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00:00Parents, strongly cautioned, this program contains some material that is unsuitable
00:08for young children.
00:38Beyond the Tape will be back after these messages.
00:48Two competitions.
00:50One night.
00:52Prepare yourselves for the Senior Kings and Queens Semifinals.
00:57And the Junior Kings and Queens Finals.
01:00Wednesday, February 26th from 7pm.
01:03Carnival City, Queens Park, Savannah.
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03:20Check all the school pages for more info.
03:23Fat Nation!
03:24Fuckin' Earth Wednesday!
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04:49Welcome to Beyond the Tape. I'm your host, Mark Bosant.
05:00It's Wednesday, Day 52 of the State of Emergency.
05:05And of course, it's also Legally Speaking Wednesdays.
05:09And today with us is Acting Sergeant Zaheer Ali of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and Attorney at Law.
05:15Welcome, sir.
05:16Good afternoon to you, Mark.
05:18Again, it's a pleasure and honor to be here as always.
05:20Good evening to Jackie and other family members on Beyond the Tape.
05:23To the beloved citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.
05:28And, you know, most importantly, my colleagues in the law enforcement agencies and other supporting agencies.
05:34Mark, a lot is happening.
05:37Well, certainly a lot is happening.
05:39And, you know, we had that judgment yesterday by Justice Frank C. Persaud, where he obviously spoke about this flawed process of promotions, rather, in the First Division.
05:51Yes.
05:52And I know in Leonard Council, as you are, you might want to make a comment about that particular ruling.
06:00Well, thank you for the opportunity, Mark, for placing that on the table.
06:04And let me begin by indicating that over the last couple hours, since the pronouncements from the Honorable Judge, it has occupied the headlines of Trinidad and Tobago.
06:18And if you want to measure the importance of any issue, you know, just look to the media and see the level of interest that the media will place on an issue.
06:31And vice versa, the responses from members of the public.
06:35So, definitely, it's a topical issue.
06:37I know it has been published and it has been reported as it relates to the impact on the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, Mark.
06:46But this afternoon, I want to be able to broaden, in my respective view, the impact of this judgment.
06:52This judgment not only impacts the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
06:56And I want to use this judgment to remind, sometime I go on this platform with you and I, I expounded on the importance of public officials acting properly.
07:07And just to read from paragraph, for those who may want to follow subsequently, Mark, from paragraph 101 of the judgment of the Honorable Justice Frank C. Posad, High Court of Trinidad and Tobago.
07:19I just want to read this verbatim.
07:21When parliament laid down a statutory requirement or regime for the exercise of legal authority, it expects its authority to be obeyed, obeyed, sorry, down to the finest of details.
07:35Now, that's a very strong paragraph in the context of not only the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, but all public officials or all persons who may be governed by an act of parliament or a formal regime.
07:48So my simple comments this afternoon, I know that that judgment will be engaging a lot of decision makers or should be engaging a lot of decision makers in terms of how can we move forward or what steps may have to be taken.
08:01But I want to again use this opportunity to remind Trinidad and Tobago and our public officials and those who are governed by formal statutory framework.
08:09That there's an expectation that you will be following strictly the rule of law when you're exercising your authority.
08:17So I just wanted to emphasize that it is beyond the TTPS.
08:21It's a judgment that should be applied to the length and breadth of the public sector and as I said before, even organizations that may be incorporated by an act of parliament that provides how they should govern their business.
08:34So I'm happy that you give me that opportunity to come in this afternoon, but I would reserve any further comments because I know it's a very sensitive judgment, which may be engaging very high office holders.
08:46Yeah, and what was also of a significant concern that the judge also raised was the fact that that company Odyssey Consulting Corporation, as he quoted, imagine you had only one former police commissioner on that panel.
08:59The rest of persons didn't have any experience, according to the judge, in terms of policing and therefore could not lawfully assess these officers.
09:08So that is of another serious concern, how they went about picking this particular company and having persons that were unqualified sitting there making or assessing officers in the service.
09:20So that is obviously also of concern.
09:23And of course, we know that, you know, people have been asking in terms of the investigation into the police commissioner, suspended police commissioner here with Christopher.
09:34And I don't know if you have any kind of general update you can share with the public on that matter.
09:40Well, Mark, again, thank you very much for the opportunity and a very piercing question.
09:45But I know some time ago, the Deputy Commissioner Intelligence and Investigation and by extension, the executive of the TPS and, you know, and appearing in a press conference.
09:53We did give an undertaking that we will keep the public up to date in relation to the progress of this inquiry because of the deep public interest in it.
09:59So I'll take this opportunity just to advise members of the public that at this time, the investigative file comprising the evidence that has been compiled or have been compiled as far in the investigation have been submitted to the Honorable Director of Public Prosecution, Mr. Roger Gaspard, personally.
10:16And at this time, he is reviewing and engaging the evidence in the file.
10:20So that's as much as I can say at this time.
10:23And, you know, we'll keep the public updated as we go forward in this investigation.
10:28Right. Well, certainly, of course, the onus will be on the DPP whether or not there's enough evidence to charge.
10:35And of course, the charges are there looking at his misbehavior in public office.
10:39So we'll just have to wait for the DPP's decision.
10:42Hopefully, we'll see how long that might take.
10:45Might take a couple of days, weeks.
10:47We don't know, but we will be monitoring that.
10:50All right.
10:51It's day 52 of the state of emergency, and we want to bring you up to date with our figures thus far.
10:59Number of operations, 2,792.
11:02Priority offenders targeted, 2,209.
11:05Searches conducted, 19,056.
11:07Traffic operations, 2,491.
11:10Total persons arrested, 2,046.
11:13Traffic offenses detected, 9,933.
11:16Firearms recovered, 98.
11:18Ammunition recovered, 1,986.
11:20Dangerous drugs seized, 305,262 grams of cannabis.
11:26And just over 1,900 grams of cocaine.
11:30Firearms recovered, the numbers certainly going up.
11:33Yesterday, I remember it being about 91 overnight.
11:36Seven more.
11:37A good thing, getting these illicit firearms off the streets.
11:41And again, Mark, every time you read these statistics, I'm always moved to identify that.
11:49Definitely there's incremental achievements, if I should say that,
11:54on the part of the TTPS and other law enforcement agencies with reference to this public state of emergency.
12:00But again, you know, I always want to urge the TTPS and law enforcement agencies,
12:06these groups, you know, based on intelligence, these gangs,
12:11I really want to see that the statistics, you know, seeing the disruption and dismantling of criminal organization.
12:18And, you know, I say that without prejudice to the work of the officers.
12:21I know that they are working diligently.
12:24You know, but, you know, I will always ask for them to push further.
12:27And, you know, let us continue to review our strategies, you know, our tactics,
12:31to be able to get maximum going back on the proclamation,
12:36where the declaration was based on groups and gangs that are threatening public safety and security.
12:41So I would love to really see the 96 odd firearms probably with, you know,
12:46an increase in charges under the anti-gang legislation, which I think will be putting us in the best position.
12:52But all in all, I want to urge the police officers to continue to do their good work.
12:57And Mark, sometimes we probably overlook, but, you know, policing is a very sensitive responsibility.
13:04Very, very sensitive. And, you know, the risk that is associated.
13:09And, you know, I must salute the police officers in the TTPS and by extension the Defense Force officers
13:14and also the other agencies, for example, like the Supplemental Police and even the Municipal Police,
13:20and by extension Trinidad and Tobago, for continuing to, you know, to exercise due diligence and in making their contributions.
13:25So I know sometimes I'm very, very, very harsh.
13:29But, you know, this afternoon I want to ensure that I balance the scale because I am fully aware of how sensitive policing
13:35and what has been required of us at this point in time.
13:38All right. Let's take a look now at our headlines.
14:06So those were some of the headlines within the last 24 hours.
14:09We're going to take a short break and we'll be back. Stay with us.
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16:17Trinidad and Tobago's Red Cross Children's Carnival 2025.
16:22Hey kids, parents, it's time for Red Cross Children's Carnival.
16:26Join us at Queen's Park Savannah on Saturday, February 22nd at 11am for a day full of fun, music, and the most amazing costumes.
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18:19Welcome to Beyond the Tape. I'm your host, Mark Bassan. It's Legally Speaking Wednesdays with Acting Sergeant Zaheer Ali of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, and of course, attorney at law.
18:43We've been constantly speaking about safety on the roadways, and to no avail, we've had three unfortunate accidents over the last 24 hours.
18:53This was a scene in the vicinity of the Mosquito Creek last night, a collision involving at least one, two, maybe three vehicles.
19:04One of the vehicles there, Acting Sergeant Zaheer Ali, overturned, and another vehicle pretty mashed up.
19:12So it's one, two, and another. I saw a third vehicle overturned there.
19:17So certainly, you know, speed seems to be a factor here when we look at the mangler wreckage there.
19:26It could have even been four vehicles, because there are two here and two others a little bit down.
19:32Mark, every time I see, you know, scenes like these, you know, it's very touching.
19:37And I always make mention that a vehicle should not be taken lightly.
19:43A person who is in charge of a vehicle on a nation's road, bearing in mind there are other motor vehicles, bearing in mind the lighting condition, bearing in mind the status of the road, and the responsibility that resides with you in charge of the vehicle, those are very significant things.
19:57But Mark, this afternoon, I'd like to, you know, probably take the approach and say to Trinidad and Tobago, I'm asking you all, Trinidad and Tobago, I'm speaking to you all directly here now.
20:06Perhaps if not this evening, the next time that we all sit together for dinner or lunch or breakfast with our family members, or if we don't, let us bring together our family members, and let us have and engage our minds in a discussion about road safety.
20:22It's as simple as I can bring it, and those experienced drivers who may be part of these families, or who may have gotten themselves in very serious accidents and, you know, in a position to tell a story, come sit with your family around the table, and in having breakfast, dinner, or lunch, let us speak about the importance of road safety.
20:42Let us emphasize upon each other that we want to see each other return home. That we do not want to be getting any news, whether social media or formally, that our family members are lying on the roadway motionless. Right? I'm trying to take a very soft approach, but let us treat it as something that is important to us.
21:01And I'm speaking directly to you all because, you know, I'm a citizen of this country. I'm a human being. I have family members who, you know, on the roads on a daily basis, and let us all, you know, be our brother's keeper, but I'm asking us to start from this afternoon. When we sit, let us treat safety on our nation roads as of paramount importance, and the reason I'm saying that, Mark, we are in a season where there's a lot of activities.
21:26Yes. Right? There's a lot of activities. You have a lot of facts taking place at various times. You're going to meet persons in the road who may be tired, who may be consuming alcohol, and again, who may be taking risks and breaching the law. So, please, let us sit down as mature people. Let us sit down with our young drivers. Let us explain that this particular time, we need to be extra vigilant and extra careful. I'm asking you kindly.
21:51The right to life is just as important, and it begins with you protecting your life and protecting any persons on the outside. It's the best I can do at this time, Mark. I have spoken about the law. I've spoken about the responsibility of law enforcement to be diligent, to be engaging the motorist in conjunction with the licensing office. We have seen some road traffic exercise being conducted. We have seen the inspection of motor vehicle, and that's our next point, Mark, that in having the discussions, please ascertain whether your vehicle is in a position to be on the public road.
22:21You may be in a situation where you do not have proper tires. Your brake system is not working properly. Your seat belt is not intact. So, I'm asking, over the next couple of hours, let us take the responsibility and let us look within ourselves and see whether we are fit and proper to be on the roads of Trinidad and Tobago.
22:40On that note, of course, your underlying safety. Last night, in the Aranguez area on the eastbound lane, a motorist unfortunately got into an accident with his TIDA motor car, and unfortunately, both of his legs, one from around the knee area and one just lower down, was severed in that accident with that footage, that picture you're seeing there of the TIDA motor car, obviously.
23:10His feet derailings. Of course, it might have been, the impact might have severed his feet. Derailings might have played a part in that. I'm not certain, but it was really bad, the other photos that we saw related to this accident.
23:24Well, again, Mark, you know, another live example. And in this case, you have basically reported, basically, the individual losing both legs. And this is a situation that, and you know, I wish him a recovery, but even a recovery in this particular state, I mean, you become, you know, I don't want to use the word of burden, but now you're dependent on your family members to be able to assist.
23:49Could you imagine that this individual may have been the sole breadwinner, or may have a responsibility to be able to look after maybe children? I do not know the victimology of the individual, but I'm just saying that let us be conscious. Let us understand that the consequences that may flow from our inaction, our neglect, our recklessness, can put us in a situation where we basically, you know, are in no man's land, if I should say that, you know, in quote unquote.
24:15So, again, unfortunate situation, but I'm begging, I'm begging you all this afternoon, especially Mark, even both of us, Jackie, you know, after this show, we will have to use the public road to get to our lawful place of residence, and you are going to be engaging motorists, and we are asking you all, let us think, and let us keep each other in mind.
24:35I'm asking seriously, Mark. This is a serious call I'm making. Let us sit, when we are having our dinner, our breakfast, our lunch, let us make public safety a topic. I remember, just quickly, Mark, in school, when I was in primary school, you had a subject called road safety. You know, basic thing when you come out, you look left, you look right, and that, you know, that sort of thing. I think that sometimes we need to revisit the basics. Sometimes go back to the basics. Yes, we want to advance, but let us look at the basics.
25:04And lastly, quickly, there was also another accident along the Lady Yonge Road sometime early this morning in the vicinity of the traffic lights there, at least two or three vehicles, and of course, at this time of the morning, a number of motorists are coming into Port of Spain, perhaps using as an injured individual there, lying on the side of the road, overhead shot here.
25:27As you see, traffic traversing the roadway, and the fire truck, obviously, would have, you know, parked in such a way to ensure that the motorists, the two vehicles and the motorists involved in that, would have been given the proper assistance, and of course, you also have the fire services coming in there to assist.
25:48Alright, so please be safe on the roads. We're going to take a short break, and we'll be back. Stay with us.
25:57Penalty is enabled.
25:59If a penalty, less penalty, crime is a thing, it's part of life.
26:04You understand? Crime is part of life.
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27:30The National Carnival Commission presents Brass Bacchanal.
27:36Brass Bacchanal on Carnival Monday night.
27:38Bands will battle for the first prize of $100,000.
27:41Monday, 3rd March, Festival City, Queens Park, Savannah, Showtime, 9 p.m.
27:46Join us for a musical journey back to the days when brass bands roared.
27:50Bring your coolers, bring your crew.
27:52No oversized coolers, no glass bottles allowed.
27:54Tickets go to $150.
27:56Available at Java Nation stores, Bianco Plaza, Port of Spain, Gulfview, San Fernando, the NCC head office, Queens Park, Savannah and online at ticketfederation.com or islandetickets.com.
28:06For further info, call 480-5100.
28:09Who will win the first prize of $100,000?
28:13Brass Bacchanal will take you back, back, back to the old days.
28:17Brass fans, you don't want to miss this one.
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29:48Welcome back to Beyond the Tape. I'm your host, Mark Bassant.
29:51Joined today by acting Sergeant Zahir Ali at Inyat Law with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
29:56As we continue our segment, Voice of the People in a Northeastern Settlement.
30:02As we chat about the perception of gangs and stiffer penalties.
30:07Let's take a quick look.
30:09We're going into communities now and understand some of the communities that are affected by crime.
30:36What are some of the problems and what are some of the solutions that you believe could quell some of the criminal activities.
30:46Not just this area, but many other areas.
30:49Because we want to engage with the public and the communities will have different opinions about things that the police might not necessarily understand.
30:58We're trying to bridge that gap now.
31:02My responsibility as somebody in the media is to try to get a sense of what's happening on the ground.
31:08What we can do to make things better in our community.
31:12When the police say that there's obviously some kind of rivalry between one side and the other.
31:18And what does, because I understand that this, everybody in this community and I'm talking, I mean the whole area.
31:26We all grew up together at some point.
31:28And what might have caused that rift where some people went on one side and some stayed on this side.
31:34No, well, there are plenty of stories to that.
31:37There are plenty of stories to that.
31:39But we ain't going to get straight into that for the right.
31:41But there are plenty of stories where, for instance, it had between friends and thing.
31:49You know how this goes sometimes too, everything not solid on the ground.
31:53Too many friends and one envy one.
31:56It end up in a split.
31:58We end up with that split now.
32:00Who riding with this friend go with this friend.
32:02Who riding with that friend go with that friend.
32:04So you end up a tough thing.
32:07You understand?
32:09So it was just, was that just the only reason why people fell out?
32:16But there were other things along the way.
32:17As you say, as time progresses, of course, other things comes along the way.
32:21No, other things come along the way.
32:24What they try to say is for contract from the government.
32:28Where one side get in and the next side not get in.
32:30You understand?
32:31So all that they just try to say, but it wasn't all that now, boy.
32:34You understand?
32:35One man get is a man own.
32:37You understand?
32:39But that don't say because one side get a contract and the next side don't get a contract.
32:44Of course, there's a break in between that.
32:46You understand?
32:47The next cycle wait, next time along come along.
32:50Might get a contract, the next side might not get.
32:53You understand?
32:54So I wouldn't say it's...
32:56To me, my experience, I believe in the early stage, there's a hard break in between friends.
33:01You understand?
33:03Who don't know might not know.
33:05You understand?
33:06But my experience is friends will start the break in the community.
33:12Certain people from this side can't go on that side.
33:15People from that side can't come on that side.
33:18You understand?
33:19There are claims by the police, of course, and by extension, people in the community
33:23that there are rival gangs operating in this area.
33:26How would you respond to that?
33:28I wouldn't say rival gangs.
33:30I would just say people living alone.
33:33You understand?
33:34You understand?
33:35Because if I go on this side and my cousin, my partner, my friend can't go on that side,
33:40it's obvious they have to stay on the side where they can go.
33:42They can pass.
33:43You understand?
33:44So if you have a split where they can say rival gangs because men can't go so and men can't come so,
33:49they can say it again.
33:51To me, I don't believe it again.
33:55What measures you take to protect yourself against crime?
33:59By any necessary means.
34:01And that would be?
34:02Unnecessary means.
34:03And that would mean?
34:04That would mean any necessary means.
34:07Do you think that enough is done on the law side, the legislative side,
34:11to deter criminals from committing some of these acts?
34:16Yeah.
34:17Do you think we should have stiffer penalties or no?
34:20Penalty reasonable.
34:23Stiffer penalty, less penalty.
34:26Crime is a thing, it's part of life.
34:29You understand?
34:30Crime is part of life.
34:33So stiffer penalty, in go decrease crime or in go increase it.
34:39You understand?
34:41As I say, wherever it starts from, it starts from home.
34:45Because if my son leaves to go to school and I'm not sure he's in school,
34:48and I'm not checking up on him in school,
34:50and I'm thinking he's in school and that time he's somewhere else,
34:53when I get a call, my son on a robbery, my son selling drugs on a block.
34:56You understand?
34:57And I just leave it so I'm not a good parent.
35:00All right, when you come home, I'll deal with that.
35:03It's that after.
35:04I'll leave him to do the same thing next day.
35:07You understand?
35:09So it starts from plenty from home.
35:14Acting Sergeant Ali, your comments.
35:16Well, Mark, again, I want to acknowledge the video,
35:19listening from members of the public,
35:21hearing their perspective and how they view what's happening.
35:25But what stood out to me in this particular clip,
35:29the fact that persons' freedom of movement is curtailed by gang activity.
35:34It's something that is troubling to me.
35:36No citizen of this country should be prohibited or should be prevented,
35:39I should say, from going to any part of Trinidad and Tobago.
35:42Trinidad and Tobago belong to every citizen of Trinidad and Tobago.
35:45So that's the first thing I want to begin with.
35:47And once you've seen that that freedom of movement is impacted,
35:50it's important to recognize that we are already having serious problems
35:53in terms of the movement of persons.
35:55So that's one.
35:56Yes, I made a very short note.
35:59The issue of boundaries as well.
36:02That shouldn't be.
36:03That's something that law enforcement needs to get into immediately
36:06and remove any boundary that may be existing
36:08based on what that individual is saying.
36:10And very interesting,
36:13it's important to advise members of the public as well and the citizens,
36:16do not provoke a breach of the criminal law.
36:20And let me repeat that.
36:22Do not provoke a breach of the criminal law.
36:24And when he spoke about bickering and conflict,
36:26you know, Mark, when you have seen drug trafficking, firearm trafficking,
36:30even you are bickering because of a contract being awarded to another party
36:34and you want to get involved,
36:35these are the things that now will basically spiral deadly conflicts.
36:40And this is when personnel will look to arm themselves.
36:43So if we can, and this is where the law enforcement need to always be vigilant
36:46to understand that there is no flourishing of any drug block,
36:49no firearm trafficking,
36:51no illegal activities that makes an area appear to be lucrative
36:55for a person to be taking one side or the other.
36:57But again, excellent.
36:58And you know, I'm happy to keep hearing
37:00and I hope that the law enforcement and the decision makers
37:03are listening in relation to the concerns that have been expressed
37:06by members of the public.
37:07Most certainly.
37:08I think we have a call on the line.
37:10Caller, good evening.
37:11Hi, good evening, Mr. Bassan.
37:13Also good evening.
37:14Good evening.
37:15I'm calling you at Law Alley.
37:16Good evening, sir.
37:17This is a topic of crime.
37:21But it's more, you know, it's a white-collar crime
37:24and the crime we call, since you're on TV,
37:26it's your white-collar crime.
37:28So hopefully, Mr. Alley, I could get you a site and maybe assistance.
37:32I work for a company in the public sector.
37:36We had an official contract and they unfortunately breached the contract,
37:42which put me in a situation of unemployment
37:46and just an unfortunate situation that I have been dealing with
37:50for quite some years now.
37:54And I don't have the resources or the time to go to the ministry
37:59or join a union, et cetera, after taking care of my needs
38:03and responsibilities.
38:06How could you assist?
38:07And also, what advice would you give for companies engaging
38:12in that type of behavior?
38:15So I would love to get your help and your advice on how to do that.
38:19Thank you very much.
38:21Thank you very much, Kola.
38:24You know, just to be generalized,
38:26because I don't know the specific facts of your particular matter,
38:28but what I can say is that let's look at it from a public sector.
38:31And based on your terms and conditions,
38:33if public officers are not acting properly, you know,
38:36you may have certain course of action that you can take,
38:39but, you know, let's look at your terms and conditions
38:41and see whether, in fact, they would have acted fairly
38:44when they arrived at that decision to relieve you.
38:47And even from a private context,
38:49when you're looking at the industrial court
38:50and you're looking at contractual arrangements,
38:53again, terms of the contract is very important to look at
38:55to see whether, in fact, what they are relying on,
38:57whether, in fact, there was a breach of the contract
38:59and whether that breach may have been substantial to cause you
39:02or could cause the employer to terminate the contract.
39:05So, you know, it will all be within your legal framework,
39:08within your document from a private context
39:10and from a public context, both from a public law
39:13and probably other avenues that you may have,
39:15but it all depends on the circumstances
39:17prevailing in any particular relationship.
39:19But, you know, members of the public know
39:22that they have the avenue of leaving their number.
39:26In case we need to go deeper,
39:28if you need any further assistance, you know,
39:30please leave your number, but that's a general way
39:32of treating with matters that you would have raised.
39:34But, again, to the public and private sector,
39:36please ensure that you continue to act fairly
39:39with your employees.
39:42All right, we're going to take more of your calls
39:44after this break. Stay with us.
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40:59A list of all engineers
41:01registered with the Board of Engineering
41:03can be found on the BOETT's website
41:05at boett.org.
41:11Registration ensures
41:13that the public,
41:15employers, and clients
41:17can have confidence and trust
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41:21recognized professional standards
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41:25b. That the credentials
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43:17Flavoring passion in sports every Thursday 625 p.m. and Saturday 615 p.m.
43:24Coming real, it's the next episode.
43:26The Rule of Sports on I-95.5 FM with Andre Errol Batiste.
43:33Get ready for the next episode, hey.
43:37Da-da-da-da-da, it's the one and only D.R.E.
43:47Welcome back to Beyond the Tape, I'm your host Marc Bessan, joined today by acting Sgt.
43:56Zahir Ali of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, also a trainee at law.
44:01I know in the last couple of weeks he has been padding up playing cricket, of course
44:06being a former cricketer, and I know that you've been quite busy with a particular investigation.
44:14No doubt the reason why you had to make sure you were padded up and so on.
44:18Well, I like the terminology that you're using Marc, and that padding up in the public business
44:24is basically just ensuring that the rule of law is upheld at all times, and there's due
44:28process in everything that I step into, so that is the equivalence to the cricket terminology
44:33that you use.
44:34Alright, I think we have a caller in line ready to bowl you a bong, so caller good evening.
44:37Good evening, you are hearing me?
44:40Yes we are, go ahead.
44:41Okay, good evening to both of you.
44:44Good evening.
44:46If somebody, you know, stops somebody, I'm dealing with somebody, we're in an area to
44:52stop somebody, the person running, and the person who's looking to run behind him now,
44:59another person saying, kill him, kill him, can that person get in trouble by kind of
45:04encouraging the person to commit murder, because the person wasn't there yet, he went through
45:10something, and this other person who ran behind him, she came and she's saying, kill him,
45:15kill him, and she got in trouble at the first point.
45:19The second point is, officer, concerning that ammunition that is missing, that is really,
45:25really so ridiculous, because I don't know, I'm sure you all remember that some of the
45:30shootings that took place, you were hearing that some of the ammunition was written, you
45:36know, TTDF on it and things like that.
45:39What is the process?
45:41What is the process?
45:42Who has access to that place?
45:44How often is it checked, and by whom, and what is the procedure being used to account
45:49for all that ammunition, because where it goes and it can't just disappear in the sky,
45:53like how they say, the rat ate the cocaine.
45:55My last point is, concerning the judge, the judge with the promotion, what I find is,
46:03if the police promotion, it should scrap, because of X, Y, and Z.
46:08But what I didn't like, what he said is, he said that she is the person, it's the blame
46:14for what took place.
46:16When you say that person is to blame, you know, in times like these, what happens is
46:21that, especially in America, if I try to get something and you say somebody is to blame
46:26that prevents me from getting it, you know, they're going to plan up and do something
46:30with that person.
46:31So I find by him saying that this particular person is to blame, put that person at risk.
46:36So we have to be really very, very careful.
46:38They have to get it straight.
46:39They have to get it right.
46:41Because you can't tell me, I am promoted.
46:43I came, and you question me, and I am promoted, and then you tell me I am not promoted.
46:49I could sue you too, because I am not responsible for the mistakes that you all have on that
46:55program.
46:56All the best, and be safe, everybody.
46:59Thanks, Kola.
47:01Thank you, Kola, for your submissions.
47:04You know, it marks three things, three issues.
47:07The first one, you know, generally speaking, you know, in the criminal law, you are what
47:11they call a principal, someone who, you know, directly responsible for the commission of
47:16the actors, rears, and mentor elements of the offense, whatever offense we are speaking
47:19about.
47:20And then you also have what we call the accessory liability.
47:24So someone who may be aiding, abetting, procuring, or counseling the offense.
47:28Or even someone who may be inciting from a common law perspective.
47:31So just to describe the circumstances where someone is, you know, moving with someone
47:35and encouraging someone, if in fact there is an outcome, you know, we can have both
47:40principal and persons aiding, abetting, procuring, or counseling the offense.
47:44And even persons who may be providing weapons to perpetrate crime.
47:47So that's the first issue, briefly.
47:49Secondly, with reference to the ammunition, I will want to reserve comments.
47:52I know it is subject to investigation slash review, so I will reserve comments on that
47:56particular matter.
47:57I know, Mark, that story would have emerged under your good hands, and it's a matter that
48:03definitely is of public interest, so we anticipate with bated breath the outcome of that matter.
48:09And with reference to the judgment, you know, again, I've already pronounced in terms of
48:13Paragraph 101, so I would not go further by commenting further on that judgment, because
48:17I highly anticipate that that judgment, if it's not already engaging very high officers,
48:23it would be, and I do not want to prejudice any matter in going forward.
48:29So I just thought it was important to bring Paragraph 101, which goes beyond the boundaries
48:35of the TTPS, and extend it to public officials, you know, at large, and I thought it was important
48:41as a matter of legally speaking, so that they can be, you know, be alerted as to the importance
48:45of upholding and following the rule of law strictly.
48:48Now, of course, we, caller, we just want to remind callers, when you're calling, please
48:52try to keep it kind of short.
48:53I know there are other people sometimes trying to get on, and they are unable to do so if
48:57you ask very long questions.
49:00Have something direct so that, whether it be Acting Sergeant Alley or any other officer,
49:05when you call, they can answer with clarity, because sometimes if the questions are too
49:09long, they might not remember everything, all right?
49:12And in relation to the ammunition, if you go back and you read the Sunday Express story,
49:16it speaks specifically to a lot of the questions that you would have been asking, and of course,
49:21the certain people, they're not quite certain whether or not the ammunition went missing
49:25when it was in the bunker, or whether when it was being transferred, or whether when
49:30it was transferred and put into another room.
49:33So I think the Board of Inquiry is going to be, you know, crucial in trying to ascertain
49:39whether or not, and of course, the Commissioner, Acting Commissioner of Police, Mr. Benjamin,
49:44has also alluded to the fact that the police is also looking into this matter, perhaps
49:48some parallel investigation is happening in relation to this, and maybe other things that
49:54are related to that.
49:56So we will just have to wait and see.
49:58Anything else you would like to add?
49:59No, no.
50:00Again, Mark, you know, I just want to, you know, emphasize to members of the public that,
50:05you know, just like this story pertaining to the ammunition, and just like the investigation
50:09involving the alleged misbehavior involving the Police Commissioner and others' investigation,
50:16it's important that we exercise a level of due diligence and patience with reference
50:21to these matters.
50:22These matters, if you do not follow due process, you can be making some very gross mistakes
50:31that can cause, if it has to head to court, you know, it could cause you miscarriage of
50:38justice, you know, and unfair trial, and so forth.
50:41So it's important for us to be circumspect.
50:44So let us sit back.
50:45Yes, you can ask your questions.
50:47You know, keep the pulse on the matter.
50:49But I also appreciate that, you know, we need to be very careful and follow due process
50:55because we want to ensure there's fairness to all parties.
50:57All right.
50:58We're going to take a short break, and we'll be back after this.
51:01Stay with us.
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53:44It starts here, with the Trinidad Express Newspapers.
54:05Welcome back to Beyond the Tape.
54:07I'm your host, Marc Bessan.
54:08It's Legally Speaking Wednesdays with Acting Sergeant Zahir Ali of the Trinidad and Tobago
54:13Police Service and Attorney-at-Law, and we talk about disarmament, we talk about accountability.
54:19It seems that the Minister of National Security and the CDS has not been able to say anything
54:24about this, and it's almost been one week since we tried to reach out to them.
54:29It's important that figures in certain offices are accountable to the public and the media
54:35by extension.
54:37Well, Marc, it's important that persons are holding public offices.
54:44I appreciate the need to be transparent and accountable, and that is something that is
54:52deeply enshrined in the governance, especially when you're looking from a law enforcement
54:56context.
54:57So I will urge you to continue to reach out to them to see whether, in fact, there will
55:00be a response.
55:01Perhaps, probably because of the ongoing analysis and review, probably they have to
55:08be circumspect as decision-makers as well, so to balance the scale.
55:11But yes, when we are speaking about transparency and accountability, it's important for us
55:17to appreciate, really and truly, when we're in public office, who we are in public office
55:21for.
55:22When we are the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago have placed us there, they have elected persons
55:29in Parliament who now make appointments.
55:32So we have to understand that we're all responsibilities to the public and the public interest.
55:35So to the public officials, hence why, again, I begin and I'll close by emphasizing that
55:43paragraph 101.
55:45It stood out to me.
55:46It was a reminder for me, and I'm asking it for you to be a reminder for you as well,
55:51the public officials, that when the Parliament, Marc, lays down a statutory regime where you
55:58are going to exercise any legal authority or any decision-making, it's anticipated,
56:05it's expected that you will follow the law, and follow the law even to its fine details.
56:10That's a very strong statement.
56:12That's very much enshrined in the apex, the United Kingdom Privy Council judgments, and
56:18it has now been pronounced.
56:20Again, we'll be reminded by Justice Francis Passat.
56:23So again, let us cut that 101 out.
56:27Let us, you know, print it, read it, absorb it, and let us have that, you know, change
56:31our perspective, you know, in relation to how we deal with the public business.
56:35The public business is very important, and I'm asking every single public official to
56:41appreciate the responsibility.
56:42When you take an oath of office, what that means, the oath of office is to uphold the
56:46laws of Trinidad and Tobago, and by extension, perform your role and function within the
56:51rule of law.
56:52So Marc, I want to thank you very much, as always.
56:54Most certainly, and don't worry, we as the media will continue to ask the tough questions
56:58for you there.
56:59Whether or not they answer, we'll still be asking.
57:02All right, repeat tonight at 11.30, we run tomorrow at 11 o'clock.
57:07The TV6 News is up next, stay with us.
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