Police accused of violating human rights

Amnesty International on Wednesday warned of rising police brutality in Trinidad and Tobago as that country struggles to cope with soaring crime rates.

In a 20-page report on police violence in the Caribbean nation, the human-rights group listed seven recent cases of fatal shootings by police officers and four deaths of persons held in custody. In 2004 and 2005, 35 persons died after being either shot by police officers or beaten up while in custody, with officers rarely held accountable for their actions, Amnesty says.

Amnesty International says the crime rate in Trinidad and Tobago is among the highest in the Caribbean, with 389 murders registered in 2005, up from 120 in 2000.

The embassy of Trinidad and Tobago did not return a call seeking comment.

Crime has ”exploded” as drug-trafficking networks extend their presence in the region, affecting places like Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Guyana and even traditionally more peaceful spots like Barbados and St. Lucia, said Dan Erikson, a Caribbean specialist at the Washington-based Inter-American Dialogue think tank.

”Basically, these countries are small, weak states that are trying to combat transnational crime,” he said.

Amnesty International is worried that an overwhelmed police force is resorting to heavy-handed tactics.

The London-based organization says Trinidad and Tobago’s police need to draft a human rights-based code of conduct, implement a ”transparent chain of command” and prosecute cases of abuse.

Complaints of police abuse, including torture, are rarely fully investigated, the group says.

Police officers are often inadequately trained, undisciplined, underfunded and stressed, according to the rights group.

Only one police officer — Constable Dave Burnett — has so far been convicted for killing a civilian, according to Amnesty International.

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