Oh gosh, stop!” the cry of Minister of National Diversity and Social Integration

Oh gosh, stop!” the cry of Minister of National Diversity and Social Integration after seeing the body of the country’s latest murder victim with his head blown off.


By Carolyn Kissoon This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


“Oh gosh, stop!”
That was the cry of Minister of National Diversity and Social Integration, Rodger Samuel, after seeing the body of the country’s latest murder victim with his head blown off.
Speaking to reporters yesterday during a tour of beaches along the southwestern coastline affected by the recent oil spills, Samuel said he was at the scene of this country’s 20th murder in Arima on Tuesday night.

“I was just about four minutes after the incident. I stood there and saw a young man with his head blown off. I understand he was shot five times in his head. It brought tears to my eyes and I became emotional because it is something I have been saying over and over. And here it is I am driving home from church and it happened there. It affected me tremendously and I felt, oh gosh, stop! It has to stop, we can’t go on like this,” he said.

The murder victim was identified as Derek Pina, 21, who was ambushed and shot at the corner of Green and St Joseph Streets, Arima, around 8.30 p.m.Samuel, who was accompanied by Petrotrin officials and workers involved in the clean-up exercise, said the current murder toll was outrageous and cannot continue.
He renewed his plea for the return of capital punishment—death by hanging.

And he noted his ministry was involved in planning a national day of prayer and fast for Trinidad and Tobago.
“I am an advocate that capital punishment is the law and also it is a biblical law. God said that if a man sheds man blood, then by man should his blood be shed. And when the law sheds your blood, that’s not murder. That’s obeying God’s command,” he said.

Asked whether he supported a call for the cancellation of Carnival activities in light of the crime situation, Samuel said, “Anything that would pull us back together. Anything that would cause us to think and not allow the onslaught to continue, I will support it. Anything. And if it means going and pray all day.”
Samuel said he intends to raise his concerns in Parliament as soon as the opportunity arises.