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If you are that inconsiderate noise maker that feels everyone should shut off their ears or take a sedative because you want to make something go bang, like fireworks, or blast your car’s horn in the middle of the night or play your awful music as loud as a heavy metal concert then let me tell you something… what you are doing is just plain evil.

There is something different about bad people who do things bad and then there is another level… the evil and wicked who know they are causing suffering and hurt but actually have a smile on their face while doing it.

What are you? Two years old that you need to hear loud sounds to be entertained?

As a father of children with special needs and a true lover of animals I can tell you that the topic of noise pollution particularly bothers me.

Especially now, when the new year is coming up and some people are hell bent on spending hundreds of dollars to see a two second flash in the sky followed by the same bang that people in Afghanistan and Iraq cry about.

When you play your loud music or shout from the street for many that sounds just like this…

Imagine sleeping and yes, I know you sleep… even heartless, wicked people sleep….

Imagine someone comes by your ear while sleeping and suddenly shouts or makes a loud bang noise… you are instantly startled, disoriented and confused.

Well, that feeling you have right there and then is exactly how you make many people and animals feel when you make your loud sounds.

What sickens me more about this is that fireworks can be made without the need to hear an explosive bang or deafening pop noise.

So if you truly are just interested in lights select those.

Do not contribute to the negative health of people and I am talking both physical and mental health by using loud fireworks, blasting your music to the max or shouting in people ears.

For those of you Trini old enough to remember… remember when maxis used to be like traveling discos?

They used to pump their music to the max until laws were introduced to stop it.

And since stopping it, many have decided to use their vehicles as traveling discos.

Sometimes, I see noisy drivers passing by and there is literally a DJ sized speaker in the back seat blasting so loud that it rattles windows.

What even makes you think you have a good taste in music?

You feel because your vehicle has amp that makes you special and cool?

Well let me inform you that for the majority of us you are merely a nuisance that should be ticketed and if you still don’t get it… jailed!

Next time you Mr and Mrs noise maker…

the next time you are trying to sleep because you have to work the next day or your child is trying to study because they have an exam…

let’s see if one of your fellow noise makers will not do their best to keep you up by playing their music loud, talking hard, or igniting fireworks because… evil just attracts evil.

Similar to this: Guns in Trinidad and Tobago

As the family and friends of Andrea Bharath continue mourning her senseless and horrific murder, at the hands of savages roaming our streets in human form, the rest of us who have felt a knot in our stomachs and have cried when her body was discovered, need to have a real conversation with each other. The type of conversation where serious retrospection takes place, the kind of conversation that not many people are willing to have because it is easier to remember Andrea for the next 7 days and then move on with our lives because she was *not* our daughter, our sister, our mother, our co-worker, or our friend. 

The kind of conversation we need to have where revolting political alliances do not ever take precedence over a 22 year old woman who was brutally killed. As I type this, I am hearing the loud music of countless cars passing by (with police cars in-tow) waving political flags gathering more people to join their party rather than demanding justice for those who are now voiceless.

You and I know perfectly clear that if the price of KFC goes up, people will start complaining non-stop, leave comments on Facebook but continue patronizing the franchise anyway. That’s how we are, like dogs that bark but do not bite. This is the reason why no one takes us seriously. Unless, something extremely important such as not having Carnival this year takes place and then yes, we need to get together to demand some sort of virtual celebration in our infested-crime island because there is always a reason for a good wine and rum. We have tons to celebrate.

 We have become so accustomed to crime that we have become desensitized. Andrea is just another victim in the long list of women who go missing, who are kidnapped, who are raped, who are beaten and who are brutally killed in this country and we are all very much appalled when it happens… and then what?  We stop at the appalling part, then we do nothing else. We don’t ACT. We do NOT get together and DEMAND changes in the law that can hold these monsters accountable for their actions because we do not want to look “bad”, we don’t want to ruffle any feathers and we don’t want others to think we are attacking anyone.

In other words, our personal and political alliances (and blindness) are more important than the lives of our neighbours, relatives and co-workers.  This kind of mentality is in itself disgusting and sickening. Yet, this is what reflects us, when we CHOOSE to stay quiet because “no one in Trinbago ever complains”. We continue accepting the status quo because we do NOT believe we have the POWER to make changes in this country and in reality, because we could not care less. We are good at paying lip service. We are so blasted selfish, thinking always in ourselves because as long as we are “good” and “safe”, to hell with everybody else without realizing for a second that the next victim can be us and if we are lucky, someone else will have to speak on our behalf.

Why is kidnapping and raping a bailable offense is beyond me particularly, when you have hundreds of sexual abuse victims in this country, many who are lucky to tell their stories, and many who died in the hands of their abusers and murderers.

Women are only put on the spot once again when they are victims of crime. They “should know better”, “What was she doing at that hour with that guy” “Look how she was dressed”, “If she was home at that hour…”, “Something fishy going on, I don’t believe her”, and “She looked for it”.

We try to rationalize and justify WHY women need to protect themselves putting the responsibility on the woman once again and we do NOT mention at all the role of MEN in this picture.  WHY are we NOT teaching boys, young men and men to STOP treating women like if they are things they can touch, use, and abuse whenever they feel to?

Whether we like to hear it or not, these monsters in human form do not come from a faraway Galaxy. An alien spaceship did not drop them in Trinidad. WE raised them, WE saw the signs but did nothing. Or is it so hard to accept that criminal parents raise criminal children? The issues we are facing are not from this generation or because of the internet or the “modern” world. We need to take a good look at ourselves. The examples we have been giving to our children and grandchildren, the things they have been exposed to because of our own doing, the things they were forced to experience as children because we don’t know any better. How much love, nurturing and care have we showed them? How in the world can we even show them this love and care if we did not even receive it ourselves and we have no clue what is like? Yet, this is only scratching the surface.

When trying to look around for who failed Andrea and the countless victims like her, stop looking too far — WE failed her.

Some of you might be busy people; always multitasking and having many things to do which can get you quite bewildered at times. Then there is that one single day when you decide to place your hand in your pocket expecting your important item, like your wallet, only to have a cold sweat run down your forehead in panic when you realize it’s not there. That feeling of fear when personal items get lost is something you cannot get over quickly.

Unfortunately, it may happen to some of us, having our items pickpocketed without a trace. Cases like these happen very often all around the world and it’s certainly not unique to Trinidad and Tobago at all.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PREVENT YOUR ITEMS FROM BEING STOLEN

It depends on your situation. Let’s say you need to go to the marketplace to purchase some vegetables and fruits. Is it a crowded space with many people all around you, being very loud? Where is the location exactly? How are strangers acting towards you? Questions like these are what you should ask yourself before entering a certain area; not only to prevent thieves or pickpockets but for your own overall safety.

Safety is the number one priority you should consider before making any decision. Despite this, there may be a time whereby you might have to take a risk or two because you may not have a choice or want to do something that is necessary for you; this is why we should be taking precautions and beware for pickpockets when traversing through certain locations.

LOCATION

Where would these types of thieves go to commit their criminal acts? It can practically be almost anywhere that has lots of activity. It can range from tourist spots, busy streets, stores – you name it. However, the most important thing in understanding your surroundings are observing the various people that are around you and their behavior. Sometimes it comes down to even the friendly stranger or good Samaritan being a possible perpetrator, but how can you exactly determine that? It is known in many cases that pickpockets work in groups, creating ‘situations’ that will distract the victim through one member of the group while the others does their dirty work behind the scenes.

This will indeed trick many unknowing people because they will forget to watch out for their surroundings and lower their guard.  Is the stranger or ‘known’ acquaintance too close to you? Where are they touching? (e.g: Having an arm over your shoulder while the other hand tries to get your wallet at the same time). Most of all, if their behavior seems a little suspicious then it should raise some potential red flags that he or she may not be really ‘on your side’ while taking something valuable from you.

SECURE YOUR BELONGINGS

Another tip to prevent being a target of pickpockets is how you carry about yourself and how you manage your items while walking on the roads and sidewalks. Is your wallet the only important item you keep with yourself? If not, having more items besides your wallet will attract thieves’ eyes since they have more to take easily from you. Where you place the items within your clothing will also determine your chances of having your items stolen, if you put your phone or wallet in your back pant pockets; then you are surely preparing yourself to be pickpocketed already.

It is good to place some important items within a small pouch or bag so that you are secured and it’s harder for others to take your things; but you are still at risk! Always make sure that your bags are tightly secured and zips all the way through. This includes having your bag tightly secured on you at all times so that it won’t be as easy for thieves to pickpocket. Really and truly, they would not want to target someone who took all the necessary precautions.

Backpacks may seem secure but because you carry them on your back they are often a good target for thieves. The zip of a backpack can be unzipped since your eyes will be straight ahead while walking. Keep that in mind the next time you wear your backpack. Always check the zips and look behind you as you walk.

In short, you must always minimize the number of things you carry and if you cannot, you must secure it in a safe bag to hold your items until you are able to store them away. Always be on the lookout; be alert! You never know who is watching you. For instance, do you hide items on your person and then check them publicly to see it they are still secured? Doing that may give thieves an indication that you are hiding something of significant value. Never pat yourself or make obvious signs of looking at your own items unconsciously. If you keep aware that there is always someone waiting for the right moment to strike then you will find yourself being more vigilant and less of a victim.

Hopefully, this article will help you be aware and vigilant towards the many risks and dangers that lie in Trinidad and Tobago.

Trinidad’s murder rate always has an impact on the population to some degree. Not only does it affect the citizens of the island but also puts a strain on the police force, economy and overall safety of the country.

In the past there have been “efforts” put in place to control the murder rate of the island but the murder rate has not decreased significantly but in fact it’s gradually increasing each year!  Starting from 2015, there were big jumps from 410 cases to 463 in 2016, then from 463 to 494 in 2017 and just last year in 2018 there were 516 cases of murder. Something more must be done in order to address this escalating situation that is not being properly controlled.

What about the other countries in regards to addressing their murder rate? What is going on in other regions? Some countries may have a similar problem compared to Trinidad, and worse. They also have a problem with managing the current crime/murder rate situation in their countries. What about the countries that have been successful in controlling the murder rate so that it does not get out of hand? Of course there’s no such thing as a country preventing murder cases altogether but the best that a country can do is minimize it as much as possible.

NORWAY

In 2017, at Norway, National Police Directorate has reported 5.3% fewer cases of murder, burglary and robbery compared to 2016. It was also reported that 86% of the murder cases involves a relationship between the criminal and his/her victim. On top of that, burglary also decreased by 25% along with robbery by 4.7%. According to research, police has theorized that targeting and developing the youth and young juvenile delinquents, economy and phone protection are some of the reasons for the decrease.

Norway

EL SALVADOR

According to the authorities in El Salvador there was a 57% decrease in the amount of homicides in the country, (end of 2017 had 442 homicides and during the 1^st of October the police national chief Howard Cotto reports only 192 homicides were recorded).  It is said that some of the reasons for crime included politically motivated gangs who wanted to influence the elections. Therefore, harsher anti-gang strategies and methods used against criminals; forcing them to dwell into other forms of crime besides homicide, brought down the murder rate. Another cause for El Salvador to have a reputation of having a high homicide rate before the drop is because of the relationship between gangs and security forces that existed back then.

El Salvador Recent Drop In Homicides

BRAZIL

In 2018, Brazil reported a 13% decrease in homicide rates (59000-51000cases). According to the following article “And homicides fell by 25% in the first two months of 2019 compared with the same period last year” . It is considered a big deal for Brazil, since crime in the country is usually very rampant and chaotic; this is great news for the public and other countries of the world as well.

There were given reasons to why Brazil had some violent crime in the past; being related to drug trafficking situations. According to the article, it quotes “A key reason was the outbreak of open war between Brazil’s two main drug trafficking organizations, the First Capital Command (PCC) and the Red Command. The two had struck up a truce in 1997. When it fell apart in the middle of 2016, a wave of gruesome attacks and reprisal violence spread from the country’s prisons to its cities.”.

It is believed that the drop was influenced by the new strategy from the ministry of public security and the president Michel Temer to improve cooperation, intelligence and information gathering with the police and authorities along with military deployment to take control of state prisons and certain areas. Perhaps Trinidad should also invest in new strategies in terms of intelligence gathering in order to track down criminal activities involving organized crime?

A lot of the homicide cases are gang, drug or youth related. The youth seems to be one of the most important factors that determine the future of Trinidad and Tobago as a whole, and without the proper guidance the youth may cause a more chaotic society in the future. There should be proper, services and programs put in place to help the youth that comes from harsh households. If some of the youth were abused and have been treated poorly from a bad environment then they will grow up reliving and acting out the negativity they experienced while young. This usually means they are highly likely to become criminals. This shouldn’t be the norm for society.

Since many criminal cases including homicide involves drug-related crimes, there should be more police investigations and intelligence put into specific places that may be suspicious of having drug trafficking. Many gangs are related to drug-trafficking, leading to heavy ‘wars’ that claims many lives in the process. Not only does crime claim many lives, but it has a major influence in the country’s path and on the citizens of Trinidad & Tobago! Some gangs may encourage the youth to become just like them; making them inspired to be juvenile delinquents.

Maybe the citizens of these twin islands should realize that if there is more pro-activity about the crime situation and how it is caused, they’d probably take action when they see criminal activity happening? Citizens can unite to curb crime by being a little more considerate of others, thinking twice before saying something that can ensue an argument, not doing certain things without thinking ahead about the repercussions which can occur, and help others as a whole improving our society for the better.

In Trinidad and Tobago, there may be times when your vehicle breaks down, or you do not have a vehicle at your convenience for transportation. Sometimes, you may ask for a neighbor or a friend to pick you or drop you at a specific destination and they may be unavailable. If you encounter this situation, what exactly do you do as an alternative? This is why there is a maxi taxi system in Trinidad and Tobago.

MAXI Vs. TAXI

For a specific fare, you can take a maxi or a taxi to transport you to the destination you want. Maxis can only go in one looped route and the fare varies on how far you decide to stop within that route; anything that is off-route will cost more. Taxis can also do the same thing, but can also go to other routes as well; however they may cost more than the usual maxis or even buses. You should always investigate or research what are the fares for maxis, taxis and buses before you decide to take them at all. Otherwise, you may enter one of them unprepared for the fee involved and / or be ripped off.

When you hail a maxi, it is important to check how many seats are available to you. Is it packed with people, giving you very little space to be comfortable in? Are the only remaining seats are right next to people who may look like suspicious characters or possibly bad company? If so, you may want a different taxi to get into next time. Sometimes, there may not be many maxis to choose from so you may have no actual choice to get into one; and face the circumstances and risks.

Another factor to observe when hailing a taxi is its license plate, are the first letters a “P” or an “H”? Those with an “H” as the first letter on their plate is a legal, licensed taxi that are on the streets like they are supposed to be, picking up customers when they feel like. However, the “P” vehicles are not; they are only just simple private cars that also go along with the available ‘taxi’ options. You should never choose the private cars over the legal taxis that are available! It is unsafe and these drivers can charge you anything they want since they are not part of the taxi association. Taking a private car should only be your very last resort if there are no taxis at all for a long time; and you are not in a good location either.

BE OBSERVANT

You never know who is behind the wheel with private cars or even real taxis,  This is why you need to make sure to do your best  and observe before and after you hail them down! You can observe the driver by his behavior and looks. Is he well kept? Staring you down with a certain look? Does he emit a possibly bad aura?

Taking note of these details quickly will help you determine your future situation if you make a decision. Of course, some people may not care about it since they just want to arrive to their destination quickly but despite all of this this, it is still important to pay at least some attention to the driver just in case.  You can take notice by the way they drive, if they drive recklessly then you’d know what to expect after you take your seat in their vehicle.

After a long day, when you take a maxi/taxi, you have to still watch your surroundings, especially outside to know where you can drop. Sometimes, depending on the destination you must know the right times to drop in order for you to be at a safe, non-isolated spot.

At your intended destination, will you at your desired destination or very nearby the place you wish to go? Or will you have to take a walk to a different route after the taxi? These questions you must ask yourself in order to increase your chances of safety. If you take a taxi and it’s getting late at night then dropping to an isolated place would not be a safe option for you, unless there is no choice at all, which is understandable.

Even though it may be a long day after work or school, you must stay awake just in case; if you fall asleep you may miss the location you wanted to drop at! Make sure to get as much rest as you can before you step foot outside.

CHECK YOUR SURROUNDINGS

Usually, when you hear tips of being ‘street smart’ or make sure to check your surroundings, they really mean it. Observe everyone around you at all times. Sometimes you never know who may be secretly on your case to see where and when you go out. Obviously, it’s not going to be everyone, but it may be someone who holds grudges against you or perhaps want to do something to you that you may not want at all, such as the crime of theft or stalking.  Some would take the opportunity by following you without your knowledge.

When taking a taxi, you need to make sure from beforehand that no one is monitoring you. You wouldn’t want them to know your location, as you walk to home, no? This is why you must observe your surroundings just in case. If they ARE following you then you should drop at a different location that is not isolated to throw the person off. However, it may be just a coincidence that the person MAY be going at the same destination as you are going, that’s why you have to be careful in observing the person’s behavior (are they staring? Always watching or being around you? Have you ever seen this person in the past before? Etc.)

If the person becomes more and more suspicious that raises some red flags all around you, then you can call the police for this situation, your safety always goes first; it is best safe than sorry at times like this. Always make sure to know all of your clues and hints before you do this…You do not want to end up accusing a person wrongfully.

In conclusion, it is important to know the precautions you must take when using public transportation in Trinidad and Tobago, especially maxis / taxis. No matter what situation goes on, your safety goes first above all!

Trinidad is quite a small island, and even smaller when comparing it in the global map. It has a population estimate of 1.39 million people!  Within that population, there is a lot of crime occurring that claims many victims each year.  There is a certain reputation among some areas that brings fear to visitors that come near them, they are commonly referred to as ‘hot spots’. However what should you do about this situation? What will happen if you go alone into a shop?  Do you fear that you may be putting yourself at risk or not?

ANALYZING RISK

Sometimes, anxiety happens to all of us and it does take proper decision making in order to avoid some risks. Of course not all risks are completely avoidable but you can put  measures in place to  have yourself in a safer position. How can you determine this exactly? You investigate by analyzing where are you going, how you are going to get there and most of all, the time you are going there. Are you traveling via maxi or already have a vehicle? Does the area/place have a bad reputation of having frequent cases of crime? Is it late at night when some places become isolated? These questions can help determine how you’ll prepare and plan yourself when you go out.

Despite all of this, it may not be enough depending on the circumstances. As an example, going outside alone late at night can already put you at risk. There are less people or pedestrians around in general; giving criminals more isolation to their target so it’s easy to conduct their lawless acts. What can you do about this? As a proper alternative the best way to approach this is to go with a group of people. The more people that are with you the less chances that characters with bad intentions would want to pick you as their next victim.

GOING OUT AT NIGHT

This suggestion also applies ESPECIALLY when going to places at night. Surrounding yourself with familiar people and friends will create a safer environment for you and for them as well. This is why going out with other people is a better solution when you feel you’re at risk by going to a certain place at a certain time. You have to know the difference between location and time in order to decide when you should go in groups or not. Why? Simply because sometimes you might want to be alone, or to be with others depending on how you feel and this is okay!

However, it will always be recommended to go in groups when visiting certain places in Trinidad. Even in places like the cinema, mall, or shops is becoming increasingly necessary to travel with a group because you never know what is going to happen particularly when the sun is going down. Depending on the area, sometimes a little night stroll may be alright for you IF there are low crime rates in the area. If not, then you should consider twice about going out alone during the nighttime.

WHY GOING OUT IN GROUPS IS IMPORTANT

Why is  going in groups  so important when going outside at specific times or places? Because not only it provides you with a good and safe environment for yourself, but you can also receive certain guidance or even safety tips from friends or loved ones.

As stated in the other articles, criminals or thieves like to work in a hustle; having no interruptions to stop or hinder their progress. The more people involved with you the longer it takes them to do their work. They do not want that at all and rather pick other targets who are already alone and isolated.

Another reason that you should go with groups is because you never know exactly what is going to be your circumstances. Let’s say, for example you wish to return home after cinema with friends and your vehicle breaks down, perhaps maybe your friends can pick you up with their own vehicle to make sure you reach there safely or even assist you in repairing your vehicle if it’s a minor issue. It is good to have company having your back in case something happens, so that no one else including strangers would take advantage of your situation.

Usually, of course you’d want to go with a group or with friends because you want to lime with them. Even though that’s usually the most common way of looking at them there can be more important reasons to why you should go with them if you want to visit certain places. Does this mean you must do it every time? You don’t have to, but when it comes to certain situations the better option is to go with people whom you can socialize and feel safer with compared to strangers or those tracking you down with possible ill-intentions!

Being in the company of a group would also prevent you from being kidnapped. A lot of kidnapping cases involves the victims being already alone, which can be the lead cause of becoming targets. Even though it’s more likely to be just organized crime that involves people determined to get you, it is important to be street wise.

It does not mean that you should ALWAYS be with a group of people every single time you step a foot outside of your home, but it’s always suggested and emphasized that you should be with someone when going to specific places and times and let family know your whereabouts.

In today’s world, social media has been the norm for people with various platforms, sites and apps to connect with others globally. Many have taken a love for these opportunities of communication since they all represent social media. It has formed a deeper psychological connection that has been implanted in the hearts and minds of many who use it, therefore encouraging them to use it daily.

Despite this, social media can have their pros and cons, which is very important for all of those who are heavily invested on the internet or social media. If they are not aware of this, it can be potentially dangerous to them and others as well.

MAKING FRIENDS ONLINE

Making friends and getting to know people is something very important in our daily lives. Of course this is implemented to social media because it involves forms of socialization even if they’re not face to face or physical.

Does this excuse the way we express ourselves and divulge certain information that is important to our lives in some way? Would you tell a stranger exactly where you live, who you are and your relatives, and all of your secrets that are kept hidden in your mind? The best guess would most certainly be that you wouldn’t.

Despite social media being a wonderful way for people to communicate and socialize, it can also be a tool for certain characters that lurk in the internet to manipulate and commit crimes. How they manipulate people exactly? For some, it’s quite easy; all it takes is one person who is willing to tell them important information such as their address, their identity and so on. This gives them the incentive to find out more on who you are, and possibly have abilities whereby they can even hack your bank account with enough personal information!

Sometimes, you may be attached to someone on the internet because you have gotten to know them well and a bond of trust may arise, not so? You may feel like you can trust this person because they “behave” or said certain things for a while. Is this really the case? Can this person really be trustworthy and not wearing a “mask” to lure you into releasing secret information for the sake of theft and crime? It is possible, but there is also a chance that the person might be a genuine, trust-worthy character. It is said to be very confusing for some internet users.

SAFEGUARD YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

Therefore, it is very important to safeguard your personal information when entering the internet or social media; you never know exactly who you are communicating with. It can be anyone, no matter how many special words or claims they give since that can be faked as well. Knowing what lies beyond the person talking to you will always remain unknown, that’s why you should always prepare for the worse to happen and know who to trust or not. Most importantly, it is rather best that you should never divulge your important personal information on the internet at all.

CYBERCRIME

Cyber hacking or criminals trying to steal your information is not the only reason to why you should safeguard your information from social media. You have to look out for not only them, but other people as well who may take advantage of the information you give out! Just like anywhere else, there might be haters or bullies who might go around picking on people because they’re easy to target behind a screen in order to say horrible statements and remarks against others. It only becomes easier for them to do so based on the amount of information you give them or give out to the public.

This unfortunately has a much bigger impact on the youth today. They highly invest their time and energy on social media which can cause them to be at a vulnerability of giving away their personal information to those who might manipulate or take advantage of it. Of course, they may be young  but at the same time they must be informed that there might be dangerous people who pose as friendly characters.

This is how predators pick and choose their targets in many cases today; they use the internet or social media to get in contact with children; to pose as them in order to trick them – which can be terrifying! This must be prevented by everyone being properly informed and aware that the usage of the internet should always be taken into careful consideration.

CATFISHING

There is a term called “Catfishing” which is the act of someone being under a fake online persona or ‘mask’ to bait someone into a relationship; making them fall in love with the person. This way, the person can possibly look for an easy opportunity to get the quickest access of money they can get – from the person who is ‘in love’ in the first place.

Overtime, as you get to meet more people, you may have more and more experience in knowing how to handle  certain characters on the internet. That can be very good once you know what you’re doing! Even if you surround yourself with people who seem to have good intentions, always observe and look out for what they say – some things might have more than one meaning! If they never asked you questions that might require you to give very personal information, sometimes it can be as simple as to how you look like or wanting your photo…Don’t do it at all! For this particular situation, it is always best to be safe than sorry.

Therefore, in conclusion, it is important to keep private personal information about yourself off the internet when dwelling on social media, or any platform that involves the world wide web – you never know who is out there; tracking you down with possible viruses, hacking, monitoring and more! Always try to think twice about what you should say to the person online, you never know who is behind the screen and what they are thinking about.

For the past decade crime has been plaguing the islands of Trinidad and Tobago, claiming multiple lives with each passing day. Fear is embedded upon some working citizens, being wary of potentially becoming the next victims of Trinidad’s criminal activity that occurs daily. Why is this supposed to happen? People have a right to walk in the streets, buildings and work within their own environment safely without having the second thought of watching behind their backs.

For businesses, the safety of customer and workers are very important. Not just because of their well being but their reputation can be at stake if they end up victims of crime in Trinidad! Criminal activity can be very disruptive and dangerous, potentially making permanent changes if not prevented in time. This is why we should look at this situation at a different angle, so that we can find out what exactly businesses need to emphasize on in order to increase their overall security.

Exposing Your Business To Criminals

Despite this, some business environments are exposed; almost as if they are waiting for criminals to exploit their vulnerabilities. This is not supposed to happen! The repercussions of having an unmonitored, insecure area will only end up having a very negative result of possible destruction or losses eventually. It’s certainly not a good idea to establish a place that has a high chance of being taken away – all of your important progress building and managing your precious business can be disrupted and taken away! Is it really worth it?

Some businesses use surveillance systems that involve cameras, which provide a repelling incentive to potential people who may have thoughts of conducting criminal activity such as robbery or murder. However, is it really enough for those who truly have the dark intentions to carry out their hidden thoughts of violence and chaos? Sometimes it’ll take more than cameras or to keep an eye for certain people or stop them from attempting their lawless acts.

Choosing A Security Company

Unfortunately they lack the necessary security units to protect it; such as security guards. They are an excellent way to protect and secure the area, making criminals reluctant to invade quickly. Really, if you want to invest in the business, you also need to invest in firm security guards to protect it from being attacked. There are companies that provide deals and offers to businesses that are in need of a proper security guard or team so that they can be secured with a strong guarantee.

Of course, security guards can be quite efficient for more than one reason! There a few reasons to why they can be quite useful such as:

1. Detecting human behavior that seems suspicious before a possible endangering event occurs. Even though cameras are very useful for monitoring areas, they lack the conscious capability to detect certain types of human behavior; unlike security guards. This is very important since they would have the experience necessary to predict and handle situations before they occur as trained professionals.
2. Securing secluded spots of the area to ensure they are not manipulated. Having security guards by those areas ensures that vulnerabilities are not as negatively impactful anymore and valuables are now protected. It also provides a higher difficulty for those who have thoughts of trying to steal from your business! They wouldn’t want to target a place that has efficient and mindful security guards! The more guards protecting certain spots, the better.
3. Having the physical presence of security guards gives an atmosphere of relief among workers and customers in your environment. Not only that, it’ll give supervisors and managers less concerns to think about when there’s are security guards to do the monitoring and protecting. They are professionally trained to handle situations when they occur, which will in general, provide a peace of mind for everyone in a normal, working day.
4. Lastly, they can be a guiding hand towards newcomers and customers who visit your business. They can assist them with information about it, provide rules/regulations/policies and directions on where they would like to go would be a great addition to your team of employees, making the security guard(s) have a more important role to play within the business rather than monitoring and protecting. This can also decrease your employee’s load, which will hopefully increase their worker morale and focus on their duties.

It has been noticed that businesses that do have security guards are more unlikely to experience robberies and crime compared to ones that don’t. Why? Thieves like to work with a swift hustle – wanting fewer obstacles to slow or stop them from achieving their goal of taking away things that are not theirs. They would very much rather target businesses that don’t have themselves secured with proper security guards.

Stop Taking Risks

Many remain unprotected against these rising threats, which pose a massive risk to not only themselves but those around them; because of these crime occurrences becoming more and more frequent, it’ll only lead to more trouble than ever before. All of this can be prevented, but something needs to be done to alleviate the situation at hand before it becomes uncontrollable!

Overall, customers and employees desire a business that is capable to have an efficient system for security in place. Of course they would like to see professional figures such as security guards working in a business environment so they can breathe easily and remove their chip off their shoulders. It can be quite reputable to have a place that is well guarded if you would like a future increase in productivity.

Therefore, security guards can be great, right? Security guards serve a greater purpose that should be emphasized and recognized by businesses everywhere. Especially with the growing crime rate that worsens every year, businesses should really take the opportunity to invest in security guards so that not only they will be protected but can participate in preventing crime in Trinidad. It is truly a worthy investment for not only you, the business but everyone in general.

According to the US Embassy in Trinidad & Tobago, there were 46 reports of rape, incest and other sexual offenses recorded in this category for the month of January 2017.

It means there was a 119% increase over the 21 reports recorded during the previous month of December, 2016. The 46 reports in January, 2017 represent a 9.5% increase over the 42 reports in this category reported during the corresponding month of January, 2016. These statistics are alarming for a small country such as ours.

Sexual Assault Statistics

There are many types of sexual assault but this article will deal specifically with sexual assault done by strangers. It is a serious crime that can affect the lives of anyone no matter their age, gender, profession or social background.

The following are some useful tips that can help lessen the chances of being assaulted in Trinidad & Tobago.

NEVER WALK/JOG/RUN ALONE

We are living in times where we have to protect ourselves at all times. Walking and jogging alone, especially after dark has become an unsafe activity regardless of the area. Therefore, please take the necessary precautions. Bringing one or two friends along can minimize the risks and allows you to spend some quality time with them.

KEEP CAR WINDOWS UP AND DOORS LOCKED

Be aware of your surroundings at all times especially when you return to your car. Avoid using your phone or listening to music. Perpetrators will be seeking opportunities of distraction on your part to attack, therefore all your senses should be focus on getting inside the car and locking all doors and windows and drive away without lingering around.

ALWAYS CLOSE AND LOCK YOUR DOOR AT HOME

Sometimes, it might feel like you are living inside a prison cell. But the truth is that the criminal element often times is stalking their victims before attacking them. Make it a habit to close and locks your doors no matter the time of the day. Sexual assault happens at any time during the day. Change your routine often so you don’t indirectly provide information about your whereabouts.

CHECK WHO IS AT THE DOOR BEFORE OPENING

Consider investing in a peephole to help you determine who is behind the door. Do not open the door if you are unable to recognize the person. If they are wearing any type of uniform (police, WASA, T&TEC) ask for identification first and if possible, make a quick call to find out if these companies have sent any employees or officers to your area.

NEVER POST YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA

We see it all the time, people tagging their location on Facebook and Instagram along with statuses that read “I am alone at home” or similar. It is a very unsafe practice. Use social media wisely.

DO NOT MEET STRANGERS ONLINE

There are many individuals who meet strangers online, and they are sexually assaulted the same day. Be careful. It does not matter what the person might look like or where they come from, when you talk to someone online you really don’t know who you will be meeting in person. If you must, carry a friend with you. Never go alone.

If you go to parties often, be aware of your alcohol consumption and keep an eye on your drinks at all times. It is not uncommon for criminals to add drugs to the drinks of their potential victims in order to make them incoherent so they assault them later. Be observant. Pay attention to your surroundings.

Most importantly, don’t be afraid to be assertive. Perpetrators look for easy targets and one of the many ways you can emphasize that assertiveness is by not only looking the part but also by taking an active role in learning how to defend yourself. If possible, take a self-defense course that can empower you.

Don’t live in fear, enjoy life and take the necessary precautions.