A newspaper report on Sunday about the verbal abuse of Deputy Police Commissioner Mervyn Richardson and his wife by shoppers at a supermarket is a sad reflection on the nature of our society.
The report said Richardson was shopping at the grocery with his wife on Friday when some people “began shouting and hurling abuses at him, accusing him of picking on Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley” in the probe of the emails. The report said Richardson confirmed the incident.
The whole ugly episode is the result of the irresponsible remarks by Rowley and Senator Faris-al-Rawi about the probe that resulted from Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s decision to hand over to the police documents that Rowley said contained a string of emails about a conspiracy involving top government officials.
The government accused Rowley of fabricating the emails and Rowley currently faces censure by Parliament’s committee of Privileges, which meets on Monday to consider what action to take against the opposition leader.
Rowley must take responsibility for this act of intimidation. He started this when he stated that he had no confidence in Richardson to conduct the investigation. And Al-Rawi compounded it when he accused the police of leaking to the media a story that Rowley was unwilling to hand over his computer to police.
It was a well orchestrated assault on the police by two men who are positioning themselves to be leaders of Trinidad and Tobago and demonstrating that they would go to any length to get what they want.
The message they sent by their attitude to the probe and the police is what caused this mob mentality among supporters.
DCP Richardson is doing his job and does not deserve to be treated like this in his presence of his wife, who must have been severely traumatised by this incident.
This kind of behaviour is characteristic of some supporters of the opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) who are taking a cue from their leader. Rowley’s supporters used the same kind of hooliganism to humiliate former PM Patrick Manning, whom they literally threw out of Balisier House following the PNM’s defeat in the 2010 general election.
We agree with Attorney General Anand Ramlogan that Rowley’s attacks on the police and in particular DCP Richardson borders on incitement to commit a breach of the peace. Ramlogan said, “What we are witnessing is the harvest and fruit of the seeds of social disorder and discontent that he (Rowley) seems bent on sowing.”
Rowley’s style of being loud and aggressive is sending a clear signal to fanatic supporters that it is OK to bully and intimidate people. Such poor leadership demonstrates that the prime minister was right when she accused Rowley of being the worst opposition leader ever in T&T and that Rowley is not fit to hold office.
Unless Rowley and Al-Rawi immediately condemn this behaviour they would stand accused of causing citizens to descend to the nature of the beast through their reckless statements about Richardson and the police service. They also owe an apology to DCP Richardson.
We are a civilised society and must not allow this mob mentality to continue to take root.
You’re Invited! Hey there, residents of St. Joseph! Curious about how your community is doing? So are we! The UNC-St. Joseph team is eager to connect with you and learn more about your experiences. Join us for a walk through San Juan East this Saturday, April 20th, 2024. Look out for familiar faces like our UNC Coordinator for St. Joseph, Anil Roberts, our chairman, Amit Sooknanan, and the rest of our dedicated UNC Team. We’ll be hitting the streets and engaging with the heart of your neighborhood. Here are the details: Date: Saturday, April 20th, 2024 Time: 4:00 PM Meeting Point: Opposite the Samaan Tree Bar Whether you’ve got burning questions, suggestions, or just want to say hi, we’d love to see you there! Let’s work together to make St. Joseph an even better place to live. See you on Saturday! UNC-St. Joseph Team
We are thrilled to invite you to join us for an important meeting hosted by the United National Congress (UNC) as we gear up for the upcoming general election. Your presence and participation are highly valued as we strategize and mobilize for the future of our nation. Date: Monday, April 22, 2024 Time: 7:00 PM Venue: Williamsville Secondary School, Guaracara Tabaquite Rd, Williamsville We are honored to announce that the event will feature a special address by the Political Leader of the UNC, the Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar. Her guidance and vision will undoubtedly inspire and guide us as we embark on this journey. For those unable to attend in person, the meeting will be live-streamed on the UNC Social Media Platform, ensuring that everyone can participate and engage with the discussions.
You are cordially invited to join us as we commemorate a remarkable journey of the past and embark on the promising path to the future at the UNC 35th Anniversary, Interfaith Function, and Service Awards. Date: Sunday, April 28, 2024 Time: 1:00 PM onwards Location: UNC Headquarters, #31 Mulchan Seuchan Rd, Chaguanas This special occasion will be a celebration of unity, diversity, and service to the community. We will come together in solidarity to honor our shared history, embrace our differences, and pledge our commitment to a brighter tomorrow. Your presence will truly make this celebration complete as we reflect on the past with gratitude and look ahead with hope and determination. We eagerly anticipate your presence as we mark this significant milestone in the journey of the UNC.
We seem to be descending to the nature of the beast
Read the NEWSDAY story:
DCP RICHARDSON ABUSED
By Nalinee Seelal Sunday, June 2 2013
A newspaper report on Sunday about the verbal abuse of Deputy Police Commissioner Mervyn Richardson and his wife by shoppers at a supermarket is a sad reflection on the nature of our society.
The report said Richardson was shopping at the grocery with his wife on Friday when some people “began shouting and hurling abuses at him, accusing him of picking on Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley” in the probe of the emails. The report said Richardson confirmed the incident.
The whole ugly episode is the result of the irresponsible remarks by Rowley and Senator Faris-al-Rawi about the probe that resulted from Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s decision to hand over to the police documents that Rowley said contained a string of emails about a conspiracy involving top government officials.
The government accused Rowley of fabricating the emails and Rowley currently faces censure by Parliament’s committee of Privileges, which meets on Monday to consider what action to take against the opposition leader.
Rowley must take responsibility for this act of intimidation. He started this when he stated that he had no confidence in Richardson to conduct the investigation. And Al-Rawi compounded it when he accused the police of leaking to the media a story that Rowley was unwilling to hand over his computer to police.
It was a well orchestrated assault on the police by two men who are positioning themselves to be leaders of Trinidad and Tobago and demonstrating that they would go to any length to get what they want.
The message they sent by their attitude to the probe and the police is what caused this mob mentality among supporters.
DCP Richardson is doing his job and does not deserve to be treated like this in his presence of his wife, who must have been severely traumatised by this incident.
This kind of behaviour is characteristic of some supporters of the opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) who are taking a cue from their leader. Rowley’s supporters used the same kind of hooliganism to humiliate former PM Patrick Manning, whom they literally threw out of Balisier House following the PNM’s defeat in the 2010 general election.
We agree with Attorney General Anand Ramlogan that Rowley’s attacks on the police and in particular DCP Richardson borders on incitement to commit a breach of the peace. Ramlogan said, “What we are witnessing is the harvest and fruit of the seeds of social disorder and discontent that he (Rowley) seems bent on sowing.”
Rowley’s style of being loud and aggressive is sending a clear signal to fanatic supporters that it is OK to bully and intimidate people. Such poor leadership demonstrates that the prime minister was right when she accused Rowley of being the worst opposition leader ever in T&T and that Rowley is not fit to hold office.
Unless Rowley and Al-Rawi immediately condemn this behaviour they would stand accused of causing citizens to descend to the nature of the beast through their reckless statements about Richardson and the police service. They also owe an apology to DCP Richardson.
We are a civilised society and must not allow this mob mentality to continue to take root.
Jai Parasram
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