The celebration didn't last long.Hours after 21 Nelson Street youths were freed on Monday regarding gang charges, police squads were back "visiting" east Port-of-Spain.And certain security forces had an especially loud special "message" for a female Nelson Street resident who has dared to air public complaints, according to members of the community who heard it live and direct on loudspeaker that night."We ent get chance to breathe, the police was back here last night, a whole set a them. They come in the yard, they say they could re-arrest us again," several of the freed youths said yesterday morning."They targeting us unfairly, for what I don't know. We glad we outside but we not comfortable. We frighten for we life," one freed youth, Atiba Gorkin, added.In the shade of the concrete "plannings", several of the youths were enjoying the outdoors yesterday after three weeks at a high-risk Golden Grove facility.They were among the first detained and charged by authorities at the start of the state of emergency.They said they had been liming near a school on Nelson Street waiting to undertake a paint job when police swooped down and began arrests.Those detained included Gorkin's cousin who had just served a year in prison and had been released the day before police pounced on the area.The cousin was among those charged with gang-related issues.On Monday, however, Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar freed the men, ages 18 to 63, after Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard said there was insufficient evidence to proceed.There was ample evidence of security agencies' presence on Nelson Street yesterday morning .
A green military heliocpter flying low, flew east at medium speed across southern Nelson Street.A police SUV drove down the street past older residents who no longer bother to eye such vehicles."Down there, Minister John Sandy grow up," says a 60-ish man in an aqua T-shirt, pointing down southern Nelson Street.Another in a brown, striped jersey and matching pants, sneezing heavily, says: "People feel justice with the court verdict Monday. They just taking up these fellas. Once they wearing a Clarks, a three-quarter pants and a vest, they feel you in a gang."Higher into "plannings" territory, residents, old and young, male and female, start telling about the police "visit" to the area on Monday night, immediately after the men were freed by the court.They are also very vocal about what they heard being broadcast on a loudspeaker from a police vehicle about a female resident. The young woman had been on television and was recently featured in T&T Guardian "Lockdown" speaking about alleged police threats and harassment.She had said she was frightened. She had also called for social services for youths in the area.Yesterday, several in various Nelson Street buildings were incredulous-and appalled-at the message about her which they said was sent by loudspeaker to the neighbourhood when the police squad passed through Monday night.Persons from up and down the street who heard it, said the message named the woman and was brutally and colourfully explicit regarding allegations of assorted sexual acts and various body orifices.Yesterday, there was no sign of the woman in the building where she had been last week.
But in the courtyard where some of the freed youths were liming, none were hesitant to speak about the latest police "visit" they had encountered."We barely settle down, they come back again Monday night, saying they could hold we again for 120 days without evidence. Everybody uneasy," says a 24-year-old.A woman, plaiting the hair of another, adds: "I live over there and when they come last night I just crack my door and see one set a them in the yard."Gorkin says: "It looking like the police have a problem with us. I want the Government to tell us why because we are HDC tenants? Why try to pin this gang thing on us?"PNM Port-of-Spain South MP Marlene McDonald, contacted on the loudspeaker message about the young woman, said:"If true, we have to ask what kind of monsters this state of emergency is creating of our security forces? This kind of complaint is what we have to take to the special tribunal set up by the Chief Justice."Is this now a police state? This reported behaviour cannot be tolerated. Every Monday monring we are losing our rights."Several of the youths who were imprisoned related the tale of their stay in the high risk facility, now being called "Guantanamo".They said: "Three and four to a cell... cold food... peas like soup... like cat food. They wake you up 5 am and tell 20-30 men, go and bathe for five minutes."That young fella, the Beetham footballer, he could barely hold up... he only crying... in all ah we is only about 20 Indian fellas they hold."A partner who has a sore foot because of a kidney problem, never get any of the tablets he is take. He foot swell up big, big in there."They say if we act up they will tell the officers we spit on them. You know what (will) happen after dat."
Several said officers pressured them for information."They say, 'so all yuh ent giving we nothing?' We ask what we have to give you? Human rights people need to come and see this as people losing confidence in the Police Service."One youth, a port contract worker, said: "I mightn't get back that work because I was alleged to be in a gang. I won't be able to get little security work either."He shakes his head.Comedian and corporation worker "Knotts Landing" who has lived in the "plannings" most of his 54 years, was not exempt from police searches.He said: "They had dog all on my bed looking for what I don't know. "They tell me put mih hands up and they pat me down too. They not doing this thing right."A 59-year-old woman, with Rasta braids, adds: "Week before last an army man cuff my 18-year-old nephew in his ear. Now he can't hear. Police tell him go the hospital and get a paper."But where we going with that? Where the justice for we when they do these kind of things?" she asks.