Sending hate mail is a crime

IN the last week, statements have been made in the public domain that suggest sending threatening messages by e-mail is no crime in Trinidad and Tobago. Contrary to those suggestions is the Offences Against the Person (Amendment) (Harassment) Act.

I make no pronouncement on whether former TV6 journalist Sasha Mohammed should be charged or is guilty of any offence under this law since the former depends on the evidence in the particular matter that is being investigated, and the latter is a matter for the courts. Everything that is known of the matter by the public is what is asserted in the print and broadcast media, including a letter from Ms Mohammed's lawyer to the CoP that found its way to the press. There has been no official statement from the police nor any evidence led in court.

Assuming, however, that a person were to send e-mails to another and in them make threats, offensive statements or attach offensive material, based on recent public statements one might believe that this is not an offence. That would be far from the truth. In 2005, Parliament passed Act No 11 of 2005 which amended the Offences Against the Person Act creating sections 30A to 30E. This Act did not immediately become law when it was assented to but required proclamation by the President (as some more complicated laws do.) On June 27, 2008, a proclamation was signed by the President making this Amendment Act law.

Harassment

Under this law, a person who is guilty of harassment is liable to a fine of $2,000 and six months' imprisonment. Section 30A states "a person who pursues a course of conduct which amounts to harassment of another which he knew or ought reasonably to know amounts to harassment''. A "course of conduct'' simply involves at least two incidents of harassment.

Harassment includes alarming a person or causing him distress by engaging in certain types of behaviour. Such behaviour may take many forms. It includes following the person, accosting him, watching him, preventing access to his workplace or home, among other things. It also includes sending or giving offensive material to a person. Significantly conduct where one makes contact with a person "whether by gesture, directly, verbally, by telephone, computer, post or un any other way'' may constitute harassment.

It is thus not, for example, repeated contact or following a person by themselves that will constitute harassment. A police officer investigating an offence who has to do these things will have a defence, as will probably a journalist who is engaging in his profession. Further, the contact etc must be such that it alarms or distresses the person affected—and the offender knows that or ought reasonably to know that.

Trinidad And Tobago Language - News


Sending hate mail is a crime

IN the last week, statements have been made in the public domain that suggest sending threatening messages by e-mail is no crime in Trinidad and Tobago. Contrary to those suggestions is the Offences Against the Person (Amendment)



Believe it to achieve it

Is the end of Trinidad and Tobago football, or more specifically the TT Pro League, at hand? Looking at the body language and generally sullen expressions of David John Williams, Jamal Shabazz and Anthony Rougier on "Sporting



Caribbean governments pushing kitchen gardens

Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica and Grenada are reportedly pushing a practice which….. The Comments section is intended to provide a forum for reasoned and reasonable debate on the newspaper's content and is an extension of the



Gaps in the Public Sector

Once again, the public sector of Trinidad and Tobago is about to embark on public sector reform and even more importantly Constitutional reform. It is to be expected that there will be no shortage of pundits, messiahs, experts, professionals and



Please hold that resignation

At a ministerial meeting in Port-of-Spain last Friday over the delays in required approval of REDJet's applications to Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, the factor of "safety" of the airline's aircraft emerged as a crucial issue for resolution prior to




First Time Visitors of Trinidad

Traveling to a new place for the first time can be very exciting, and daunting at the same time.  The feelings of mixed enthusiasm and thrill can often be paired with fears of how you’d be able to “ blend in” with the place, as well as how safe the place can be for you.  If you’ve been planning for a first-time visit to Trinidad, and having uncertainties about the place, then knowing some travel basics about traveling to Trinidad will be very helpful to ease the worry.

A closer glimpse at Trinidad century houses, Trinidad can be reached in just a few hours.

Perhaps the most loved aspect of the place for every visitor is its serenity that’s very soothing.  Many visitors get coaxed into staying longer because the place seems to magically freeze in time, with its tastefully scruffy streets crowded with horse-drawn carts, and folks crouch by the windows, behind fancy wrought-iron grilles, peering out at passersby.

Trinidad is among the most appealing places for tourism of the island.  Its culture, traditions, history, city, beaches, and beautiful nature go together in perfect harmony.  The city also holds a very attractive hotel industry and entertainment services.  Open, spaces, pure Caribbean atmosphere, pleasant nightlife, and warm people makes it’s a perfect destination for leisure activities.

Trinidad is a city that has very much been explored, not only by those discovering the true interior Cuba, but also by flocks of tourists every year.  They have found Trinidad to be a place of pure simple beauty with unique colonial charm –many come back to experience the place over again.

The Right Etiquette

It’s helpful for every first-time traveler of Trinidad to learn local etiquette.  It is always good to know how to be respectful of the place’s local customs, as this will enable a traveler to smoothly interact with locals, as well as avoid embarrassing and impolite incidents.

Every traveler should keep in mind that when you’re abroad, you’re in somebody else’s home.  Travelers, including first-timers, must at all times be courteous and use common sense during visits to every area of Trinidad.  Always dispose of garbage in proper trash receptacles.  Keep away from using “inappropriate” language when in public.  Travelers must “heed this warning” particularly because the use of inappropriate language in public in Trinidad and Tobago is punishable with fines and arrest.


Trinidad And Tobago Language - Bookshelf

Foreign language teacher education, multiple perspectives

Foreign language teacher education, multiple perspectives

The Minister of Education in Trinidad and Tobago has stated publicly that " Spanish must become a second language in Trinidad and Tobago. ...

Adventure Guide to Trinidad and Tobago

Adventure Guide to Trinidad and Tobago

Although the language of both Trinidad and Tobago is English, when the locals are talking among themselves it can sound like another language entirely. ...

Curriculum as cultural practice, postcolonial imaginations

Curriculum as cultural practice, postcolonial imaginations

English-language teaching in Trinidad and Tobago during the colonial era met these prescriptions. It was an exercise designed to deracinate the identity of ...

A birdwatcher's guide to Trinidad & Tobago

A birdwatcher's guide to Trinidad & Tobago

The master of the Trinidad and Tobago 'Nation Language', Selvon's characterisations are considered to be quite beautiful. This book describes the struggles ...

Commonwealth Education Partnerships

Commonwealth Education Partnerships

Media: English-language dailies include Trinidad Guardian, Trinidad and Tobago Express and Newsday, The Bomb, The T'n'T Mirror, The Probe and Sunday Punch ...

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Trinidad and Tobago - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hyperlinked encyclopedia article covers the country's history, government and politics, geography, economy, demographics, language and culture.

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Trinidad and Tobago. Advanced search Language tools. Google.tt offered in: हिन्दी français español 中文(繁體) Advertising Programs About Google Go to Google.com © 2011 - Privacy ...

The English language, Trinidad and Tobago style
The language, Trinidad and Tobago natives' use, is a rich, creative and colorful version of English, which we explore from the visitors point of view in our online ...

The Trinidad and Tobago Language
TobagoWI.com - Trinidad and Tobago language and culture ... Trinidad spoke French for about one hundred years of its history, there are a large stock of French words and ...

Trinidad and Tobago Languages | trinidad-guide.info
Although English is the official language of Trinidad and Tobago, be prepared to encounter the unique dialect of the islanders.