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Oropouche West MP Davendranath Tancoo. FILE PHOTO –

SAYING nowhere, not even in one’s own home, is safe anymore from criminals and gunmen, Oropouche West MP Davendranath Tancoo has likened TT to the Wild, Wild West of yesteryear, where the only power lay in the barrel of a gun.

With at least five murders recorded on the weekend, including that of a policeman in Tobago, and the murder toll reaching 530, Tancoo also wondered what it would take the Government to finally come out of its slumber and take meaningful action on crime and violence.

“Yesterday (Saturday), on the doorstep of Starbucks in Sun Plaza, Monroe Road, a man was murdered in full view of families who went to buy coffee, or who went to buy bread in the Quikshoppe or chicken and chips in Royal Castle or to fill gas on the same compound.

“Yesterday at Movie Towne, families had to run in fear as violence broke out and a man was shot. We have become the wild, wild west,” Tancoo said at the UNC’s weekly Sunday press briefing. He was joined by Senator Wade Mark.

“Everyday we see videos in real time of criminals assaulting, robbing and murdering citizens.”

Painting a picture of the trauma citizens of all ages are enduring because of the crime wave, Tancoo called on people.

“Imagine your infant son or daughter going to school and when they are supposed to be learning to count, read and write and draw, the first thing they have to learn to do is how to duck and hide from bullets.”

He said it was a sad indictment on the country when everywhere one goes, one is at risk of being murdered.

“You are not safe in school, in the grocery or in the parlour, in the mall, in the Chinese restaurant, by the doubles man or coconut vendor. You are not safe even in your own home,” he said.

Tancoo said today’s criminals do not care about race or gender or age.

“Nobody is safe anywhere in this country. Embassies are warning their citizens about travelling to this country because crime is so bad.” Last week the US State Dept in its latest country advisory on TT, asked all Americans to reconsider visiting TT.

He also criticised Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George for blanking Barataria/San Juan MP Saddam Hosein’s call for the House of Representatives to debate crime as a matter of urgent public importance.

“There should have been no objection, because everybody is affected by this crime tsunami burying this country in blood.” Tancoo said he was certain even the Speaker knew someone directly affected by the crime scourge.

Commenting on the Prime Minister posting Facebook photos of himself with retired WI cricket legend Viv Richards on the golf course, Tancoo said he does not begrudge Dr Rowley having fun.

“But when you put yourself up to be elected to office, to represent and serve people, for God’s sake serve the people nah man. If you have been elected to be Prime Minister, for God’s sake be the Prime Minister. Grow up! There is a crisis, lead or get out of the way.

“Corruption is now endemic under this PNM Government, like it was under every previous PNM government. Crime is worse than ever before. Then there is flooding, infrastructural neglect, poverty, unemployment…this government is failing at every turn,” he declared.

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Citing the devastating effect of adverse weather on the Region, the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on Friday issued a call to action as she headed to the COP27 climate change conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

“Stating the obvious has never been any simpler. We must act now to secure our future,” Dr. Carla Barnett declared.

“Ambitious and credible action in adaptation, finance and loss and damage are paramount,” she stated.

The CARICOM Secretary-General said she would join the Region in advocating for better and more at the climate change conference.

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“The situation is dire. We deserve no less,” the CARICOM Secretary-General explained.

Barnett recalled that six CARICOM member states had been devastated by extreme weather events in the past two weeks, including two hurricanes.

And she explained in a video recording that preliminary estimates indicate damage in tens of millions.

According to Barnett, the extreme weather destroyed homes, shuttered businesses, damaged infrastructure, and kept children away from school.

“It has become a cycle we know too well and one that we cannot long bear,” the CARICOM Secretary-General asserted.

In this regard, she said, as the world gathers in Sharm el-Sheikh for COP 27, the Region is resolute in its position and singular in its demand for climate justice for the vulnerable.

COP27, which opened on November 6, runs until November 18.

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A une semaine du coup d’envoi du Mondial-2022, le trophée de la Coupe du monde est de retour au Qatar, les équipes et les supporteurs commencent à affluer, avant l’un des tournois…

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A total of 28 persons died from 25 fatal motor vehicle crashes during the month of October, according to the Ministry of Transport and Mining’s Road Safety Unit (RSU).

The number is two less than the 30 people who died from 27 fatal crashes in October 2021, and 11 fewer that the 39 who perished from 36 fatal collisions in the same month of 2020.

The parishes of St James and St Andrew each recorded five deaths during the month of October this year. They were followed by Hanover, Westmoreland, St Ann and St Catherine with three deaths each, and Trelawny, St Elizabeth, Clarendon, St Mary, Kingston and St Thomas each with one death.

The parishes of Portland and Manchester had zero fatalities during the month.

A further breakdown of the statistics showed that the top three categories with the highest numbers of fatalities were: motorcyclists with 12, pedestrians with eight, and private motor vehicle passengers with five.

A significant 79 per cent of those who died were males, while females accounted for the remaining 21 per cent.

According to the RSU, the main cause of the fatalities was excessive speeding with no regard for the road conditions.

Meanwhile, a total of 401 people died from 348 fatal motor vehicle collisions this year up to Friday, November 11. A breakdown reveals that the top three categories with the highest number sof fatalities were: motorcyclists with 119, pedestrians with 83, and drivers of private motor vehicles with 74.

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Sports

Ornella Walker competes in the girls 11-and-over 100m backstroke, in the National Open Long Course Championships, at the National Aquatic Centre, Couva on May 21, 2022. – Photo by Marvin Hamilton

ORNELLA Walker broke her national record in the 100-metre backstroke event at the National Open Short Course Championships 2022 at the National Aquatic Centre in Couva, on Saturday.

Walker, competing in the girls 11 and over 100m backstroke, won in one minute, 03.08 seconds (1:03.08). She erased her 2019 record of 1:03.22.

Earning silver was Gabrielle Vickles in 1:09.20 and Kiara Goodridge claimed bronze in 1:11.37.

Amelia Rajack and Nikoli Blackman both continued to show their quality at the meet.

Rajack won gold in the A final of the girls 11 and over 200m freestyle event in 2:12.08. She finished just ahead of Goodridge who touched the wall in 2:13.97.

Vickles had to settle for third in 2:16.77.

Blackman won the boys equivalent comfortably in 1:53.32, just ahead of his national junior team-mate and friend Zachary Anthony who was second in 1:59.25.

Liam Carrington finished third in 2:00.99.

Others who won gold on Saturday were Maidan Edwards, Marchan Taylor and Christian Awah.

Edwards won the girls 11 and over 50m butterfly in 30.31 seconds, Taylor finished first in the girls 10 and over 100m butterfly in 1:19.42 and Awah was the fastest in the boys 11 and over 50m butterfly in 23.98.

Action continued on Sunday.

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