The brutal murder of teenager Parmanan Persaud this week has not only shocked many persons living here, but even those living outside of Trinidad are numb to the fact that their sweet Trinidad and Tobago has lost it's paradise state.
Even though I did not address the murder on my blog, I mean how I could really deal with a topic so sensitive on a forum where all I talk about is Carnival, Modest Goddess has written about it and also has an on going commentary since the tragedy. If you would like to comment or read some more information on what happened please visit Moddess Goddess and Manicou Report.
In light of this latest murder, I know for a fact that many people are scared, worried and concerned that crime is not being addressed properly by the powers that be in this country, and justly are apprehensive about their personal safety for Carnival. All the claims that crime is decreasing by the Government are not supported by the fact that almost daily the newspapers report a murder.
Now I have read that an increased police presence will be mobilized for Cricket World cup, which got me to thinking that it is the same with Carnival, why can’t it be like that for the rest of the year? To be honest with you, during the Carnival period is the only time where I see police and army patrolling the streets, or on the roads at night and in large numbers too. So, the Government can see the importance of protecting foreigners for Cricket World Cup and Carnival (not saying that they should not) but for the rest of the year the same measures are not implemented to protect the citizens that live here!
On one hand I am glad that for the past few years Carnival has been relatively safe, take a read at this Guardian article to understand what I say when I say “relatively safe”; not saying that crimes do not occur, but the protected service tries their hardest to keep the smear of illict activites from staining the "freedom" that is Carnival. For instance, pick pockets come out in droves at certain fetes so you have to mindful of this and not walk with a wallet, stash your cash on your person securely. But if a fight occurs at one of those large fetes like Brass Festival, police officers step in to terminate it before it escalates into something serious.
In that sense they are working to keep criminal activity to the minimum. It’s the same with J’ouvert, now it starts later so there is less chance of something like a robbery happening under the cover of darkness, and there are lots of police on the streets for J’ouvert and on Carnival Tuesday as well which provides some comfort and hopefully keeps the criminals on their toes .But on the other hand, I continue to live in Trinidad after Carnival is over; when the visitors have returned overseas with their departure the “security” of the police is gone as well. We do not see them on the streets or on the highways in the same numbers as for Carnival. After Carnival is over the madness continues. Well maybe not for all because the rich folks in Trinidad live by a different standard; I know for a fact that areas in the West like Goodwood Park benefit from ROUTINE police patrols, not private security, but the POLICE!
I know the idea that Carnival is the “safest” period to visit Trinidad is not shared by everyone, just ask those who were robbed during the festival, but take it from me it is.As I would advise anyone coming to Trinidad for Carnival, be safe. It sounds simple, but to keep yourself from being a victim you have to be smart, use common sense and try your best to avoid situations that can put your life in jeopardy. Avoid walking with the flashy cameras and video cameras on the road, do not walk around with a lot of cash or “advertise” that you are a foreigner. Choose your fetes wisely; all-inclusive fetes are becoming increasingly popular not only because of what they offer but because of their safety record. Most, if not all bands provide security on the road on Monday and Tuesday, however do not stray away from the band alone; always stay in groups, even if going to the toilet. Make sure you have transportation organized going and coming from all the events you plan on going to and especially for after playing mas. No one wants to be caught alone, in a skimpy costume, half drunk on the streets as Carnival is winding down.Although the Government and protected services try their best to make Carnival safe, we too have to take responsibly for our own safety.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
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18 comments:
This was a great commentary on the crime situation in Trinidad Saucy! I agree with you there needs to be more of a presence by the protective services year round and not just in the areas that house some of the wealthier residents in Trinidad. I have lived in the States for about 6 years now (always returned home for special occasions and for carnival though!) and am actually returning to Trinidad permanently next year. The crime worries me a bit but I think with a lot of vigilence and cautiousness you can be okay. Especially, since I grew up in one of the "not so good" areas of Trinidad, but it took me coming up here to get robbed one time.
anon,if you look at the the trend of the murders children are the latest victims as well as women in domestic violence related cases.The problem is MUCH bigger than just keeping "us" safe; the sense of commnunity and looking out for each other is lost as well as the fact that the Police and Social Services are not equpppied or train to deal with these crimes.
In addition,people are scared to talk fearing for their lives as witness are murdered and prisoners are calling hits from behind bars! The first step in getting s solution is having the Government step forward and admit there is a probelm. Instead they are tryng to convince US the people who do not have private body guards and bullet proof cars, that crime is on a decline!
Morning All:
Saucy good post this morning. Now I am not a big advocate of our uniformed men, nor do I agree with the Gov't (especially that twit Min. of National Security we have), but I also believe in being fair. The gov't cannot be blamed for every kind of crime. What could the gov't have done to prevent that boy from getting tortured and murdered the way he did? This man was a drug addict and the boy trusted him. In this case, I put some of the blame on the people responsible for him, for not keeping a closer eye on him. When I was 13 I could not take a step without my parental units approving and monitoring it. And Sundays, that was to be in the house.
I can say as a fact that the reason there are so many police on the streets for Carnival is because, they use the entire force. Meaning, that unless some unavoidable situation warrants that you not work, you have to report to duty, even if you on vacation. They can't do that all year round. It's impossible, and I do commend them for the effort during Carnival. What they need to do is to step up their recruiting, but then they have to be careful because we don't have the sophisticated backround and security checks that there are in more developed countries, and they have to be sure that who they hire is not some dishonest riff raff.
I will contend that Trinidad and Tobago's major problem is a complete lack of a working efficient system that ties all aspects of our society together. Everything runs on independent of each other with no interconnectivity whatsoever. They can't make any SERIOUS leeway with crime in this country until they fix the legislation to get these people through the court systems, until they end the corruption and anarchy in the prisons, until they do some major work with child and social welfare, until we have some proper identification system in place that ties everything together (bank accounts, drivers license...everything), and until there is some accountability, And, especially for the sake of our young people, until there are proper programs like sports in place to attract these children at a young age and keep them from going of the yellow brick road. There are so many talented young people in Trinidad who just need an avenue to channel that creativity in a positive way, and who deserve to be rewarded and have their talents showcased. So it's a comprehensive system wide overhaul that needs to take place. And this to me is the major area that our gov't just does not seem to be making any progress on or even addressing. They are attempting to fix the symptoms and not the disease, which is that Trinidad and Tobago, I'm sorry to say, is nothing but organized chaos.
That being said (and I know I going on, sorry), each of us has a responsibility to ourselves to seek our own interests and to protect ourselves and our loved ones, during Carnival yes, but everyday as well.
So let's be smart and be safe.
Yeah, this was long, but the topic gets me going.
Saucy, good article and highlithing the fact that you are concerned. I know it was mention on another blog that you were nonchalant in not posting sonner but as you stated it a sensitive subject to touch on your forum.
Warrior, I agree with most of your post, but see this here :
"They can't make any SERIOUS leeway with crime in this country until they fix the legislation to get these people through the court systems, until they end the corruption and anarchy in the prisons, until they do some major work with child and social welfare, until we have some proper identification system in place that ties everything together (bank accounts, drivers license...everything), and until there is some accountability"
The THEY you are refering to is the Goverment so by extenstion they are responsible. Like I said on Hottie's blog, too many criminals with a history of crimes are escaping justice and being let out into society on technicalites or they are given bail. Time to change the laws and make those repeat offenders spend time behind bars! And lets not even start on the prison officers and the recruitung process for the police service.
But I hear you on the fact they pull out all the forces for Carnival, even those on leave. But tell me, if they can't put police on patrols year round, why not utilise the army? People who work with me and live in Morvant and Laventille say police and army do make raids ever so often and patrol the area, but they fed up of the drug pushers and bandits so they leave them to kill out each other :S
Alexia I posted alot on Hottie's blog actually, check the comments. The fact is I was feeling helpless about the whole situation and did not know how to contiune on with the Carnival talk while seemingly "ignoring" the fact that the murder happened.I guess today I decided to talk about it and relate the whole issue of crime to Carnival.
I had not returned to Trinidad in a few years (was always hustling and bustling trying to finish school) and finally made that long overdue trip back home for Carnival this year. I'd like to thank the hoodlums who stole all the lights off our rental car the first night I arrived while parked outside an all-inclusive fete. Embarrassing for me because the non-Trini friends I brought with me had to help foot the bill the rental company charged us for replacing the parts even though we had insurance and blah blah blah. Long story short it was not a pleasant experience. I am also appalled by the articles I read in the online version of the Trinidad express this weekend about the 306 murders we've had for the year already, kidnappings and Rehanna's brutal murder, not to mention the domestic crime situations that take the lives of young women like a terrible disease. The articles and responses to them point the finger of blame to the government, to the police, to Trinis like myself who live abroad and were blamed for contributing to the "genetic and cultural evolutionary void in the country". On reading that Saucy my mind immediately went to you and others like yourself who post on this blog. What genetic and cultural evolutionary void? Trinidad is host to very intelligent, very brilliant, educated minds that continue to feed the culture and productivity of the nation. How does my living abroad affect the crime situation in Trinidad? With all that said, my plan has always been to return home, I have young kids and I prefer to raise them in Trinidad. Yes crime is prevalent everywhere, however with the intensity of the crime that exists in Trinidad, we may consider migrating to my husband's country Barbados instead. Just being real about it.
Saucy, thanks for taking up the baton. I hope Patrick Manning stumble across these blogs and realise how people feel. Just last weekend my friend and I were waiting for the bus home at 5.30 a.m. We felt perfectly safe and I commented on the fact that we wouldn't DARE do that in Trinidad. Imgine that eh. If you can't be free in your own country, where can you?
Nicky that's as real as u can get, for us who are abroad, I think we are so use to respecting the laws that it is second nature to us. And this is what I cannot understand when we Trini's travel or migrate (be it the good one and the bad, and yes the bad is get visa to travel)we instantely adapt to that country laws and obey, my think is if u could respect a next man county law why can't you in your own country respect yours.
And worst yet some of them who live abraod as soon as they reach Trini they themselves breaking the rules. And this really pisses me off.
I remember my dad last visit here, we were driving through staten island he just had to go. I said r u crazy, u get charge for that if they see u passing water. His instant reply was yuh know if ah was in Trinidad I stop long time and nobody care dias ah normal thing. And that right there is the problem; do the hell whatever yuh want cause nobody stopping you and no law in place. Needless to say I told him this is not trinidad and I ani't getting no ticket for you, my mom said that good for yuh cause she hates when he does it in trinidad, she was like the need to have a law like that home.
Sacuy I read your comments on Hottie blog, I can't beleive that our court system is that terrible & about the cell phones its a shame.
I won't be surprise if de suspect get off on bail....any and everybody in Trinidad does get off on bail.
Anyways, I plan to return home after I complete school and this, even though horrendous, doesn't really sway me, I mean I hear about this type of think every now and again over hear as well, the only difference is the justice here is swift. Warrior like sums it up exactly as it.
Warrior like my gets the point that we've lost our village way of life. What ever happened to it takes a village to raise a child? I'm sorry to say but the government can't be blamed for the murder of this child. Nor can they be blamed for the murder of Sean Luke or baby Anna Annamanthudo or even Akiel Chambers. Lets not forget them.
The reality is that in Trinidad and Tobago child and domestic abuse is so prevalent that many turn a blind eye to it. Its only when it hits the media that you hear about a parent or family member used to interfere with "the chile". These forms of abuse many times stem from a vicious cycle where the now abuser was also abused. What we need today more than even is Community Police. Those officers often female, who would be stationed in a community and they would visit homes on a regular basis to ensure that everything was ok. We need teachers who care about their students and not just their monthly pay cheque. These children go to school and often there are physical if not emotional signs that something is wrong.
Above all we need to start back caring about those around us. How many of you know who your neighbour is five houses away? Where has or sense of community gone to?
I can only hope and pray that someday it will get better.
Les
Saucy, when I said "they" I did mean the Gov't...sorry if that wasn't clear. They keep talking about legislative reform and if you ask me, that really should be a priority. They REAL STICKIN!!!
Saucy, you know where I work and up until this May I was at Head Office, and there were times when Army people were roaming all over the place, and to tell you the truth, even though it may seem wierd, I didn't feel safer. I do not associate the Army with maintaining order. When they come around it makes me feel as if somethiny happenin' or is about to happen. And I know I'm not the only one who feels that way. That's how you picture places like Cuba, North Korea, and Iraq.
And another thing to consider is that people just don't trust or respect any of our armed forces anymore. We see them taking advantage of their authority, intimidating people and some of them are the ones responsible for the crime in the country. And its like they have forgotten the responsibility that comes with the uniform. Just imagine the other day I saw this sloppy looking police officer directing traffic AND TALKING ON HIS CELL PHONE. My father is an ex-cop and he went blue in face fuss he was vex.
We have some honest men and women in the armed forces but to tell you the truth as far as I'm concerned, they can all go home and we start again fresh with some very strict recruiting practices. But as I alluded to earlier, with our cpapbilities what they are, I'm not sure we'd get what we're looking for.
But that is what we need. More police men and women, well trained, ethical, honest, well equipped with the tools and resources necessary to do their job properly.
We are stuck between a real rock and a hard place. And the kind of hard decisions that it will take to turn TnT around, I'm not sure if our voter-hungry politicians have the brass cojones necessary to do what it takes.
And honestly, I can't say I totally blame those police and army men in Morvant and Lava=entille. Because honestly Saucy, when it gets to the point that these young men in gangs and into dealing drugs, they real far gone, not saying they hopeless, but they far. Stick break in they ears. We are talking about the same young people who just the other day killed a 70 year old woman because she was squealing to the police. AN OLD WOMAN!! Something have to be wrong with these young men!! We need programs and systems in place to get to our young people from small, in the community, in their face, 24/7.
Oh and it would be nice if every once in a while instead of all the negativity, the gov't, the private sector, the local communities and the media would put some real focus on the young people who are out there, keepin it pushin' in a positive way, and reward them for it.
Lord I could go on and on eh, but I'll stop now.
I agree fully Warrior that people entering the police service are not trained properly or may not even posses the intellecutal aptitude to undertake the job properly; that is my husband's main gripe with the police service.
For me, personally, I would love to see the police or army patrols where I live in St. Augustine, the same thing that is being done in Goodwood Park we should be getting. Car Jackings were a serious problem last year close to where I live and even on my street, in addition on Wednesday a neighbour's car was stolen at Hi Lo in St. Augustine and don't talk about the number of rapes that take place om campus! Like I said on Hotties post ONCE I saw Police patroling the area around UWI at night and never again. You don't know how uneasy I am when I go out and have to come home late at night or early morning; if police were making rounds say every hour I would feel a bit better about coming home late.
When I visited my aunt in Rosedale Queens, a suburb in NY, police cars made regular patrols,so if it can be done in Goodwood why can't it be done in other areas, especially on Campus!
Police yes! Definitely more police! That is what the police is for, to serve the community. We need more of them and we need them yesterday. Please don't think I'm saying we don't need more patrols. We live at an hour in Trinidad where there is a need for that. I just don't think its the job of the army. I'd be totally ok with them establishing a special branch of the army specifically for providing auxillary services, like assisting the police with patrol Different uniforms though. It may just be me, but I associate the army with wars and coups.
And I never went to UWI, I've actually only been on that campus twice. But I cannot believe they do not have Campus Police!!! What the hell!! I can only speak for the US, but at universities in the are, campus police were not just some security service, they were actual police, with the power to give out tickets and make arrests. Granted at my particular school they were "special" in that they were not real cops :S but good lord they'd have the district police there in a hot flash!
warrior there is campus security, but they do not make regular patrols...if any! To me the times I have seen them on campus they are at their booths or in some corner sleeping and they are certianly NOT police.
Although my poor rental car was stripped while feteing for Carnival 2K6 I must say the police was at large throughout most areas. Even on the beach Maracas Wednesday with their huge guns taking in the scenery no doubt, but it was reassuring to see them there. Other times of the year they are just a joke and its a shame. I remember growing up down south in an area when police could never reach the scene of a crime because the station had no vehicles, not even a bicycle. While ministry officials had chaffeur driven cars. Police corruption was the norm as everyone boasted about having police relatives or police friends. I could honestly stomach a new smelter if it would mean a finanical flow into our government to improve the infrastracture, technology, education and overall man power of our policing units. For any foreigner reading this blog who intend to visit sweet TNT for Carnival dont be swayed by the criminal elements. As Saucy said be vigilant, be mindful, move in groups, go to the right parties and you will be alright.
someone needs to get on that then. That is inexcusable, a university campus is a prime location for predators and pervs, students and outsiders alike.
I really had no idea.....you've left me dumbfounded.
This is a really sad tragedy, I presonally know how unprofessional the Trinidadian Police Force can be. It's horrible that our children continue to be treated like this - and no one does anything about it. I usually visit a few times a year and will never go out without someone else whether in the day or night.
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