Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - With the Christmas season over, the Carnival bacchanal has reared its ugly head, resulting in police raiding the home of a steelband leader in East Trinidad and seizing several pans.
The steelband in question is Brazil Rhythmic Xpressions (RX)-4 Steel Orchestra of Talparo Main Road, Brazil Village, a single-pan steelband.
Around 10.30 am on New Year’s Day, Michael “Spanka” Oliverie was greeted at his home at St Martin Street, Brazil Village by two armed policemen from the San Rafael Police Station, who ordered the removal of steel pans from his home and demanded the keys for the nearby pan tent.
A shaken Oliverie explained, “Police officers #14536 Cpl Evans, #18011 PC Riley, along with Anthony Walker, who East Pan Trinbago trustee Alphion Toyron and Anthony Husbands invaded my home and had me under duress as they removed the community steelband’s instruments and seized the keys for the pan tent.
“I have already reported the unlawful act to Deputy Commissioner Stephen Williams,” he said, adding that it was Williams who had encouraged him some years ago to form the steelband for the benefit of the youths.
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Replies
There must be a reason; but was the action right and just? It can only be right if they had a warrant, and it is only just if the cause and the police actions were right.
(I hope it is not the result of any kind of bias due to friction between persons - such as a historical case in Trinidad when 2 elderly ladies were put under house arrest because of a quarrel with a friend of the police officer.)
Did the Police have a warrant? Did they give a reason for their action?
let us get the other sides of the story
we mad but not that yet
There appears to be something in the mortar more than the pestle.We must hear all sides of this sequel.