So on Thursday 25th and Friday 26th January 2006, Inshan Ishmael, attempted to get the country to unite against crime and the state of the country and shutdown all business and agencies. With little support from all sectors it could hardly be called a success. Even the rally at HCU conference centre was poorly attended in my opinion (about 3000 people).
Even with the arrest of Ishmael on Wednesday night by a contingent of police officers people have not risen up in protest to the action. Police said that he was being arrested in accordant to the Anti-Terrorism Act; however, he was later charged with a misdemeanor (Handbill Act, for failing to publish the printers name on the bill!). It is not the first time Ishmael was arrested; he was arrested back in April 2005 for insulting a police officer during a protest in Bamboo settlement No. 2.
The Government has released a statement yesterday to “reiterate its commitment to the democratic principles enshrined in Trinidad and Tobago’s Constitution, which emphatically provide for freedom of expression and freedom of assembly”. Bullshit if I ever heard more.
Ishmael has since then threatened to shut down the country for seven days. I cannot see this happening since he was unable to do so for two days, but hopefully the others in the country can take a united stand this time and finally do something.
Read the interview “Baboon Hunter” with Inshan Ishmael by B.C. Pires here.