TTMA IN THE NEWS
Stakeholders hope for workable plan at end of symposium
Only a workable plan to which all subscribe and contribute—and which actually reduces regional violence—will justify calling Caricom’s crime symposium a success, says former minister Dr Bhoe Tewarie. Tewarie, as well as heads of the Supermarket Association, Criminal Bar Association and Confederation of Regional Chambers yesterday commented on the opening addresses at the symposium. Tewarie said, “Any criticism of the opening will be premature. The (opening) speeches were measured and this reality underscores and acknowledges the fact that the problem of violence, violent crimes and murders have become overwhelming in this Caricom region, and that it would be difficult at the end of this two-day conference either to claim success or to meet expectations of national and regional populations who feel besieged by criminal power.” Read more here
NEWS
Police: 300% increase in Tobago road deaths
To date, over 100 tickets have been issued for traffic violations in road-traffic enforcement exercises ongoing across Tobago. Pamphlets with road-safety tips for the public will continue to be distributed during the series of exercises. Speaking during an operational brief before an exercise by the TT Police Service (TTPS) and the Licensing Authority last Friday at the Licensing Office in Milshirv, Transport Commissioner Clive Clarke said if he were to give the operation a name, it would be Operation Saving Lives. Read more here
POLITICS
Law knocked at Caricom crime talks – LEADERS HIT BAIL FOR MURDER
Heads of State gathered for the Caricom symposium on crime as a public health issue at the Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain, knocked the trend of judges and magistrates granting bail to people arrested and charged for murder. Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley recalled that in her time as a lawyer, this was something that just wasn’t done. “(We have) jurisprudential developments that have affectively led to people getting bail for murders…” she said. “When I practised law nobody got bail for murder! Read more here
BUSINESS
Calls for new tactics to deal with crime
The business community is calling for new tactics to be implemented by the T&T Police Service (TTPS) to deal with the threat of criminal elements. This was the call by several prominent members of the business community while speaking with the Express over the weekend following an increase in the reports of home invasions and robberies which took place over the last two weeks. Read more here
REGIONAL
Unity, progress, One Guyana motivates Chase-Greene to join PPP/C
Former Mayor and longstanding supporter of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R), Patricia Chase-Greene, has joined the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) ahead of the Local Government Elections and credited her transition to a desire for “unity, progress and a One Guyana.” Chase-Greene being unveiled as a candidate for the PPP/C was a telling manifestation of continuing trouble in the camp of the A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU), which is led by the PNC/R. Questioned by the press on whether the change of her political alliance was motivated by discord within the APNU party, Chase-Greene would only say: “You put the pieces of the puzzle together, all I will say to the press is that I support One Guyana, unity and progress.” Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Sudan conflict: No water, no light as fighting rages on
A resident in Sudan's capital has told the BBC that she has no more drinking water as fighting between rival forces rages in Khartoum for a fourth day. "This morning we ran out," Duaa Tariq said, adding that she was saving one bottle exclusively for her two-year-old child. Efforts to get the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group to agree a ceasefire are faltering. The RSF has been looting in some residential areas of the capital. Heavy bombardments and black smoke can be seen around the airport, which is in the centre of Khartoum and right next to the military headquarters, as tanks are reported on some streets. Residential areas surround the airport and staff and patients at a nearby cancer hospital say there are trapped by the fighting. Read more here
18th April 2023