Today, I am ashamed to be a Trinidadian. Today, all 1.5 million of us (although with the murder toll steadily climbing, this population figure may be a tad ambitious) awoke to the horrific news that an innocent child, six-year-old Sean Luke, was buggered to death in the most brutal way imaginable. That anyone can harm a child is unfathomable to me and that we as a country have let the rot get to this stage, even moreso.
The Keith Noel 136 Committee has been at the forefront of the charge against crime, vocalizing the concerns of the law-abiding among us and demanding that our government be held accountable for keeping its citizens safe. But marches, protests, media coverage and letters to the editor all seem to be falling on deaf ears.
Akiel Chambers’ death caused outrage eight years ago. Life went on – Martin Daly is one of the few voices that reminds us each week that the murder is still unsolved and shame on us for that. Dane Andrews suffered just as ghastly a fate. And now Sean Luke. How many more examples of vicious brutality do we need before we say enough and take back our country? We cannot keep rationalizing away the violence, compartmentalizing it so that we can go about our daily lives like sheep, happy to graze in the otherwise pleasant pasture. All the oil and gas money in the world cannot fix this problem and the powers-that-be are fiddling, like Nero with his violin, while Rome burns.
On tonight’s TV6 News, it was reported that the Prime Minister had no comment on the child’s death. His PR person said that he “had not as yet been briefed, and therefore would offer no comment at this time.” Um…what? Does Mr. Manning need to be briefed to simply be a human being? I don’t know the child and I cried for him. I was moved beyond words by the tortured grief on his mother’s face, searching for equilibrium as she tried to make sense of her newly-shattered world. I cried for “sweet, sweet T&T” which is really more bitter these days and all I can say is sorry.
I am sorry that anyone would have that much hatred in them to dehumanize a child that way. I am sorry that police officers had scant respect for the worry of a mother and lost precious – perhaps life-saving – time in looking for Sean. I am sorry that only a few of us see that a plaster on the sore will not solve the problem unless we tackle the seething source of the infection. And I will be sorrier still if this child’s death becomes just another example of Trinbagonians choosing to remain voiceless and accepting less than we deserve as citizens of this good country.
[...] Francomenz and Caribbean Free Radio express outrage at the news of the brutal buggering and murder of a six year-old boy. Francomenz reminds us of the other unsolved cases involving the murder and buggery of children, and Caribbean Free Radio, looking at the television news, brings up the issue of DNA legislation. [...]
It’s a sick world.
When God said: “Suffer the children to come unto Me,”
he never meant for it to be this much…
http://www.seanluke.com/
I live in Jamaica where crime is everywhere and I have always wanted to come home to sweet T&T. For the first times my country sickens me, my people firghten me and I am disgusted to think that sweet T&T has become aother hell where our children are unsafe. I cried when I read the news of Sean Luke, I cried for his mother and I cried for Sean. I cried for us in Trinidad and I shouted vengengance on those two boys. Then I thought have they been molested? What could make them so angry?
Some said the boys are evil, but it is not spirits, it is human beings who don’t have the proper foundation and don’t know the difference between right and wrong. I implore the parents of the perpetrators, let then get their sentence and pray it does not make them more angry.
The papers said that “Sean died a slow and agonizing death”. We in Trinidad will die that slow agonizing death of spirit if we do not take control. I implore you parents teach your children to love. You are their foundation.
When I think that the boys who are buggered are usually raped from their homes, or the little girls who are molested are usually fondled by a family member. I implore you – the children are hurting, you are hurting the rest of the world. and yes What you perpetrators are doing is wrong. You have your vices, leave the children alone. They are not yours, they belong to God.
I ask you Trinindad to seek good cause only then good will follow.
deep hurt fills me
like labour pains
gut wrenching agony
another little boy harmed again
this time by little boys
not by men in jacket and ties
beasts
by design or from birth
children killing children
A mother asleep
now she and I and you weep
for Sean Luke
for Akiel
for Dane
for our nation sodmized by the pain
Hi Francomenz,
I am a fellow Trini currently studying in the States. When I left Trinidad it was still the beautiful paradise that I remember, before all the kidnappings started and all the corruption in the police force was yet to receive any attention. Everytime I go home for vacation, I am usually filled with a deep happiness, because I love my country terribly. I honestly used to think that Trinidad was the most blessed place on Earth, and speculated that if God were on Earth, this is where he would be.
In the past couple of years, however, I have been shocked to my core with the events that are occuring in Trinidad, and the absolute incompetence of the police and the Prime Minister to do anything about it. Our country has not only lost its innocence, but it has become akin to a Hell on Earth, where people in authority are so obsessed with their own welfare and power that they forget to think of their country. Why on Earth are Mexican workers coming to Trinidad to work when there are so many unemployed at home? Not that I can run a country any better (actually, let me rethink that, I think ANYONE with any sense of loyalty to his country can run the country better), but I strongly believe that a better economy and more educated citizens will prevent all this crime.
Last time I went home the state of the country hit me like a ton of bricks – my brother picked me up from the airport, and we were chased by a car for much of the drive home. Then, there were people hiding in the bushes by our home, and it was broken into. There were people stalking various members of my family, presumably for the purpose of kidnapping them.
Now I am scared to death for my parents, and my innocent brother who is just starting his life. Since our criminals don’t seem to pick and choose their targets, I feel like anyone is at risk at home. I feel helpless to do anything about the situation at home and it shakes me to my core when I offer my prayers for my family every morning. It is unbelievable to me that some people have absolutely no conscience – it makes me wonder what kind of devils these criminals have for parents.
I hope Mr. Prime Minister is proud of the reputation that Trinidad has now garnered in the rest of the world. My American friend just went to Tobago for a vacation, and after being robbed and shocked at what he saw in the newspapers, he said that he will never return to Trinidad again. Imagine how horrible I felt to hear this, when all I have done since coming here is boast about the wonderful people that Trinidad has.
My heart goes out to the parents of Sean Luke, but yet I wonder, when is the next murder going to be, and how many more will it take before someone in authority is shocked into action?
[...] The semester is finally winding down: I have just two more papers, a review session, some heavy grading and a final to finish (okay still sounds like a lot). I am writing to boast that I am now leaving my mark on the web: I actually made a comment on someone's blog yesterday. It was really long, because I feel strongly about the subject, depressing as it was… [...]
I live in Trinidad and I am not scared about crime even though I have been affected by it. One of my best friends was a Kidnap Victim a few years ago she survived but is still emotional over the attack. To me it is the same anywhere you live or travel to, and I personally think crime is overated to people in other countries. One of the things you find happening over here is that people who are envolved in criminal activities are the ones most affected by it. Some of the really innocent people are affected but one way of the other, the ones who are murdered in gand warfare are also involved in it. Trinidad is a wonderful place to visit and I will encourage anyone to do so. I can’t undrestand why people who are born here and migrate to different countries are so afraid of thier birthright, but are so proud of making another man’s land thier own and they become so proud to be called acitizens of another country, what no crime takes place in America, Canada, Europe, and other Countries! BE PROUD OF WHAT EVER LAND YOU OR YOUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS COME FROM, BE PROUD OF YOUR BIRTHRIGHT BEFORE GIVING IT UP. TRY LIVING IN THE PLACE WHERE YOU WERE BORN AND APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU BELONG THERE. DON’T GO TO ANOTHER COUNTRY AND LOOK DOWN AT US WITH SCORN, BECAUSE I AM SURE AS HELL THERE ARE CRIMES BEING COMMITTED IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD, YET WE DON’T HERE YOU TALKING ABOUT IT. STOP CRYING DOWN MY TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO,
MANY OF US LOVE IT HERE, AND WE WILL STAY HERE AND BE PROUD OT OUR LAND BECAUSE IT BELONGS TO US, DOES WHERE YOU LIVE BELONG TO YOU!