Black Immigrant Daily News

Police Commissioner, Major General Antony Anderson says the many discussions taking place regarding individual rights across the country, though well intended, it is triggering a spirit of selfishness and also affecting how well citizens of the country come together to tackle many of the ills in society.

The commissioner said on a daily basis even members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) can be seen placing their lives on the line, focusing more on the collective, for people, who they don’t even know, all because of the decision that they made that their own personal safety is not as important as that of the community.

The commissioner said unfortunately this sort of approach was not widespread among many citizens, who were more focused on themselves than the collective.

“There are a lot of discussions now about rights or individual rights that well-intentioned as they are, they have driven us somewhat into an idea of selfishness, because by its very definition, ‘individual’ and ‘mine’ – those are words that are associated with a particular approach to things,” declared Anderson.

He was speaking at the National Neighbourhood Watch Church service held at the Andrew’s Memorial Church Service on Saturday.

According to Anderson, the police can be seen leading by example, sacrificing their own individual rights, and have instead focused on the rights of others by serving in various communities.

However, he said with the focus now on individuality in society, has created a “spirit of selfishness”.

“When we start to talk about a collective, and we start to talk about our responsibility, largely that focus is outwards, and our responsibilities are for others.

“… And I think that well-intentioned discussion sometimes leads to people doing selfish acts. I need to make a living so I have to inconvenience everybody to make that living, and you see it reflected in many ways in the society because it is my right to make a living, never mind what responsibility comes with that right,” the commissioner explained.

He said that many people do not stop to assess the responsibilities that come with the right of making a living.

He said members of the Neighborhood Watch movement have made similar steps to focus on their responsibility to others rather than themselves.

The commissioner said young people must take a similar stance and “focus more on what you can do for others, and what needs to be done for you will be taken care of.”.

“It’s a different approach, but it’s an approach that will take care of most of these interpersonal issues,” said the commissioner.

“They (young persons) largely reach where they want to reach because of selfishness. That’s at the… route of it, and this idea that they have a right to something could be deadly… over their responsibility to the wider community,” Anderson argued.

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

News

People get info about Barry University, of Florida at the College Fair at Hyatt Regency Hotel, Port of Spain on Saturday. – Angelo Marcelle

Over 7,000 students have registered to see what opportunities US and Canadian universities have to offer and many of them turned up at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Saturday.

After a two-year hiatus owing to the covid19 pandemic, the College Fair was oversubscribed as representatives of 18 US universities and 30 Canadian universities marketed their programmes.

A total of 7,200 registered to attend and more people showed up without pre-registration.

Simone Sant-Ghuran and her daughter Zara Ghuran were among those who attended the fair. Zara is in lower six at St Joseph’s Convent, Port of Spain.

Simone said, “The line-up was bit long, but after that, it moved pretty quickly. They could have given us an orientation outside about what to expect when the kids came inside.

She said, “Zara wants to study computer programming or business. She is open to UWI but she had her mind set on a campus away.”

College Fair “was a bit overwhelming because of the long line, but the process to register was very easy,” Zara said.

Morgan State univeristy of Baltimore, Maryland was among the 18 US universities at the College Fair at Hyatt Regency Hotel, Port of Spain on Saturday. – ANGELO MARCELLE

She liked how inclusive everything was and the wide range of universities present.

Of the universities, Zara liked Hult International Business School, for their locations and free master’s programme with early admissions.

Asked why she would choose a foreign university over UWI or University of TT, Zara said, “I want that international experience and to discover things on my own without my parents.”

Prashant Maharaj, 29, is another prospective student. He wants to study medicine.

“UWI is more on the theoretical side, doesn’t have a lot of practical experience. I was a UWI student before so that’s why I wouldn’t really go down that path.”

Lorcan Chan Pak, 17, is currently doing the advanced placement exams at International School. He said, “It’s like CAPE but the American system.”

He came to get a view of the top schools to attend, with the hopes to enter a science, engineering or medical programme.

On Saturday he spoke with representatives of Toronto, Waterloo, Western and Tampa universities, as he sifted through his options.

Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy Megan Kelly said it was 19th time College Fair was held in Port of Spain. She said there was a wide cross-section of US state representation and she was showing her daughters some of the premier universities like St John’s, Morgan State and Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Senior Trade Commissioner from the Canadian High Commission Nancy Bernard said 30 Canadian colleges were represented at the College Fair. The event concludes on Sunday.

Bernard said, “Canadian institutions find great opportunities with TT students. There is always great interest with Canadian education.” Some programmes allow students to work during their studies and live in Canada after graduation, she explained.

Mya Leacock, a representative of the University of Guelph has a Tobagonian parent who attended Guelph in the 1980’s. She visits Tobago annually.

Leacock said, “We have a lot of Trinidadians at the university. Guelph has the No 1 vet school in Canada and No 5 in the world. It’s a great place to be. We’re ranked No 1 for food in Canada, and I’m trying to get students to come and have the same great experience I did.”

For international students the cost to attend Guelph ranges from $150,000 to $200,000 per year but scholarships and bursaries are available.

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

News

In this file photo, Ishmael Salaam leaves the San Fernando police station after he was released without charge on September 24. – Lincoln Holder

A 24-year-old soldier who had been detained in connection with the murder of two guards and robbery of an armed courier at Pennywise Super Centre, La Romaine in September was charged with the offences on Saturday.

Homicide detectives also charged Ishmael Salaam, of Fyzabad, with robbery with violence and two offences of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

A statement from the police said other people are expected to be charged alongside Salaam.

On September 19, a group of men opened fire on an Allied Security Ltd van transporting money as it exited the La Romaine compound. The men grabbed bags of cash and cheques before escaping in a car.

Two officers, Jeffrey Peters and Jerry Stuart, were killed and a third officer, Peola Baptiste, was critically injured. Two other people were shot but survived. They were transporting money collected from several businesses.

Police later cornered four of the suspects of Fyzabad – bothers Kyle Ramdhan, Keyon Ramdhan, Greg Dodough and Deaundre Montrose – at a house in Pond Street, La Romaine where they were killed. The police also recovered some of the money, guns, bulletproof vests and other items.

The soldier had initially told police the robbers hijacked him at La Romaine and stole his SUV as they switched getaway vehicles in La Romaine.

On September 24, the soldier was released from custody without charge after a week in police custody. The soldier is a member of TT Regiment is based at the La Romaine camp.

He was detained after he made a report to police on September 19 that his SUV was taken at gunpoint. The police also searched the soldier’s locker at the camp.

Police also charged three other men for two unrelated murders.

Dustin Diaz, 30, of Cunupia was charged on Saturday with the murder of Edwin “Conqueror” Joseph. Joseph was shot dead on June 7 at Petit Valley. Diaz was also charged with possession of firearm and ammunition offences.

On Friday, police charged Joel Fermin, 39, and his stepson Shaquille Rowley, 22, both of Romain Lands, Mon Repos, Morvant with the murder of 47-year-old Noel Fermin. Noel was shot on October 29 and later died at hospital.

Acting Commissioner of Police Mc Donald Jacob, in a statement on Saturday commended “the painstaking and meticulous work” of the homicide bureau “as they have gathered the evidence, arrested, and have charged four more suspects involved in various murders.”

“Over the last year a lot of emphasis has been placed on training and development of our homicide detectives. In October, officers participated in a week-long Advanced Homicide Investigations Training Programme, through a partnership with the US Embassy,” Jacob said.

Apart from enhancing the skills and expertise of detectives, he said, the police are also

utilising ballistic and forensic technologies to assist in solving these cases of homicide. He added, “while technology is important, the human element of investigations is crucial, so I reiterate the call to the public to say something when they see something.”

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

Les jeux sont faits: les numéros de la loterie Powerball ont été tirés samedi aux Etats-Unis, avec à la clef un pactole astronomique de 1,6…

NewsAmericasNow.com