Crime/Justice, News, Regional News

United Nations Warns Staff in Barbados About Crime

Published: 3 April 2017

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Monday April 3, 2017 – The United Nations (UN) has its eye on the crime situation in Barbados, and has issued a security advisory to its staff in the island following a string of recent robberies.

The UN’s Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) has advised personnel to increase their vigilance following “credible reports that a number of recent robberies are believed to be committed by a group of five armed men”.

It is believed the men are travelling in one vehicle and targeting both businesses and individuals. They attempt to trick victims into stopping or exiting their vehicles by driving behind them and flicking their headlights.

“All UN personnel and family members are reminded to always lock your car doors, keep your windows up, only pull over in well-lit populated areas, and to remain aware of your surroundings at all times. Avoid driving alone at night,” the UNDSS advisory added.

It offered UN employees further advice on how to deal with any such encounter.

“If you detect that you are being watched or followed do not panic and drive to your nearest ‘safe haven’ (UN office, police station…). Try to collect as much information on any suspect vehicle such as make, colour, licence plate, identifying marks, description of occupants, etc. If someone tries to bump your car, honk the horn, put on hazard lights and continue driving quickly,” the UNDSS urged staff.

“If you are hit from behind and have to stop, do not get out of the vehicle or unlock it until you have called the police. Check the mirrors to observe the situation and if you see something suspicious like a pair or group of men descending all at the same time, try to rush to a ‘safe haven’. If you have a driver, instruct him accordingly. It is illegal to leave the spot of an accident but safer to go away straight to the closest police station. The CSFP [Common Foreign and Security Policy] and UNDSS will assist you with the police if necessary.”

Last month, the Royal Barbados Police Force confirmed that it was investigating several crimes which may have been committed by a group of five men travelling in a vehicle.

Read more: http://www.caribbean360.com/news/united-nations-warns-staff-barbados-crime#ixzz4dCkcFLZY

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Crime/Justice, News, Regional News

Cloud of Suspicion Hangs Over Death of Trinidad Soldier

Published: 3 April 2017

Warrant Officer Omar Samaroo was found slumped in a dormitory at Camp Cumuto, Wallerfield with a gunshot wound to the head. (Photo. Trinidad Express)

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Monday April 3, 2017 – Questions are being raised and a call for an investigation has been made along with a threat of legal action, following the death of a Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF) soldier.

Warrant Officer Omar Samaroo, 47, was found slumped in a dormitory at Camp Cumuto, Wallerfield with a gunshot wound to the head last Tuesday, and died hours later at hospital.

His death was ruled a suicide. But some people aren’t so sure that’s what it was, and Opposition Senator Wayne Sturge says he intends to take legal action if the TTDF does not investigate the circumstances surrounding Samaroo’s death.

In a letter to Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier General Rodney Smart and copied to Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi and National Security Minister Edmund Dillon, Sturge said Samaroo’s death was suspicious, based on his injuries – which he claimed included broken ribs – and how he was found.

He said the public and Samaroo’s family had a right to know whether there was any wrongdoing in his death.

“There should be an effective official investigation when individuals such as officer Samaroo have lost their lives in suspicious circumstances while on duty as a servant and or agent of the State. This officer lost his life while on duty at an army base under your command,” Sturge’s letter to Brigadier General Smart stated, adding that the matter was of “great public importance” that the requires “expeditious action” on the part of the State.

“Should there be no action on the part of the Defense Force and the State in this matter I hereby formally give notice that I shall be challenging the failure of the State to initiate a proper investigation in accordance with my request herein in the High Court in the public interest. I wish to emphasize that the request for the investigation into the death of this officer is not one which ought to be triggered by anyone but one which should have been commenced forthwith by the State in the fulfillment of it substantive and procedural constitutional obligation to the deceased officer.”

However, the TTDF has called on Sturge and other members of the public to desist from making “false and unsubstantiated remarks” about Samaroo’s tragic massing and allow his friends and family members to grieve in peace.

The Defence Force said it “vigorously denounces the flow of misinformation being purported by some conspiracy theorists, in particular by certain ‘responsible’ individuals in society”.

The TTDF also dismissed claims that Samaroo’s body was bruised and that three of his ribs were broken. It said an autopsy confirmed that the soldier, who was a member of the Defence Force for 27 years, died as a result of a single gunshot wound to the head and there were no other marks of violence on his body.

Read more: http://www.caribbean360.com/news/cloud-suspicion-hangs-death-trinidad-soldier#ixzz4dCjwVbhp

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Crime/Justice, Local news, News

DPP Drops Attempted Murder Case Against Jamal Heath

Published: 30 March 2017

 

St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN); Jahmal Heath has been freed of charges of attempted murder and wounding with intent after the Director of Public Prosecutions withdrew the matter on Thursday (Mar 30).

Heath was charged with the offences in December 2011 when he allegedly shot at and wounded another young man in the Bird Rock area. He was represented by defense attorney Dr. Henry Browne QC and his team.

DPP Valston Graham told the magistrate that he was discontinuing the matter as three of the main witnesses who dealt with the identification evidence were police officers at the time but they are no longer with the Police Force and appear to be out of the jurisdiction as all efforts to locate them proved futile.

The DPP said the offence took place in 2011 and it is now 2017, therefore the unavailability of the witnesses meant he had no choice but to discontinue the prosecution. He asked that the accused be discharged, which the judge granted

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Crime/Justice, Local news, News

Shot Fired At Suspected Burglar Near Pelican Mall

Published: 30 March 2017

St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN); Police have confirmed a shooting incident near the Pelican Mall in Basseterre early Thursday morning Mar 30).

Information reaching WINN FM is that a law enforcement unit responded to a report of a possible break in at the Pelican Mall around 4am and when they arrived, saw an individual running towards Independence Square. The officers gave chase and in the process fired one shot, however the individual managed to escape the area.

There were no reports of injury.

WINN FM understands that the person who discharged his weapon is a member of the Defense Force.

Up until press time, it was not revealed which store in the mall had been targeted by the would-be burglar.

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Crime/Justice, Local news, News

Wanted Man Captured, Police Want Another Young Man

St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN); After issuing a wanted person bulletin for 33-year-old Shane Amory of New Road on Friday afternoon (Mar 31), saying that a warrant was in existence for his arrest, police informed later that same evening that he had been taken into custody.

WINN FM understands Amory was arrested at his home without incident. He was charged with the March 21 building breaking and larceny at Boozies bar on the Frigate Bay Strip. Diondre Browne of New Road was also charged with building breaking and larceny for the same incident

Shane Amory

Police have issued another wanted person bulletin, this time for Calvin Archibald, known as Cal. Archibald is known to reside at Upper Cayon and Sandy Point.

Police described Archibald as a “person of interest” who should be considered armed and dangerous.

Any person knowing the whereabouts of Calvin Archibald is asked to call the Basseterre Police Station at telephone number 465-2241, or the nearest Police Station, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477(TIPS), or by using the SKN Crime Reporter App on your Smartphone.

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