Justice Minister Devesh Maharaj has provided updates on the ongoing investigations by the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) into two police-involved fatal shootings that occurred in Tobago earlier this year. The incidents, which took place on April 25 and May 30, involved the deaths of Ronell Marcelle, 34, and Frank Allen Sammy, 74, respectively. During a Senate session on October 29, Maharaj responded to inquiries from Opposition Senator Melanie Roberts-Radgman, detailing the progress of the investigations. In the case of Marcelle, the PCA has secured the police investigative file, which includes witness statements, video footage, and a post-mortem certificate, though some information remains pending. For Sammy’s case, the PCA has obtained extracts from police records and conducted interviews, including securing a witness statement, but additional details are still awaited. Maharaj emphasized the PCA’s commitment to thoroughness in these investigations, underscoring the importance of accountability and transparency in such sensitive matters.
分类: society
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#MelissaAftermath: Near chaos at service stations in St James
Montego Bay, St James, witnessed scenes of desperation and disorder on Thursday as a limited number of operational petrol stations faced overwhelming demand from residents and motorists. Many individuals, carrying containers, flocked to these stations in a bid to secure petrol or diesel, essential for maintaining daily activities. One resident highlighted the critical need for gasoline to power generators, which have become indispensable in their daily lives. ‘Without the gas, we don’t have any light and ting,’ she remarked. Tensions escalated at a Union Street gas station, where disputes nearly turned violent as people vied for their share of the scarce resource. ‘All machete people draw because a the gas thing,’ a witness recounted to Observer Online. By late afternoon, long queues persisted at locations like the Thrifty Gas Station in Rose Hall, as individuals waited patiently to fill their vehicles and containers.
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Decomposed Body Found in Old Capital
Authorities in Belize City are currently probing the death of an unidentified man after his decomposing body was discovered earlier today. The unsettling find was reported by a local resident who noticed a strong odor near the basketball court in the Caesar Ridge neighborhood. Upon arrival, police officers located the body lying face-up in an open lot adjacent to Wilton Cumberbatch Field. The deceased was clad in a white undershirt and black sports shorts. Law enforcement swiftly secured the scene, and forensic investigators were summoned to gather evidence. Preliminary assessments indicate that the victim may have suffered a gunshot wound, though further details remain unclear. The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to identify the individual and determine the circumstances surrounding his death.
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OM vraagt gerechtelijk vooronderzoek aan in Moiwana-zaak
The Public Prosecution Service (OM) has formally requested the investigating judge to initiate a judicial inquiry into the Moiwana case. This move aims to enable additional investigative actions that can only be conducted under the supervision of the investigating judge.
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Parental consent also protects abusers
Mandatory parental consent, often perceived as a safeguard for children, can paradoxically trap them in abusive households. While this provision is beneficial in nurturing environments, it becomes a tool of oppression in dysfunctional families. In such homes, sexual cruelty, fear, and suppression replace care and trust. Alarmingly, these ‘households of hell’ are more prevalent than society acknowledges, cutting across all social strata. Parental consent is frequently misused to preserve family image rather than protect children, allowing abusers to operate unchecked. In one Eastern Caribbean country, 18.6% of women reported childhood sexual abuse, a likely underreported statistic. Removing mandatory parental consent would grant adolescents legal access to healthcare professionals, empowering them and improving the reporting and prosecution of predators. The Age of Civil Responsibility Bill does not alter the legal age of consent, undermine trustworthy parents, or favor predators; instead, it makes abusers more vulnerable. Advocates urge the government to strengthen and proceed with the bill to protect children.





