine fibre optic network has opened the door for economic growth through the introduction of high-speed broadband, educational development and increased computer literacy to remote areas of T&T.

Holder said the company has reached out to TATT officials and is contacting Figueras about the statements he made.

A large cache of high-powered guns—including AK 47s, assault rifles, and Glock pistols—were highlighted in a video that went viral yesterday on social media along with two voice notes warning citizens to stay away from the Beetham and Port-of-Spain areas as a result of impending gang wars.

However, the T&T Police Service (TTPS) described the circulation of the video as “reckless and irresponsible” and intended “to create public mischief and promote panic.”

The TTPS added that the large cache of firearms did not originate in T&T, but confirmed that the “mischievous” voice notes, however, are being generated locally.

Commissioner of Police (Ag) Stephen Williams has sent a stern warning to people to desist from producing and circulating “the offending communications.”

The TTPS has advised members of the public who come into possession of these communications to delete and cease the further circulation of it. “The TTPS will continue to be actively present in all communities across T&T to provide safety, security, and reassurance to the citizenry.”

The video with a version of Bob Marley’s rendition of ‘One Love’ showed the high-powered weapons displayed on a leatherette couch set. Around the room were several baskets of clothes, appliances boxes, and a dining set with personal items on it.

In one of the voice notes (47 seconds), a woman spoke of the guns and questioned the safety of children, believed to be close to her. She was heard saying: “...I see something on a video with Rasta City.

Ramadan done already today (referring to yesterday), if you see guns and what type of guns. O Lord, I don’t know what’s going on…if you could call or send a voicemail to your children and tell them if they don’t have to go anywhere stay home and if they have to go let them go their way and come back home because I don’t know what will happen.”

She also sent a warning: “Please be vigilant and be careful…send them a voice note and wherever they is, let them stay. We don’t know when it will start and what will happen because them mean business.”

In a second voice note (46 seconds) a male voice believed to be a member of law enforcement warned those working in POS and those doing intelligence to “be alert and be careful.”

He claimed that instructions were given by “The boss,” referring to a gang leader in the Beetham to “Keep the area clean and clear after 5 pm…The word came from the boss…Don’t know what they expect or what they plan to do, but who working town side to be alert and aware of what taking place.”

POS North/St Ann’s West MP Stuart Young, meanwhile, said there are people who are trying to create panic, confusion, and despair.

He said the video was downloaded from the Internet, having originated from another country.

“The mischief makers are putting these videos and even voice notes onto social media and they are then being circulated with the suggestion that they are legitimate and from T&T.

“It is obvious that there are some who wish to mislead the population with dishonest and destructive untruths. All patriotic citizens must unite behind and support our law enforcement agencies in the performance of their duties to protect and serve us, and we will also ensure that those who desperately wish to destroy and mislead T&T are exposed for who they truly are and for what their nefarious, unpatriotic agendas are.”

WARRING GANGS

Warring gangs—the Rasta City gang and the Muslim gang—promised “bloodshed” after the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday on Friday. The Rasta City gang also started its “campaign” by painting light poles in Gonzales in the red, green, and gold colours declaring the area to be theirs and “declaring war against the Muslims.” However, the authorities promised to increase the presence of police and soldiers in Beetham and certain parts of East POS. The first strike was when a team of police officers moved into Gonzales on Friday and repainted the light poles in white.

This latest video and voice notes followed last week’s social media leak of three lists containing the names, photos, and addresses of 111 suspected gang members, including gang leaders.

The leak came two days after the Sunday Guardian’s expose on over 200 gangs that exist in T&T and a “secret document” which was sent to the Ministry of National Security and the TTPS identifying over 2,000 people–their names, alias’, addresses, gang affiliation, and known offences.

The leaked documents listed three areas in the Port-of-Spain Division–Leau Place in Laventille; Beetham–Phase 1 to 4, and Basilon Street.

It showed photographs along with names and alias’, date of birth, addresses and gang affiliation numbering 45, 64, and 12, respectively.

Some of the gangs identified are G Unit gang, Rasta City, Cassava Peace, Sea Lots gang, and the Muslim gang. Some of them were also linked to other areas including Diego Martin, Carenage, Belmont, and Morvant.

A police source from the POS Division, who wished not to be identified, told the T&T Guardian that most of the names appearing on the lists are “known criminals” to the police but admitted that some were “suspected affiliates.”

He refused to say if it was an official document from the TTPS.

Speaking with the Sunday Guardian, one of the men from Beetham whose photograph and name appeared on the list said he believes that the document was deliberately released by police officers, “These police dem always on we case and they friending with other gangs and this is a revelation for the rival gangs to see what we look like to kill we na boy.”

Another man from Laventille said he was innocent and not in any gang, “just now you might hear I get gunned down like a dog too because of this list. We black na and from the hills so they say all ah we is gangsters but is not so.”

A community leader, who wished not to be identified, said yesterday, “I live in reality…I don’t deal with social media…Them (referring to the police and soldiers) accustom doing what they doing and I accustom doing what I doing…I am not bothered.”

Officials of the Children’s Authority say they are investigating reports of children being abused at a home in St Augustine.

Shemelle Paradice, senior communications associate, confirmed yesterday that the case was brought to their attention by residents of the area. She said the Authority’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) was dispatched to locate the children, investigate the report and to determine the necessary intervention.

“From the investigation, it was determined that the children were at risk and plans were initiated to have the children relocated to a safe place,” she said.

Residents called the police after hearing screams for help from the siblings who were allegedly being abused by close relatives on Saturday night. Yesterday morning. residents told the T&T Guardian they were concerned for the safety of the children, ranging in age from one to ten.

Eyewitnesses claimed the children had been badly beaten about their heads and bodies by a close male relative and that a close female relative, who is also a victim of severe abuse, also physically abuses them.

The children were had been staying at the home for the past 17 months after their home was destroyed by fire.

Concerned neighbours, who claimed that three of the children are regularly tied up and beaten by the male relative, shared videos purporting to show the children with bruises about their bodies from the beatings. In one video, a boy says he was beaten after he complained about being hungry, was placed under a bed and tied up. The children told neighbours they are beaten with pieces of iron, cables and a hammer. One of them lifted his jersey to showed multiple wounds to his back.

“We would hear these children screaming for their lives. The police came a few times after they were called by people around who would be hearing the loud impact of the lashes. We would see the police there and we would see the police leave and the children still there,” said one resident said, who wished not to be identified.

“We often saw them stripped naked and beaten. For days they tell us they are not given anything to eat. They would be forced to sleep on the cold concrete without sheets or pillows.”

An officer at the St Joseph Police Station confirmed that they had responded to a report of abuse on Saturday night but did not give further information. An official at the Ministry of Social Development’s Social Welfare Division confirmed that the Division is aware of the case and has launched an investigation.

Paradice said the Children’s Authority is deeply concern that physical abuse continues to be one of the most common types of abuse reported to its hotline.

She said the Children’s Act 2012 permits only parents and guardians to apply ‘reasonable’ corporal punishment of children and forbids such punishment to be applied by anyone else.

“The Authority called on parents and guardians to adopt alternative forms of parenting such as positive reinforcement for good behaviour, establishing rules and the choice and consequence technique, to reduce the need for corporal punishment,” she said.

“The public is reminded that if they have any concerns or suspicions about a child’s safety, they should make a report to the Children’s Authority Hotline at 996 or 800-2014.”

National security agencies need to prepare a comprehensive contingency plan for specific surgical operations to flush out gangsters, says Garvin Heerah, former head of the National Operations Centre.

“This plan has to be from a concentrated effort, with renewed and adjusted tradecraft, and maximising all facets of the available intelligence architecture, co-ordinated and theatred from one specific fusion centre,” he said.

Noting a sense of panic and desperation across the country, Heerah said surgical operations need to be carried out in crime hotpots in a way that “no innocent citizen feels its impact.”

“The innocent law abiding citizens are the victims and have suffered too long and far too much in the face of these vicious violent acts within the once peaceful abodes of their communities,” he said.

A more strategic, co-ordinated and collaborative effort between law enforcement agencies, social service providers and the public, with the objective of significantly curtailing gang involvement, and its negative impact, should be implemented with immediate effect, he added.

Heerah is also recommending a multidimensional gang strategy for high risk young people between the ages 12-24.

“Based on research, young people who would move up the ladder of gang membership and activity are those who commit intentional acts of violence or who are arrested for gang-related incidents,” he explained.

“These traits are first detected and flagged as these young boys and girls exhibit violent tendencies at the school level. However, a number of educational institutions are guilty of concealing this information in an effort of safeguarding the image of the school and good ratings,” said Heerah,an expert on safe city operations and homeland security solutions.

A 35-year-old mother of three, who had recently taken out a restraining order against a man she knew, was found dead in St James last night.

Police said there was a single gunshot wound to the head. Police have since launched a manhunt for the suspect, who is believed to have gone into hiding.

According to police reports, at about 8 pm officers acting on information received went to Dundonald Hill where they found the woman, who was identified as Nadine Smith. Smith was married five years ago.

Up to late last night investigators were still on the scene gathering details.

However, speaking to the T&T Guardian under strict anonymity, a close friend of Smith, who was very distraught, described Smith as a “gentle and loving soul”. She said Smith often attended church and was known as a “woman of serious faith”.

“She was the most humble person you would ever meet and her children were her world. She lived for them and to make them happy,” the friend said.

“It is so shocking and sad to know she had to go in this inhumane way.”

An investigating officer told T&T Guardian that Smith recently removed herself from an abusive relationship with a man she knew and added that she received several death threats afterwards.

Smith’s murder was recorded as No. 263 for the year thus far.

Investigations are continuing.

Senior police officers yesterday issued an alert to be on the lookout for three men dressed in police uniforms carrying out robberies in the Central Division.

This warning came on the heels of an incident yesterday at a TMall supermarket in Caroni where three men dressed in what looked like official police uniforms entered a Chinese supermarket at about 9 am.

Police said the men told the Chinese cashier to open a certain part of the establishment to “check on their books.”

Chinese workers, who were monitoring on the grocery’s surveillance system, became concerned and contacted the Caroni Police Station to verify the officers’ presence.

With no confirmation at the station and the Chinese nationals locked themselves in a room. The men, police said, left the grocery, located opposite the Frederick Settlement Business Park, and left in a while Nissan wagon.

Photographs of the three men were posted on WhatsApp Groups and Facebook yesterday.

Speaking with Guardian Media yesterday, a senior police officer advised citizens to be aware of their surroundings and urged them “to contact the nearest police station should they get suspicious, especially when people dressed in clothing resembling police and soldiers enter their homes and business places demanding things or giving instructions. Identifications and documents should be requested.”

Investigations are continuing.

Authorities must review the methods used by women to protect themselves from abusive partners, including the granting of restraining and protection orders from the court, according to Adriana Sandrine Rattan president of the International Women’s Resource Network (IWRN).

In the past two years, more than 50 women who obtained protection or restraining orders against their estranged husbands/partners are now dead, according to statistics from IWRN.

Rattan comments follow the latest suspected domestic violence murder which claimed the life of Nadine Smith.

Smith, 35, who was married five years ago, was found dead at Dundonald Hill, St James on Monday at about 5 pm.

According to a police source, the suspect, a close male relative was last seen by his relatives on Sunday night. The man, according to investigators, did not report to his place of work, which is located in Chaguaramas on Monday.

Police said Smith recently obtained a restraining order against the man as she had been a victim of domestic abuse, including emotional and mental abuse and had received several death threats.

And an autopsy today will determine how the mother of three was killed as there are now conflicting reports about what caused her fatal head injuries.

Initial reports suggested that Smith was shot in the head, however, investigators believe that it is possible that her head was bashed in with an unknown object. The autopsy will be done today at the Forensic Science Centre in St James.

The woman’s children were taken by relatives to an unknown location, police said.

Rattan said the organisation has made the plea before for authorities to review the ways to protect victims of domestic violence since the current mechanisms were not working.

She said protection orders “only serves to infuse more anger into the minds of perpetrators almost like a gateway to commit their heinous acts.”

“Recently, one of our clients was followed into a church by the perpetrator with a restraining order in place,” Rattan said.

She said that the organisation notes that while restraining orders may sometimes contain specific instructions—including orders to keep away from the victims and have no communication —those rules are largely ignored as there is no police vigilance to monitors the whereabouts of the alleged abuser.

“Unless and until there is a holistic review of the content of these orders with guaranteed protection for the victims, the country would continue to lose our women tragically,” Rattan said.

She suggested that the legislative framework for restraining orders be reviewed urgently, with an assurance that provisions be made for the immediate arrest of perpetrators who choose to continue molesting or go within close proximity of the victim.

“In the current framework, victims with restraining orders are not safe with some of them ending up being prisoners in their own homes,” she said.

• Up to press time, investigating police officers were still looking for the suspect in Smith’s murder.

Victims of crime joined hands with residents of Central Trinidad in a march from Freeport to Chaguanas to denounce murders, robberies and home invasions in their district.

Over 200 people walked through drizzling rain along the Old Southern Main Road for over three-hours where they got support from residents who came out of their homes.

At the end of the march, Caroni Central MP Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie handed Sen Supt Inraj Balram, the head of the Police Service Central Division, a list of suggestions to implement to curtail criminal activity.

Dubbed the people’s march, the activity commenced shortly after 8 am at Three-Roads Junction in Freeport and ended at Woodford Lodge in Chaguanas, just off Ramsaran Street.

Tewarie had the support of Chaguanas Mayor Gopaul Boodhan and Tabaquite MP Dr Surujrattan Rambachan. Balram also led a large contingent of police officers, including acting ASP Richard Smith, Insp Dane James of the Freeport Police Station during the march.

The letter presented to Balram noted that between September 9, 2017 (when the PNM assumed office) to June 11, 2018, there were 35 robberies in the Caroni Central constituency, several of them involving bandits armed with guns.

“We also have had since 2016, about one dozen murders, several of them yet unsolved. The invasion of homes, churches and temples has been a recent phenomenon which has escalated over the last year,” Tewarie said.

“We need to take back our country from the criminals. We need to stand together and help build and work with the police in a constructive way to combat crime and deal with the criminals,” he added.

Boodhan said the people are upset and added that there should be the implementation of certain measures including a gun amnesty and joint army/police patrols and searches.

Speaking with Guardian Media, a police officer assigned to the Central Division’s Inter-Agency Task Force said that officers are very concerned over the type of weaponry being used by criminals and also, the growing use of technology by bandits.

“We got wind that these bandits are conducting surveillance, monitoring people’s movements, checking for camera systems and moving in to disable it and using hi-tech technology to jam internet signals and phone lines when they are ready to strike. People should be alert and report all suspicious activities, people and vehicles in their areas. Do not turn a blind eye,” the officer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, warned.

Tewarie also sent out letters to the Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon and acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams.

A 26-year-old was who marked for death after a recent dispute over property was shot and killed in a drive-by in St James.

Chike Denbow, a mechanic, was gunned down while liming with a group of friends at about 8.30 pm at the corner of Alfred Richards Street, St James, when a silver Nissan Tiida vehicle pulled up alongside.

A man in the backseat of the car fired several shots hitting Denbow.

Denbow, of Clifton Hill Road, East Dry River, Port-of-Spain, was taken to hospital where he died while undergoing treatment.

Speaking with Guardian Media yesterday, a relative said Denbow recently began construction of his house and since then “he always had clashes with people about the property and that piece of land where he started building.”

An autopsy revealed that Denbow was shot multiple times to his upper body. Relatives have called on police for justice. Denbow’s murder was the 264 person to be killed for the year.

Investigations are continuing.

A police officer who reported his gun stolen after he gave a stranger “a drop” is now being investigated by officers of the Professional Standards Bureau (PSB).

According to a police report, the police constable said his personal firearm was stolen from his vehicle which was involved in a minor accident on Sunday.

The officer, who is currently assigned to the North Eastern Division, told investigating officers that he was driving his car along the Heights of Guanapo, Arima, at about 6 am when he noticed a “young” man walking along the roadway. The officer said he stopped and offered the man a drop out of the remote area. On reaching the pillars at Maturita Village the officer said he struck an animal crossing the road. He stopped his vehicle and got out to check on what he had struck and to see if his vehicle was damaged.

The officer claimed at that point his passenger stole his Glock 9mm pistol. He reported when he returned to the driver’s seat the man he picked up had gotten out and said he would take a taxi.

The officer said he did not realise his gun missing from a pouch he stored in a pocket of the vehicle until later that day. The officer also alleged that other items, which were also in the pouch, were missing.

The officer gave the description of the person he picked up to be of mixed descent, brown in complexion and about five feet six inches in height.

T&T Guardian was told that senior officers of the North Eastern Division, as well as PSB, are “looking into the matter.”

Investigations are continuing.

Schoolmates of murdered 16-year-old schoolboy Joshua James paid tribute to him in a poem at his funeral yesterday.

James’ schoolmates from the Success/Laventille Secondary School dedicated the poem to him saying their hearts have been broken “to see him go.”

“The memories we had with you are golden but we wanted you…You did your very best for us…God knows how we miss you,” part of the poem read.

Tears flowed from men, schoolmates, friends, acquaintances and family at the service held for James at the Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Main Road, Laventille.

On June 8, at about 10.45 pm, James, 16, was playing a video game at his home, when he was shot when gunmen sprayed bullets in front of his yard. Two other bystanders were killed - Carlos Abraham, 38, who was celebrating a friend’s birthday, and Curtis Hepburn, 49.

The trio are believed to be collateral damage in an ongoing gang war in the area.

James’ cousin, Kamika, in her emotional eulogy described him as “perfect” in her eyes. Others referred to him as a young man who portrayed attributes like Jesus Christ, where he, like Jesus, brought joy to all those around him.

James, according to Kamika, had so many high hopes, “Besides karate, being a chef and the best car washing personnel ever, Joshua was very passionate about swimming and the love he had for it was very admirable since he was so determined about becoming an underwater welder.”

“This has been the most tragic, shocking and devastating moment that broke everyone’s heart,” Kamika added.

An investigation has been launched into an incident in which two University of the West Indies (UWI) students were taped while engaging in a sex act in a classroom in one of the main buildings at the St Augustine campus. Passing students who could clearly see the pair from a pathway to other areas of the campus videotaped the act and it was subsequently posted on social media.

The two students were engaged in sexual intercourse in a classroom at the Learning Resource Centre, but they were clearly visible, through a window, to passersby outside from a walkway. In the video, passing students could be seen commenting and laughing at the act, with some of them stopping to film it on their cell phone cameras.

In an immediate response to the video, which was posted yesterday, a university lecturer who wished not to be identified sent out a stern warning to students.

“Consider your actions, life is worth more than a moment’s pleasure,” the lecturer told the T&T Guardian.

“Students must think about their actions and remember that the university is a place to prepare them academically for a bright future.”

The lecturer said at the tertiary level they deal with young adults who are easily sexually aroused but reminded that having sex in public spaces is illegal under the law—Indecent Exposure of the Person under Section 7 of the Criminal Offences Act Chapter 11:01. That act dates back to 1844 and makes the common law UK offence of indecent exposure an indictable offence in T&T.

“But what is a greater concern is sexual responsibility. The use of protection to avoid unwanted pregnancy or contracting a sexually transmitted disease may be considered,” the lecturer said.

The video caused widespread debate, some of which pointed out that such acts had been happening at the university over the years and was a norm.

“It has been going on for years...is just that some idiot decided to take a video ‘which apparently is the in thing nowadays’ so calm down,” one social media user posted in response to the video.

When contacted for comment yesterday, UWI Guild of Students president Darrion Narine took the opportunity to remind students and staff to maintain a level of respect.

“Respect for the laws of the land, respect for rules, regulations and respect for their fellow colleagues on campus as well as the institution in which they operate and study,” Narine said.

He assured that the Guild “will be working with the administration, to get to the bottom of this.”

Contacted yesterday, UWI St Augustine Campus Principal, Professor Brian Copeland said they were aware of the incident and were “looking into it”.

Asked how a situation like this or of similar nature is handled by the university, Copeland said it all depends on “who it is and what it was.”

“We want to appreciate that it is young people we are dealing with but whatever comes up in our fact-finding mission, we will treat with it accordingly,” Copeland said.

Attorney Jonathan Bhagan said whilst it is “a morally reprehensible act,” he believes “restorative justice” should be looked at and “the perpetrators made to apologise to the public and do community service to repair the image of UWI which they helped tarnish”.

Efforts to contact Minister of Education Anthony Garcia were unsuccessful.

A 42-year-old auto parts dealer was shot 14 times moments after he pulled up in front of his home in St Joseph on Wednesday night.

Simon Moss was taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope where he succumbed to his injuries.

Investigating officers described the incident as a “hit” but were unable to determine a motive for his killing up to press time.

According to a police report, at about 7.45 pm Moss had just turned into his driveway at Agostini Street when he stopped his car to take a phone call.

A gunman walked up to him and shot him several times to the upper body. Moss, who was the father of two, was taken by relatives to the hospital where he died. Police discovered 14 spent shells on the scene.

Police officers yesterday confirmed that about eight years ago, Moss was charged for a gun, which he had in his possession illegally.

The close friend added that Moss had bought the gun to protect himself.

Moss operated an auto parts dealership at the Bamboo Village, Valsayn and normally when he closed up shop would usually hang around for a while to lime with friends.

Moss’ wife left the Forensic Science Centre in St James shortly after 1 pm and declined comment.

Moss’ murder was the 265th person to be killed for the year.

Prominent Chaguanas attorney Maria Ramcharitar was inconsolable yesterday, after finding the body of her secretary on the floor of a room in her office.

Police said Nicole Hosein-Debideen’s throat was slit and it seemed she was left there to bleed to death.

Ramcharitar’s office is located in a building adjacent to the Price Club Supermarket at Ramsaran Street, Chaguanas.

Ramsaran Street is known to be very busy and shock waves went through all, including fellow attorneys, when they heard the news.

According to a police report, at about 10.15 am Ramcharitar had just opened her office and went into the bathroom area when she discovered Hosein-Debideen’s body in a pool of blood. A party of officers led by Central Division acting ASP Wayne Mystar and Homicide officers from Region 3 arrived on the scene.

Hosein-Debideen, 44, was pronounced dead by the District Medical Officer and her body was removed to the Forensic Science Centre at 1 pm.

After making the gruesome discovery yesterday, Ramcharitar was put to sit on a chair just in front the building. She was inconsolable and was seen crying and screaming at times as close friends and family, including the victim’s 67-year-old mother, Shirley, tried to comfort her. Hosein-Debideen lived at Sanford Street East, California Village, Couva. She was a widow and had no children. Her husband, Marlon  Debideen, died about two years ago.

Speaking with the T&T Guardian, Shirley said she last saw her daughter at about 6.30 am when she left to go to church.

“Every morning she would leave that early to go to church before going to work. I called her on the phone and she was already in office and I asked her if she ate breakfast yet and she told me no but added that she was going to eat just now. That must have been close to 8 am,” Mrs Hosein said.

“This real shocking to me. My daughter lived with me and I heard of no threats and no enemies. I just trying to stay strong because we don’t know why this happened to her.”

Felicity/Endeavour councillor Debideen Manick said he was stunned just like the community.

“Mary has her office here over ten years and I knew Nicole several years now. She was such a nice person, always had a smile on her face and was such a dedicated and efficient employee.”

A close friend of the family told the T&T Guardian that Hosein-Debideen was the church-going type.

“She went to church, work and home…every day. We are really shocked, sad and disappointed that such a fate befell her.”

Mystar said the police was yet to determine a motive but added that they are “working on a few leads.” He said they were expected to view footage caught on surveillance cameras around to get a better idea of what may have transpired prior to her killing.

Hosein-Debideen was the 25th woman to be killed for the year so far and the 270th murder victim.

Investigations are continuing.

Cases of domestic violence and child abuse are on the rise in T&T and over the last two years, more than 57,000 applications for protection orders have been made.

According to attorney and lecturer at the Hugh Wooding Law School Alana Jameson during a march earlier this year against domestic violence, the statistics were released from the Judiciary of T&T and covered the period 2016 to 2017.

On June 18 Nadine Smith, 35, was found dead by her three children at her home at Dundonald Hill in St James.

An autopsy revealed that she died from blunt force trauma to the head–she was bludgeoned to death.

Police officers confirmed that Smith, who was married for the past five years, had recently taken out a restraining order against a close male relative.

According to statistics sent to the Sunday Guardian by the International Women’s Resource Network (IWRN), in the past two years more than 50 women who obtained protection or restraining orders against their estranged husbands/partners are now dead.

IWRN’s president Adriana Sandrine Rattan, on the heels of Smith’s murder, had called on authorities to review the methods used by women to protect themselves from abusive partners, including the granting of restraining and protection orders from the court.

Last week, Rattan and her IWRN team sent a comprehensive correspondence to Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi requesting urgent attention and amendments to Protection Orders. “We cannot disclose all suggestions and recommendations but we have asked that certain parts of the Domestic Violence Act be amended to specifics which will leave less room for loopholes.”

Rattan also added that the organisation have asked for the AG’s office to conduct training/sensitization workshops for all Judiciary workers and police officers.

Volney called for electronic bracelets

Former minister of justice under the last People’s Partnership administration, Herbert Volney in piloting the Electronic Monitoring Bill 2011 alluded to the fact that protection orders could not be enforced against someone who wanted to harm the other party.

Volney further explained to the Sunday Guardian that he advocated for an order by the magistrate that the person against whom the order is made should be forced to wear a bracelet while the other carried a device so that the monitoring authorities could forewarn of a distance breach of the protection order.

“The police would be notified and the person against whom the order was made immediately arrested for breach and brought up for sentencing. As it is now, the order is worthless to protect the other party,” Volney said.

‘Implement emergency hearings’

A police officer, who wished not to be identified, also weighed in on the issue saying that there must be a process whereby with any application for a domestic violence protection order or any report of domestic violence an immediate detention order accompanies it, in which the alleged offender must show just cause as to why such an order should not be granted/enforced.

“A system of emergency hearings at 24-hour magistrate family courts can accommodate this, especially where vulnerable women with children are involved,” the officer said.

“Unless something is done to give the protection that is needed between the issue date and date of service of these orders there will forever be murder victims who the orders failed to protect, thereby rendering them otiose!”

PROCEDURE TO OBTAIN PROTECTION ORDER
i. The applicant goes to the court’s registry at the respective Magistrate’s Court;
ii. The applicant speaks to the Clerk of the Peace, who identifies the problem and determines whether it is a domestic violence matter or a matter for another court;
iii. The applicant pays $3 in cash or the value of $3 in stamps for filing a domestic violence complaint;
iv. The Clerk of the Peace then prepares the complaint and summons and at the same time fixes the date of hearing within seven days of the filing of the application;
v. The applicant is required to sign the complaint;
vi. The applicant takes the summons to be served on the respondent to the police or may be served by the applicant or his/her agent.

BREACH AND FINES

*An order can last for as long as a magistrate thinks it is necessary; but not longer than three years;
*Once aware of the order, the respondent must comply with its terms;
*Failure to fulfil the terms according to Section 20 of the Act - the first-time breach, the penalty is a maximum fine of $9,000.00 or in default, a maximum of three months in prison;
*On a second breach, the maximum fine is $15,000.00 or in default, imprisonment for a period of 24 months;
*The magistrate can order that the respondent pay the fine and serve time in prison;
*If after the second conviction the respondent breaches the terms of the order, the magistrate can sentence him/her to a maximum of five years imprisonment.
(Source: www.ttlawcourts.org)

THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE (ELECTRONIC MONITORING) BILL, 2011

The purpose of this bill is to make provision for the introduction of electronic monitoring in T&T, at different stages of the criminal justice process and as a condition of a Protection Order, granted under section 5 of the Domestic Violence Act, Chap. 45:56.

Domestic Violence Chap. 45:56

6. (1) A Protection Order may—
(a) prohibit the respondent from—
(i) engaging or threatening to engage in conduct which would constitute domestic violence towards the applicant;
(ii) being on premises specified in the Order, that are premises frequented by the applicant including any residence, property, business, school or place of employment;
(iii) being in a locality specified in the Order;
(iv) engaging in direct or indirect communication with the applicant;
(v) taking possession of, damaging, converting or otherwise dealing with property that the applicant may have an interest in, or is reasonably used by the applicant, as the case may be;
(vi) approaching the applicant within a specified distance;
(vii) causing or encouraging another person to engage in conduct referred to in paragraphs (i) to (vi);

Relatives of Yasin Richardson and Brandon Harewood are calling for an immediate intervention by the head of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA), David West, as they claim that their children were allegedly fired upon by the police “for no reason” on Saturday morning while on their way home from a party.

Richardson, 22, who was shot multiple times, was the driver of the car and later died while receiving treatment at the Arima District Hospital.

Harewood, also, 22, who was shot and injured, was up to yesterday still in police custody at the Arima Police Station.

Richardson lived at Wallerfield. He was Harewood’s neighbour and “good childhood friend.”

Speaking with the T&T Guardian yesterday at the Forensic Science Centre in St James, Richardson’s father, Andre, said he needed answers from the police, who were involved in the incident.

An initial police report stated that at about 4 am police officers of the Northern Division were on patrol along Cocorite Road, Arima, when they attempted to stop a vehicle with two male passengers.

The men reportedly ignored their requests to stop and sped off. The officers called for backup and pursued the men, who allegedly began shooting at them.

Even after the police shot the car’s tyres, the driver continued to drive. The vehicle was eventually intercepted along Tumpuna Road South after the driver crashed and the vehicle flipped.

The driver and passenger were removed from the wreckage and taken to hospital for treatment.

However, Andre said he strongly believes that something is wrong as he firmly believed that his son and his friend did not have guns in their possession.

Andre said he was told that the police officers were responding to a report of an attempted robbery at a gas station in Arima.

“Maybe they mistook my son for the thieves but we went around and ask the three gas stations around that we know of and we were told that nothing like that ever took place on Friday night up to that time that shooting took place…no robbery…no attempted robbery,” he said.

Andre said his son worked together with him as an engineer’s assistant and had recently bought his Suzuki car. “He had gotten paid and decided to go to a party in San Juan. So, it was him and two friends - Brandon and a next one, who he had dropped off just before the police shoot them.”

“I really need answers here and the police must take wrong for this. They have to take responsibility for this,” Andre said.

Harewood’s mother, Sasha told the T&T Guardian yesterday that she attempted to get information from the police but to no avail.

She said, “All they tell me is that my son at the station and he has not been charged for anything as yet (up to 6 pm yesterday).

“I went to the hospital and was told that my son was shot and had received treatment but was given no other kind of information as to where, if it’s left or right. I know he is at the station because I tried to carry clothes and food for him but the police refused to give it to him. I asked what happened and all they tell me is that it is a police matter,” Sasha added.