Message Board Archives

...on the duration of a sunset clause enough to stonewall an Anti Crime Bill, amidst a growing trend of increasing crime not only in T&T but prevalent throughout the Caribbean?

The Anti Gang Bill required support from the UNC opposition if it were to receive the requisite three fifths majority in Parliament.

From 10.00am on Wednesday this week, the ruling PNM government of Trinidad and Tobago did everything that was humanly possible to get opposition UNC to side with it on the said bill.

There were two main contentious issues:

(i) A clause which made provision for sedition which the opposition vehemently opposed;
(ii) The absence of a sunset clause in the original bill.

There were other minor issues in which any serious party in government in the interest of protecting constitutional rights and dismantling gangsterism in Trinidad and Tobago would have given way to the opposition. And the PNM party in government did just that...

As I said before, two main contentious issues remained:

The bill arrived at Committee Stage at about 12.20 am Thursday, where the PNM government was magnanimous conceding to the scraping of the sedition clause and acquiesced on the inclusion of the Sunset Clause...the only area of contention was the duration of the clause. These two compromises from the PNM are quite laudable and noteworthy.

Initially, the government side proposed 5 years and the opposition 18 months. The government side in Parliament in its wisdom backed down a year and the opposition bent a little to an additional 6 months.

From a purely statistical point of view, we all know that it takes three points of data to determine a trend and therefore a minimum of 3 years was the bare minimum the government could have agreed to given the fact that these statistics are produced on a yearly basis. The three years would have facilitated statistical review and analysis and also allowing government to tweak any existing law which is complementary to bill under parliamentary consideration.

Was a four year duration to a sunset clause in an Anti Gang legislation asking too much especially when viewed in the context that the PNM has already served two years in office?

But it's is worth mentioning that similar legislation was supported by the then opposition PNM during the last parliamentary term of the UNC and the sunset duration was incidentally 5 years then.

Somethings never cease to amaze me.

Should the UNC take a closer look at the way Jamaica is proceeding with this issue?

In reply to Courtesy

As a conscious Trini it was devastating,I stayed up observing and hoping it would pass...they covered everything even posing with weapons on social media which is a big ting here now.

The majority of T&T are in shock..the temporary one the UNC had worked well,murders were going down to low 300's,they even spite that,imagine they didnt even support the extension of their own legislation..so no surprises here.

I'm lost for words so I may not be too sharp here..but I hope they see it ain laventille and town problem only again,people getting slaughtered in all dem UNC constituency now,a lady was killed in Central couple days ago for being an 'informer'...Kamla and dem wicked..

In reply to Courtesy

Morning mate,

Why stress yourself over things that don't affect you?

In reply to bravos

B,

Help me to unnastan...do laws prevent criminalism in Trinidad?

Or ineffective policing?

Is the inneffective policing for lack of proper legislative powers?

Or lack of forking effort?

This law is a red herring. Nothing else. Not even needed.

We live in a country where a vehicle was used in a Heist, the registration number known but the owner of the vehicle not named...

Cam any law really help us? Why omit the name of the owner whose vehicle was used in the commissioning of a crime?

In reply to DAVE400

The law will prevent impunity padna,when there was the no bail for 90 days crime was low,in fact the general crimes apart from gang murders were at a 30 year low..

Impunity is the problem...not crime..no fear of legal authority.

I say add NO BAIL for illegal weapons and life with possibility of parole if you proactive..

UNC prepared to let their own constituents die just to secure the next election on a platform of excessive crime.

In reply to DAVE400

You really think the real owner of that vehicle was involved in the heist? Well you real insulting the intelligence and capabilities of local criminals..that was a 'hot' vehicle sir..

C'mon man its the same men put down that wuk,it's the same highway robbery money they took higher up now because Amalgamated heavier vehicles can't be rammed off the road with a pickup like Sentinel was..

In reply to bravos

The opposition in their rebuttals claimed that "it did not work well."

In reply to DAVE400

Thank you Mr. Passive...but no thanks.

But when gangs can target fellas like Mr. Bravos's construction sites, burn equipment and attempt to extort pesos from hard working citizens, I have to be stressed out. That's what it has come to...

I'll be back later fellas to respond to any rational thoughts on this issue.

Have a great morning.

In reply to Courtesy

I does let dem know is my ting...you need to be linked here or you are fair game...my men got robbed on a site and we got back everything and worked till midnight in East POS...men say I shoulda tell dem it was my ting..

Dave travels on a different parallel,he's a good guy with a well organized life and career so he's not exposed to what I am as youngish businessman trailblazing all over T&T,and when I say exposed I mean my knowledge because I can work anywhere,I know those guys and how they think,I'm a 'liver' and grew up between gangsters..but I tell you I have seen men run out of areas at gunpoint on projects my equipment were involved in,and they told me "nah B is a cool scene,yuh know you good,let your men wuk,he on fukin shit,he playin smart" ..is serious tax in he ass eh...

Sometimes when I reach on a new site in the middle of hell the first thing I do is buy $100 in weed from the closest set of guys and give it to my guys (some lol j/k ) who would be pre selected weed smokers and survivors for that assignment where normal industry rules cannot be observed,and also give a guy from the area the responsibility of 'throwing an eye' on my equip at night,it's a serious icebreaker and works like a charm..you become their customer and they like their customers,they think they are providing a service and if you know how to deal with them the bodies can drop all around you while you operate in your own parallel space.

Man I tell you in the worst part of east POS we wukkin and man robbing man left right and centre on bicycle etc,shot bussin too...once you pass with any gold that's it...and we wukkin normal.

Time for this to stop,I cant imagine being some regular soft spoken all decent businessman trying to operate freely in some areas here,I feel it for those who don't know the ropes..I've seen men come and rent my equipment with all the optimism in the world about their new lil contract and same speed they have to abandon it.

I've seen that same gangster I mentioned above call the Ministry office and cuss dem out about how de man ain get paid so he can pay he!!!

This has to stop..

Wait for Kamla #1 defender aka sgtdjones to come and defend this politically driven selfish move from the Opposition

In reply to problemjay

When the UNC was in Office did the PNM support their Bill?

Two idiot parties supporting its own agendas then they play the blame game.

Now one sees why I don't support any political party in T&T.

We have enough laws in T&T to bring the crime rate down.
Just apply them, but when one has a doltish CJ, it cannot be efficient.Strange how Manning hounded the previous CJ , yet Rowley claims he cannot do anything.

When a country has morons leading, the criminals have a free reign.

For every problem there are solutions.This dumb arse Government cannot solve anything.

Is the UNC to blame for the Ferry service or Fraud Oil fiasco, Beetham, etc ?.
PNM had an opportunity to move Beetham 45 years ago, but Eric Williams chickened out.
This Government has been in power for 2 years, it still blames the previous Government.

Ironic fools like you, blame past governments.

The next election vote them in again.

In reply to Courtesy

Isn't that always the case in TT politics,do you recall the PNM not supporting the opposition with the hanging bill some time ago.It's TT politics,nothing wrong there,it's called tit for tat.

In reply to Emir
I haven't heard about the PEP,I agree that the UNC will never be able to properly govern TT,one fact makes that so,the Party appears like an Indian party,non Indians view that as un-TT,I am sure they are not un-TT,but perception could be so wrong.
I also read that the UNC was ready to vote for the Bill,but the UNC wanted a "2 year sunset clause",their objection was the "4 year sunset clause"proposed by the PNM.One fact always stands out clearly in my head,and the PNM have run TT for about 50 years and life for many remains the same or worse for many,how good are they,the UNC had two stints one under Pandey,and was then robbed of a second stint by Mr.President ANR,we know what happened to KPB.TT needs another party,the UNC is too Indianised,non Indians will not like that and one bad step by them when in power,will always be magnified,unlike when it's the members of the PNM,don't forget they are doing lots of unacceptable things,worse than when the UNC was in power.
Anyway have a lovely Christmass and a Happy New Year.

In reply to Emir
I have to say,I don't understand TT politics as well as many of you guys,so I sometimes have to accept what you say,I also respect bravos,and some others.I also agree that the UNC party members needs to change that Indian/Hindu image.

In reply to granite

Likewise bro...

In reply to granite

De PNM supported 96 percent of PPP legislation during the last five year term including the Anti Gang legislation.

In reply to bravos

Brovos, I am happy that you are able to work with dem gangters and limit your damages. But as you say, this foolishness has to stop..

..Facts

This cause the rejection Rowley wants 4 years to gather evidence , UNC say 2 years.How come no one posted this?

When one has duncies I guess one needs more time.