Five Years Hard Labour
Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 9:48 am
At around 4:30am on Saturday 23rd September, a 30-year-old English tourist, Mathew Bird, was threatened with violence and robbed. He had just left ‘The Shade’ nightclub and was walking back, alone, to a Bon Accord rental villa. Bird was robbed of TT$70 (£6 / US$12), a silver watch and a packet of cigarettes.
Bird was threatened with a knife. A struggle ensued. Fortunately a police car came along and the culprit, a 24-year-old local Bon Accord ex-soldier, was apprehended. The stolen items were recovered.
I confess that on hearing these details, I became somewhat angry. The Shade is a known magnet for every prostitute, gigolo, drug dealer, druggie and other ne’er-do-well on the island. No crime is excusable, but frankly the reputation of The Shade is well established and more-than-enough warnings are given on this site and elsewhere. Only a fool would go near The Shade at 4:30am and walk alone through the immediate vicinity. I became angry because Tobago’s reputation could be further tarnished by an incident that should not have happened and could so easily have been avoided. The sort of incident that happens every night of the week in most British towns and cities and which many people now take for granted.
The good news was that the police were keeping a watchful eye on The Shade. The real twist in the story came later, however...
The perpetrator of this crime, one Arnim Wright, appeared before a local magistrate three days later, on Tuesday morning. He was sentenced to five years with hard labour.
During my last visit to Tobago, I had been assured that the government was intent on cracking down on criminals and would give particular emphasis to crime against tourist. Special arrangements were being made to deal with any such incidents more rapidly. Naturally it takes some time for these things to take effect.
Five years hard labour for stealing £6, a cheap watch and a packet of cigarettes may seem excessive to our more liberal readers. I wish it were otherwise, but it isn’t, so my attitude is if that is what it takes, then so be it. Frankly, I’m all for bringing back the stocks – both here in Britain and in Tobago. Maybe I’m just a dinosaur.
The severity of the punishment did not totally surprise me – I have regularly reported how severely criminals are dealt with when caught. What astonished and delighted me was the speed with which the matter was dealt with. Nothing happens quickly on Tobago! Maybe we're going to have to re-think that statement?
This incident is not, in itself, going to make any major impression on the criminals. What it does clearly indicate, however, is that the government and judiciary are taking matters VERY seriously and that the long-promised “action” has hopefully started. It was a small enough incident in itself, but it was the best piece of news I’ve had in a long time. Knowing Tobago as I do, I believe it signifies a fundamental change in attitudes and a genuine intent to get off backsides.
Bird was threatened with a knife. A struggle ensued. Fortunately a police car came along and the culprit, a 24-year-old local Bon Accord ex-soldier, was apprehended. The stolen items were recovered.
I confess that on hearing these details, I became somewhat angry. The Shade is a known magnet for every prostitute, gigolo, drug dealer, druggie and other ne’er-do-well on the island. No crime is excusable, but frankly the reputation of The Shade is well established and more-than-enough warnings are given on this site and elsewhere. Only a fool would go near The Shade at 4:30am and walk alone through the immediate vicinity. I became angry because Tobago’s reputation could be further tarnished by an incident that should not have happened and could so easily have been avoided. The sort of incident that happens every night of the week in most British towns and cities and which many people now take for granted.
The good news was that the police were keeping a watchful eye on The Shade. The real twist in the story came later, however...
The perpetrator of this crime, one Arnim Wright, appeared before a local magistrate three days later, on Tuesday morning. He was sentenced to five years with hard labour.
During my last visit to Tobago, I had been assured that the government was intent on cracking down on criminals and would give particular emphasis to crime against tourist. Special arrangements were being made to deal with any such incidents more rapidly. Naturally it takes some time for these things to take effect.
Five years hard labour for stealing £6, a cheap watch and a packet of cigarettes may seem excessive to our more liberal readers. I wish it were otherwise, but it isn’t, so my attitude is if that is what it takes, then so be it. Frankly, I’m all for bringing back the stocks – both here in Britain and in Tobago. Maybe I’m just a dinosaur.
The severity of the punishment did not totally surprise me – I have regularly reported how severely criminals are dealt with when caught. What astonished and delighted me was the speed with which the matter was dealt with. Nothing happens quickly on Tobago! Maybe we're going to have to re-think that statement?
This incident is not, in itself, going to make any major impression on the criminals. What it does clearly indicate, however, is that the government and judiciary are taking matters VERY seriously and that the long-promised “action” has hopefully started. It was a small enough incident in itself, but it was the best piece of news I’ve had in a long time. Knowing Tobago as I do, I believe it signifies a fundamental change in attitudes and a genuine intent to get off backsides.