Healthy vs Abusive Relationships

Teen Dating and Domestic Violence

Spurned love ends in murder of teenager

Published: 

Friday, April 27, 2012

Nikita Ramischand

The 18-year-old daughter of Port-of-Spain lawyer, Odai Ramischand, was stabbed to death Wednesday night.

Police said Nikita Ramischand was stabbed six times in the neck and abdomen. Her body was found by her parents and siblings at the family’s home, Maracas Royal Road, St Joseph, around 8.30 pm. Nikita was an accounts student at the School of Business and Computer Science (SBCS), Champs Fleurs. She also assisted her mother in the family’s beauty salon.  Homicide detectives believe she was stabbed by a jilted lover. Up to late yesterday police were looking for a suspect, also 18.

 

 

Senior officers believed the suspect might attempt to leave the country as he had a ticket booked to Guyana. They also said her relationship with the suspect had been kept a secret. Her brother, Sid, who spoke in an interview at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, yesterday described his sister as a girl who had “a promising future and was brilliant.” He said she met someone who took her life because she spurned his love and an offer of marriage. Inspector Ramnaresh Seecharan, acting Insp Lawrence, Sgt Samuel, Cpl Jones and Modeste and PC Seville were among the officers who went to the scene.

(With reporting by Camille Clarke)

 

Source:  http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-04-26/spurned-love-ends-murder-teenager

Beautiful People

“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.”
― Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Sexual Assault Reporting on the Rise

Police statistics show...

Sex crimes up by 100 per cent

Published: Saturday, April 14, 2012

Derek Achong

 

Mervyn Richardson

Police reports of rape, incest and other sexual offences have gone up by 100 per cent in 2012. Deputy Police Commissioner (DCP) Mervyn Richardson, in a telephone interview last night, attributed the increase in reports to a rise in confidence in the Police Service.

He said that from as early as Monday, several new initiatives would be launched by the Police Service to combat crime. “We (the executive of the Police Service) have had some challenges in the past few weeks, but we have put measures in place,” Richardson said. He added that these new measures would be both proactive and reactive.

“As part of the plan, there will be increased police presence throughout T&T,” Richardson said. He said the police had been working tirelessly to stem the murder rate. Richardson said he met with officers of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) yesterday to discuss the new anti-crime plan.

The IATF is mandated to patrol the streets of east Port-of-Spain and Laventille—the district which has recorded the most murders in the country in the past ten years. Official statistics on the T&T Police Service (TTPS) Crime Statistic database show the police received 256 reports of sexual offences for the first three months of the year.

This figure represents a substantial rise compared to last year, which saw 123 reports for the first three months of the year. Of the 256 reported incidents, the statistic states that 166 have been solved by detectives, a percentage of almost 65 per cent.

In a telephone interview yesterday, head of the Police Service Victim and Witness Support Unit (VWSU) Margaret Sampson-Browne could not confirm the increase recorded in the statistics. However, she agreed with Richardson that the increase may be due to a rise in public confidence in the police.

“We are doing marvellous work in the communities,” she said. “We are building more trust these communities. People feel more comfortable  with the police. This encourages witnesses and victims of crime to come forward.” Sampson-Browne, a retired assistant police commissioner noted that support groups which are run by her unit to assist victims of crimes have increased in size in the past few months.

In the most recent high-profile case of sexual abuse this year, a 50-year-old PH taxi driver appeared in court accused of 11 counts of sexual assault. Abdul Samad, also known as Roger Danglade and Abu, of Springvale, Claxton Bay, appeared in the Chaguanas Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday for allegedly buggering a 16-year-old boy and committing grievous sexual assault on the teen last year.

Samad will reappear in court on May 9. Despite an increase in reports of sexual offences, the murder toll for the first three months of this year was 91 as compared to 104 last year—a 13-per-cent decrease. However, of the 91 murders that were recorded, the police statistics showed that only nine were solved. Four murders were detected in January, two in February and five in the month of March.

Of the 343 murders recorded last year,  56 were solved. Yesterday, the murder toll stood at 107, after a long Easter weekend which saw 12 people being murdered, among them three residents of La Horquetta, Arima, who were shot dead in less than 24 hours on Easter Monday.

Senior homicide detectives said several suspects have been detained this week in connection with the spate of murders. Up to late yesterday, the Director of Public Prosecutions had not been contacted to determine whether criminal charges should be laid against the suspects who were in custody.Homicide detectives are said to be still gathering evidence on the murders and cross-referencing  information received from various informants, a senior officer said.

The statistics also show a marked decrease in burglaries, with 640 reported incidents for the first quarter this year as compared to 1,119 last year.

Source: http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-04-14/sex-crimes-100-cent

 

Victims Family Speaks Out - Pleading Victims to Report Violence

 

Relative of slain Valencia man: He was a victim of physical abuse

Published:  Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Camille Clarke

 

“Don’t be ashamed or shy. Go and make a report against whatever abuse you are going through.” This advice was given yesterday by Lisa Williams, whose brother Dwayne Hill was stabbed to death by a close female relative at Alexis Circular, Valencia Plantation, Valencia.

Nicole Rodriquez, left, and Lisa Williams, sisters of murder 

victim Dwayne Hill, at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, yesterday.  

PHOTO: MARCUS GONZALES

Up to late yesterday, an 18-year-old woman remained in police custody in connection with the incident. Hill, 31, a watchman, was at his home on Good Friday when he had a heated argument with a woman. She allegedly snatched a breadknife and stabbed him eight times in the chest. He was taken to the Sangre Grande Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

In an interview at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, yesterday, Williams said her brother had suffered both physical and emotional abuse at the hands of a woman for the past few years. Williams said the woman also broke his right arm. “The same day he was stabbed, he was threatened by the woman,” she said.

“She always used to beat him up and abuse him. His right arm was broken by the woman. She used to run him down. “He told me he didn’t know what going on with her. He told me in front of her if somebody kill him, it would be her. He decided to settle down with her and that was the last time I saw him alive.”

Williams said Hill did not want to go to the police because he feared he would be ridiculed for being abused by a woman. “However, I need to say the Valencia police did a good job,” she said. “She was running away and they held her.” Williams said the woman was apprehended by relatives and handed over to the police.

“It is a tough situation we are going through now,” she said, describing Hill as “a pleasant, quiet person who used to make us smile.”

Source:  http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-04-10/relative-slain-valencia-man-he-was-victim-physical-abuse

 

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FACTS

Signs of Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is not always easy to recognize, but the signs are usually there. Abuse can be in many forms, from emotional to physical to sexual. The following are some of the signs that the person you are with may be abusive:

• The person repeatedly lies to you and breaks promises.
• The person withholds affection in order to get power over you.
• The person shows extreme jealousy and tries to keep you from family, friends, or interests.
• The person insults or puts you down.
• The person violates your privacy, going through your possessions without permission.
• The person threatens you.
• The person tries to control you, telling you how to dress, where to go, what to eat, what to do, etc.
• The person attempts to cause you pain or injury.
• The person punches, kicks, shakes, slaps, or restrains you.
• The person attacks you with a weapon or thrown objects.
• The person causes pain or injures you.
• The person forces their attention on you, either verbally or physically.
• The person rapes you.
• The person injures or threatens to injure the family pet.
• The person threatens to injure your children.
• The person injures your children.

The Cycle of Violence

Domestic violence is not just a one-time incident, but a pattern of behaviors over time. Most abusive relationships follow a cycle of violence, which has three stages: tension building, explosive incident, and honeymoon stage. The lengths of each stage can vary from seconds to years.

During the Tension Building phase, the warning signs of abuse begin to appear. They may repeat, they may change each time, but they are there.

• There are more arguments between the abuser and the victim.
• The abuser yells at the victim for no apparent reason.
• The abuser accuses the victim of acts they did not do, such as sleeping around, flirting with other people, cheating.
• The victim feels as if they cannot do anything right, and are afraid to do anything to make the situation worse.

During the Explosive Incident phase, the abuse occurs. It may be mental, physical, or sexual, but it is always an intense outburst.

• The abuser threatens the victim with physical violence.
• The abuser hits, grabs, shoves, kicks, or otherwise physically attacks the victim.
• The abuser screams and yells violently.
• The abuser throws objects across the room.
• The abuser injures a family pet.
• The abuser rapes or sexually assaults the victim.

During the Honeymoon Stage phase, the abuser tries to justify or minimize the abuse. They may treat the victim with extreme kindness as they try to "make up" for the attack, and try to keep the victim from fleeing. The abuser may also try to make the victim feel responsible for the abuse, so they will not blame the abuser or press charges.

• The abuser apologizes and promises that it will never happen again.
• The abuser tells the victim they love them.
• The abuser buys the victim gifts, such as flowers or jewelry, to "make up" for the abuse.
• The abuser makes excuses for the abuse, often blaming the victim for the abuse ("you made me do it", "it was only a little slap, it's not like I really hurt you", "you know that always makes me angry", "you know how stressed I've been lately because of work", and many others).

As a cycle, the phases repeat themselves: after the honeymoon stage, the tension eventually starts building again, which leads to another explosive incident. Over time, the tension building phase takes less time to lead to the explosion, which becomes more violent and dangerous, and the honeymoon stage becomes shorter and shorter.

NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE

Trinidad and Tobago

800-SAVE (7283)

United States

1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

Help is Available  - Toll Free 24/7

 

 

Valencia man stabbed to death by woman

Valencia man stabbed to death by woman

Published: 

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Derek Achong

The brief but turbulent relationship of a Valencia couple ended tragically yesterday when a 32-year-old man was stabbed to death by an 18-year-old woman. This incident takes the the nation’s homicide toll for the year to 95, compared to 104 for the same period last year.

Dwayne Hill got into an argument with a woman at his Alexis Drive, Valencia, home at around 10.30 am. The argument went on for an hour then escalated into violence. The woman told police Hill emptied a bottle of gasoline into her mouth. He was about to ignite the fuel when the woman grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed him in the face, head and chest.

Neighbours who heard the commotion called the police and Hill and the woman were taken to hospital. Shortly after noon, Hill succumbed to his injuries at the Sangre Grande District Hospital. The woman is warded in a stable condition. Although Hill’s death has been initially classified as a murder, investigators were up to late yesterday piecing together details of the incident to determine whether the woman acted in self defence.

Investigators are expected to get advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on whether charges should be charged. Sgt Raymond Austin, Cpl Junior Bernard and WPC Ayana Johnson are continuing investigations.

Source: http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-04-07/valencia-man-stabbed-death-woman

Bail denied again for man who set wife on fire.

Bail denied again for man who set wife on fire

By LAUREL V WILLIAMS Thursday, April 5 2012

FOR the second time, bail was refused yesterday for a husband charged with the attempted murder of his common-law wife whom he allegedly doused with a flammable substance then set her on fire, last month.

Harrypersad Singh, 30, yesterday re-appeared in the San Fernando Magistrates’ First Court before acting Deputy Chief Magistrate Rajendra Rambachan on the charge. His attorney, Ainsley Lucky, renewed an application for bail to be granted to Singh.

Singh, a father of one from Dumfries Road in Hermitage Village, San Fernando is alleged to have committed the act on Andrea Badree on March 3. The charge stemmed from an incident at their home in which Badree was doused with a flammable substance and then set ablaze. Cpl Ramlogan of the San Fernando Police Station, laid the charge.

The magistrate after enquiring about the status of Badree yesterday told the attorney she was listed in a critical condition at the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH). Apart from the word-by-mouth update of the victim’s condition, Lucky requested a report in writing from the prosecution. The attorney added, based on his own investigation, he heard “uplifting” news of Badree’s condition. The magistrate denied bail to the accused and remanded him into police custody. Rambachan also informed Singh of his rights to apply to a Judge in Chambers for bail.

Rambachan postponed the matter to April 23 when the court is expected to get an updated medical report on Badree .

Source:  http://www.newsday.co.tt/crime_and_court/0,158024.html

Woman chopped by angry boyfriend

Woman chopped by angry boyfriend

By ALEXANDER BRUZUAL Sunday, April 1 2012

Northern Division officers are investigating a report of domestic abuse in which a 24-year-old woman was chopped about her body by her 25-year-old boyfriend.

While full details remained unclear up to late yesterday, it was reported at about 4 am yesterday, the young woman was standing outside her Hermit Avenue, Maloney home when she got into a confrontation with her boyfriend. During the confrontation, she was chopped several times about her body by the 25-year-old man. An alarm was raised and the assailant escaped on foot.

The young woman was rushed to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope, where she was warded and is being treated for her injuries.

The assailant is also reportedly warded at the hospital, as shortly after arriving at his own home, he consumed a bottle of detergent.

Investigations are continuing.

In an unrelated incident, four persons were arrested for drunk driving and an estimated 87 traffic tickets were issued to motorists following a police exercise in the Northern Division on Friday night.

The exercise which was conducted throughout various areas, including St Joseph, St Augustine, Tunapuna and Arouca, was spearheaded by ACP Terry Young and included members of the Northern Division Task Force, Northern Division CID and the warrant unit.

The detained men are all expected to be taken before a Tunapuna magistrate tomorrow.

The exercise was part of the Northern Division’s ongoing “zero tolerance” approach to crime in the area.

Source: http://www.newsday.co.tt/crime_and_court/0,157825.html

Caribbean Human Development - Crime Hinders Development

Uploaded by undp on Feb 8, 2012

 

Crime has become one of the main challenges threatening economies and livelihoods in Caribbean countries, but the right mix of policies and programmes can halt the problem, according to the Caribbean Human Development Report 2012 launched here today by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The report, Human Development and the Shift to Better Citizen Security, says that with the exception of Barbados and Suriname, homicide rates including gang-related killings have increased substantially in the last 12 years across the Caribbean, while they have been falling or stabilizing in other parts of the world.

Although murder rates are exceedingly high by world standards, the report says that Caribbean governments can reverse the trend, calling for regional governments to beef up public institutions to tackle crime and violence —including the criminal justice system—while boosting preventive measures.

"Violence limits people's choices, threatens their physical integrity, and disrupts their daily lives," said UNDP Administrator Helen Clark at the report's launch ceremony with Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and UNDP Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean Heraldo Muñoz.

"This report stresses the need to rethink our approaches to tackling crime and violence and providing security on the ground. We need to follow approaches that are centered on citizen security and address the causes of this recent increase in violent crime, including social, economic, and political exclusion," Helen Clark said.

The new study recommends that Caribbean governments implement youth crime prevention through education, as well as provide employment opportunities that target the marginalized urban poor. A shift in focus is needed it says, from a state protection approach to one that focuses on citizen security and participation, promoting law enforcement that is fair, accountable, and more respectful of human rights.
The Caribbean Human Development Report reviews the current state of crime as well as national and regional policies and programmes to address the problem in seven English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Tackling the problem
Latin America and the Caribbean are home to 8.5 percent of the world population, yet the region accounts for some 27 percent of the world's homicides. Even though the total number of murders in Jamaica dropped after the report's completion to 1,124 in 2011, a seven-year low, the country has the highest homicide rate in the Caribbean and the third-highest murder rate worldwide in recent years, with about 60 murders per 100,000 inhabitants. This is surpassed by only two Central American countries, El Salvador and Honduras with 66 and 82.1 murders respectively per 100,000 people says the report, citing UN Office on Drugs and Crime figures. In Trinidad and Tobago, the report notes that murder rates increased five-fold over a decade, to more than 40 per 100,000 in 2008, and then declined to 36 in 2010.

The report states that gang-related homicides in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago are "substantial and increasing": The number almost doubled in both countries from 2006-2009. In 2006, Jamaica experienced 1,303 homicides, of which 32.5 percent were gang-related. By 2009, the number of homicides had increased by 377; 48.1 percent were gang-related. In 2006, Trinidad and Tobago experienced 371 homicides, 26.4 percent gang-related; by 2009 the country reported 506 homicides, 34.8 percent gang-related.

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) estimates reveal the cost of gang-related crime is between 2.8 percent and four percent of gross domestic product in the region through both the cost of policing and as a result of lost income from youth incarceration and reduced tourism. According to the study, crime costs Jamaica alone over US$529 million a year in lost income. In Trinidad and Tobago, a one percent reduction in youth crime would boost tourism revenue by US$35 million per year. For every additional "gang" in a community, homicide rates increased by about 10 percent, according to a recent research featured in the Caribbean Human Development Report.

Crime erodes confidence in future development, reduces the competitiveness of existing industries and services, for example, by imposing burdensome security—and may deter investment, the report says. Education and health care also suffer when resources are diverted to law enforcement.

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pFPGLKVxpo

 

Women taking control in Guayaguayare

By By Afiya Ray

Story Created: Mar 24, 2012 at 12:36 AM ECT

Members of the SWOTS programme.

Story Updated: Mar 24, 2012 at 12:36 AM ECT

There is a buzz that has started among the women in the Mayaro and Guayaguayare communities about an outreach programme targeting female empowerment and self development.
This programme, Successful Women On Towards Self Reliance (SWOTS), is by no means a new one, as it is an initiative that has been championed by its sponsor, the Neal & Massy Wood Group since 2008. However, it has earned such rave reviews in the past four years that many young women in the community are clamoring to sign on to the programme.
In an interview with Express Woman recently, Programme Coordinator Dalia Watson, a community liaison officer with Neal & Massy Wood Group, said SWOTS was designed as an outreach programme to target young single mothers, adolescent females and mothers of adolescent females. She said the programme proposes to promote and offer learning experiences which facilitate empowerment, self development and self reliance.
"The objective is to empower women to take control of their lives as well as their children and to utilize new ideas which meet the needs of a changing community," Watson said.
To date she said the programme, which has taken the form of workshops, seminars and training initiatives, has helped women to build higher levels of self esteem and develop a positive awareness of themselves; to pursue academic development and seek career growth; develop interpersonal skills and to embrace change allowing them to take on new roles within their families and their community.
"More women in these communities are now empowered to take an active role in positive community development," she said proudly.
The SWOTS Programme was started in April 2008 and executed in developmental phases. Today, SWOTS consists of a leadership team, which includes Watson as the Programme Coordinator, three administrators and five executive members.
The administrators, Bernadette Fonrose, Carol Murray and Alda Suzano are required to participate in conduct house to visits and build collaborative relationships with women in the community, to participate in and lend support at the sessions and ensure full attendance by all participants. The Executive Members support this role.
"SWOTS is a versatile programme that has been developed to meet the needs of every woman," Watson explained. "For mothers with young children, we also have child care assistants who are required to oversee their children and create a curriculum to promote child development while the mothers participate in the SWOTS programme.
The feedback for the programme in the community has been positive.
President of the SWOTS Executive Committee, Mahalia Richardson is a self-employed seamstress.
She said, "This programme really built my self-esteem. I feel very proud today.
I am pursuing my dream and, with a little help, I am sure to open my own business one day at a professional level. I am really good at doing things with my hands and by attending the programme I have built the confidence to share my talent and skills in my community."
Sandra Edwards said the programme also helped her to pursue her academic development.
"I am someone who can achieve anything that I set out to do," she smiled. "I am a proud graduate of the ALTA programme which allows me to take an active role in my children's education. By participating in the programme, I learnt to face my fears and control my emotions in a positive way. I have also taken the step to become employed to assist my family. I began as a laborer and was promoted to a Fire Watch on the N.G.C. Neo–Tobago Pipeline Project with a subcontractor."
Mayaro resident, Beverly Rollingson said, "I joined this programme because of its nature. I am a resident of Mayaro and have never heard or seen this type of programme being offered here. I must say that it is well structured to address the needs of women in my community. I always encourage the young folk to get themselves involved in things that will benefit you in the long run. I saw the opportunity to learn, share and communicate with different cultures with the women in my community."
Rollingson said after participating in the programme, she was encouraged to approach her employers in a professional manner which brought rewards.
"I am now the supervisor at my job with Bayfield Ltd," she said. "I supervise the employees that are the house keepers, cooks and janitors at three locations. I have established my business and provide catering services in the community. I will continue to encourage other women like me and younger women to gasp the opportunity which lies ahead with being part of the programme."

Source: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/woman-magazine/Women_taking_control_in_Guayaguayare-144065506.html

Case Update: The Altercation Quickly Escalated

CASE UPDATE:

Brother in court for murder of brother

By ALEXANDER BRUZUAL Thursday, March 22 2012

Twenty-three-year old Ronald Joseph yesterday appeared before Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar, charged for his brother’s murder.

It was alleged on March 14 last, at his home along Finch Drive, River Estate, Diego Martin, Joseph did kill his brother, 25-year-old Jeremy Joseph, who also lived at the same address.

The charge was laid indictably and the accused was not called upon to enter a plea.

While at yesterday’s hearing the murder accused was unrepresented by any defence counsel, but the court was informed that Joseph would be securing an attorney.

The matter was then adjourned to April 17.

It had been previously reported that at about 10 pm on March 14, 25-year-old Jeremy Joseph was at his Finch Drive, River Estate home in Diego Martin, when he got into an altercation with a male relative. The altercation quickly escalated and it was reported that during the ensuing fracas between the two young men, Joseph was stabbed in his chest with a knife.

Joseph was rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries hours later.

Source: http://www.newsday.co.tt/crime_and_court/0,157271.html

Murders in Arima, Diego

By ALEXANDER BRUZUAL Friday, March 16 2012

THE murder toll rose to 78 yesterday morning when two young men were killed in separate incidents in Diego Martin and Arima. First, a mere two days after the killing of 53-year-old Carl Samuel by a male relative, Western Division Police Officers were once again called on to respond to a domestic killing.

Police reported at about 10 pm on Wednesday, 25-year-old Jeremy Joseph was at his Finch Drive, River Estate home in Diego Martin, when he got into an altercation with a 24-year-old male relative.

The altercation quickly escalated and it was reported that during the ensuing fracas between the two young men, Joseph was stabbed in his chest with a knife. Other relatives in the household quickly became aware of the seriousness of the situation and Joseph was rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. His attacker reportedly fled the scene.

However, Joseph did not respond to treatment and succumbed to his injuries at about 6 am yesterday.

A party of police officers from the Western Division including Inspector Henry Dan, Sgt Ulric Prescott, Sgt Beard, Sgt Constantine, Cpl Reyes and PC Mayhew, visited the scene of the altercation.

A 24-year-old suspect was later detained, and is currently assisting police with their investigations. When Newsday visited the area yesterday, the victim’s family and relatives were not at the Finch Drive house. However, neighbours indicated that they were in shock over the incident and described Joseph as a quiet and friendly young man who was not known to cause any sort of trouble.

Next, it was reported that Northern Division Police Officers were called out to the Arima Race Club in Santa Rosa after employees reportedly heard several loud explosions.

It was said that at about 11 am, employees reportedly heard several loud explosions, which sounded like gunfire and on investigating, saw two men fleeing the scene. One man was said to be riding a bicycle while the other was on foot.

A further search of the area was conducted and the body of a young man with what appeared to be three gunshot injuries to his back, was found in a pool of blood near to the race club. The police were notified and the area later cordoned off and a party of officers visited the scene.

The body later identified as 21-year-old Marvin Patrome of Valencia. Investigations are continuing.

Source: http://www.newsday.co.tt/crime_and_court/0,156965.html

Victim Support Unit chair: More networking needed to fight domestic violence

Published:  Thursday, March 15, 2012

Geisha Kowlessar

 

 

Chairman of the Victim Support Unit of the Ministry of

National Security, Margaret Sampson-Browne, right,

receives the Woman of the Year award from Scotiabank’s

Marketing Department representative Cheryl Hernandez,

at the offices of ASPIRE in Woodbrook, Port-of-Spain, yesterday.

At left is ASPIRE chairman Lynette Seebaran Suite.

PHOTO: NICOLE DRAYTON

There has been a resounding call by Margaret Sampson-Browne, chairman of the Victim and Witness Support Unit to implement sufficient networking and resources to tackle the scourge of domestic violence. Sampson-Browne, a retired Assistant Police Commissioner in charge of Community Relations, was awarded woman of the year during yesterday’s launch of Advocates for Safe Parenthood: Improving Reproductive (ASPIRE) Research Findings and Woman of the Year Award held in Port-of-Spain.

She also called on police officers to effectively and efficiently put their training to use as their role was also instrumental in the fight against domestic violence. Asked if she believed there had been sufficient efforts on the part of various stakeholders during the last ten years in which, according to statistics from the Crime and Problem Analysis Unit (CAPA), there has been a steady rise in domestic violence, Sampson-Browne said this “was lacking”.

“Some of us didn’t act fast enough, we didn’t have the networking enough, the networking system wasn’t effective enough. “I wouldn’t say there has been a shortfall. What I am saying is there must be sufficient networking and resources,” Sampson-Browne  said. Praising the efforts of the Police Service she said there was “tumultuous training” taking place to increase the capabilities of police officers as it related to domestic violence matters.

Asked whether there was a shortfall as it related to the implementation of such training, Sampson-Browne cited this as a management issue. “My managers need to understand their role in the police station to really enforce the kind of functioning that is required for communities.

“It is not acceptable that someone goes to a police station and someone refuses them or put them out. There are sergeants and inspectors at these police stations and they need to understand their roles and responsibilities and there may be a time where the executives need to pull the strings of those managers a bit,” Sampson-Browne said.

For the period 2010 to 2011, there were 11,984 new cases of domestic  violence cases filed in the Magistrates Court according to statistics provided by the Family Court for August 2010 to July 2011. For the same period 12,031 cases were decided, A breakdown of data according to different divisions revealed that in 2010 Central and Southern Divisions recorded the highest incidence of domestic violence offences with figures of 301 and 493 respectively.

For 2010 Southern Division recorded the highest figure with 677 reports, but Northern Division recorded the second highest with 340 incidents. With was followed by Central Division with 320 reports and South Western Division with 300 reported matters. For the period 2001 to 2011 there were 92,524 new cases filed in the Magistrates Court relating to domestic violence.

The same period revealed that 90,327 cases were decided. The majority of these cases were applications for and variance of protection orders. The numbers also reflected the dismissal of applications for protection orders, assaults and other forms of abuse as defined under the Domestic Violence Act, the data stated.
 
Source:http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-03-15/victim-support-unit-chair-more-networking-needed-fight-domestic-violence

Family Violence Takes Many Forms

Man stabbed to death

By ALEXANDER BRUZUAL Wednesday, March 14 2012

HOURS after he kissed his daughter and wished her happy birthday, Carl Samuel, 53, was dead — stabbed in the chest by a 27-year-old male relative, who up to last night, remained at large.

The murder took place at a public basketball court, where the birthday party was held, mere walking distance from Samuel’s Ross Land, Upper Bournes Road, St James home.

Police reported that Samuel was among a group of relatives and friends who gathered at the basketball court on Monday night to celebrate his daughter’s birthday.

The group gathered at about 10.30 pm and celebrations were still ongoing right up until the moment Samuel was stabbed in his chest in full view of partygoers. Police reported that Samuel and the male relative got into an argument at about 10 am yesterday, following which the relative used an unknown sharp object to stab Samuel in his chest. Clutching his chest and bleeding heavily, Samuel managed to walk a few metres away before collapsing. His attacker fled the scene.

The police and Emergency Health Services were notified and a short while later a party of officers including Inspector Henry Dan, Sgt Ulric Prescott, Inspector Park and Inspector Charles, from the Western Division and Homicide Bureau of Investigations, visited the scene.

The area was cordoned off and Crime Scene Investigators searched the area for evidence.

Residents and relatives gathered just outside the basketball court and appeared to be visibly upset at the killing.

While police were at the scene, Samuel’s two daughters Keisha Samuel and Hannifah sat and cried nearby. They were comforted by their cousin Ebun Front. The body was later viewed by the District Medical Officer (DMO) who ordered it removed to the Forensic Science Centre in St James for an autopsy to be carried out to officially ascertain cause of death.

Western Division Police have since confirmed that a manhunt is underway for the 27-year-old suspect who they described as being “known to them”. Investigations are continuing. Up until yesterday the country’s murder toll stood at 76 for the year thus far.

HOURS after he kissed his daughter and wished her happy birthday, Carl Samuel, 53, was dead — stabbed in the chest by a 27-year-old male relative, who up to last night, remained at large.

The murder took place at a public basketball court, where the birthday party was held, mere walking distance from Samuel’s Ross Land, Upper Bournes Road, St James home.

Police reported that Samuel was among a group of relatives and friends who gathered at the basketball court on Monday night to celebrate his daughter’s birthday.

The group gathered at about 10.30 pm and celebrations were still ongoing right up until the moment Samuel was stabbed in his chest in full view of partygoers. Police reported that Samuel and the male relative got into an argument at about 10 am yesterday, following which the relative used an unknown sharp object to stab Samuel in his chest. Clutching his chest and bleeding heavily, Samuel managed to walk a few metres away before collapsing. His attacker fled the scene.

The police and Emergency Health Services were notified and a short while later a party of officers including Inspector Henry Dan, Sgt Ulric Prescott, Inspector Park and Inspector Charles, from the Western Division and Homicide Bureau of Investigations, visited the scene.

The area was cordoned off and Crime Scene Investigators searched the area for evidence.

Residents and relatives gathered just outside the basketball court and appeared to be visibly upset at the killing.

While police were at the scene, Samuel’s two daughters Keisha Samuel and Hannifah sat and cried nearby. They were comforted by their cousin Ebun Front. The body was later viewed by the District Medical Officer (DMO) who ordered it removed to the Forensic Science Centre in St James for an autopsy to be carried out to officially ascertain cause of death.

Western Division Police have since confirmed that a manhunt is underway for the 27-year-old suspect who they described as being “known to them”. Investigations are continuing. Up until yesterday the country’s murder toll stood at 76 for the year thus far.

Source: http://www.newsday.co.tt/crime_and_court/0,156835.html