Rowley rejects guilt for murders | Local news

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley yesterday rejected the view among some that he should be held responsible for the “horrendous” act of the man who brutally murdered 34-year-old Tara Geeta Ramsaroop and her 14-month-old daughter Jada.

Ramsaroop and the child were murdered by a former lover at the man’s home in Barrackpore on Tuesday.

During the Budget debate in the House of Representatives, the Prime Minister also extended his condolences to the family of Jayden Lalchan, who died by suicide at home on October 3 “because of the way he was persecuted” at school.

Jayden, 15, was reportedly bullied at his school for years.

“What is going on in our society?” the Prime Minister asked. “No parent should have to bury a child. But to have to bury one under these circumstances is extremely punishing. And while I was trying to process that, another news story came out where a civilian had killed a woman and a baby… And I was told he was on his way to the school. He tried to kill the other child. Imagine if he had gone to that school and even killed that second child among the other schoolchildren.”

Noting that some people tried to hold him accountable, he said: “We have no control over this type of criminal behavior. We cannot respond to them until they have done so. But then the press will ask people on the street: what do you think? And the headline quotes the man talking to his mother (saying): ‘I killed Geeta and the child.’ And (the media) ask someone on the street, what do you think about that? Trinidad is a very confusing country. (The person says) ‘the prime minister must resign. That’s the only way it will change.” That is the opinion of some people in this country. Madam President, what does this heinous act have to do with the appointment of a Prime Minister? Some people think they are related.”

‘Advice to daughters’

The Prime Minister further commented on the murder of Ramsaroop and her daughter.

“And I saw in today’s newspapers that (ACP) (Wayne) Mystar was telling the country that on the issues of domestic violence, you have to be careful what you do in life and not put yourself in a situation… Because you know, Madam Speaker, misinformation is causing people to blame the police for this horrible situation. But if you look at it, as far as I could see, the law was followed and the police would have followed the law. But citizen responsibility fell short,” Rowley said.

The Prime Minister recalled that he was at a public meeting several years ago and the issue of domestic violence was raised, and a woman called on him to do something about it.

He then noted that in some cases government authority stops at the front door and does not extend into the bedroom, and that people must take personal responsibility for how they behaved while grappling with the issue of domestic violence.

“Mamayo! They almost blame me for giving the advice I give to my two daughters – (i.e.) ‘Be careful how you handle your life and who you associate with.’ Today I see Officer Mystar saying the same thing in similar situations,” the Prime Minister said.