Welcome to the fourth edition of fwiw News Roundup, where I read between the lines, so you don’t have to.

Prime Minister Points Finger at Judiciary Pt 1.

Am I hearing an echo, or is our Prime Minister joining our National Security Minister in blaming the judiciary for the government’s ineffective crime-fighting approach?

It could be a coincidence, but given our politicians’ dedication to passing the buck, I feel like it’s more likely that they’ve realised that it’s time to diversify their blame-shifting portfolio a bit.

The Prime Minister, without calling names, also expressed dismay about judicial system delays.

The Government, he recalled, went to court because a citizen had a “basket of hand grenades” that police went after.

He said the court, in its ruling, chastised the Government, and the Prime Minister was brought into the matter.

The end result was the court’s order which was to return the items to the complainant, he said, adding that the Government had to comply.

These items were automatic weapons and hand grenades, he said.

“We asked for an early hearing because this is a matter of life and death in Trinidad and Tobago, as far as we are concerned,” he said.

Rowley said a date in October was given for an urgent hearing for an appeal in the matter.

“I am not here wanting to engage the other arms of the State, but I think the population should know this,” he said. “There are other matters that seem to have no difficulty going through the court.”

Ramdass, Anna. Rowley to tell Parliament of ‘difficulty’ going on at SSA. 14th June, 2024. Express

Unfortunately, when the Prime Minister (who also heads the National Security Council) publicly pretends as if the only independent branch of the government is standing between us and safety, he’s only admitting that he (and, by extension, his government) is unable to collaborate with the judiciary to move this country forward.

And if that’s the case, well…

Prime Minister Points Finger at Judiciary Pt 2.

Yes, it’s a different article about the same press conference, but it’s worth a read because of the way Dr. Rowley juxtaposes our investment in security against the lack of accountability.

“We have to spend a lot of money on security issues both in the public sector and the private sector. It’s a waste of national resources. A few people engaged in criminal conduct are causing us to direct a lot of resources to them; to control them and their behaviour, and to protect ourselves from them,” Rowley said.

“You could imagine if they were behaving differently and those millions that we’re spending on national security were being spent on education, health and infrastructure and so on? We would’ve been a much better place. The more we have to spend (on security), the less resources we have to spend on those (other ministries), so they’re (criminals) damaging us in more ways than one.”

He added, “We’re spending hundreds of millions of dollars on security items to keep people out your yard. And, of course, there are families who have members of their families who are murderers, killers who are known to them. They are supporting them, hiding them, hiding guns for them. At the end of the day, we are wasting not just time, (but) lives and resources. It is a job that we cannot walk away from.”

Nevertheless, the Prime Minister said he believes adequate resources are being made available for security.

While he was enthusiastic that “things will turn around in the not-too-distant future,” Rowley said an obstacle Government is facing is criminals not being held accountable. He said the mindset of criminals is that they will not be held accountable for their actions but even at the courts, they’re not held accountable.

Giving an example, the Prime Minister said he was puzzled to find out that someone was released on bond after being charged with kidnapping for ransom.

He said, “Kidnapping for ransom, one of the most heinous crimes and I saw a person walking out of the courthouse on a bond. And to make the bond palatable, they were told that if you misbehave, you will have to pay $50,000. Now, please, don’t charge no criminal that kind of money because for God’s sake, if they have to pay it, the only way they could pay it, because they love their freedom, is to just to come out and distress people to get the money to pay the court. I’m still trying to understand how does one get out of court for kidnapping for ransom on a bond, but T&T that has happened.”

Fletcher, Kay-Marie. Abdulah suggests alternative to TTEC rate hike. 13th June. 2024. Guardian.

At a glance, it looks like a deft bit of self-congratulation (for the national security investment), combined with the usual civilian-blaming (hiding the killers and their weapons), and a healthy topping of shade for the judiciary.

But if you read the first part again, especially the bit about what else we could be doing with that money, you might wonder whether we’re getting value for money. I mean, we’re looking at how much we’re spending on healthcare, so why aren’t we taking a closer look at what we’re spending on national security? Especially given the endlessly climbing murder toll, dismal detection rates, and whatever’s going on with the SSA.

And then there’s that part about bail. The Bail Act specifically indicates which charges aren’t eligible for bail. As the leader of the executive and a member of the legislative arm of government, he’s well placed to have kidnapping added to the list if he’s so inclined. But no, he’s at a podium, pretending not to understand how that works.

One of the Crimes We Don’t Really Care About Happened Again

Speaking of crime, remember when a PH driver attacked a child and we briefly pretended to care?

Well, it happened to a grown woman (again) and we’re not even bothering to pretend this time.

The victim said around 10.45 pm she was sitting in the front passenger seat of a white Nissan Almera travelling along Richmond Street when the driver pulled out a gun and held it to her head, saying, “Don’t move! Don’t make a scene, or I will kill you.”

The driver then took her to Wildflower Park in St Clair, where he assaulted her.

He then drove to Morne Rene Hill, Maraval, where the woman jumped out of the car.

Bartlett, Joey. Woman raped in Port of Spain. 13th June 2024. Newsday.

It could be one of a dozen stories. Because it is.

PoS General Hospital Has a Shiny New Gate

In the wake of the recent execution on the hospital grounds, Port of Spain General is beefing up security.

NORTH West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) CEO Anthony Blake says since the incident that saw brazen gunmen stage a fatal attack at the accident and emergency (A&E) section of the Port of Spain General Hospital (PoSGH) on June 2, additional security measures have been added.

“We’ve had additional security on the compound and support from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) in terms of having additional armed police at the compound.

“Our security providers have also added support.”

Blake did not want to go into how much security had been added for safety and logistic purposes.

Rupert, Enrique. NWRHA: New security gate installed at A&E at Port of Spain General Hospital. 14th June, 2024. Newsday.

Unfortunately, not everyone is convinced that enough is being done.

While there, Newsday interviewed a member of staff who wished to remain anonymous.

[…]

He said the gate did not provide safety to anyone, but made it seem like it did, so people could “feel comfortable…

“Everything is done in a reactive manner and not a proactive one.”

When asked what would make him feel safer he said, “Having a police post at the hospital would be great.

“That is what would make me feel safe. As of right now, I be happy when my shift is finished.”

He said the armed police presence only lasted a few days after the June 2 incident, as there was still a wounded victim at the hospital at the time. Since then, he claims, the police presence has diminished.

Rupert, Enrique. NWRHA: New security gate installed at A&E at Port of Spain General Hospital. 14th June, 2024. Newsday.

Maybe it would help if the TTPS explained why it’s “impractical” to have a police post on the hospital grounds?

Minister of Macaroni Pie Hints at Water Rate Increases

It looks like we’re really going to have to cut back on the thrice-weekly movie theatre trips, monthly hams, and macaroni pies, because Marvin Gonzales says the government can no longer afford to subsidise the inconsistent, often murky water supply we’ve been enjoying all this time.

He said WASA’s current operating cost of $2.3 billion could easily rise to $3 billion or more.

“We have to position ourselves to respond to those climate challenges. Where is the money going to come from? The Government is certainly not making the money from its revenue streams, so the money has to come from somewhere.

“The advice being given to the Government and also the RIC (Regulated Industries Commission) is, ‘Listen, you all can’t be serious.’ This is what they tell us. ‘You all can’t be serious. You are operating under 1993 rates (but) things have gone up exponentially from 1993 to now.”

He cited the expansion of WASA’s network to serve an expanded population, plus more costly materials.

“So we have to get serious. So where is the money going to come from?”

Gonzales said WASA must get this sum from its customers, so as to be able to fund its operations to meet customer demands.

He reiterated that WASA had not had a rate review since 1993, while the Government no longer had funds it possessed ten-15 years ago.

“I will not apologise for speaking the truth. The truth is that while you rightly make demands on the utility agency (WASA), Trinidad and Tobago has the lowest rate for water and those rates cannot sustain the industry.

“It cannot sustain your water sector and your water sector will never be stabilised with those rates.”

Douglas, Sean. WASA lost 36m gallons of water per day during dry spell. 13th June, 2024. Newsday.

This rationale might make sense if our water sector had ever been stabilised and if Gonzales himself hadn’t already publicly pointed out the reason for its perpetual instability just a couple of years ago:

While blasting WASA for spending billions of dollars on resources in the past, Gonzales said he would ensure that finances are properly allocated and used for resources going forward.

Fletcher, Kay-Marie. Ministry to set up rainwater harvesting systems. 7th April, 2023. Express.

It’s not the low rates that got our water sector where it is and it’s incredibly disingenuous to pretend otherwise. Especially when you know full well that raising the rates of a life-sustaining resource will harm your most vulnerable constituents more than anyone else.

After all, they don’t have any movie trips to cut back on to cover the cost.

How Does One Punish the State?

So a police officer abuses his power, and his peers hold him accountable. He’s facing criminal charges, and, in the meantime, the court has awarded the victim $400,000 in compensation.

So far, so good. He deserves every penny for what he went through.

According to his court filings, Ross was walking in his community when he encountered the police officer, who went to school with his brother and previously worked in a bar he frequented before joining the T&T Police Service (TTPS).

Ross claimed that the officer, who threatened him in the past, told him that he (the officer) was going to arrest him.

Ross claimed that he walked away towards the Santa Flora Police Station to make a report of the threat but was grabbed by the officer, who began punching him.

He alleged that the officer threatened to kill him and then placed a plastic bag with marijuana in his pocket.

The officer’s colleague came to his assistance and they arrested Ross and took him to the police station.

He was detained at the station for almost four hours before being told that he was free to leave and seek medical attention.

Ross claimed that he received treatment at the Siparia District Health Facility but was unable to work for five months while recovering from the injury to his shoulder.

In the lawsuit, Ross claimed that he was traumatised from the unprovoked attack.

Achong, Derek. State halts appeal of $.4M compensation to man beaten, framed by officer. 14th June, 2024. Guardian.

Here’s the part that gave me pause:

In her decision, Justice Quinlan-Williams ordered $18,000 in general damages and $120,000 in aggravated damages plus $15,501.37 in interest.

She also ordered $200,000 in exemplary damages, which serves to punish the State for the oppressive conduct of the officer and warn against similar conduct. [Emphasis mine.]

The exemplary damages award was one of the highest awarded locally for the type of case.

Achong, Derek. State halts appeal of $.4M compensation to man beaten, framed by officer. 14th June, 2024. Guardian.

Again, run that man his money, but… how does $200,000 punish the State? It’s is not a person. It’s a framework made up of systems that run the nation. Inside of those systems are people, but when you charge the State, those people don’t all chip in to pay the damages. None of the responsible parties have to pay it either. The money comes from the public purse, so, in effect, we the people pay it even though we didn’t do anything. How does that punish the State or warn anyone against similar conduct?

I’m just saying, perhaps the officer (who, though charged, remains nameless in this report), should have to repay the State. Maybe whoever handed him a badge should have to chip in too, because clearly he wasn’t fit to have one.

Speaking of which, what exactly is the TTPS screening for in its psychological testing that so many questionable individuals are sneaking in?