Murders of Concern to Police Service

Murders of concern to Police Service

Friday, January 25 2013

ALTHOUGH the murder rate for the year, as of yesterday is lower than that of 2012 (for the corresponding period), the Police Service remains “very concerned” about these murders and other criminal activities.

Speaking at the weekly police press briefing at the Police Administration Building along Edward Street, Port-of-Spain, ASP Joanne Archie yesterday said that the Police Service wants to assure the public that they were doing all in their powers to address the issue.

“The current (murder) figure as it stands, is a concern for us. In fact, every murder will be a concern for us, because it is human lives that were are speaking about and we believe that one murder is one too many.

“Now recently there were discussions in which the Police Service heads went through certain issues and strategies that will be implemented and I can assure you when a decision is reached, the public will be made aware of them,” Archie said.

As of yesterday, the murder toll according to Newsday’s records stood at 30. For the same period in 2012, the murder toll was 34.

Source: http://www.newsday.co.tt/crime_and_court/0,172516.html

Hazel: Stop the Violence

By Anna Ramdass

Story Created: Jan 15, 2013 at 10:16 PM ECT

Story Updated: Jan 16, 2013 at 3:40 PM ECT 

 

Gender-based violence is on the rise in this country and it must be stopped.

This, according to Hazel Brown, head of the network of Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) of Trinidad and Tobago for the Advancement of Women.

In a release to the press, Brown affirmed the continuing need to deal with gender-based violence as it occurs at all levels of the society, to break the silence and oppose the impunity around it.

She stated that a second form of violence “is inflicted on women by the fact that perpetrators who hold high office or who are public figures, rarely face any form of justice. They know that they can do it without paying the price”.

“We continue to advocate for individual and collective responses by men that move beyond apologies to actually formulating and participating in processes of transformation and change. We must examine the root causes and the impact of gender-based violence including verbal and emotional abuse, and we most develop strategies to address it including appropriate sanctions, legal and otherwise,” stated Brown.

She added that it is not just the individual perpetrator, who must be held accountable, but also the community and the state, which cannot stand idly by and watch women being denied support and justice in their time of need.

Brown stated that there is much that could be done to enable men in public office to lead a reflective conversation on masculinity and violence.

Source:  http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Hazel-Stop-the-violence-187051901.html

Woman Knew Her Killer

Woman knew her killer

Wednesday, January 16 2013

RELATIVES of murder victim Lorna Cheryl Adams are convinced the 50-year-old woman knew her killer. Adams’ body was discovered at about 8.30 pm on Sunday by one of her children on the floor of her Sundarsingh, Aranjuez home. She was stabbed several times.

Speaking at the Forensic Science Centre, St James yesterday, Adams’ youngest child Keisha, explained that the family believes her mother’s killer was known to her (the victim) as very little had been taken from the house and there were no signs of forced entry.

“We think the person had to have known my mother. My mother was a person who always used to lock up her home tight, especially at night or when she was alone. From what we have gathered from the police and what we saw ourselves, there was no sign of forced entry,” Keisha said.

“Which means the person who killed her walked in the home and knowing my mother, that meant the person was allowed in. I wasn’t there, so all these things I don’t know for certain, but it seems most likely,” she added.

Keisha described her mother as a kind and compassionate woman, who used to enjoy dressing up and going out.

“She was the best mom. She was always there for us and always had advice for us. Keep in mind she always used to pick up on us if we ever got out of hand and sometimes we would have disagreements arising out of that, but that was nothing unusual. That was her being a good mother and looking out for her children,” Keisha said.

Investigations are continuing.

Source:  http://www.newsday.co.tt/crime_and_court/0,172053.html

Come See Us Feburary 9th

Supported by Women of Vision of Tacoma the Dragonfly Centre will be at the upcoming Asian Pacific New Year for the second year. If you are in the Tacoma, Washington area we would love to see you.