Wednesday 21 May 2014

Mayhem in Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago is a beautiful twin island Republic which at the moment is spiralling out of control and is in severe danger of totally losing its credibility within the international community. Whilst some parts of the country look like this:


there is also an extremely dark side.  Following the recent assassination of prominent Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal, in typical Trinidadian fashion, rumours are flying.  Many believe the brutal murder of this 'giant' of a lady was meant to send a strong message to this country.  Many also believe that the drug lords are 'upstanding' members of the community and it is they and not the government who are running this country.

We stare corruption at all levels in the face every day.  People don't trust the police, government ministers or opposition leaders.  Some people buy their driver's licence and then die on the roads. Money passes hands in order to get things done. People turn a blind eye. Money laundering is the norm. People turn a blind eye.  Tenders and contracts are fixed.  People turn a blind eye. If they talk they will probably end up on a slab in the mortuary.

The murder toll for 2013, in a population of 1.3 million was 407.  Today we hear that there is a murder every seventeen hours and the toll for this year already stands at 172.

In 2013 a State of Emergency was declared in a bid to put a halt to the out of control murder rate.  It failed and once lifted, nothing changed. During the SOE, the merchants cried because their businesses were badly affected.  Takings and profits were down and no one here wants that even if it means a temporary lull in blood being spilt.

Law abiding citizens are afraid.  Afraid of the corruption, of the lies, of the crime, of being caught in the crossfire as wars continue and afraid that those at the top who are responsible for what is happening on the streets will never be caught and brought to justice.

Away from the beaches, the restaurants, the theatre, the appearance of normality on this island, the following is an insight into what is going on behind the screen.



6 comments:

  1. Are you safe, B? Could your blog get noticed by the wrong people?

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  2. We are as safe as we can be. No one is really safe. We don`t allow the situation to stop us from living and we don't allow ourselves to become paranoid. But at the same time we don't take unnecessary risks. One doesn`t go into certain areas. Women are driving less and less on their own at night. Many live behind high walls and electric gates. It's complex. Beautiful people for the most part, hospitable, warm and kind. But one senses a certain rage. The present government came into power on the heels of a corrupt government with promises of bringing down the crime rate and dealing with the perpetrators but things take time and there doesn't seem to have been any improvement. Whilst things do take time, an improvement should have been seen by now. But there is none. Or there doesn't seem to have been any. As you see in the video, the gang leaders are not afraid of the police. The police know who they are.

    Whether or not anyone of any consequence reads my blog or not, I am not saying anything that is not bring said on the streets here, in hundreds of households, in churches and all across the social media.

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  3. Depressing situation not doubt. Can only hope that it rights itself with the good that is in certain percentage of the people. Frankly it seems as if all the world is falling apart.

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  4. Yes it does seem as if the whole world is falling apart

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  5. Trinidad and Tobago remind me of Sir V.S Naipaul and his book, 'A house for Mr. Biswas' :)

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