Press Time Last Night January 29
An ongoing gang war is simmering in Petit Valley between the Cameron Row and the City of Rastafari, whose king lives up on the hill in the biggest house around. No one ever sees the old man, but the hillside is effectively his ganja plantation. His soldiers are young men without vision or hope, but at least they have an income to support their indolent lifestyle. They hang out across the dry creek, within eyesight of the panyard where children do their homework, smoking and taunting gringos from the shade of the bitter almonds. The townsfolk are unanimous that these boys are royal assholes, so not a tear was shed when the one called Span’sh was gunned down on Sunday, as TT Guardian reported today:
“Just before 2 pm, a Petit Valley man was killed in a drive-by shooting. The deceased has been identified as Jeffery Charles. According to police reports, Charles was standing in an area of Morne Coco Road known as Coco Jah, when a vehicle pulled up alongside him. Rapid gunfire was heard and the vehicle was seen speeding away from the scene. Police and Emergency Health Services were notified, but Charles, who had been shot multiple times, succumbed to his injuries before their arrival. A second victim, a 17-year-old from the area who was nearby at the time, suffered an injury to his upper body. He was rushed to Saint James Hospital and up to press time last night was in a stable condition…Yesterday’s killing has pushed the murder toll for the year to 37.“
But this was not the lead story.
Prime Minister Rowley did not have a good meeting with the US Ambassador Mondello. His PNM government is wary of American interventionism in Venezuela, particularly its quick support for a coup he believes was engineered in Washington. Favoring bluster over diplomacy, Rowley made a strident statement before catching a plane bound for the United Nations:
“This small country of T&T, at this time, is called upon to play a role well beyond our size, but well within our competence. Fortunately for the people of T&T, at this time, in office in T&T is a responsible political party holding executive authority, respecting all, fearing none. We go (to the UN) because we are in a position (7 miles from Venezuela) to say to all parties, all actors (US), all contenders (Guiado) that we stand on principle. And it is that commitment to principle that allows us to be able to talk to anybody and everybody. It is not the business of T&T, or those who have given themselves an authority, to walk into Venezuela by force to fix their internal problems.“
By defying Yankee calls to join the coalition against Maduro, Rowley is asserting an independence he hopes will resonate with voters. The opposition party, UNC, meanwhile, is backing Guaido. No matter. Keit’ Rowley is firmly in charge, he says, although he looks like hell these days.