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Whistleblower seeks justice ...and a gun!
Yes my friends things are definitely hotting up in sunny, oily, T&T (aka Monkey Island) in its post election glory. Without further delay see the story in the TT Express 2007-11-29 where it is reported that
Superintendent Chandrabhan Maharaj has no confidence in Assistant Commissioner Glenroy Woodley-the man appointed by Commissioner Trevor Paul to investigate his claims of ongoing corruption in the Southern Division of the Trinidad Police Service. ....
Last week, Maharaj refused a promotion to the rank of Acting Senior Superintendent Southern Division because, he said, policemen there were involved in illegal drugs and guns. He has since said that he knows nothing about any offer of protection made to him by Paul in the wake of his service-shaking claims.
Maharaj has written to Trevor Paul via his attorney Anand Ramlogan expressing "grave reservations" about the the possible appointment of someone from within "as he has reason to believe that the corrupt and illegal activities in the Police Service may involve senior offices within the present hierarchy".
Well Maharaj isn't saying anything that any average citizen on the street isn't aware of. We can only hope that Trevor Paul has the nous of the average citizen.
The Express reports that:
Maharaj is asking that Scotland Yard and Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) officers investigate his claims.
But it gets worse because Maharajh is about to retire and has good reason to be fearful for his life. He has applied for a gun to protect himself, post-retirement. Already he is seeing worrying delay in obtaining a personal gun licence. Maharaj is reported to be contemplating legal action and Anand Ramlogan has reportedly given Paul until January 10, 2008, to make a decision on Maharaj's application, after which he plans to sue.
And Newsday 2007-11-29 headline story 'I want the FBI' reports:
Ramlogan said the claim that police officers rent out their guns to bandits and kidnappers has been substantiated by ballistics expert evidence in several murders and robberies. He cited one case where someone was murdered by a police gun in the hands of a civilian. He said internal investigations conducted by the police service have so far failed to bear fruit.
I admire Maharaj's and Anand Ramlogan's bravery. There are some important issues to contemplate.
- Does anybody in T&T have a good reason to hold confidence in Paul and his merry men investigating themselves? The investigation of the missing 32 kg of cocaine seems to be yesterday's toilet roll in the minds of the public who recently voted in back the police. Yes the police. The police is a direct extension of central executive power.
- Now that it is public knowledge that Maharaj is seeking a gun, isn't that just a 'magnet' for bullets to fly in his direction?
- Could Maharaj really believe that one 'pea shooter' will protect him and his family from the many higher powered weapons out there. The most he could hope to do is to die fighting a bloody gun battle and probably take one or two with him - no?
- If you were in Maharaj's shoes would you be thinking of leaving the country soon and fighting legal battles from foreign soil?
- Maharaj's postion could probably fuel others in T&T to seek gun licences. If I was dong dey I would now be considering if I need to do like him - for different reasons obviously.
- Has Anand Ramlogan considered his personal safety and acted accordingly? The ball-game with crime has taken a different turn since the elections. Criminals seem to be now more brazen and calculating in the way the go about their crime. There seems to be increased risk for anyone fighting for justice.
Well I'm sure this story about Maharaj will stir many more thoughts and concerns as it should. We will watch this space very closely. Over to you all out there.
- 1589 reads
So he spent 30 years as a duncey trying to grow a conscience, or balls to speak up?!
Full copy of the letter below
I feel Supt. Maharaj is a very brave man, and should be commended for the stand he is taking, after some 30+ years in the Police Service. Bravo to you and goodluck in your retirement.
Corruption and mis-management has been an ongoing plague and problem, especially more so under the PNM regime who have "ruled" and held power for over forty of those years, check their records.Crime has always historically increased under the PNM regime, and with it the allegations of police corruption simultaneously.
There is definitely more than meets the eye here, this is only the tip of the iceberg, there's lots more, and Supt. Maharaj seems to know a lot given the experience and his involvement in the units he was engaged in, and this seems like the "straw that broke the camel's back"! Why else would he choose to put himself through this hassle when he is only two months away from retirement?
But the problem starts from the very top, and the re-appointment and extension of the terms of the Commissioner of Police is the very starting point, in light of his performance or for that matter, non-performance over the years.
The appointing of Woodley to conduct the investigation by CoP, is also very troubling, in that he can't yet find an end to his investigation of the "missing" 32 kilos of cocaine evidence which dissappeared from the same Police Station and two years have gone by without a "peep" from him tells a long story without words, again typical of his "Political Masters", but at least it is consistent with their "modus operandi", so it should come as no surprise.
On the issue of the fire-arm, it is my understanding that the Prime Minister's son was given a fire-arm license in short order, and some may argue that nothing is wrong with that, but for someone who has spent his entire career chasing and apprehending known and dangerous criminals, what seem to be the problem here?
Truth be told, racism, discrimination and bigotry is alive and well and thriving in our country where "all ah we is one" but only in name only, when it comes down to the real day to day life, tribalism takes over and reign, and is supported and fostered, especially when "their party is in power", just take a closer look at the kidnappings and robberies.The murders are a different story!
So for Supt. Maharaj, I feel that an external body should be appointed to investigate his complaints, and it should be done forthwith, if the PNM regime is serious about cleaning out the corrupt police officers, and like Supt. Maharaj is also saying, it includes some pretty higher ups in the food chain. (Seems like a "TNT SERPICO", doesn't it?)
Walk tall and proud Supt. Maharaj, and be careful, take care, and stand up for the principles you believe in, there are lots of police and ordinary citizens who feel the same way, but are not in a position or as as knowledgeable as you, to be able to do what you are doing in your final hours of service to your country. With people like yourself, there is hope yet, after all!
And after the last stand, best wishes to your retirement in peace and enjoyment!
Goodluck.Trini.t.o.o
These are all pertinent questions Captain Walker and very good ones too...
I however have a problem. While I admit that there are serious problems with the police service that needs urgent attention and fixing, the whole escalating crime situation seem to have been favourably spun by the PNM spin doctors from a PNM government type problem to a police service problem.
All the heat seem to have come off the government. And how can this be? How can it be that before the election that crime had a low profile to quite an explosion soon thereafter? While the PM in answering this question seem to think that it's 'strange', insinuating that it's political, many others are wondering if the PNM had a deal with the criminals to keep it down during the elections. It's a fair question given what has happened and continues to happen.
Additionally, the heat seems to have come off from Mr. Martin Joseph. Today, in the post Cabinet conference, he announced that the police service asked for a further 19 million dollars, which the government was going to provide. So that he also is engaging the public to change its direction from him as a failure as security minister to the police service which needs help. How can this be?
So in addition to Captain Walker's question, we need to also ask:
Is the PNM in bed with the criminals?
Is Satan trying to correct sin?
Why hasn't Mr. Martin Joseph been dropped as the National Security Minister as yet?
Why hasn't the opposition forces put more pressure on the government about this whole sordid situation?
How many more must die? Are we waiting for the 400 figure to act and proclaim that it is too much?
It is apparent that Mr. Maharaj wants to retire in peace (than accept more responsibility) than be made any scape goat in any of the government pseudo fight on crime. Of course he has plans to leave the country. He has been ignored for 30 years despite his best efforts.
All these arrests and furious security activty is just plaster on sore and to get the criminals to go back in their hole and let things cool down a bit than let the government look bad. If they succeed the problems will still exist.
This government is all about creating distractions and red herrings to get away from the hot topics of the day. When a furore was created over the oil and gas, the PM announced the date for the budget. When the opposition was taking the government to task over the Monteil issue, the PM announced the date for election. When a big deal was being created about the smelter, the PM announced he would put it on a small sunken island off Otaheite (yeah right as we believed that). When that didn't work, he announced a 'consultation' in South and so on and so on.
Perhaps, the government is trying to create enough of a distraction using the police service so that we can all be killed out because as we (and of course Mr. Maharaj) all know, the problems with the police service can in no way be fixed in a moment. In essence the police service has enough problems to keep us busy and distracted for a long time away from Martin Joseph and the crime allure of the PNM government.
By the way Anand, please check your letters before you send them out....I think it should be 'whether' and not 'weather', 'kept' and not 'dept', well-intentioned offer from the media as it sends (leave out gives) and I think it's Scotland Yard and not Scott land yard....Just trying to be helpful
The PNM government is insightless from my perspective. They seem to lack any true first world frame of reference - and that's necessary because they are aiming so high.
If you accept that, how can an insightless government, treat an extension of itself - that is the police - which is itself as insightless. And Trevor Paul is sadly blind but seems not to know that. He foolishly appoints Woodley. Can the blind investigate themselves and come up with anything beyond their limited capacity for self-awareness? Very difficult. While we may pile blame on Trevor Paul, we must also keep in mind that he is a puppet of the present insightless regime. He may have no option but to act as foolishly as he does. I don't suppose he could simply on his own authorise the FBI or Scotland Yard to fly dong and do the job we know needs doing. That probably requires government funding and approval - which shouldn't be a problem given that oil price is now about $USD 100/barrel. If only commonsense and intelligence were as abundant as oil dollars - eh boy?
Fantasy perhaps, but eef dee Trinidad government wanted to sort out their police service they could employ me to weed out wankers from their police service. You see I have a very sharp nose for detecting wankers! But that would be too cheap and simple. Okay back to reality. What these foolish people need is a genuine commitment to delivering quality and efficiency - not just the kind of propaganda we saw around election time. The trouble of course is that they so duncey that if quality and efficiency jump out and slap dem in the face they wouldn't recognise it. And they need to truly anchor themselves to first world standards of operations - else they remain behaving like aimless abandoned post-colonial children.
The Maharaj situation is just another media headline. In a few months it'll be tomorrows toilet roll. Think about Khoury murder, Naipaul-Coolman, dentist fella from St. James shot in chest, elderly couple bludgeoned to death in Cascade. You know these and similar stories are shock value. Every time they shock the population jump just a little bit. But like Seligman's dogs the the population is in a state of learned helplessness. Doh worry, yuh go see some big pappy psychologist or psychiatrist t'arking 'bout dat dong dey soon - as model for dee social situation.
So i's back to spinnin' top in mud fuh dem ah guess, fuh at leas' dee nex' five years - or yuh could jump ship now if yuh livin' in T&T. Okay, altruism is a good thing, but I doh believe in going down with a ship of fools - nah it eh worth it.
"The ship of fools" is right on track, they drowning and going down but don't know it as yet.
You're probably on to something, in that the people have been already conditioned to this "learned helplessness" and consign themselves to that principle, just as the politicians in power need to have them remain at all times.
Can you imagine that the ink ain't dry on their fingers on November 5th after voting the PNM back in power, and by the time Patrick and his cohorts partying it up at Salybia Resort, the people already have signs and burning tyres and placards protesting about the bad roads in the same Salybia to the PNM Minister who "promising" to get it fixed in 8 months?
In fact there were "protests" in Moruga, Los Lomas and many other parts of the country within a week of the elections, for water, roads & transportation, telephone, schools and education (the children get sick and have worms in their food) and not forgetting the ever present increase in killings and kidnappings, all the while Manning saying it must be the "politics involved" in the increase in crime, and at the same time Martin Joseph saying he underestimated the job as Security Minister, while Manning saying he too does not understand FINANCE and did not when he started off as Minister of Finance, this and many many more complaints- even as the ink ain't dry on their fingers yet?
All the while, Manning walking round and saying he haven't decided when to open Parliament yet? They like it so!
These people must have been in a drunken stupor for all this while, and your theory of "learned helplessness" is indeed true and correct, as the "sun an rain beatin on dem and dey can't get away poh fellah"! "Ship of fools, OK!
It will take a miracle, and a good one soon too, to save the people from the sinking ship, cause they all going down!
I'd like to laugh it off, but it's just too serious to do that, these people need real help. So bring on the psychologists et al, the sooner the better...! Or else, there is more to come down the road! Much, much more! But not at all good!
Goodluck! Trini.t.o.o
According to the following excerpt appearing in the "newsday" today, it would appear that the "corruption" report conducted by ACP Glenroy Woodley on recent allegations made by Supt. Maharaj has been completed and submitted to Commissioner Trevor Paul on Friday last. All of this at happening at "warp speed" I might add.!
"Paul gets ‘corruption’ report
Sunday, December 2 2007
THE Report into allegations of ongoing corruption in the Southern Division of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, by Supt Chandrabhan Maharaj, has been handed over to the Commissioner of Police, Trevor Paul.
ACP Glenroy Woodley and UK Supt Michael Allen of the Special Anti-Crime Unit (SAUTT) were two officers assigned to look into the recent allegations made by Supt Maharaj.
According to a release issued by the Ministry of National Security, the report was delivered to Brigadier Peter Joseph, Director of the SAUTT on Friday.
“I expect that once the Commissioner has reviewed the report he will submit a proposal to me, as Minister, as it relates to the next steps,” said Martin Joseph, National Security Minister.
“It is critically important that we address any allegations of fraud and corruption in the police system,” he added. Maharaj in a letter dated November 6. 2007 to Commissioner of Police Trevor Paul alleged that there was rampant corruption among some policemen in the Police Southern Division."!
It is commendable, that the "corruption" report conducted by ACP Glenroy Woodley, has been "fully investigated", hopefully, given the serious nature of the allegations made by Supt. Maharaj as outlined in his solicitor's letter to the commissioner.
However, it is passing strange, that the length and breath, and depth of this wide spread corruption as alleged could have been explored in detail so quickly and finalised, (of course absent of the contents of the report as yet) unless there was "no merit" to the allegations, or there was very little to investigate, or much of these allegations have been known for quite a long time by the powers that be, and it was just a matter of formality in completing the report in short order.
The reason I came to that conclusion, is that the same ACP Woodley have been investigating the "disappearance" of the 32 kilos of cocaine from the very same police station for the last two years and has been unable to provide a "report" on its vanishing from evidence "just like a puff of wind", to borrow Lord Mustill's words!
In short, Woodley is so stumped in finding out the facts on such a simple task, such as who handled it last, where was it placed, who was in charge of it safe keeping, etc...., but is here able to explore and investigate such a wide ranging and widespread epidemic of corruption, "gun for hire" scheme, police guns finding it way in the hands of civilians in the committing of crimes etc...and he could do all of this at warp speed and finalize his report?
I just can't wait to find out what's in the report, my bet is "nothing of substance", but then I am not too hopeful it will become public knowledge to begin with, as it may be labelled confidential just to sweep it under the proverbial rug!
This just serve to highlight the need for "independent public inquiry" into these types of allegations, or at least, external investigators be permitted to carry out the tasks, so as to remove any doubts from the public's mind, doubts that exists that "public officials" are "corrupt from the top down"! and the great lengths they will go to keep it that way!
I am of the hope that Supt. Maharaj and his solicitor will continue to press for more and more answers to the satisfaction of and justification of their allegations, lest the powers that be merely label them as just that "allegations" without any foundation, as they are so commonly known to do.!
Because I firmly believe the "allegations" of Supt Maharaj as outlined in his solicitor's letter to the Commissioner, as I am not of the opinion that he just wanted to engage in a frivolous claim at this juncture of his distinguised career just out of mischief, no it would not be worth the personal aggravation and danger to do so.
On top of that, and in addition, many of his allegations are out in the public domain, although people are afraid to talk about it, and my thoughts are that the time has come, as substantiated by the position taken by Supt. Maharaj, to "bell the cat", to "hold the bull by the horns", to "let the cat out of the bag", to bare the facts on the table and to prove them wrong, the powers that be that is, who keep on saying over and over "it ain't so", just to sweep it under the rug, and to keep the cover ups alive and well in their "own little domain", "their little empire"!
So lets see the cards, and let them fall where they may at the same time, they're long overdue!
The honest police officers in the service, and they are the majority of them, as well as the law-abiding taxpaying citizens of the country deserve that much, if not a whole lot more! It been going on for far too long!
Goodluck.trini.t.o.o
I cannot help but wonder at what point and to what extent the public is entitled to be briefed on the contents of this report. I would hope that we would not be treated with such scant courtesy as to be kept entirely in the dark on this matter. Given the "warp speed" at which this investigation was conducted and report completed, it would be interesting to see at what speed the public will be briefed on the reults of this investigation.
If this OUTING of corruption in the Police Force/PNM is handled correctly, aggressively, and surreptitiously, we could reduce crime and bring down the PNM all in one fell swoop.
Some leaks to the media at proper intervals, careful study of the PNM counter-offensive and appropriate retaliatory punches below the belt, when necessary.
The stakes are high and the desperation of the PNM to keep their criminal secrets buried, could result in murder and mayhem with orders coming from the very top of the foodchain.
The excitement I felt as I watched the Watergate spectacle unfold, has once again engulfed my excitability ... as it was with Nixon, so let be with Manning.
We have to start scaring them with little leaks and we have to make every attempt possible to win broad public support.
The PNM machinery is not as formidable nor invincible as they are made out to believe. Its just that the "opposition" party which was mainly the UNC for the past 30+ years or so, was in so much disarray and lacking in unity or resolve and leadership, and had no very clear set goals, that it made them so much more predictable every time, that it made the PNM "look stronger" and undefeatable as the outcome was so easy to predict.
The PNM really had to do nothing,just watch, while the UNC destroyed themselves.
In addition, the UNC was and is a "one trick pony" and its leader has played that trick over and over again that the PNM just have to stand by and watch, and the outcome is very predictable, same as the last time, again and again.!
So yes, until the strategy is changed and the game played differently, that will alter the PNM set ways and suddenly open them up to more open attacks from different quarters and in different ways, that forces them to lose and shift their focus and game plan, and go on the "defensive" which would render them vulnerable indeed.
I am not a political analyst, but those who are interested, should start looking closely at the PNM and determine "what makes them tick"? What are their weaknesses and what are their strengths? What are their "achilles heels"? What makes Manning nervous and uncomfortable and unsure? What are their "skeletons in the closet"?
Then move on to "change the rules" and eventually "change the game"!
All of this take quite some time, but there is five years or so ahead to plan and implement a plan!
Look at what the UNC had been doing all along and move away from that, it did not work then and it won't work now.!
These are just for starters, and only when the games and the rules have been changed, then will the eventual outcome.
The challenge is to keep them busy and occupied in a multi pronged strategy that will keep them off balance at all times and force them to make blunders and mistakes, which they are prone to do. But so far, no one seem to capitalize on it effectively, and the current opposition has its own set of problems to deal with simultaneously.
So the thought and idea is a good one, the issue is the willingness of the people who can make that much of a difference to put it in action and move it forward...!
goodluck.Trini.t.o.o
The PNM really had to do nothing,just watch, while the UNC destroyed themselves.
Well said, Trini t.o.o.
...Like Woodley tried a vaps or what! why the 180 degree turn around by Trevor Paul?
...today COP Trevor Paul is reported as saying that Martin Joseph looking to engage "foreign investigators" to look into Supt. Chanderpaul's allegations, so what I would like to know is, what happened to Woodley Report that he handed in? and what was in it? don't hold your breath, we won't see it!
...like these guys really good, maybe they thought if they got away with it, the vaps that is, then so be it. End of story, right? But then again, I think they're not too sure what else Anand Ramlogan up to, and how far he intend to go from here, to properly represent his client, so they now back tracking and saying that they willing to seek foreign investigators? What took them so long? Waiting for direction from above?
...in any event, that is good for Supt. Chanderpaul and Anand, as it demonstrates that there must be some merit to the allegations and claims being made by Supt. Chanderpaul, and it is now becoming a concern of both Trevor Paul and Martin Joseph, and that it should not be dismissed so easily as a cursory review by Woodley. Sometime, you just have to push harder to get justice, along with the principle of it, and thats what this is all about in my mind.!
...in this case, it is now moving in the right direction, lets wait and see who the "foreign investigators" are, or if this is another ploy by Trevor Paul and Martin Joseph to continue to cloud the real issues, and mask another cover up with more delays! I think the "shoe pinching" now, and its getting really awkward for them - they can't walk a straight line anymore, let alone talking from both sides of their mouth!
...Or then maybe, they're just trying so hard to suck and blow at the same time..... not easy is it?
...good for you Supt. Chanderpaul and Anand, keep up the pressure, in search of the elusive truth!
good luck and happy retirement!
Trini.t.o.o
As I read an article appearing in today's newspaper on the topic "unlearnt helplessness" I could'nt help but recall your article which referred to "learned helplessness" written about a month or so ago, pointing out the same "malady" of our people of TnT and the problems they are again facing with the Government they just voted back in power on Nov.5, and within a week they were out "demonstrating and burning tires" about lack of services and roads, education, health services etc..etc... as though these things had now just started after the "election"!
I just thought I'd mention it, since you had so much foresight Captain, to point it out well before then and they are now catching up to the reality of life in TnT! - In fact they are always playing catch up, thats part of the problem too, always trying to close the barn door when the horses have already left the stables a long long time ago! They really do need professional help in a serious way! They need their heads examined and soon....!
Goodluck! Trini.t.o.o
See: TT Express 2008-01-25 where Spt. Maharaj is some how implicated in yet another pile of cocaine going missing.
Well well - see what happens when you make noise on issues that matter. This could well be the start of the fall for Maharaj.
They will probably muddy his name before he gets the bullet.
Cocaine taken from a police station and sold? Ah mean what dee hell going on in Monkey Island?
Somebody need to get the noose on this one.