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On what basis, ITEC?

February 7, 2010 by Edmund Gall

The Indo-Trinbago Equality Council's (ITEC's) Devant Maharaj, via his Letter to the Editor, called upon the Chief Justice and Law Association to investigate Justice Herbert Volney's concern about the risk of racial bias in jury trials.  I have two concerns with this letter.
 
Firstly, I could find no links to published reports of Justice Volney making such statements on the Internet.  I could only find reports related to Justice Volney's concern about a particular jury and racial bias was not a reported issue.
 
Secondly, when making public statements, we need to take due care such statements have a sound basis, even those that appear to be cliches.  This is why I wish to highlight ITEC's use of the following statement in its letter: "Given the disproportionate number of Indo-Trinidadians who are the victims of crime, the idea that racial considerations can influence and inform the deliberation of criminal juries is one which can spread panic and fear and lead to a loss of confidence in the criminal justice system."
 
Can ITEC please publish the reference(s) to the research it used to determine that a "disproportionate number of Indo-Trinidadians ... are the victims of crime ..."?
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Etiquette Interruptus

February 2, 2010 by Taran Rampersad

I don't know exactly what it is about Trinbagonians and the concept of etiquette, but I've been dealt some interesting experiences from the deck of life recently - both happening while ordering food this week. Both happened in Gulf City's food court.

Scenario 1

A few days ago, I was about to order a gyro - I'd stood in line patiently, I'm at the regular cashier who pretty much knows my order by heart. A woman sticks some wares past me, peddling belts and other things at the cashier. The cashier looks at the wares as I look on, waiting to place my order. After carefully looking over the wares, the cashier decides she doesn't want anything being peddled and says.

I look at the woman hustling business at the cost of my hunger and ask, "Is it OK with you if I order now?"

"Yes, you can go ahead now."

'Boldfaced' immediately came to mind. Brazen. No sense of propriety. I shrugged her off, I'd made my point. The cashier made a funny face. I consciously decided not to ask her the same, made my order and left.

Scenario 2

Today, I dropped by Dominos and was in the process of ordering when a trio of young males - I disdain calling them men - were giving the cashier a hard time. One was standing behind me, trying to be cool by interrupting my order with double entendres where the first part were tastelessly silent.

I turned on him and braced him in front of his two friends, telling him that I was hungry and that if he didn't mind, I'd like to place my order without being interrupted. Basically, I was telling him in a humorous way to STFU - but he didn't get that. Instead, he decided to raise his voice to draw attention in an attempt to embarass me into silence.

Wrong person. {Read more}

Waxing Poetic About Innovation: Where De Man Wit De Hammer Gone?

December 12, 2009 by Taran Rampersad

I apologize in advance for what is a very long post, but I found it necessary in writing it and could  not find a reasonable way to break it into smaller pieces. Hopefully it isn't too burdensome to read.

When I read that Trinidad and Tobago ranked low in global innovation, I wasn't too surprised. And since, in some circles, I am considered an innovator because of one thing I was involved in some years ago... I have to write something about it. Innovation is closer to my heart than just about anything - or anyone.

When you speak of innovation (as I have been asked to here and there), it's easy to get caught up in abstract concepts framed by our own experiences. So let us start with the etymology of the word innovate - which was derived from the Latin innovatus, whose root is innovare. Literally translated,  it means 'into new'.

Renew. Change. That's what 'innovate' means. But when most people speak of innovation, they immediately start thinking of silicon-based life enhancements. That's wrong.

Innovation is greater than technology. Innovation is a mindset. Innovation is what keeps innovators up at night. It makes us disgruntled. It makes us unhappy. It can make us euphoric. It can make us extremely happy. As Nikola Tesla put it: {Read more}

Trinidad and Tobago, Social Media and Crime

November 19, 2009 by Taran Rampersad

I'd heard some rumblings beforehand about Criminals Soon To Be Posted On Facebook but didn't write of it because I don't like to write about rumors. But there it is, voiced by Acting Police Commissioner James Philbert on Tuesday. I'd tried to change a few minds on it but didn't get a chance to talk to anyone who was actually making decisions - so I'll outline why I think it is good and bad.

First, the good:

  • Facebook is the most visited site from Trinidad and Tobago, so posting such information there is better than nothing on the Internet.

Now the bad:

  • As the Guardian article I linked to indicates, Facebook is a 'privately-owned, social-networking Web site'. It's also what we social media pros call a walled garden. And because it is a walled garden, its efficacy for disseminating information is decreased by the walls of the garden. 

So, what did I suggest? I suggested a Flickr Professional account (at $25 US per year) that would allow, with proper tagging, such criminals to have their photos up and also be found through mainstream search engines. Coupled with a rather simple implementation of a content management system, such as used here at KnowTnT.com, this could be a powerful tool for fighting crime. No, I wasn't looking for business. They could do it themselves, I'd just like to see it done right.

That said, it is good to see that social media is being seen as a tool for fighting crime in Trinidad and Tobago. I just wish that they chose a more effective path. And they can still do it. The option is always there.

Goodbye Peter

November 9, 2009 by bbhikarry

I'd like to take this opportunity to do two things. First to say goodbye to my friend Peter. Peter died sometime in the first week of November 2009 - at his home in the comfortable surrounds of Bacolet Point Tobago.
 
Peter was not in retirement, nor was he ailing. He was killed by a group of men whom he had come to know as potential buyers of his family property in Tobago - he had taken them in as tenants/buyers in waiting. The details are not relevant to this piece except that Peter had the opportunity to call the police during the Hunt ( he must have been running hiding in cupboards)
 
The calls were dismissed by the normal (This is so trini) 'we have no transport at this time' response. Peter actually called his neighbors in ensuing minutes. They also called police. Same response.
 
Peter was found in a shallow grave next day - in his yard. The men were held in the house. Maybe they may escape, since if anything, our lawyers in trini are good and capable. One of those 'men' was under fifteen. Street knowledge places him as blooded killer. He will escape the cells I think.
 
The leader of the group is nondescript, short, chubby and harmless looking creature who boasts a variety of health problems, even sickle cell. He will escape too jail too. Again the rumor has it they as a group can account for over fourscore and ten murders. (they were known by police y'see!)
 
  
I had made a note to myself to not let this disappear in the veil of time - Peter is non-national, no  friends here who will miss him except by the seaside bar wher ehe had the odd beer,  and at the animal shelter where he worked as volunteer and steward.       
 
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