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00:25Beyond the tape, we'll be back after these messages.
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03:11Welcome to Beyond the Tube.
03:12I'm your host, Marc Bessant.
03:14It's Legally Speaking Wednesdays.
03:16And of course, with us is a tenured law, Corporal Zaheer Ali, attached to the Trinidad and Tobago
03:23Police Service.
03:24Welcome, Corporal Ali.
03:25How are you?
03:26Good evening to you, Marc.
03:28Let me indicate at the outset, I love the decorations and the bionic tape.
03:35I don't know who's responsible.
03:36It's producer's touch.
03:38Yeah, I suspect that much, Marc.
03:43But to those who are responsible for these flashing blue lights.
03:48And I didn't even take, I didn't notice that until a while ago.
03:51Yeah, the flashing blue lights, you know, it's indicative of the DTPS.
03:56And so it's a beautiful blend.
03:58Christmas tree with the blue lights.
04:00So those who are responsible, you know, hats off to you.
04:03I salute you this afternoon.
04:05But to Trinidad and Tobago citizens, you know, pleasant good evening to you.
04:09It's always a pleasure to be here to share this platform and to meet you through this
04:13particular platform.
04:16My colleagues in the DTPS and other law enforcement agencies, you know, good evening to you as
04:21well.
04:22Marc, I know that we are, you know, coming to the end of a very challenging year, you
04:30know, for law enforcement and, you know, in other respects.
04:34And, you know, I want to take this opportunity, you know, early o'clock to, you know, say
04:39a special thanks to Trinidad and Tobago, especially for Legally Speaking Wednesday for your
04:46contribution, your submissions and, you know, making Wednesday in particular, and I can
04:50speak for Wednesday and others will speak for the other days, a very active and worthwhile,
04:56you know, hour on, you know, Legally Speaking on a Wednesday.
04:59And I hope that, you know, we are doing justice to that Legally Speaking, you know, to bring
05:04you to that level of consciousness in relation to the conduct that is expected of you and
05:10issues that may be touching and concerning, you know, Trinidad and Tobago.
05:13So I want to begin this afternoon by telling you and those who are not switched on and
05:18if you can convey the message, please convey my message, or I should say our message, Marc.
05:23May I join you in this, you know, say thank you very much at this time of the year.
05:26And I hope that your season is one that is rewarding and I want to urge you to continue
05:31to be safe, secure, and continue to do your reflections quietly in relation to whatever
05:37you may be doing, whether from a family context, whether professional context, or even I'll
05:42touch the decision makers from a legislative, from a judicial, and even from an executive
05:50context, you know, I hope that you all are reflecting because there's a lot that is ahead
05:54of us and we know, Marc, I was just reflecting on the tool, on the express, and I'm seeing
06:02that it's 500, if you could confirm it, Marc, 576 murders and I think that is of significance
06:13and it's important for us, you know, in our reflection, you know, to see whether in fact,
06:17you know, we, you know, can advance or continue to advance, I should say, you know, strategies
06:24and tactics to be able to deal with this very daunting statistic as it relates to murder.
06:30But Marc, it's always a pleasure and I want to, you know, take this opportunity before
06:33I hand back over to you to urge members of the public, you know, as it comes to the end,
06:38I want to hear from you.
06:39I want to hear from you.
06:40I always believe in hearing from you.
06:43The submissions are invaluable, Marc.
06:46They are invaluable and, you know, I want to hear from you because without you, there's
06:50no show and, you know, there'll be no need for policing if we are not hearing and partnering
06:54with you, the important stakeholder.
06:56So, again, Marc, it's a pleasure to be here.
06:58Yes, Corporal Ali, certainly, you know, the input of the citizens is what makes the police
07:05service, in essence, you know, know what people are looking for and, of course, their suggestions
07:11and opinions sticking across to the executive because you want to build that trust and confidence
07:19back in the service that has weaned considerably.
07:21And I guess we talk about the murder count for the year and I think that that is what
07:28a lot of the citizenry judges the police on.
07:33More so ever, I know there are other U.S. crimes, but I think the murder count for the
07:39year is where a lot of the attention is placed.
07:43And, of course, that is why people tend to be, I guess, in some way, lose hope.
07:53And I want to agree with you, Marc, and, you know, we have to respect the thinking of the
07:59citizens when they are actually placing their analysis and, you know, their judgment in
08:07relation to whether murder is concerned because murder, the capital offense, that directly
08:13impacts that right to life.
08:16And if we are seeing that right to life is threatened with very serious acts of violence,
08:22I think it's reasonable that, you know, it must be something that should be of great
08:25concern to all of us.
08:26And hence why, you know, every time I come to this platform, I always urge members of
08:31the public, you know, to appreciate their responsibility.
08:33But equally, I call very, very aggressively on the agencies that are entrusted with the
08:39responsibility to respond to this matter.
08:41And I hope that, you know, that that reflection that I call for is reflection that will be
08:46deliberate, Marc.
08:48Reflection that will be, you know, moving the decision makers with swift, prompt decisions
08:53where decisions are needed to ensure that we address and we confront this issue.
08:59You know, it's difficult to be coming week after week after week, month after month.
09:03With reference to the challenges that we are facing, and I hope that that reflection has
09:07really been done as deep as possible to bring us all to this.
09:11And I said before, the three institutions, there must be deep reflection because all
09:15three have their responsibility.
09:17And most importantly, what I consider the fourth institution, which is the citizenry,
09:21Marc, very, very important role, very significant role with reference to that, you know, whole
09:28of society approach that we require.
09:30So, again, you know, I look forward to hearing from you all this afternoon.
09:35We're going to be opening up the lines a little bit later, and we really want to hear
09:40from you.
09:40And I have a question for you.
09:42Just before we go to the headlines, you were talking about the flashing blue lights.
09:46Yes.
09:46And I'm going to ask you, are these marked or unmarked trees?
09:50That's a beautiful question, Marc.
09:51I think that you have sent me, you have sent me to do some research in order to respond
09:56to you.
09:56All right.
09:57We're going to take a look now at our headlines.
10:00♪♪♪
10:30So those were some of the headlines within the past 24 hours.
10:32And one of those headlines that stands out, of course, is the murder of Sherry Ann Rouette.
10:39Unfortunately, the young woman that was found two days ago at Carly Bay in Cuva, where they
10:45would have tried to stage a suicide of some sort by hanging up on a tree.
10:51And, of course, the autopsy yesterday revealed that she was killed through to blunt force
10:57trauma and was beaten, et cetera.
10:59Well, again, Marc, could you imagine that?
11:01And I heard, you know, having a glimpse of the show yesterday afternoon, I heard that
11:05you made reference to the, I think last, yesterday was the final day of the 16-day observance
11:11in reference to domestic violence.
11:13And based on what you have just reported in terms of the autopsy report and other information
11:19coming to hand reference to what have been, what probably, you know, stage of the suicide.
11:24Now we are seeing the acts of violence or marks of violence as the case may be.
11:28Again, we've seen that, you know, a female, you know, a woman has been impacted by acts
11:34of violence.
11:35So, again, it's unfortunate.
11:37And I'm saying to Trinidad and Tobago, let's be mindful.
11:43Let's be mindful that, you know, we are in a society and we all have a very important
11:48responsibility.
11:49And, you know, don't ever limit the importance of your contribution.
11:55And could you imagine, Mark, based on that matter that you spoke about in Calibee and
12:00that person, you know, found on a tree, hanging from a tree, you know, that whole status quo
12:06is important for us as communities, you know, to be paying particular attention, strange
12:11vehicles, you know, activities that may be, you know, you know, out of context with the
12:16community, you know, we must acknowledge we live in that sort of society and, you know,
12:21let us be a little more vigilant.
12:23I'm not saying that person may not have been vigilant, but we are seeing that persons are
12:27actually taking the opportunity because based on the report, and maybe you can confirm,
12:30Mark, they have indicated that they have not seen that individual in that community.
12:34That individual is not known to that community.
12:36Well, strange enough is that when I spoke with a senior officer yesterday, he told me
12:40that in the police report, they didn't even have an address for the lady.
12:45Yes.
12:45I don't know if they would have found out by now.
12:47I imagine that they would have.
12:49And, you know, the Attorney General spoke about domestic violence being a very silent
12:54problem in this country.
12:55Yes.
12:56In a matter of speaking, I think in the media today, you know, it's a huge problem, of course.
13:01Yes.
13:01And then we were talking about homicides.
13:05And unfortunately, we had what was, you know, a well-known punch vendor shot and killed
13:13last night along Queen Street in Arima.
13:16Yeah, his name is Dion Marshall, a Guyanese national.
13:22And I think based on what police would have gathered, he was well known in the community
13:27there.
13:28And, you know, a gunman approached him and shot him several times.
13:34A really sad and unfortunate incident.
13:37And a colleague of mine just called me before I came onto the show and was telling me that
13:42based on information, initial or preliminary information they're hearing, it might be linked
13:47to some kind of extortion.
13:50And I'm certain that we'll find out more within the next couple of hours or into tomorrow
13:56about whether or not it might have been linked to some kind of extortion.
13:59And we know that that has been something that has been perennial over the last few months
14:05across the East First Corridor and Central.
14:08Well, Mark, again, you know, I'm happy that you're identifying, you know, what may be
14:11the possible motive for based on information and intelligence coming to hand.
14:15While I cannot confirm that as yet, I think that's important for me to strive on something
14:18that you said.
14:19And sometime last week, I spoke about understanding the victim in the case where there's a
14:24deceased.
14:25But I'm also want to say to Trinidad and Tobago in a very, very, very strong way this
14:29afternoon, but respectful, that, you know, when persons are exposed and they are victim
14:34of crime, and we're not speaking of capital crime where there's a deceased.
14:38We're speaking about crimes where threats are made, where demands for money.
14:44And that's what I think is made.
14:45It's important for us to not treat those things lightly.
14:48And I'm saying that while they may be the principal victim, that victim is associated
14:53with our family and friends.
14:54And I'm saying that please report it to someone, share the information with someone.
14:58So just in case something happens, the investigation can be triggered immediately where, for
15:02example, Mark, could you imagine that you are confessing in me that, you know, X happened,
15:07Y happened.
15:08At least if something should happen to you, you should go missing.
15:10There are things that I can act on.
15:12So, you know, important for me to bring that to members of the public to make record and
15:17share issues and concerns with persons who can bring that to the police, just in case
15:22you are not available to bring those information.
15:24All right.
15:25We're going to take a short break and we'll be back and take your calls.
15:28Stay with us.
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17:33Welcome back to Beyond the Tape, it's Legally Speaking Wednesdays and I'm your host Mark
18:02Bassant.
18:03Joined today by Attorney at Law Corporal Zahir Ali.
18:07I want to remind you of the numbers to call 623-1711 extensions 1992, 1993, 1996 and 1997.
18:16Corporal Ali is waiting on your calls.
18:18I think we have a call on the line already.
18:21Caller, good evening.
18:22Good evening Mr. Bassant and the Honorable Corporal Ali there.
18:27Let me answer your first question Mark about the Christmas tree flashing light.
18:33If you take ownership of it, it could be a marked tree.
18:39Right here, Mark Bassant, and if you take ownership it's a marked tree.
18:42All right, this is some serious questions, serious, serious questions.
18:48One of the things that I am seeing that I don't believe the Polish should be promoting
18:57and going to several media houses to project a decrease in homicide and crime.
19:07I believe it is artificial for the time and for the DCP to go on several media to say that
19:17that there is a decrease in the homicide in November.
19:22I think that is questionable and I will give you some data points that I am looking at.
19:29In September, no, October 19th to the 20th, the commission of police did something
19:36that I believe is contributing to it.
19:39She took back all the tactical gear from policemen and you have to remember there
19:47was a proliferation of criminal acts caused by police in question marks or imitation police.
19:58Those might be a nexus to some of the lower number in criminal activities,
20:10homicide.
20:11I'm hoping it's not that because I am looking at that and I'm seeing immediate.
20:17So if that is the cause, then we have serious problems in the police service.
20:21I think you will understand what I'm getting at.
20:24The other issue has to do with violence against women.
20:30And I'll be blunt, I'll be blunt.
20:33The leadership of this country has trivialized it on some way in a remark.
20:41And I'm talking about the prime minister.
20:43When he said, when they were asking him to do something about crime,
20:49when women were regularly attacked and things.
20:53And this is what he said, I'm not in your bedroom and I am not in your choice of men.
21:01That to me really sends a signal as to how the leadership of this country
21:09thinks about violence against women.
21:11And I will say no more.
21:13And I hope you all enjoy the evening.
21:16Axelot Kola, Papalali.
21:18Thank you very much, Kola.
21:19Mark, just the first point.
21:20Well, not the first point and history point, but the introductory remarks.
21:26I think he was probably listening to us.
21:28Because you asked me the question in reference to the flashing blue lights.
21:32And in my analysis, I came up with, it may be attributed to Mark Lights.
21:38And Kola was along the same lines.
21:41I think he has a bug in here.
21:43Because we were discussing that at the break.
21:47Yeah, probably have some intelligence.
21:49Who knows?
21:50But on a more serious note, Mark, it was one of the reasons why I've called on the members
21:56of the public to aggressively engage us.
21:59Not only this afternoon, but previously.
22:01I believe firmly in when there's things to speak about, or whether there's injustice,
22:07or whether there may be evil prevailing, I always remind members of the public to exercise
22:13your democratic right and respectfully.
22:15But there are three things.
22:16One, and one of the three things to be able to do is one, speak out on it.
22:22And this is the opportunity that when we offer you all to call in,
22:25express your concerns.
22:26Or if you have to share commendations, share your commendations.
22:29But speak on, you have the opportunity to speak and express yourself.
22:33If you cannot speak up on it, and you can fix it with your hand, fix it with your hand
22:36if you have the opportunity, within the rule of law.
22:39And if you cannot speak about it, and you cannot fix it with your hand, hate it in your heart.
22:43So we have three options.
22:45And hence why, Mark, it might sound like I'm calling on members of the public that I want
22:49to hear them.
22:50But it's an opportunity.
22:52Then you never know the voices.
22:54This is the, when democracy is alive in Trinidad and Tobago.
22:57We are legally speaking, I remember, several senior councils went with very high profile
23:03matters all the way to the Privy Council.
23:05And, you know, you all would have recalled a most recent matter involving the late Satmaraj,
23:11in reference to a police operation that was challenged all the way to the Privy Council.
23:15And one of the rights that was ventilated, you know, heavily in relation to that right
23:20to freedom of expression, which is a very, very serious right.
23:24And, you know, I'm saying to you all that when we have a society to fix, you know, the
23:27citizens of Trinidad and Tobago don't only wait on the opportunity when you may have
23:32the opportunity to, you know, cast a vote.
23:34But also during that particular period, you know, ensure that you are bringing forward
23:40solutions.
23:40You have been constructive, you have been critical, because we live here together.
23:44And if we have been selfish and not speaking out on issues and bringing solutions for legislators,
23:50for our executive to consider, then we are not doing justice to ourselves.
23:53So hence why I'm calling so that, you know, let us hear members of the public, because
23:57among the members of the public, Mark, and I'm sure in your career path, this is where
24:02you get some of the most pertinent intelligence.
24:04You get groundbreaking stories.
24:07If they didn't speak, nobody knows about the matter.
24:10So, you know, call us, utilize the opportunity, but be respectful, be respectful to other
24:15persons.
24:17And I look forward to hearing from you as we go along this afternoon.
24:20Alright, I think your wish has been granted.
24:23There's another call on the line.
24:25Caller, good evening.
24:26Yeah, blessings to Mr. Ali and you, Mark Bersan.
24:30Good evening, sir.
24:31Now, a pathologist's job is amazing, eh?
24:34That training, it's a different kettle of fish, you know.
24:39No, a pathologist's job, a pathologist do an autopsy on a body, right?
24:45So sometimes it comes back inconclusive, and the family of the victim doesn't like
24:51it.
24:52They take another pathologist and they get a different finding.
24:56No, a pathologist could make someone walk free or go to the gallows.
25:04So I was wondering, you know, like, blunt force, but kill someone, a blunt force injury
25:10or whatever it is.
25:12That could mean a lot of things because if that man falls, somebody falls and hits the
25:15head on a rock, that is blunt force.
25:17And if he gets hit with a hammer, that is blunt force too.
25:21So a pathologist's job is really amazing, but I find it's a little more work to get
25:28a decision satisfying to the family.
25:31Sometimes it is not good for it.
25:33Thanks a lot, sir.
25:35Thanks, caller.
25:36And again, you know, just quickly, caller, thank you very much for your submission.
25:39Just like the previous caller, again, this caller has taken us to appreciate, Mark, the
25:44importance and the sensitivity of forensic expert report.
25:49You know, this is something that, you know, just for members of the public, that you will
25:52have the Orthodox police investigation.
25:54But when you're looking at the cause of death, it's important for the science to play its
25:58part, you know, to assist the overall investigation.
26:00And Mark, I heard that you were, you know, explaining some of the things in relation
26:09to strangulation and that sort of thing.
26:12And I'm happy that members of the public, you know, they are educating themselves to
26:17have an appreciation because sometimes you may come across matters that you may have
26:23to give information or give intelligence on and you can spot it immediately and say, hey,
26:26all is not well, you know.
26:28So, you know, caller, thank you very much for sharing.
26:30And that information, and yes, it is so sensitive because those evidence, Mark, is considered
26:35to be opinion evidence.
26:37So an expert sometimes can get it wrong.
26:39So that's why you find sometimes they go to a second opinion and, you know, and that sort
26:43of thing.
26:44But again, you know, I thank you all for your submissions.
26:45All right.
26:46We're going to take a short break, but when we get back, we'll take more of your calls.
26:49Stay with us.
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29:23Welcome back to Beyond the Tape.
29:31I'm your host Marc Bessant.
29:32It's Legally Speaking Wednesdays and of course with us is a tenured local
29:37Corporal Zahir Ali from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and we certainly want to hear from
29:42you.
29:42I want to just remind you of the number 623-1711 extensions 1992, 1993, 1996, and 1997 and on
29:51that note I think we have another caller on the line.
29:53Caller, good evening.
29:58Good evening caller.
29:59Can you load on your television set so we can hear you properly?
30:05Caller?
30:07May I speak now?
30:08Yes, go ahead.
30:10Okay, pleasant evening to the panelists.
30:12Good evening sir.
30:13I'm Corporal Ali and Mr. Bessant.
30:16I have a long-standing concern.
30:19And the question is about parking and illegal parking in Port of Spain, particularly
30:26in other parts of Trinidad and Tobago.
30:29My concern is that while there's a legitimate concern and maybe the times and the needs for
30:37the uses of the record, there's also a prevalent practice for what I would call indiscriminate
30:48and unscrupulous actions of business people, owners of businesses, and other people who
30:58take parking signs, sometimes I don't know where they get them, and cones and block parking
31:08spots along the streets, preventing the public from getting parking spots that they are legally
31:17entitled to have.
31:21So the owners, they do it.
31:24Sometimes agents of the owners do it.
31:28And it seems to be done over time.
31:31It's going on time and time again.
31:33And nobody is dealing with that.
31:36So the question is, we want to encourage a compliance with the law and legal parking
31:46in one with the left hand.
31:48And with the right hand, people who are not authorized are restricting and depriving people
31:57who are entitled to parking in the city and other places.
32:03And I would like the law enforcement people to actually treat that with some urgency,
32:12especially with the Christmas season in an ongoing way, please.
32:17In a sense, I have been an officer for how many years?
32:21And I know that the MV&RG would say who are authorized to put down signs and who are authorized
32:29to move and not move signs.
32:31And not a security guard who comes from Africa or Guyana or whatever, so and so, and other
32:38people and so on.
32:39And not the owner of this business and that business.
32:42I've seen also police officers and other people pass by, watch it and do nothing.
32:50So I'm asking that this matter be given attention.
32:54If you want people to comply with the laws, then they must be assisted to do so.
32:59And not allow the indiscriminate deprivation of parking spots.
33:07Well, Corporal Ali, before you go in, I have to say that I believe that things like that
33:14are happening across the country.
33:17And I want to encourage everyone, if you see images like that, take photos, even videos
33:23and send it to beyondthetape1atgmail.com.
33:27And I can tell you that the day before yesterday, I was driving along the avenue and I stopped
33:33momentarily.
33:35I stopped momentarily, but I was looking for a park to get something, to pick up something
33:40to eat.
33:41And lo and behold, what he indicated there, there was two cones parked in front of a business
33:48place.
33:48And it was an empty spot where you can actually park.
33:52And I said to myself, I parked a little lower down and I was coming across and I was going
33:57to videotape that.
33:59But by the time I got out of my car and I was walking, a guy came out and he moved the
34:04cones and a truck backed in.
34:06Yes.
34:07Right?
34:08Because they have their goods and so on.
34:11I remember that that said place, I'm not going to call the name, about a month ago said van
34:19parked or tried to and they had these cones and police officers stopped and they crossed
34:25the street and they told whoever was at that establishment, this is wrong and you cannot
34:31be blocking this place.
34:33I wish that we'd given him a ticket of some sort, but definitely it's a practice we see
34:39going on across the country, not just in Port Hespain, but across Trinidad and Tobago and
34:46I know that is illegal.
34:48Well, Mark, I'm happy that you share a perspective on it as well in terms of your observation.
34:51But Kola, I want to thank you very much for a very important and sensitive observation
34:57that you made.
34:57And Mark, while he may have identified the motor vehicle and the traffic arc, I want
35:02to indicate as well that from a local government context, the Municipal Cooperations Act, it's
35:09important for us to look at that particular legislation as well to perhaps identify what
35:13he's speaking about because persons cannot have the liberty or the authority to be placing
35:18items and you notice I'm saying items, whether it be cone or whatever you may be using to
35:22be placed on a public road.
35:24That can be a hazard in the first instance because you don't know what you're placing
35:28there.
35:28But more importantly, it could be things that can cause obstruction, things that can result
35:34in many different consequences.
35:35So when we are speaking about road signs on the public road, it's important for us to
35:39look at that.
35:39And Kola, I'll give you the assurance I'll speak to the Deputy Commissioners and see
35:43whether in fact a notice can be sent to all Assistant Commissioners, Senior Superintendents
35:49of the divisions to ensure that they are paying particular attention to persons who may be
35:53acting improperly where we are speaking about the placement of instruments or signs without
36:00authority on the public road.
36:02Exactly.
36:03We have another call on the line.
36:05Kola, good evening.
36:07Good evening.
36:08Good evening, sir.
36:08Good evening.
36:11I have a question to ask Corporal Harley and Mark.
36:19Mr. Mark, no, I heard something.
36:23Some time ago that when they finish working at the age of 60 or when they go home, they
36:36are going home without any pension or gratuity.
36:40And that sounds very strange to me.
36:42I would want you and Corporal Harley to make a homework for me to find out whether that
36:50is true.
36:51These men and women in the SRP that work so hard along with the regulars, when they reach
36:5860, when they work until 60 and they go home, they are not getting any pension or gratuity.
37:06Has that been something I heard?
37:07So I want you to find out if that is the reality or not.
37:11So that is a homework for Corporal Harley and you because next time I'll call to find
37:17out what is really going on.
37:19You got it.
37:21Thanks, Kola.
37:22Again, thank you very much, Kola.
37:25I acknowledge the homework that you have given to me, Kola.
37:29I thank you for that.
37:30But what I'll say in relation to the Special Reserve Police Officers, Mark, in my respectful
37:35view, I think that more focus must be directed to Special Reserve Police Officers.
37:40Yes, there may be legal arguments that Special Reserve Officers may be governed by the Act
37:45of 1503 versus the regular police or the TTPS National Police governed by the Act of
37:511501.
37:52But I think the time has come because of the workload that is associated with Special Reserve
37:58Police Officers and now Special Reserve Police Officers in a lot of instances providing,
38:04if not identical, role and functions as the regular police.
38:07So I think the time has come for us to have a look at that in my respectful view.
38:11If I ever had the opportunity to sit down and look at the terms and conditions of Special
38:16Reserve Police Officers, definitely I'll be advocating to ensure that there's equal treatment
38:20for those officers.
38:21And especially where you spoke about attaining the age of 60, at least there's some entitlement
38:27with reference to persons who would have given public service, Mark.
38:30These are not things that should be handled lightly.
38:33So, Kola, I want to thank you for raising this issue on behalf of the Special Reserve
38:37Police population.
38:38And I want to assure you that I will continue to advocate as well and agitate to ensure
38:42that there's equal treatment for those persons.
38:44So thank you very much.
38:45Mark, you've seen how many significant issues that have been brought to this table, which
38:49is important in the entirety of the public interest.
38:52Because if you look at the sanction strength, you will see that there's quite a number of
38:58Special Reserve Police Officers who are playing what?
39:00Very significant roles in Trinidad and Tobago.
39:02So it's important to look at their welfare and their best interests as well.
39:06All right.
39:06And I was actually talking to a colleague of yours last night.
39:09I wouldn't call his name.
39:10Yes.
39:11But he was mentioning there were some other issues involving SRPs, which, of course, I
39:15will discuss with you.
39:17Sure.
39:17Yeah.
39:18All right.
39:18We're going to take a short break and we'll be back.
39:20Stay with us.
39:50We're going from house to house with Amplia.
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41:55Welcome to the leader of the opposition, Tong Ho.
41:58I lean up on a wall for three nights, waiting.
42:02Lie down on the floor.
42:04Three days after, then I come and I get a bed to go in.
42:08When I get the bed, they don't have no sheets, they don't have no pillow, they don't have
42:11nothing.
42:12They don't have a cup of water, nothing at all to give you.
42:15Tonight.
42:16I have worked with many ministers of health and there's no doubt in my mind that Terence
42:20de Alising is the worst of all the ministers of health.
42:24The MRI machine and CT machine don't really need a resting night.
42:28They're designed to work 24-7.
42:29So instead of a patient, I've been waiting for six months to get a CT.
42:33That can be done in a night.
42:34Out of that 231 participating CDAP pharmacies, there is only one individual.
42:41We have all the physicians who are experts and what have you.
42:45And I see no reason why we should continue to track up to the UK and the USA for further
42:51training.
42:52Tonight.
43:08Welcome back to Beyond the Tube.
43:09I'm your host, Mark Bessant.
43:10It's Legally Speaking on Wednesdays and we certainly want to hear from you.
43:13I'm here with Attorney-at-Law Corporal Ezekiel Ali of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
43:19And we just wanted to take you quickly to a video yesterday involving, in just in the
43:26queue up area, it seemed that some suspects attempted to snatch a chain and other valuables
43:36from someone.
43:38Of course, the police was quickly on the scene and we're in a season where now you're wearing
43:42anything flashy and people, you're attracted, attracting these criminals to you, they're
43:49going to come at you.
43:49But luckily, the police was in the vicinity and they were able to quickly apprehend those
43:55men.
43:56Again, Mark, you know, I want to commend the officers, you know, for the quick response
43:59and in relation to those matters.
44:03But again, I'm happy that you've made mention again to the citizenry that you need to, you
44:08know, exercise your due diligence.
44:09You don't need to be cognizant of what's happening around you.
44:11And I'm not going to be taking the approach, Mark, to be telling citizens, you know, don't
44:16wear this or don't wear that or don't, you know, walk with this or don't walk with that
44:20or even from their residence context, you know, invest in this, invest in that.
44:25I'm not going to do that.
44:26What I'm going to say is that, you know, we let good sense reveal, you know, ensure that
44:31you are making good judgments and you're not naive to the society that you're living
44:35in.
44:36But again, let's understand it and let us act appropriately.
44:40But to the law enforcement agencies, let us appreciate that the criminal element is on
44:47the move, looking for opportunities in relation to where our law-abiding citizens are concerned.
44:53And it's important for us to continue to police the police to the length and breadth of the
44:57law.
44:58Yep, well said.
45:00And, you know, we've been talking also about road traffic accidents on this program over
45:05the last couple of weeks where it has kind of intensified.
45:08And there was one actually in El Securo last night.
45:12I believe a pedestrian was struck in this incident here where there were, you know,
45:20some vehicles were also involved.
45:22If you look back behind the second, not this vehicle, the other vehicle, you would see
45:29somebody on the roadway behind that vehicle, just on the roadway there, right, on the right
45:33side, lying on the ground.
45:35I am not certain of the condition of that individual.
45:39But obviously, if this person with the van in front, the white van, would have come in
45:44contact.
45:45And it looks like a pretty busy roadway to be attempting to cross.
45:49Yes.
45:50But Mark, again, you know, when we talk about road traffic accidents, you know, and, you
45:54know, involving motorists and, you know, passengers and drivers and so forth, and we have seen
46:01some upticks in that area in recent times.
46:03Mark, again, I just want to urge the motorists to appreciate that when you are in charge
46:08of a motor vehicle, it's a very serious responsibility.
46:12Being in charge of the motor vehicle is a very serious responsibility for looking at
46:17the responsibility for your own safety, persons who you may be conveying, and other persons
46:22who may be on the roadway.
46:23So it's a very serious responsibility.
46:25And more importantly, Mark, a vehicle, you must appreciate that a vehicle can cause very
46:30serious injuries, including death.
46:33So let us appreciate that.
46:36And also let us appreciate that if we are taking chances when we are in charge of a
46:40vehicle, whether we are under the influence of alcohol, whether dangerous drug, what have
46:44you, let us appreciate that these things can, you know, land us in very serious consequences.
46:50Yes, definitely.
46:51We have a caller on the line.
46:52Caller, good evening.
46:54Hi, good evening, gentlemen.
46:56Good evening, sir.
46:57I like the topic that you all are raising about parking, but I want to draw your attention
47:03to two police stations in South Trinidad, the San Fernando police station and the Monrepo
47:11police station.
47:14Outside the police station, there are no parking signs, no parking sign, the legal no parking
47:21sign, the circle with the line across that says, what I mean, they don't say no parking,
47:30but there's no parking sign.
47:32And they have a lot of vehicles, which are police vehicles, which are parking there.
47:40Private vehicles.
47:41Now, I could understand that the parking for the officers, they must be provided parking.
47:49Now, if the officers have to park, they don't need signs, because as citizens, law-abiding
47:57citizens, we have seen parking here without no parking sign, and we know the police officers
48:01parking.
48:02Here, I have no problem with that, but they don't need signs, so it is saying that it's
48:07legal for police officers to park their vehicles while they come to work, but you have a no
48:13parking sign.
48:14It makes no sense.
48:16It's the same by the police, but break the law, and the civilians, they just give the
48:21civilians no parking, they redirect them.
48:23I mean, is there a dichotomy in that, and they should do something about it.
48:29Thank you very much, Kola.
48:30Mark, that's a very serious matter, and I want to agree with you, Kola, that if we are
48:36a country that is governed by the rule of law, then no one is above the rule of law,
48:41and he's right.
48:42And, you know, even from a public trust and confidence context, it does not augur well.
48:47Look, a member of the public is calling his observation.
48:50So, you know, I think that if we are, and to balance the scale, if we have police officers
48:54who are working in the San Fernando and Monrepoe, and may I just indicate that I will, in fact,
48:58you know, do some inquiries in relation to that, and have some discussions with the Assistant
49:02Commissioner for South, with reference to that, if, in fact, police officers are working
49:06in the station, and they are looking to ensure that they secure their property, Mark, it's
49:10important for us to, you know, make some inquiries and see whether, in fact, there are other
49:15arrangements that can be made to have persons secure their vehicle properly, as opposed
49:19to, you're seeing a sign, it is still with it, it's gazetted, that that's an area that
49:24is a no-stopping one, no parking, and you've seen vehicles, you know, continuously there.
49:28Kola, I want to agree with you, and I thank you for bringing that to us, because no one
49:31is above the law, and this is the, this is when we are speaking, Mark, you have heard
49:35about the, the broken windows theory, this can be, you know, attributed to the broken
49:40windows theory, where, if we are speaking about crime and criminality, we are speaking
49:44about violation, which must be a zero-tolerance approach, and no one, may I say that again,
49:49no one is above the rule of law, so I want to thank you, Kola, and I will look into that.
49:54Well, I'm hopeful that not just San Fernando, there's a particular street in Portaspade
49:58that a businessman told me, and he showed me, I actually saw it first hand, there are
50:03no parking signs, police officers park there, and they have the, the little sign, Mark,
50:09police on the dashboard, and they are, they are unmarked vehicles, some private, of course,
50:14owned by these officers, so I want you to also look into that, but we're going to take
50:18a short break, and we'll be back, stay with us.
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52:53Welcome back to Beyond the Tape, I'm your host Marc Bessant, it's Legally Speaking Wednesdays
52:57and we're joined by Attenuate Law Corporal Zahir Ali of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service,
53:02and as I wanted to just to remind you, remember if you see anything illegal happening in terms
53:08of parking or business owners putting up signs or moving police signs and blocking areas,
53:14take a picture, take a video, and send it to beyondthetape1 at gmail.com.
53:22Your closing thoughts, Corporal? Well Marc, you know, I want to thank you very much again for this
53:28afternoon and more importantly the callers, you know, some very significant issues, you know,
53:34while it may sound like, you know, simple issues, those issues if looked at in depth
53:42can lead to very serious consequences. A simple obstruction where someone is in need of
53:49immediate care, a simple obstruction and a delay could cause the death of that individual,
53:55right? And it's important for us to appreciate that we are governed by the rule of law and in
54:00terms as simple as a traffic violation, we are governed by the rule of law, let us observe
54:04the rules. Sometime ago I said that we are a society, you know, I say this respectfully that
54:08you know, the rule of law exists but we sometimes we tend to want to, you know, be, you know,
54:12cornering, you know, we want to look to see if we can, you know, avoid, but these things can land
54:16us, not because we get through one day, there will be a day that will come that you will not get
54:22through and this is when you see, you know, I should have done this and I should have done this.
54:25Let us appreciate that we live within a society that's governed by the rule of law, let us
54:29observe it so that all of us can enjoy a peaceful and a society that has order. So that's the first
54:35thing I want to say and Mark, again, secondly, just to reiterate that, you know, thanks to the
54:39callers over the year, over the months and years, I should say, because I'm here for a couple of
54:44years now. I want to thank you all for, you know, reaching out on this particular program,
54:49sharing your concern, you know, sharing your commendations, you know, being critical of the
54:53police service. It's the only way that we can go forward in the strategic plan of the police
54:57service, Mark. We have a pillar one that talks about effective community engagement and partnership.
55:02This is one of the forums that you can promote effective community engagement and partnership
55:06and if you are looking for solutions, this is why we need to now raise the society to appreciate
55:11that they have an input. So, you know, I want to urge them to continue to do that,
55:15exercise your opportunity to speak, be respectful, but, you know, again, I want to urge you all to
55:20have a very safe and enjoyable season and most importantly, let us do some reflection. We are
55:26also coming to the end of the year, Mark. Let us do some reflection and see, you know, where we are
55:31and, you know, where we may want to go and what is required to get there, you know, from our
55:35individual context and from a collective context. So, Mark, I want to thank you very much. Jackie,
55:40thank you all very much. We appreciate that and of course, just quickly before we go,
55:45there's a TTPS run notice on Saturday 14th of December at 6.30, a memorial run for Krishna
55:54Banaha. Remember the police officer that was shot and killed in Sipari in Point 40. So,
56:03certainly, you can come out on Saturday next at 6.30, $120 per person and as I just wanted to
56:12reiterate what Corporal Ali has said, we're about two weeks away from Christmas and we want to urge
56:19to be very vigilant when you go out shopping as well as be safe on the roadways because we really
56:25don't want to have any more road fatalities and of course, if you see something, say something,
56:31contact a law enforcement officer and, you know, if you feel uncomfortable about a situation,
56:37don't go there. Maybe, you know, call a friend. Alright, we run tonight at 11.30.
56:42Repeat tomorrow at 11 o'clock. TV6 News is up next. Stay with us.
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