Tuesday February 9th, 2010
- Last update:11 hours 21 min ago
PNM councillor shot in Mt Hope robbery
Published: 5 Nov 2009
From left Rupert Griffith, Sylvester Ramquar and
Don Sylvester at Rienzi Complex, Couva, last night.
PHOTO: SHASTRI BOODAN
A People’s National Movement (PNM) Local Government councillor remained warded in stable condition at hospital after he was shot in the back in Mt Hope about 11 am yesterday.
St Servius Pamphille, who is also employed with the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC), was ambushed while checking a meter outside a house in the area. He was approached by a group of men who attempted to rob him of his gold chain.
A struggle reportedly ensued and Pamphille, a councillor with the Arima Borough Council, was shot. The bullet entered his back and exited through his chest. Pamphille, who is popularly known as Clint, was taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope, where he underwent emergency surgery.
I think it would have been
I think it would have been much more accurate and carry more weight if the article had the header "T&TEC Meter Reader Shot". That the victim is also a PNM councilor bears no relevance to the story and thus may have at the most warranted a mere mention in the article. By making it the headline you dismiss the reason why he was robbed and shot.
A meter reader being shot while carrying out his duties is a wake up call to the dangers out there for them all and should encourage the public to look out for them as well as prompt their bosses at T%TEC to find ways to protect them. I know there soon there will be the implementation of wireless meter reading which will add significantly to the readers' safety (they can just drive their vehicle down a street and their onboard systems will read all the meters from each house automatically - just as its done here in the US)
Don S. NY