Trinidad and Tobago NEEDS an AMBER Alert System NOW!
Wayne W. Boodoo Monday 8th February, 2021 22:30
What is an AMBER Alert?
Firstly, AMBER is a backronym for America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response - this should get you thinking along the line of what I'm about to discuss and propose to the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
An AMBER Alert is an Emergency Message which entails all pertinent information, that is immediately available and verified by the relevant Authorities, on a Case of Abduction of a Child, who is in imminent danger, that is transmitted via widespread Media Broadcasts (Television, Radio, Cellular Phones, Road Signs, and other Data-Enabled Wireless Devices) by a Law Enforcement Agency which solicits the Public's Assistance in the Search and swift Safe Recovery of the Victim as each Citizen becomes the Eyes and Ears of Law Enforcement.
Amber Rene Hagerman
Photo Credit: Family Handout
The Origination of the AMBER Alert System
This System was created as a Legacy to, and named in remembrance of, Amber Rene Hagerman (Born: November 25th, 1986), a 9-Year Old Girl who was Kidnapped near her Grandmother's Home on January 13th, 1996 and gruesomely slayed two days later in Arlington, Texas by her abductor.
Amber, 9, together with her Mother, Donna Hagerman, and her 5-Year Old Brother, Ricky, were visiting her Grandparents, Jimmy and Glenda Whitson, in the Town of Arlington, Texas, when on the afternoon of Saturday 13th January, 1996 while riding her Bicycle just two (2) Blocks away from the House she was abducted by a man who took her away in a Pickup.
Searches were actively conducted by Law Enforcement (both On and Off Duty Officers) and numerous Volunteers for the Little Girl throughout the City, but unfortunately and distraughtly to no avail. The Case gained National Attention and widespread Media Coverage, but despite all efforts by those involved in her Search, it was on Wednesday 17th January, 1996, just four days (4) after she had vanished, a man was casually walking his dog behind a Complex when he stumbled upon the Body of a deceased Child, which was later identified as Amber.
Based on the Autopsy, it was likely that Amber had been kept alive for two (2) days which lead to her Death being recorded as Monday 15th January, 1996. The 9-Year Old had been sexually assaulted, repeatedly. She was beaten about her little tender Body. The Report's Findings did not stop there, it went on, she had her throat slit. At this point, subsequently to the Monster in Human Form having finished with his poor Victim, he tossed the Body of the Little Girl, like Trash, into a Creek and fled. Read more on Amber's Story...
Amber's Death was NOT in Vain!
Families across the United States of America mourned for the Hagerman's Family, but one particular Citizen, a Massage Therapist and Mother from Dallas, Diane Simone, on that dreadful day Amber’s Body was found, phoned a Local Radio Station asking if Local Broadcasters could work with Law Enforcement to get the word out about Child Abductions as soon as they happen.
That Call would change Hundreds of Lives in the Years to come.
Later on in 1996 Dallas Fort-Worth Broadcasters established a coordinated System with Local Law Enforcement that allowed them to notify the Public almost immediately when a Child was kidnapped or in danger.
Amber’s abduction prompted the creation of the AMBER Alert, which grew into an International Child-Abduction Alert System. Today, the AMBER Alert System is being used in all fifty (50) States, the District of Columbia, Indian Country, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and 27 other Countries. As of December 2020, 1,029 Children have been successfully Recovered through the AMBER Alert System. Source: amberalert.ojp.gov
United States of America: In October 1996 the AMBER Alert System originated in Texas, and later implemented Nationwide.
- Several States implemented the AMBER Alert System from October 2000
- By September 2002 the total count of States to establish the System was twenty-six (26)
- By 2005 all fifty (50) States had Operational Systems
In the earlier times, alternative Regional Alert Names were used, of which some were:
Arkansas: "Morgan Nick Amber Alert" in memory of Morgan Chauntel Nick (Born: September 12th, 1988), a 6-Year Old Girl who was Kidnapped at a Little League Baseball Game in the Town of Alma, Arkansas on the night of July 9th, 1995 while by her Mother's Car after catching Lightning Bugs with her Friends. Morgan has never been found since.
Georgia: "Levi's Call" in memory of Levi Frady (Born: March 6th, 1986), an 11-Year Old Forsyth County Boy who was abducted, driven to a Neighbouring County, and brutally murdered, shot three (3) times, twice in the chest and once in the head, on October 22nd, 1997 while making his way Home from a Friend's House on his Bicycle some time after 6:45 p.m. His Body was the following day, October 23rd, in a Wooded Area.
Hawaii: "MAILE AMBER Alert" (Backronym: Minor Abducted In Life-threatening Emergency) in memory of Maile Gilbert (Born: 1979), a 6-Year Old Girl who was abducted from a Family Party at her Home in Kailua on August 25th, 1985, raped, sodomized, chocked and drowned before her Body was found buried in a shallow grave along the shoreline at Kaena Point.
Utah: "Rachael Alert" in memory of Rachael Marie Runyan (Born: June 23rd, 1979), a 3-Year Old Girl who was abducted on August 26th, 1982 from Doxey Elementary School Playground, Sunset, killed that same day and Body was found three (3) weeks later on September 19th, 1982 in a Creek Bed in Mountain Green.
AMBER Alert 25th Anniversary - December 2020 Statistics
Source: amberalert.ojp.gov
Photo Credit: Wayne W. Boodoo
Mobile Screenshot
On the evening of March 19th, 2019, at 5:18 p.m. I was in the Parking Lot of Fabricland - Home Decor Centre at 1510 Warden Ave, Scarborough, Toronto, ON M1R 2S8, Canada when an AMBER Alert was issued for Jannah Jaffri, a 5-Year Old who had been abducted in the Markham Area.
Canada:
- Alberta: The AMBER Alert System began December 2002, and was the first Province-wide System
- All other Provinces, except Saskatchewan, adopted the System by May 2004
- Saskatchewan implemented the Alert System in 2005, and by this time the System was officially used throughout the entire Country.
I've had personal experiences of the AMBER Alert System in operation in Canada during Trips there, to which, despite the nature of the events, I was still impressed of the sophistication of the Country's Response to Abductions.
At these times I was totally clueless as to the Origins of the System, but nevertheless I sincerely appreciated the existence of such Technology in effect.
Photo Credit: Wayne W. Boodoo
Mobile Screenshot
On the evening of October 1st, 2019, at 5:23 p.m. I had just taken my Departure from Edward Gardens from a Maternity Shoot with my Fiancé and we were at Leslie St. and Lawrence Ave East, North York, Toronto, ON, Canada when an AMBER Alert was issued for Eska, Evelyn, Magnus, Mattias and Sovereign MacDermid who were abducted in the Jordan Community in the Niagara Region.
Australia:
- Queensland State: May 2005
- Other Australian States: June 2017
France: "Alerte-Enlèvement" (Abduction Alert) or "Dispositif Alerte-Enlèvement" (Abduction Alert Apparatus) was launched in February 2006 by the Justice Ministry with the help of most Media and Railroad and Motorway Companies.
United Kingdom: The AMBER Alert System became active in Northwest England in April 2007, and in May 2010 "Child Rescue Alert" was launched Nationwide. The first System of its kind in the UK was created in November 2002 in Sussex, and followed by Versions in Surrey and Hampshire. Every Local Jurisdiction in England and Wales had its own form of Alert System.
The first Alert was issued in the UK on October 3rd, 2012, following the abduction of 5-Year Old April Jones in Machynlleth, Powys, Wales on October 1st, 2012. The last sighting was of her willingly getting into a Vehicle near her Home, and a 46-Year Old Local Man, Mark Bridger, was subsequently arrested and found guilty on May 30th, 2013 and sentenced to Life Imprisonment, with the Trial Judge ordering that he never be released from Prison.
Malaysia: "Nurin Alert" was implemented in September 2007, and is named after Nurin Jazlin Binti Jazimin, an 8-Year Old Murder Victim who was abducted on August 20th, 2007 and found naked on the morning of September 17th of that year stuffed in the Fetal Position in a Brand New Gym Bag that was left in front of a Shop Lot in PJS 1/48, Petaling Jaya. Police believed she had been dead for more than six (6) hours before the discovery by the Shop Owner. A Cucumber and Brinjal were found inside her Genitals which had caused her Rectum to rupture, and it was determined that Bacterial Infections had contributed to her death.
Netherlands: "The Dutch AMBER Alert" was launched in 2008 by the Dutch National Police, their Minister of Justice and Netpresenter, a Social Enterprise. On February 14th, 2009 the first Alert was issued when a 4-Year Old boy went missing in Rotterdam. The Alert had to be halted before all Recipients received it as a person recognised him by seeing his Picture on an Electronic Billboard at a Fast Food Restaurant leading to a rapid safe recovery.
Mexico: The AMBER Alert was launched in April 2011
Ireland: "Child Rescue Ireland (CRI) Alert" was officially introduced in May 2012, after being announced April 2009 and its first Alert was issued on July 29th, 2013 upon the disappearance of young Brothers Eoghan and Ruairí Chada. The Brothers died by Strangulation at the hands of their Father Sanjeev Chada at Skehanagh Lower, Balintubber that very day, for which he was Sentenced to Life Imprisonment on October 7th, 2009 after admitting to what the Central Criminal Court heard was a Crime fueled by 'Mounting Gambling Debts'.
Europe: The "AMBER Alert Europe" Foundation was launched in 2013 and brings together forty (40) Official Organisations, Public Authorities and Business Entities from 24 Countries. The Foundation advocates that one (1) Missing Child is one (1) too many and aims for zero missing Children in Europe.
Slovak Republic: "AMBER Alert Slovakia" was implemented in April 2015.
Ecuador: "EMILIA Alert" was introduced in 2018 by the Department of Security, and is named after Emilia Alejandra Benavides Cuencca, a 10-Year Old Boy who was abducted on December 15th, 2017 and found four (4) days later dead in a Ravine on the Outskirts of the City of Loja-Catamayo. His Body was Mutilated and Cremated.
Russia: "MegaFon.Poisk" was developed in 2019 by Mobile Phone Operator MegaFon, previously known as North-West GSM.
Trinidad and Tobago: Introduction and Implementation Outstanding!
Abducting Innocent Citizens, mostly Girls and Women, has become an apparent National Activity that Law Enforcement is struggling with across the Nation. Our Country is currently mourning our Latest Victim of Abduction and Murder, 23-Year Old Andrea Bharatt.
Andrea Bharatt, 23-Years Old
Abducted and Murdered on January 29th, 2021
Photo Credit: Facebook
Andrea was a Clerk at the Arima's Magistrates Court, and together with her Friend, boarded a Taxi at the Cleaver Road/Arima Old Road Taxi Stand at King Street, Arima at 5:50 p.m. on Friday 29th January, 2021, following which her Friend was dropped off at her Home in Clever Heights and Andrea to be dropped off at hers shortly after.
Andrea did not make her way Home, so her Father, Randolph Bharatt, phoned her around 6:00 p.m. after suspecting all was not well, but there was no answer. He later tried again at 7:30 p.m. at which point her phone was answered by a male voice who made a Ransom Demand for her safe return or else she'd be hurt. Mr. Bharatt was Quoted by Newsday to asking "Sir, what are you doing with my daughter’s phone?" Her abductor was reported to have responded "I know your daughter working in the credit union and I want money" when her Father ended the Call and Redialed at when the Abductor asked 'you feel you is a bad man? You is a killer? I am the killer'. This Call too was ended and he made his way to the Arima Police Station to make a Report.
Investigations and a series of Searches soon began with Members of the Protective Services including the Special Operations Response Team (SORT), Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU), Canine Unit police with Sniffer Dogs, Eastern Division Police, the Defense Force, and even Volunteers including Hunters, Hikers and Members of the Public.
Approximately 12:20 p.m. on Thursday 4th February, 2021, a man allegedly searching for Scrap Iron along the Road in Heights of Aripo, reported that he saw a decomposing Body of a Woman in a Pink Underwear and Multi-coloured Top, face down at the foot of a precipice. Police swiftly arrived at the spot with Hunters, and together with Fire Officers, the Body was extracted from approximately twenty (20) feet below the Road.
A Police Statement later confirmed, based on the Clothing on the Body Relatives have confirmed that it was Andrea Bharatt, which brought the Search for her to an end. On Monday 8th February an Autopsy was carried out, but due to the State of Decomposition of the Body it was declared inconclusive. Investigations are ongoing...
Read more on Andrea Bharatt's Abduction and Murder here...
Yes, we need New Laws! Yes, we need existing Laws amended! But, while those Politicians we Elected to Serve us are catching up, I, Wayne W. Boodo, would love, and I strongly believe that I will have the Support of the entire Nation (excluding the Criminal Elements of course), to see our Missing Person Alert System developed and launched in 2021. Where Naming is concerned, "AMBER Alert TnT" should suffice, and it should not necessarily be limited to Children, but all Cases of Missing and Abducted Persons, inclusive of Adults also.
Like the "AMBER Alert Europe" Foundation, I too believe that one (1) Missing Person is one (1) too many, and we must also aim for zero missing Persons in Trinidad and Tobago.
Do you believe that Knowledge is Power? Dale Carnegie once said "Knowledge isn’t Power until it is applied" and that is one of the most Powerful Statements I've ever came across, and can't repeat enough, quite often to the 'Knowledge is Power' Sirens. Now let's get that concept entangled into the Missing and Abducted Persons Scenarios in our Country. If we were to have AMBER Alert TnT implemented (by the relevant Authorities), and an Alert is issued the soonest possible upon retrieval of the Facts related to an Abduction for example, with thousands of Pairs of Eyes and Ears (of Civilians) now joining the efforts of Law Enforcement, won't that yield prompt results in the rapid and safe recovery of a Victim?
Shall we continue to only await a Family Member to be responsible to Post a Photo on Facebook for other Pages to Repost, or for the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service Facebook Page to make an Announcement via a Post also?
Is this time sensitive?
Is Facebook the only means of Sharing Information?
Is 100% of the Population Account Holders on the Social Media Platform?
Of the Fraction of the Population that do own Facebook Accounts, how many of them are guaranteed to have the various Posts streamed into their Newsfeed in a timely manner?
For the Traditional Folks, how timely is information Broadcasted via the Nightly 7:00 p.m. News really, when an Abduction takes place at 9:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. for example?
Daily Newspapers are Printed on the Night prior to the Day's Release, this Method, at best, can be twelve (12) to twenty-four (24) hours late.
We the Citizens of the Nation needs a Real-Time System implemented, and why try to 'reinvent the wheel' when there is an effective Model used in all fifty (50) of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, Indian Country, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada, Mexico, Australia, France, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Malaysia, Ireland, Europe, Slovak Republic, Ecuador, Russia and 15 other Countries? Can we not follow through on the ingenious System that is already serving the needed purpose, hundreds of Agencies, and millions of People?
What information will be needed in an AMBER Alert TnT?
Date Issued (Date Alert is Issued on the AMBER Alert TnT System)
Time Issued (Time Alert is Issued on the AMBER Alert TnT System)
Issued By (the respective Police Station to Issue Alert)
Victim's Name (First and Last Names of Missing/Abducted Person)
Victim's Description (Brief and most recent Description of Missing/Abducted Person Appearance and Attire)
Suspect's Name (when known)
Suspect's Description (Brief and most recent Appearance and Attire of Suspect)
Vehicle of Abductor (Make, Model, Colour, Special Markings, Defects, etc. of Vehicle used for Abduction where applicable)
Location Last Seen (Street Address, Community, Local Landmark, etc. where Victim was at last, or Abducted from)
NB: Person's Description should include, when known, Age, Height, Approximate Weight, Hair Colour, Eye Colour.
What avenues can the AMBER Alert TnT be issued via?
Local Commercial and Public Television Channels - already in existence.
Cable Tv - already in existence.
Local Commercial and Public Radio Stations - already in existence.
Internet Radio - already in existence.
Cellular Phones - already in existence, there were 1.89 Million Mobile Connections in Trinidad and Tobago in January 2020. Source: Data Portal
Electronic Billboards/Road Signs - to be implemented, at the most strategic Locations across the Nation.
Other Data-Enabled Wireless Devices identified by the relevant Authorities.
What will be the Benefits of AMBER Alert TnT?
Prompt and widespread dissemination of information to every Citizen on Missing Person/Abduction via the avenues listed above.
The Eyes and Ears of each Citizen will support that of the over sixty-five thousand (65,000) Officers of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) - this will also support the "See Something, Say Something" initiative of the TTPS.
Missing Persons will have a great chance of being found, and Abducted Persons as well, of being rescued.
Lives can be Saved, and still, the necessary Action be taken against Perpetrators - this is better than us mostly mourning without any Justice whatsoever.
Would you like to see the AMBER Alert TnT System Developed and Implement in Trinidad and Tobago?
Please Fill the Form below, which will serve as a Petition that will be presented to the
Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Office of the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Ministry of National Security of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Let Us never forget our National Motto: "Together We Aspire, Together We Achieve"
Mahatma Gandhi: "Be the Change you want to see in the World"
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