Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Man attended prayer vigil killed by officials in Trinidad

San Fernando (Trinidad and Tobago), SVM News, November 07, 2007: Man attended night prayer vigil shot and killed by police at Magistrate's house on November 6 at 2.30 am at Rousillac village in San Fernando of Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Joel Ramsingh, 21, an employee of the San Fernando City Corporation, had attended a prayer vigil for the nation on Monday night at the St Peter's Spiritual Baptist Church, Navet Road, San Fernando was the man killed by officers at a house in Rousillac owned by Magistrate Rae Roopchand.

Police authorities say that Ramsingh and an accomplice got shot during a shootout with police who had responded to a call that two men were seen removing household items from Roopchand's house.

Police said they received information of "unusual activity" near Roopchand's home. They investigated and there was shooting.

Ramsingh died and the other man, who is from La Brea, sustained gunshot wounds and has been warded in stable condition at the San Fernando General Hospital where he is under police guard.

Ramsingh's relatives said he went to his house after the vigil but later received a phone call, after which a car arrived and he left in it. Police have since reported that and the other suspect shot at officers when they were intercepted at the magistrate's house in Rousillac. Police shot back, killing Ramsingh and wounding the accomplice.

The entire congregation of the St. Peter's Spiritual Baptist Church was shocked at his death.

One of the woman leaders of the night vigil said to Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service that he was baptised at the church three months ago and had turned his life around. "He never committed any major crime but he had changed his lifestyle and was going to church regularly. He didn't deserve to die that way", she added.

Ramsingh and family were former Hindus and Indians. His wife and two children live at Blitz village, Pleasantville. They said he did not own a gun and was not a thief, but born-again man of God.

Mother Smith, Ramsingh’s spiritual mother said, "Since his baptism, he has become very spiritual. He has been participating in the (nine nights) prayers right here, every night since it started.

"Up to Monday night he was here and left around 11.30 pm saying he was going home as he wanted no part of (the election) victory celebrations of the People's National Movement's victory at the polls in the San Fernando East constituency," she said.

Ramsingh said he had not voted, and was not interested in the fete," she continued.

The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is a lovely twin-islands in between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean in the West Indies, off the coast of northeast Venezuela.

Trinidad is separated from Venezuela by 11 km (7 miles) off the Gulf of Paria. Tobago lies 33-km northeast of Trinidad.

Trinidad and Tobago comprises 5,128 square km in which Trinidad covers an area of 4,828 square km and Tobago covers 300 square km.

As per the census Indian 40%, African 37.5%, mixed 20.5%, other 2%.

Roman Catholic 26%, Hindu 22.5%, Anglican 7.9%, Baptist 7.2%, Pentecostal 6.8%, Muslim 5.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 4%, other Christian 5.8%, other 14%.

English (official), Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), French, Spanish, Chinese are the languages.

SVM News: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews268.html

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