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Five months after his father was gunned down less than 48 hours after he escaped from prison, the son of Hassan Atwell continues to make strides to increase public awareness about the inhumane conditions at the nation’s prisons and the delays in the criminal justice system.
Speaking yesterday at the Network of NGO’s office at Fitzblackman Drive, Woodbrook, Nikoli Edwards said he was still dealing with the loss.
However, the newly-elected vice chairman of Policy and Advocacy, Commonwealth Youth Forum has not allowed the personal tragedy to hamper his efforts to highlight the failings of T&T’s criminal justice system which he firmly believes needed to undergo severe reform.
Sharing his recent experience at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta last month, Edwards said he made a vow when his father die to work with the local authorities to reform the criminal justice system.
Atwell, 41, was part of a trio, including Allan “Scanny” Martin and Christopher “Monster” Selby, that escaped from the Port-of-Spain prison on July 26.
Martin was shot dead by the police shortly after while Atwell was killed two days later and Selby surrendered to the authorities.
Asked how his father’s death had impacted him, Edwards admitted it had “flung” him at a distance, not only losing his father but the circumstances under which it occurred and the public scrutiny that followed.
Referring to it as “no longer a family issue but a national issue,” Edwards reiterated the position he had adopted at the time of the prison break as he said:
“I in no way supported the action of breaking out of prison but I understood it and that is sometimes what we need to do, take a step back and understand why people act or behave in a certain way and then you can prevent that action from occurring in the future.”
Edwards explained that delays in the criminal justice system were frustrating for remand prisoners awaiting the start of their trials and that the inhumane conditions within the prison walls were also factors which had to be considered.
Edwards said he was intent on using that personal tragedy to improve the justice system locally and was hopeful it could discourage the revolving door policy.
Referring to the high percentage of young people in the nation’s prisons, Edwards said the recidivism rate in T&T was approximately 50 per cent, so that for every two people who entered the criminal justice system - one was likely to re-offend and return to prison.
Urging the authorities to stop investing money in vehicles, guns and ammunition but to examine the social aspect of what causes people to commit crimes, Edwards said issues were only addressed after the fact.
Calling for a proactive approach to the issue, Edwards focused on the Youth Training Centre which he claimed was currently being used as a “prison.”
He said people who may have been put out by their parents or guardians because of bad behaviour, were now mixing with hardened criminals and that a firm line had to be drawn regarding these types of offenders.
Student’s death disheartening
Meanwhile, Edwards, who is also the secretary of the UWI Guild of Students extended condolences to the family of slain student Avery Keshwar.
Keshwar, 22, of College Road, St Augustine ,was killed on Monday, while he was seated in a car outside a popular food outlet in Aranguez.
Keshwar had accompanied police officers who were following up a report relating to stolen items.
Referring to the disheartening incident, Edwards acknowledged that it wasn’t easy to lose a loved one, even as he extended an offer of support to Keshwar’s family, friends and fellow students.
Unsure of the circumstances that led to the deaths of Keshwar and PC Russell Ramnarine, Edwards said: “In this country, we fail to realise that persons have so many issues to deal with a on a daily basis.”
Adding that stories such as these often make headlines one day and then is swept under the rug, Edwards said:
“We need to understand how the criminal justice system is not working for us. Justice on time simply cannot be a phrase at the side of an Amalgamated vehicle, it needs to really and truly represent something in this country.
“We have a backlog of cases not being dealt with and we want justice delivered in a timely manner.”
Five months after his father was gunned down less than 48 hours after he escaped from prison, the son of Hassan Atwell continues to make strides to increase public awareness about the inhumane conditions at the nation’s prisons and the delays in the criminal justice system.
Speaking yesterday at the Network of NGO’s office at Fitzblackman Drive, Woodbrook, Nikoli Edwards said he was still dealing with the loss.
However, the newly-elected vice chairman of Policy and Advocacy, Commonwealth Youth Forum has not allowed the personal tragedy to hamper his efforts to highlight the failings of T&T’s criminal justice system which he firmly believes needed to undergo severe reform.
Sharing his recent experience at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta last month, Edwards said he made a vow when his father die to work with the local authorities to reform the criminal justice system.
Atwell, 41, was part of a trio, including Allan “Scanny” Martin and Christopher “Monster” Selby, that escaped from the Port-of-Spain prison on July 26.
Martin was shot dead by the police shortly after while Atwell was killed two days later and Selby surrendered to the authorities.
Asked how his father’s death had impacted him, Edwards admitted it had “flung” him at a distance, not only losing his father but the circumstances under which it occurred and the public scrutiny that followed.
Referring to it as “no longer a family issue but a national issue,” Edwards reiterated the position he had adopted at the time of the prison break as he said:
“I in no way supported the action of breaking out of prison but I understood it and that is sometimes what we need to do, take a step back and understand why people act or behave in a certain way and then you can prevent that action from occurring in the future.”
Edwards explained that delays in the criminal justice system were frustrating for remand prisoners awaiting the start of their trials and that the inhumane conditions within the prison walls were also factors which had to be considered.
Edwards said he was intent on using that personal tragedy to improve the justice system locally and was hopeful it could discourage the revolving door policy.
Referring to the high percentage of young people in the nation’s prisons, Edwards said the recidivism rate in T&T was approximately 50 per cent, so that for every two people who entered the criminal justice system - one was likely to re-offend and return to prison.
Urging the authorities to stop investing money in vehicles, guns and ammunition but to examine the social aspect of what causes people to commit crimes, Edwards said issues were only addressed after the fact.
Calling for a proactive approach to the issue, Edwards focused on the Youth Training Centre which he claimed was currently being used as a “prison.”
He said people who may have been put out by their parents or guardians because of bad behaviour, were now mixing with hardened criminals and that a firm line had to be drawn regarding these types of offenders.
Student’s death disheartening
Meanwhile, Edwards, who is also the secretary of the UWI Guild of Students extended condolences to the family of slain student Avery Keshwar.
Keshwar, 22, of College Road, St Augustine ,was killed on Monday, while he was seated in a car outside a popular food outlet in Aranguez.
Keshwar had accompanied police officers who were following up a report relating to stolen items.
Referring to the disheartening incident, Edwards acknowledged that it wasn’t easy to lose a loved one, even as he extended an offer of support to Keshwar’s family, friends and fellow students.
Unsure of the circumstances that led to the deaths of Keshwar and PC Russell Ramnarine, Edwards said: “In this country, we fail to realise that persons have so many issues to deal with a on a daily basis.”
Adding that stories such as these often make headlines one day and then is swept under the rug, Edwards said:
“We need to understand how the criminal justice system is not working for us. Justice on time simply cannot be a phrase at the side of an Amalgamated vehicle, it needs to really and truly represent something in this country.
“We have a backlog of cases not being dealt with and we want justice delivered in a timely manner.”