Trini Post

The desperate search for a missing ten-year-old girl turned to near violence in the Laventille community yesterday, when scores of irate residents clashed with heavily-armed police and soldiers. In their bid to locate Tecia Henry, a pupil of St Rose’s Girls’ Primary School, angry residents blocked the major roads with burning debris, demanding swift and more efficient action by law enforcement officials. Tecia went missing after leaving her mother’s home on Essex Street, John John, around 7.30 am on Saturday. The child was sent to K and G Mini-mart, at the lower end of John John, to purchase a phone card and other items. She never made it to the shop.

Sitting in front of the parlour, which was closed yesterday, the child’s mother Diane was visibly distraught. She tried to comfort her 12-year-old twin daughters, Tia and Tamara, who sat at their mother’s feet shedding tears for their missing sister. According to Diane, the walk from her home to the mini-mart is a mere three minutes. “When I saw a certain time I sent one of her sisters to check on her. The owner of the shop said he glimpsed her going up Crook Street,” Diane said.

Believing the mini-mart might have been closed, Diana said she thought her daughter might have gone to another shop on St Paul Street, not too far from where the child’s grandmother lived. “I called the aunt, but they said she not around. I call everybody and they say she not around.” Diane said her daughter never ran away from home. “It was school and home; nothing else.” Tecia Henry was last seen wearing a pink and grey jacket, a denim skirt, a shower cap and slippers.

By:  GEISHA KOWLESSAR of Guardian

Read full Guardian Article.

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Two men were murdered within a 24-hour period, bringing the total murders for the year, up to late yesterday to 114. They are Randy Prescod of Diego Martin and Salim Benoit of Malabar. On the scene yesterday residents of North West Road, Patna Village uttered comments such as: “Is just another badman dead from Patna Village. “One plate (of food) less. “Same old same old, nothing new. “Just one more less to talk about.” The statements were made as undertakers removed the body of Randy Prescod, which was found in some bushes near his home with multiple gunshot wounds to the chest. He was shot five times.

But Prescod, 22, police said, was no stranger to them. They confirmed that Prescod was wanted by Cumuto police in connection with a robbery in the district. He was also being sought by Western Division detectives in connection with the disappearance of a man from that area, who police believe, was murdered. Shortly before midday yesterday, several loud explosions were heard coming from a hilly area. Police said when residents checked, they discovered Prescod’s body. At the murder scene, Prescod’s relatives declined to speak with reporters. A motive is yet to be established for the killing. Insps Henry Dan and Alfonso Patterson visited the scene and are continuing investigations.

Meanwhile Northern Division Homicide Bureau officers are investigating the shooting death of 27-year-old murder suspect Salim Benoit, of All Stars Crescent, Malabar, Arima who succumbed to his injuries at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex on Tuesday night. Benoit, police said, was the second suspect wanted in connection with the killing of 20-year-old James Jay-Z Howard. Howard of Ackbarali Drive, Malabar, was shot dead at Melodians Crescent on March 2. Another man has already been charged with Howard’s killing. Investigators said around 2.30 pm Tuesday, Benoit was liming with his girlfriend at a basketball court, opposite the Larry Gomes Stadium, when he was shot. Police said the assailant approached from behind and shot Benoit eight times about the body.

By: AKILE SIMON  of Guardian

There was a complete shutdown of the Port-of-Spain Port yesterday as rumours spread throughout the country that a container with missing children had been discovered. The airwaves of radio and television stations, along with newspaper newsrooms, were buzzing with activity, as concerned people called about the rumours.

Scores of police officers, together with Customs and Excise and Port Authority police, swooped down on the port in response to radio and television reports, closing all gates and temporarily stopping all business transactions. “It was real chaos,” one businessman told the T&T Guardian.

The reports traumatised people, with one woman actually reduced to tears when she said that “her son saw the children and they were in a sad state.” A man said he was working on the port and actually saw the dead bodies in the container. Another woman said the son of a calypsonian saw the children and rushed home in tears. In the end, just as the calls came fast and furious, they disappeared with the same speed. It all started when a radio announcer reported that a container with dead bodies had been found at the city port. Then, a television station announced that it was a container with missing children, and thirdly, a report surfaced that a Cuban vessel with stowaways had been stopped by local authorities.

For hours, the T&T Guardian newsroom was flooded with calls from people from all walks of life, some high in government, and others from newspapers in the region and T&T nationals abroad. Several foreign embassies in Port-of-Spain also called the Guardian about the rumours. The main concern for many was the so-called discovery of the container with the children, which brought to the fore the reports of human trafficking in T&T over the past two years. A number of children went missing and have not been found up to today.

The police heard the rumours and quickly assembled a team which swooped down on the port. There was a report that the container with the children was about to be shipped out of the country. Although the police responded to the report, no one really knew where it came from. Then, all of a sudden, the “discovery” shifted to the Chaguaramas and Point Lisas ports. All the rumours were quickly dispelled when acting Police Commissioner James Philbert got into the act. Philbert, in a media release, said, “After a thorough check of the Port of Port-of-Spain by police officers, Port police and officers of the Customs and Excise Division, the allegations are just rumours.” Philbert also described the rumours, which circulated throughout the country, as “causing much concern among the citizens.”

The chief executive officer at the Port Authority, Christopher Mendez, denied the allegations, saying officials found “absolutely no evidence to support the information.” Mendez said security officials at the port would continue to investigate and monitor the premises in response to the report which he deemed as “very serious.” Several police vehicles with officers from units such as the Homicide Bureau of Investigations, Criminal Intelligence Unit, Guard and Emergency Branch and the Audio Visual Unit arrived at the compound, trying to find out “what was going on,” one policeman said.

By: Guardian

Villagers protesting the police killing of groundsman George “Ozzie” Ashby yesterday clashed with heavily armed policemen at San Pedro Road, Rio Claro, after the police seized their drums. Squaring off against the police, the protesters, who were beating the drums in a resident’s yard, unleashed their fury on the officers. But, they then settled for beating pieces of iron, buckets and bottles. There were no arrests.

The police, however, ensured protesters stayed off the roads as they engaged in a second day of protest action.Ashby, 52, a father of four, described by villagers as a good man, was killed in his car by police at Guaracara Tabaquite Road last Friday night. When Opposition Chief Whip Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj arrived on the scene villagers shouted for joy after he promised to use his political and legal resources to ensure that they get justice. Standing next to Asbhy’s 74- year-old mother Lucy, Maharaj said relatives asked him to intervene in the matter.

He said: “Based on what I was told, obviously the police killed this man and the question which arises is, did the police officer or officers who were involved committed murder? They should not hide behind an inquest. If there is evidence that there was a killing and a murder then the police have to take action.” Promising to arrange a meeting with acting Commissioner of Police James Philbert, Maharaj called on the Police Service to make a public statement on the incident. In the event that the police fail to act, Maharaj said he would put pressure on the Police Service, National Security Minister, Attorney General and Director of Public Prosecutions to take action.

By: SASCHA WILSON of Guardian

Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams says the T&T Police Service has failed in some of its crime reduction strategies. Williams was addressing Special Reserve Police (SRP) at a long-service awards function at Police Administration Building, Port-of-Spain, On Saturday.

Some 75 SRPs—whose service ranged from ten to 40 years—were awarded certificates. Having been put in charge of managing SRPs, Williams said while the T&T Police Service has recognised their contribution to the country, he felt a lot more needed to be done since the country was being confronted with serious challenges.
Williams said the TTPS “have had some crime reduction strategies that have failed over time.” The failure was made evident by the growing homicide rate, he said.

• In 1999, Williams said, there were 93 recorded murders
• In 2007, 391 people were killed,
• 2008 recorded the highest in history— 544 killings

“Do the maths and you will recognise the tremendous increase over time. “It cannot continue. Unless something special is done to change the course of events, Trinidad and Tobago will have challenges in all facets of society.” Among the areas likely to be affected, Williams said, were the tourism industry and business sector. He said the situation was not “unique to Trinidad… it extends throughout the Caribbean.”

Just back from a crime prevention forum in Jamaica, Williams said there was one common challenge that confronted the region—violent crimes. “Violent crimes is sweeping the entire Caribbean and “organisations like ours are almost at a loss on how to take charge of the situation.”

By: SHALIZA HASSANALI of Guardian

Asst Supt of Police Junior Copeland appeared in court yesterday charged with murder. An unshaven Copeland appeared before Senior Magistrate Debra Quintyne in the Arima First Court. He was represented by attorney Richard Mason. Copeland, 58, of Heights of Aripo, is charged with the shooting death of 28-year-old Ashley Charles at Maturita Road, off Demerara Road, Wallerfield, on Christmas Day around 8.30 am. He was also charged with shooting Charles’s brother, 18-year-old Macky Charles, with intent to do him actual bodily harm and shooting their mother June Charles, 49, with intent to murder.

Asst Commissioner of Police Samuel Jemmott, who laid the charges, said the prosecution would be ready to start its case by the next date of hearing. Quintyne then ordered Copeland to reappear on January 26. Around 12.11 pm, Copeland walked into court escorted by Cpl Johnson. He sat in the docks and propped up his head with his right hand, displaying a large scar at the centre of his bald head.
Copeland has been a member of the Police Service for the past 38 years. At the time of the alleged offences, he was assigned to the Northern Division.

By: TREVOR BURNETT of Guardian

The body of murdered PH taxi driver Roger Benny was discovered on Kangal Trace, Munroe Road in Cunupia, around 12.45 pm, yesterday. Police said Benny was not married and lived on the Southern Main Road, Cunupia. They said they also recovered pieces of a broken bottle they believed was used to slit Benny’s throat.

Police said Benny’s abandoned Nissan B14 was discovered at Mon Plasir Road, Cunupia, around 7 am by villagers who noticed the vehicle without any number plates and called the police. Benny’s body was discovered by a farmer in the area who alerted the Cunupia police. The scene was visited by ASP Stephen Ramsubagh, Senior Supt Edwards Inspector Kennedy, and Sergeants Craig and Dripaul. Benny is the second PH driver to be slain in the last week. Azad Hosein Shah, 59, of Carapichaima was hacked to death and his body was discovered in Arima last week.

By: ADRIAN BOODAN of Guardian

There is a link to illegally registered vehicles and human trafficking. This is the view of Inshan Ishmael, president of the Pre-Owned Automobile Dealers’ Association, as he spoke about the sudden disappearance of hundreds of T&T nationals during the last few years .“Trinidad is way too small not to find someone. Where can you hide all these missing people?”

Acting Police Commissioner James Philbert, during a press briefing at Police Administration Building in Port-of-Spain, last Wednesday, confirmed that there were 77 missing people for 2008. “I am sure most of these missing people—the men, women and children—were captured, taken against their will and shipped outside for prostitution and slave labour.” Although Philbert and Attorney General Bridgid Annisette-George denied that T&T nationals were being trafficked, Ishmael thinks otherwise.
“The truth will come out. You just wait and see.”

Ishmael praised the Sunday Guardian for keeping the issue of human trafficking on the front burner and for sensitising the public.
Ishmael said it was no secret that criminals had used cars with false number plates to take their kidnap victims from one place to another without being caught.

“At least 99.9 per cent of the cars that are used by criminals have false number plates. So it all ties in with human trafficking. As a matter of fact, it’s all part of a network. I believe the problem exists.”
Ishmael said criminals operated in a pact, where every member of the group was assigned to carry out a particular function, all for the love of money.
“One would steal the car; another would kidnap the victim; while a third would make all the necessary arrangements to ship the person outside of the country.”

During the last few months, Ishmael said the criminals had shifted from kidnapping for ransom. “We have seen a pattern developing where these missing victims are all under the age of 45. All this points to human trafficking. Something is wrong, and the authorities can’t see it.”
Ishmael spoke about 15-year-old Devika Lalman, whose semi-nude body was found in a rice field in Warrenville recently.

“When Devika went missing for several days, I thought she was a victim of human trafficking. “Somehow, I feel she was taken against her will to be shipped abroad, but put up a good fight, which led to her life being taken.”

By: SHALIZA HASSANALI  of Guardian