Black Immigrant Daily News

News

BUSINESSMAN Inshan Ishmael has won his malicious prosecution lawsuit against the State after his arrest in 2016 for allegedly being involved in a public protest outside the Guardian Media building in Chaguanas.

At his trial on Tuesday, Ishmael described his arrest and prosecution as “lies and falsehoods.”

Ishmael and self-employed businessman Devendra Partap sued the State for malicious prosecution and false imprisonment.

On Tuesday, Ishmael and Partap testified at the malicious prosecution trial at the Judicial Waterfront Centre, Wrightson Road, Port of Spain, before Justice Ricky Rahim. After the trial, Rahim awarded both men damages for unlawful arrest and false imprisonment from 4.30 pm on July 25 to 4 am the next day. Both men also received general damages, aggravated and exemplary damages for malicious prosecution. The amount of compensation each man will receive is to be quantified by a Master.

In his ruling, Rahim said, in particular, the actions of the police against Partap were egregious. He said the evidence was that he was simply a passer-by when he was arrested and the consequences of it for him had been dire mentally. Partap had to be warded at St Ann’s Hospital for a short period.

In his lawsuit, he said he was unable to find work and became depressed and suicidal. During the trial at the magistrates’ court, the magistrate had to provide counselling for him because he appeared visibly distressed.

Rahim also said he did not believe the evidence of the police when they said the two men went to the front of the police bus and began to protest with placards.

At the time, it was alleged that Ishmael and two others were part of a demonstration outside the newspaper’s offices over a column which appeared on July 6, the Eid holiday, headlined “How not to be killed by Islamists.”

Ishmael was initially charged with leading a protest, and the two others with protesting without a permit. The charge against Ishmael was amended during the prosecution in the magistrates’ court to participating in a protest without a permit.

After appearing in court 23 times, and spending $39,000 in legal fees, on May 10, 2018, they were found not guilty of the incident, which allegedly took place on July 25, 2016.

Ishmael said he was at the Guardian building because an imam had told him about the gathering there and he went with his cameraman, Wasim Daniel, to cover the event. Ishmael owns and runs the Islamic Broadcast Network (IBN).

Daniel was also part of the claim but did not show up at Tuesday’s trial.

Partap said he had only got off a bus on the Uriah Butler Highway with the intention of walking into Chaguanas to get a taxi to San Fernando when he was arrested. Both men denied they had placards.

Ishmael said he and his worker were dressed in T-shirts with the IBN logo, while Partap was just nearby. He said he was called out by a police officer who arrived at about 4 pm with 20 others in a police bus. In all, he said there were about 50 police officers at the scene, and the gathering was on private property belonging to the media house.

He said he repeatedly asked why he was being arrested but was pushed into the police bus.

“It was a public spectacle.”

Ishmael said it was “totally false” to say he was involved in the protest and maintains in his lawsuit that he was targeted by the police because one of the officers present was a senior officer he had “exposed” on his Breaking Barriers programme a week earlier.

Ishmael said the police physically manhandled him and gave a vivid description of the prisoners’ cell at the Chaguanas police station during his testimony.

Also testifying were three of the officers involved in the arrest. Sgt Larry David said he could not say if anyone had permission to be at the Guardian building, also admitting he received certain instructions from an inspector.

He claimed the men left the group at the Guardian building and started showing placards to drivers on the southbound lane of the highway before they were arrested. Rahim said he did not believe this evidence.

Representing the Attorney General was attorney Monica Smith. Ishmael and Partap were represented by attorneys Nigel Trancoso and Richard Jaggasar.

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

El gobernador de Puerto Rico, Pedro R. Pierluisi, envió una carta hoy al presidente de Estados Unidos, Joe Biden, en la que solicitó una dispensa temporera a la Ley Jones para que barcazas de bandera extranjera provenientes de los Estados Unidos puedan transportar combustible a la Isla.

“Estoy solicitando al Departamento de Seguridad Nacional una dispensa temporera a los requerimientos de la Ley Jones para asegurar que tengamos abastos suficientes de combustibles como el diésel, y así no se comprometa el servicio de energía eléctrica en ninguna facilidad crítica, a la vez que las empresas también pueden garantizar la continuidad de sus servicios”, sostuvo el gobernador en declaraciones escritas.

En la misiva se expresa que como consecuencia de la emergencia ocasionada por el huracán Fiona que afectó el sistema eléctrico de Puerto Rico, ha incrementado significativamente la demanda de combustible en la Isla.

Mencionó que el gobierno de Puerto Rico, en colaboración con FEMA, está comprando y distribuyendo diésel a las instalaciones críticas, al mismo tiempo que ha aumentado la demanda entre los ciudadanos y las industrias, lo que afecta la disponibilidad del mismo. Por estas razones, los distribuidores informaron que el suplido de diésel está disminuyendo rápidamente y antes de lo anticipado.

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

Leon “Chaku” Symister, an attorney-at-law, is concerned that recent statements made by Prime Minister Gaston Browne concerning slain Customs Officer Nigel Christian could probably impact the pending murder case.

Three people have been charged with the murder of Christian, who was abducted from his home and shot over two years ago.

At a town hall meeting in New York this past weekend, Browne made certain allegations about the case – and even went as far as implying that Christian had been involved in corruption.

In a country as small as Antigua and Barbuda, Symister says, and with such a limited jury pool, these are not statements that should have been publicly uttered, especially by the Prime Minister.

The attorney says it was highly improper for PM Browne to utter such statements. He explains that some people will believe they are credible, because – as head of the Government – Browne has regular briefings with the heads of the security forces.

Therefore, he says, the Prime Minister’s behaviour is unacceptable.

The attorney says the PM’s statements could work in favour of the defence, since they can be used by the three accused to show prejudice prior to the trial.

Symister says that Browne should know when and where to make certain pronouncements and stop embarrassing himself and the people of Antigua and Barbuda.

According to his mother, Christian was kidnapped from his McKinnons home on Friday, July 10, 2020, by four men. His bullet-riddled body was later discovered on a dirt road near New Winthorpes.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHATSAPP GROUP

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

News

File photo –

THE National Transformation Alliance (NTA) complained that the budget did not address the country’s dire crime situation, in a statement on Tuesday after Finance Minister Colm Imbert’s budget speech in the House of Representatives on Monday.

It commented, “There is no question that Trinidad and Tobago faces its most dire social and economic climate in a generation.

“It is in this light that the NTA was hopeful for a comprehensive and proactive budget presentation, that would steer us out of the current situation we are in, and set a path for a return to prosperity for TT.”

The NTA, which is led by former police commissioner Gary Griffith, wanted more attention to crime.

“Whilst there was certainly attention given to national security, the avoidance of specific addressing of the historical murder rate was disappointing.” It said the issue affected the nation psychologically “and is greatly inhibiting economic activity, at all levels.

“Policy makers must be more aggressive in addressing this untenable situation, and they must engage all stakeholders in ensuring that this destabilising trend is reversed.”

The NTA urged the population to put aside its differences, and work together to create the country everyone desired.

It commended the tone it said the Government set, given its commitment to fiscal discipline and its plan to close the deficit by next year.

It said these were goals that successful nations must set adding that it was waiting to see the results of these promises and intended to hold the Government to its word.

However, it went on, “Our economy continues to stutter, begging the questions of why and what measures we can take to get growth started.”

The NTA welcomed the repayment of $4 billion in VAT refunds, to put critical capital into the hands of businesses and individuals, saying it was a much-needed move, although it was “yet to be determined if it will be an economic stimulant, as the macro environment may deter investment.”

The party said the capping of the fuel subsidy and the Government’s commitment to property tax would prompt debate because of their impact on the population.

The increase in the tax exemption from $84,000 to $90,000, while also a welcome relief, would be offset by other increases citizens have to face, the NTA said.

The party wanted more details on housing and education initiatives and “the food security crisis that we face.”

The NTA said an alleged decline in agriculture was a deep concern.

It wanted more details of the use of allocation for agriculture, “given the continued rise in food prices globally, and the decline in agricultural GDP domestically, in terms of real value add.”

The NTA said the budget had not mentioned public private partnerships (PPPs). “Instead we see, alarmingly, the broadening of the HDC into 3 companies: Contractor, maintenance, and sales. Why no PPP? Is another monster being created? Collaboration between the public and private sector is critical for the cohesive and robust development and transition of our economy, and as such, we should be looking to decrease the government’s role in commerce, as opposed to increasing it.”

The party claimed the Government lacked a country strategy, as a critical pillar for transformation.

“Moreover, the impact on the vast majority of the population cannot be ignored, and as the NTA engages with communities, we intend to listen to the population, and the points they wish for a Government of transformation to consider. NTA will make further comments as is warranted.”

NewsAmericasNow.com