Serious Crime in Trinidad & Tobago

On the 3 January 2015, at 7.00 pm news time seven murders have been recorded for the New Year.

The government but more so the Minister of National Security tells us that 'serious crime' is down. Well isn't that something to be grateful for! (She said sarcastically).  So tell me: "what defines serious crime"??  Does the attack by two men on my daughter in broad daylight, two minutes away from home in 2014 constitute 'serious crime'?  Or is it just the 'murder' cases?  We closed 2014 with over 400 murders. Four hundred and three to be precise. The figures were not down from 2013 even though  in that year when it looked as though things were totally out of control, a State of Emergency was called.  It would seem that was a good thing because had that not been the case, the statistics would have been much higher than the flour hundred and seven that closed the year.  The worst year between 1994 and 2014, was a figure of five hundred and fifty in 2008.  In 1994 the murders for the year were one hundred and forty three. It went down slowly over the next few years but there has been a steady increase since 2000 when we recorded one hundred and eighteen.

Between 2002 and 2007 there were three hundred and thirty eight kidnappings, some of them ending in murder. 2008 to 2014 saw  thirty and again some of them ending in murders.  These are not just statistics for some of us because we happened to know some of those people.

I know several families who have had members kidnapped and several too who have lost a loved one to  murderers.

So back to my question: "how do the authorities define serious crime"?  To me any crime is serious. Murder, kidnapping, rape, domestic abuse, theft, child abuse,incest.........  these are figures of 'serious crime'

Murders and kidnapping figures look like this: (source TTCrime.com)

1994 to Present, Crime Statistics - TTCrime.com:

Thanks to our source for providing information. If anything here may be incorrect, please let us know.

Year:	Murders:	Kidnappings**:	Notes:
1994	143
1995	122
1996	106
1997	101
1998	98
1999	93		15 were female
2000	118		24 were female
2001	151
2002	171	29
2003	229	51
2004	260	28
2005	386	58	117 murders were in the POS District with 70 in the Western District
2006	368	17
2007	395	155
2008	550	11	Big increase in the number of murders. A significant drop in kidnappings for ransom
2009	509	6
2010	485	4	The month of June had the highest number of murders for the year: 55
2011	354*	2	January and July had the highest number of murders at 46 in each month
2012	383	5	According to the police the murder total for 2012 may be lower (to be verified)
2013	407	0
2014	403	2

The country has been told that the Hanging Bill will be reintroduced into Parliament in 2015.  Do we really want this? I have written about capital punishment before but I honestly believe that we have reached the stage where criminals don't care whether they live or die anymore. Especially those involved in gang related crime. They know they are going to die one way or the other.  It is so bad that they no longer cover their faces or worry about cameras catching them. 

And other serious crimes between 1990 and 2001  look like this. Do these 'serious crime' figures include murders? Kidnappings?

Serious Reported Crimes Previous Years

1990 -- 16,202 1991 -- 16,157 1992 -- 17,680 1993 -- 19,547 1994 -- 18,614 1995 -- 16,783 1996 -- 18,093 1997 -- 16,989 1998 -- 15,796 1999 -- 16,260 2000 -- 17,132 2001 -- 17,133 Shouldn't these 'Other Crime Statistics' be seen as 'serious crime'?? http://www.ttcrime.com/about.php

Other Crime Statistics Year: Theft*: Rape**: Notes: 2008 4,483 670 2009 5,535 642 A significant increase in break-ins / burglaries 2010 5,007 632 * Burglaries and break-ins only. ** Includes incest and other sexual offenses

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.

Shouter Baptists, Vote Catcher and Lunch 2014

Before I try to compose the weekly Magpie I would like to share with you a little of the Trinidad and Tobago culture.

Tomorrow is Spiritual Shouters Baptist Day and is a Public Holiday in this nation.  We have a great many public holidays here!  The government also gives extra days when nationals make their mark world wide as in the case of cricketer Brian Lara breaking the world record with 375 runs and Keshon Walcott winning a gold medal at the London Olympics 2012 for javelin throwing.  I term these extra holidays as 'vote catchers' but in reality when it comes to General Elections, people forget what the government hope they would have remembered!

Rather than writing a repeat of a  past blog about this day, if you are interested, here is the link.

http://www.expatbeesblog.blogspot.com/2011/03/shoiuter-baptists-in-trinidad-and.html?showComment=1319079575278

I will not be at home tomorrow.  A girlfriend is leaving for two weeks holiday  in Canada soon and her birthday will happen whilst she is away.  So a group of friends have arranged a birthday lunch tomorrow.  Great way to spend a Public Holiday - girls' lunch.  Haven't been to one in a while and looking forward to it.  

2 Jan 2014 and Seven Murders.......

Trinidad and Tobago Crime News: Latest.

2013 ends with 407 murders which is higher than the two previous years. 

2014 starts with terrible violence in Trinidad & Tobago. The first murder was a 
Pastor and in the past 48 hours there were 7 murders already.  http://www.ttcrime.com/

So not yet quite 48 hours into 2014 and already seven murders have been committed. Oh yes, welcome to Trinidad and Tobago folks. It is difficult to determine who makes up the charts for world crime statistics s but last week according to one site, T & T ranks third in the world when it comes to Crime by Country. Venezuela heads the list, Guatemala second and South Africa fourth. The site is: 

http://www.numbeo.com/crime/rankings_by_country.jsp 


On another site, in December 2012 we ranked # 8 in the world for homicides which translates into 47 per 100,000.

The US has rated crime in T & T as critical and recently the British government put out yet another damning travel advisory.  The tourist industry is suffering.

Whether the Crime Index Country by Country (note crime and not murders) is a correct indication or not, we are perceived by the outside world to be a hot spot, a major hot spot. Trinidadians on the whole, pooh pooh these figures and question their authenticity yet are afraid to move out of their homes after dark and will not venture into certain parts of the country in daylight never mind after the sun has gone down.

A great many of the murders are drug and gang related, quite a few are domestic and some are committed against children by someone known to them.

My concern is that many of the crimes committed go unsolved.  There is talk of corruption within the police force, the military and the government.  Many of the murders are definite 'hits' .  We have a great deal of work to do in this country although many believe that we are far too gone to even think of being saved.

T T is a beautiful twin island Republic with a culture and beauty that is envied world wide.   How long before we become the Haiti of the Caribbean?

All Saints 1 November 2013

This is a repost  of last year's blog on The Blog of Bee which was then known as Bee's Blog.

Today 1 November is All Saints Day which is believed to have been established in the early part of the fourth century and was known as 'Martyrs Day'.  All Saints is a Feast Day which honours and remembers  all Christian saints whose names we know and those we don't.  Western Roman Catholics, Anglicans and Lutherans celebrate this feast today whereas the Eastern Orthodox churches observe it on the first Sunday after Pentecost. 

In the early days many Christians were persecuted by the Romans and died for their belief in God.  To remember those martyrs, various dioceses set aside special days to celebrate.  In the early seventh century the Roman Emperor handed over the Pantheon Temple to the Pope who removed the statues of the Roman gods and consecrated it as 'All Saints in recognition of those who had died  from persecution during the first three hundred years after Christ.   Pope Gregory III instituted the 1 November as 'All Saints' in the diocese of Rome as he consecrated a chapel to all the martyrs in st Peter's Basilica.  Pope Gregory IV extended the feast to the entire church and that is where it remains today except in the Orthodox churches.  

That is how people came to be made saints in the early days and when Christians became free to worship openly, the church found other ways to recognize sanctity.  Early in Christianity people were made saints by popular acclaim which was then sanctioned by the local bishop.  For the last 500 years, the path to sainthood has been a much lengthier process  and includes necessary proof of extraordinary sanctity.

In Catholic countries this day is a Public Holiday and is seen as a holy Day of Obligation meaning that one is required to attend Mass.  In other countries, the day is moved to the nearest Sunday.  Countries and cultures have different ways of acknowledging and celebrating this feast.  In Spain, Portugal   and Mexico offerings are made.  In Belgium, Hungary and Italy flowers are brought to the graves of dead relatives.  In other parts of Europe such as Austria, Croatia, Poland and Romania it is customary to light candles which are placed on the graves.  In parts of Asia such as The Philippines it is also observed.  Relatives go to the graves of the dead, clean and repair them, lay flowers and light candles.  In France,   church services are held but by evening the focus has moved towards the dead.  People crowd cemeteries and there is much cleaning and lighting of candles.  All Saints is closely tied to All Souls' Day, held on the 2 November which is dedicated  to prayers for the dead who are not yet glorified.  

'All Saints' is not a public holiday in Trinidad  but the tradition of the living, visiting the family grave in preparation for the 2 November, is strong and very much part of its culture.  On the  night of the 1  November,  some Trinidadians still put lighted candles in their windows carrying out the age old belief that 'lost souls' will be able to find their way home. 

This evening I am preparing for a family lunch tomorrow as it is my husband's birthday which happens to fall on All Souls, another Feast Day.

PM: No interference by PP Govt

We are in so much trouble here in Trinidad.  



PM: No interference PM: No interference by PP Govtby PP Govt

Capital Punishment - For or Against?

This post is not pretty.

I am tired, so tired of the crime in this country. 

Less than a week of the Sate of Emergency being lifted, I learned from the tv news this evening that the husband of a friend of mine was murdered in his own home yesterday in broad daylight. The rest of the family were tied up and beaten. I'm not an advocate of capital punishment but I am seriously beginning to wonder if I have the right attitude. Add to that another couple I know well who live in the same area, being attacked by intruders whilst sleeping at 2am even though the downstairs of their home is burglar proofed. I have attended too many funerals of people I know who have lost their lives brutally and some I couldn't attend because it was too overwhelming.

God help this country where life has become so cheap, where we allow criminals to rule and literally get away with murder, where school children carry knives, where innocent people are losing their lives, where people believe the world owes them a living so take instead of earn, where corruption is rife, where we live behind barbed wire, burglar bars and gated communities with guards at the gates, where rapes are every day occurrences, where one doesn't feel safe in an open car park and where people who care and those who are affected are crying for justice and getting no answers.