Media Release: On The Issue of Crime and Our Daunting Social Challenges

Media Release: 

On The Issue of Crime and Our Daunting Social Challenges

255 Murders in 182 days. As these numbers show and with the Increase in crime and public uneasiness, crime, in all its different forms has become a major threat to societal and individual security. There has been less discussion on the role and response of national security mechanisms. Hence, most of the methods used to fight against crime have backfired and fall short of meeting such a challenge. The failure of the Western methods of combating crime and the Increase in impunity of criminals leads one to suggest a solution, which treats criminal activity not piecemeal but in the total scheme of life. 

The Islamic concept of security is a very comprehensive one, more comprehensive than any of the other existing systems. It looks at humankind in relation to the universe and the factors influencing it. It encompasses physical, mental, psychological and spiritual domains as integral parts of an overall societal security system.

Islamic teachings do not merely provide solutions to exceptional instances of criminal behavior, but emphatically focus on measures that halt their existence. In other words, Islam executes as many means as possible to avert temptation. While modern societies flaunt temptation – liquor, pornography, violence, etc. – before the people, a true Islamic society removes the sources of these temptations, and when the need for correction emerges, the punishment is serious and effective. If crimes are not countered with serious punishments, then our society will be in grave danger.

Crime has prospered in modern societies because a completely contradictory approach is followed to controlling it.

Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front) is therefore calling the government to stamp out all forms of temptation that are prevalent and easily accessible and when the time comes for correction or punishment of a crime, the justice system should not be lenient and should be serious. Sentencing should not be biased and protective of the criminal's rights over those of the victim.

Government must take into consideration the changing circumstances of our society as well as the constancy and permanence of the nature of our countrymen.

Waajihatul Islamiyyah (The Islamic Front) is prepared to seek legal injunctions aimed at achieving human welfare, which can all be referred back to universal principles which are necessary for the well-being and security of our citizens. These universal principles are:

1.    The preservation of life.
2.    The preservation of religion.
3.    The preservation of reason.
4.    The preservation of lineage.
5.    The preservation of property.

Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front) is working with an objective that would seek to protect our society from the dangers of crime by advocating fairness, equality and justice, also prison and prisoner reform. However, we must bear in mind, the punishment is a recompense for the crime.  It is undesirable to treat a criminal lightly who threatens the security of society with danger. 

For Immediate Release: 
Date: 3rd July 2017

Umar Abdullah
Head of Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front) 
Tel: +18687870765 or +18683656253

Prohibiting Khamr (Intoxicants) and Maysir (Gambling):

Surah Al-Ma'idah (The Table Spread with Food): Tafsir Ayah 90-93

In the Name of Allah, The Most Gracious, Most Merciful

90. O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), gambling, Al-Ansab , and Al-Azlam (arrows for seeking luck or decision) are an abomination of Shaitan's (Satan) handiwork. So avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be successful .
91. Shaitan (Satan) wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants (alcoholic drinks) and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah and from As-Salat (the prayer). So, will you not then abstain?
92. And obey Allah and the Messenger (Muhammad ), and beware (of even coming near to drinking or gambling or Al-Ansab, or Al-Azlam, etc.) and fear Allah. Then if you turn away, you should know that it is Our Messenger's duty to convey (the Message) in the clearest way.
93. Those who believe and do righteous good deeds, there is no sin on them for what they ate (in the past), if they fear Allah (by keeping away from His forbidden things), and believe and do righteous good deeds, and again fear Allah and believe, and once again fear Allah and do good deeds with Ihsan (perfection). And Allah loves the good-doers.

Prohibiting Khamr (Intoxicants) and Maysir (Gambling):

While divination by arrow-shooting essentially constitutes a game of chance there is nevertheless a certain difference between the two, since divination by arrow-shooting, in addition to being a game of chance, is also tainted with polytheistic beliefs and superstitions. As for games of chance, this expression is applied to those games and acts in which accidental factors are considered the criteria for acquisition, fortune-making and the division of goods and property.

In this verse four things are categorically prohibited:

(1) intoxicants;

(2) games of chance;

(3) places consecrated for the worship of anyone else besides God Almighty, and altars for either sacrifices or offerings in the name of others than God Almighty; and

(4) polytheistic divination by arrow-shooting.

The last three items have already been mentioned. (See Surah 2: 219 and Surah 5: 3). Two injunctions had already been revealed concerning the prohibition of intoxicants (See Surahs 2: 219 and 4: 43). Before the revelation of the last injunction, the Prophet (peace be on him) had warned the people that intoxicants were highly displeasing to God Almighty. Hinting at the possibility of their being prohibited, he advised people to dispose of intoxicants if they had any. A little later on the present verse was revealed and the Prophet (peace be on him) then proclaimed that those who had intoxicants should neither consume nor sell them, but rather destroy them. Intoxicating liquors were poured into the streets of Madina. When asked if such liquor might be offered to the Jews as a gift the Prophet (peace be on him) replied in the negative and said: 'He Who has prohibited it has also required it not to be given away as a gift.' Some people inquired whether it was permitted to make vinegar out of such liquor. The Prophet (peace be on him) told them not to do so, but to throw it away instead. Another person asked insistently whether or not an intoxicant could be used as medicine. The Prophet (peace be on him) replied that far from being a remedy for any malady it was in itself a malady. Others sought permission to consume intoxicating liquor on the plea that they lived in a very cold region and had to work very hard, and that the people of that region habitually drank intoxicants to combat exhaustion and cold. The Prophet (peace be on him) inquired if the drink concerned did cause intoxication. On being told that it did, he said that they should abstain from it. They pointed out that the people of their region would not accept this, to which the Prophet (peace be on him) replied that they should fight them.

It is reported by 'Abd Allah Ibn 'Umar that the Prophet (peace be on him) said: 'God Almighty has cursed khamr (wine) and him who drinks it, him who provides it to others and him who buys or sells it, him who squeezes (the grapes) into wine and him who causes others to squeeze grapes (in order to make wine), him who carries it and him to whom it is carried.' (See Ahmad b. Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 2, p. 97; vol. 1, p. 316; Abu Da'ud, 'Ashribah', 2 - Ed.)

According to another tradition the Prophet (peace be on him) instructed not to eat at the table where intoxicating drinks were being taken. In the beginning the Prophet (peace be on him) even forbade the use of vessels in which intoxicating drinks had either been made or served. Later on, when the prohibition of drinks was completely observed the Prophet (peace be on him) withdrew the interdiction regarding the use of these vessels. (See Abu Da'ud, 'At'imah', 18; Tirmidhi, 'Adab', 43; Darimi, 'Ashribah', 15; Ahmad b. Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 1, p. 20; vol. 3, p. 339 - Ed.) Though the word khamr in Arabic means literally 'the drink made from grapes', it was also used figuratively for intoxicating liquors made from wheat, barley, raisins, dates and honey. The Prophet (peace be on him) applied the prohibition of wine to all intoxicants. In this regard we find categorical statements from the Prophet (peace be on him) embodied in traditions: 'Every intoxicant is khamr, and every intoxicant is prohibited.'

'Every drink which causes intoxication is prohibited.' 'I forbid everything which intoxicates.' In a Friday sermon 'Umar defined khamr in the following manner: 'Whatever takes hold of the mind is khamr.' (See Bukhari, 'Wudu", 71; 'Maghazi', 60, 'Ashribah', 4,10, 'Adab', 8, 'Ahkam', 22; Muslim, 'Ashribah', 67-9; Abu Da'ud, 'Ashribah', 5, 71; Ibn Majah, 'Ashribah', 9, 13, 14; Darimi, 'Ashribah', 8, 9; Muwatta', 'Dahaya', 8; Ahmad b. Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 1, pp. 274, 289, 350; vol. 2, pp. 16, 158, 171, 185, 429, 501; vol. 3, pp. 63, 66, 112, 119, 361; vol. 4, pp. 41, 416; vol. 6, pp. 36, 71, 72, 97, 131, 190 and 226 - Ed.)

The Prophet (peace be on him) also enunciated the following principle: 'If anything causes intoxication when used in large quantity, even a small quantity of it is prohibited.' 'If a large quantity of something causes intoxication, to drink even a palmful of it is prohibited.' (See Abu Da'ud, 'Ashribah', 5; Ibn Majah, 'Ashribah', 10; Ahmad b. Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 2, pp. 167, 179 and vol. 3, p. 343 - Ed.)

In the time of the Prophet (peace be on him) no specific punishment had been laid down for drinking. A person caught drunk would be struck with shoes, fists, and whips made of twisted cloth and palm sticks. The maximum number of lashes to which any culprit was subjected was forty. In the time of Abu Bakr the punishment continued to be forty lashes. In the time of 'Umar the punishment initially remained at forty lashes also, but when he saw people persist in drinking he fixed the punishment at eighty lashes after consulting the Companions. This was considered the prescribed legal punishment for drinking by Malik and Abu Hanifah, and even by Shafi'i according to one tradition. But Ahmad b. Hanbal, and, according to a variant tradition, Shafi'i, considered the punishment to consist of forty lashes, and 'Ali is reported to have preferred this opinion.

According to Islamic Law, it is the bounden duty of an Islamic government to enforce this prohibition. In the time of 'Umar the shop of a member of the Thaqif tribe, by the name of Ruwayshid, was burnt down because he carried on the sale of liquor. On another occasion a whole hamlet was set on fire because it had become a center of illegal traffic in liquor.

Allah forbids His believing servants from consuming Khamr and Maysir which is gambling. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Ali bin Abi Talib, the Leader of the Faithful, said that chess is a type of gambling. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Ata', Mujahid and Tawus, or , two of them, said that every type of gambling, including children's playing with (a certain type of) nuts, is Maysir. Ibn `Umar said that Al-Maysir means gambling, and this is the same statement that Ad-Dahhak reported from Ibn `Abbas, who added, "They used to gamble during the time of Jahiliyyah, until Islam came. Allah then forbade them from this evil behavior.''

Meaning of Ansab and Azlam:

Al-Ansab were altar stones, in whose vicinity sacrifices were offered (during the time of Jahiliyyah), according to Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, `Ata', Sa`id bin Jubayr and Al-Hasan. They also said that Al-Azlam were arrows that they used for lotteries to make decisions, as Ibn Abi Hatim narrated. Allah said,

(A Rijs of Shaytan's handiwork) meaning, abomination of Shaytan's handiwork, according to `Ali bin Abi Talhah who reported it from Ibn `Abbas. Sa`id bin Jubayr said that Rijs means `sin' while Zayd bin Aslam said; "An evil handiwork of Shaytan.''

(So avoid that) avoid all of these abominations,

(in order that you may be successful.) and this is a statement of encouragement. Allah said next,

(Shaytan wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with Khamr (intoxicants) and Maysir (gambling), and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah and from the Salah (the prayer). So, will you not then abstain) This is a threat and a warning.

Hadiths that Prohibit Khamr (Intoxicants):

Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah said, "There were three stages to prohibiting Khamr (intoxicants) as was mentioned before. When the Messenger of Allah migrated to Al-Madinah, the people were consuming alcohol and gambling, so they asked the Messenger of Allah about these things, Allah revealed,

(They ask you about alcoholic drink and gambling. Say: "In them is a great sin, and (some) benefit for men.'') (2:219), until the end of the Ayah. The people said, `They (intoxicants and gambling) were not prohibited for us. Allah only said,

(In them is a great sin, and (some) benefit for men.)' So they went on drinking Khamr until one day, one of the emigrants lead his companions in the Maghrib prayer and mixed up the Ayat in his recitation. Thereafter, Allah sent down a tougher statement,

(O you who believe! Approach not the Salah (the prayer) when you are in a drunken state until you know (the meaning of) what you utter.) (4:43) Then, the people would drink before the time of the prayer so that they would attend the prayer while sober. A firmer Ayah was later revealed,

(O you who believe! Khamr, Maysir, Ansab, and Azlam are an abomination of Shaytan's handiwork. So avoid that in order that you may be successful.) (5:90-91) So they said, `We abstained, O Lord!' Later, some people said, `O Allah's Messenger! Some people died in the cause of Allah, while some others died in their beds, but they used to drink alcohol and indulge in gambling, which Allah has made a Rijs of the work of Shaytan.' So Allah sent down,

(Those who believe and do righteous good deeds, there is no sin on them for what they ate...) (5:93), until the end of the Ayah. The Prophet said,

(Had they been made impermissible for them, they would have abandoned them as you have abandoned them.) Ahmad recorded this Hadith. Imam Ahmad recorded that `Umar bin Al-Khattab said, "O Allah! Explain the verdict about Khamr to us clearly.'' The Ayah in Surat Al-Baqarah was revealed,

(They ask you about alcoholic drink and gambling. Say: "In them is a great sin.'') (2:219) `Umar was summoned and this Ayah was recited to him, but he still said, "O Allah! Make the verdict of Khamr clear to us.'' Then the Ayah in Surat An-Nisa' was revealed,

(O you who believe! Do not approach the Salah when you are in a drunken state.) (4:43) Thereafter, the Prophet had someone herald when it was time to pray, "Those in a drunken state are not to approach the prayer.'' `Umar was again summoned and the Ayah was recited to him, but he still said, "O Allah! Make the verdict concerning Khamr clear to us.'' Then, the Ayah in Surat Al-Ma'idah (5:91)was revealed, and `Umar was summoned and it was recited to him. When he reached the part of the Ayah that reads,

(So, will you not then abstain)(5:91), `Umar said, "We abstained, we abstained.'' Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi, and An-Nasa'i recorded this Hadith. `Ali bin Al-Madini and At-Tirmidhi graded it Sahih. It is recorded in the Two Sahihs, that `Umar bin Al-Khattab said in a speech; while standing on the Minbar of the Messenger of Allah (in the Prophet's Masjid in Al-Madinah) "O people! The prohibition of Khamr was revealed; and Khamr was extracted from five things: From grapes, dates, honey, wheat and barley. Khamr is what intoxicates the mind.'' Al-Bukhari recorded that Ibn `Umar said, "The prohibition of Khamr was revealed when there were five kinds of intoxicants in Al-Madinah, besides what was produced from grapes.''

Another Hadith:

Imam Ahmad recorded that Anas said, "I once was giving an alcoholic beverage to Abu `Ubaydah bin Al-Jarrah, `Ubayy bin Ka`b, Suhayl bin Bayda' and several of their friends meeting at Abu Talhah's house. When they were almost intoxicated, some Muslims came and said, `Did you not know that Khamr has been prohibited' They said, `We'll wait and ask.' They then said, `O Anas! Spill the remaining alcohol out of your container.' By Allah! They never drank it again, and their Khamr at that time was made from unripe and normal dates.''' This is also recorded in the Two Sahihs. In another narration by Anas, "I was the butler of the people in the house of Abu Talhah when Khamr was prohibited, and in those days alcohol was made from unripe and normal dates. A caller then heralded, and Abu Talhah ordered me to see what it was about. So I found that a person was announcing that alcoholic drinks had been prohibited. Abu Talhah ordered me to go out and spill the wine. I went out and spilled it, and it flowed in the streets of Al-Madinah. Some people said, `Some people were killed and wine was still in their stomachs.' Later on, Allah's revelation came,

(Those who believe and do righteous good deeds, there is no sin on them for what they ate...) (5:93).'' Ibn Jarir recorded that Anas bin Malik said, "I was serving Abu Talhah, Abu `Ubaydah bin Al-Jarrah, Abu Dujanah, Mu`adh bin Jabal and Suhayl bin Bayda', until they became intoxicated from an alcoholic drink made of mixed unripe and normal dates. Then I heard someone herald, `Khamr has been made illegal.' So no one went in or out until we spilled the alcohol and broke its barrels. Some of us then performed ablution and others took a shower, and we wore some perfume. We then went out to the Masjid while the Messenger of Allah was reciting,

(O you who believe! Khamr, Maysir, Ansab, and Azlam are only an abomination of Shaytan's handiwork. So avoid that...) (5:90), until,

(So, will you not then abstain) (5:91). A man asked, `O Allah's Messenger! What about those who died drinking it' Allah sent down the verse,

(Those who believe and do righteous good deeds, there is no sin on them for what they ate.) (5:93).''

Another Hadith:

Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn `Umar said that the Messenger of Allah said,

(Ten matters related to Khamr were cursed. Khamr itself was cursed, whoever drinks it, its server, seller, buyer, brewer, who asks for it to be brewed, whoever carries it, whomever it is carried to and whoever consumes its price.) Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah recorded this Hadith. Ahmad recorded that Ibn `Umar said, "Once, the Messenger of Allah went out and I went out with him. I walked to his right, but Abu Bakr came along and I gave way to him, and Abu Bakr was walking on the Prophet's right, while I was walking on his left. Then `Umar came along and he was walking on the Prophet's left, since I gave way to him. The Messenger of Allah then found a leather skin hanging containing alcohol, so he asked for a knife and ordered that the skin be cut open. He then said,

(Khamr was cursed, and so are those who drink it, serve it, sell it, buy it, carry it, have it carried to them, brew it, have it brewed and consume its price.)''

Another Hadith:

Al-Hafiz Abu Bakr Al-Bayhaqi recorded that Sa`d said, "There were four Ayat revealed about Khamr...'' He then said, "A man from Al-Ansar made some food and invited us. We drank Khamr before it was prohibited and became intoxicated, and thus started to boast about our status. The Ansar said that they were better, while Quraysh (the Muhajirin) said that they were better. So a man from the Ansar took a bone and struck Sa`d's nose with it and made a flesh wound on it. Ever since that happened, Sa`d's nose had a scar from that wound. The Ayah,

(Intoxicants, gambling,) until,

(So, will you not then abstain) was later
revealed.'' Muslim recorded this Hadith.

Another Hadith:

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Abdullah bin `Amr said, "This Ayah in the Qur'an,

(O you who believe! Khamr, Maysir, Ansab, and Azlam are only an abomination of Shaytan's handiwork. So avoid that in order that you may be successful.)﴿5:90﴾, was also in the Tawrah; `Allah has sent down truth to eradicate falsehood, joyful play, flute or wind instruments, Zafan (dances) and Kibarat (referring to cabarets using the lute and bagpipe), tambourine, guitar, harp and lyric and love poetry. And Khamr is bitter for those who taste it. Allah has vowed by His grace and power, `Whoever drinks it after I prohibited it, I will make him thirsty on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever abandons it after I prohibited it, I will let him taste it in the residence of Grace (Paradise).''' Its chain of narration is Sahih.

Another Hadith:

Ash-Shafi`i narrated that Malik narrated that Nafi` said that Ibn `Umar said that the Messenger of Allah said,

(Whoever drinks Khamr in the life of this world and does not repent from it, will be deprived of it in the Hereafter.) Al-Bukhari and Muslim recorded this Hadith. Muslim recorded that Ibn `Umar said that the Messenger of Allah said,

(Every intoxicant is Khamr, and every intoxicant is unlawful. Whoever drinks Khamr and dies while addicted to it, without repenting from drinking it, will not drink it in the Hereafter.) `Abdur-Rahman bin Al-Harith bin Hisham said that he heard `Uthman bin `Affan saying, "Avoid Khamr, for it is the mother of all sins. There was a man before your time who used to worship Allah secluded from the people. Later, an evil woman loved him and sent her female servant to him saying that they wanted him to witness something. So he went with the servant. Whenever they went through the door, she locked it behind them, until he reached a beautiful woman with a young servant boy and some alcohol. She said to him, `By Allah! I did not invite you to be a witness for anything, but called you to have sex with me, kill this boy or drink this alcohol.' So she gave him some alcohol, and he kept asking for more until he (became intoxicated and) had sex with her and killed the boy. Therefore, avoid Khamr, because it is never combined with faith, but one of them is bound to expel the other (from the heart).'' This was recorded by Al-Bayhaqi. This statement has an authentic chain of narration. Abu Bakr bin Abi Ad-Dunya recorded this statement in his book on the prohibition of intoxicants, but he related it from the Prophet. Relating it from `Uthman is more authentic, and Allah knows best. Ahmad bin Hanbal recorded that Ibn `Abbas said, "When Khamr was prohibited, some people said, `O Allah's Messenger! What about our brethren who died while still drinking Khamr' Allah sent down the Ayah

(Those who believe and do righteous good deeds, there is no sin on them for what they ate,) until the end of the Ayah. When the Qiblah (direction of the prayer) was changed (from Jerusalem to Makkah), some people asked, `O Allah's Messenger! What about our brethren who died while still praying toward Jerusalem' Allah sent down,

(And Allah would never make your faith to be lost.)'' (2:143)`Abdullah bin Mas`ud said that the Prophet said when the Ayah,

(Those who believe and do righteous good deeds, there is no sin on them for what they ate, if they have Taqwa, and believe...) was revealed,

(I was told, that you are among them.) This is the narration that Muslim, At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa'i collected.

The Liquor Licensing Board: Sacrilegious, Cynical or Corrupt?

 The Liquor Licensing Board: Sacrilegious, Cynical or Corrupt?

      

Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front) an Islamic Organisation situated in Bon Accord Tobago had strongly objected to Urmela Ragbir and Dundee Mohammed of Stop n’ Shop located at shop #4 of Lal’s Hardware Compound, #31 Store Bay Local Road, Bon Accord, Tobago, from obtaining a Licence to sell Spirituous Liquors. We saw this as having a negative impact on our adult citizens and by extension our youths, our families and our community. However the hypocritical pious, Ignorant, Narrow-minded Liquor Licensing Board did not see it that way hence their Irrational, Unintelligent, decision to grant the same.

Every Citizen is a building block of this Society; it implies a sacred vow to protect and create a safe and peaceful environment. The consuming of alcohol encourages vile and vulgar displays of human behavior, thus creating a Godless society. It was Sacrilegious to grant such a licence and in so doing brought humiliation on the Liquor Licensing Board by offering themselves to being very cynical indeed.   

The sale and consumption of alcohol has negatively impacted on our society for many years.

This fallout has resulted in a gateway into the use of illicit drugs and as a consequence grown to addiction and health issues, caused the break-up of families and homes, decreased productivity in the work place, have contributed to an increased occurrence of crime – assault, rape, robbery and murders. Alcohol related activities have placed an added burden on health care and health care reform and worst of all have plunged the youths into a state of adolescence intolerance reaping havoc in the home and in school. Adding another venue where alcohol can be brought will just make alcohol more easily available and accessible to the public and in particular the youths. This action in itself would counteract all the initiatives and programs being facilitated by our government in promoting a culture of Peace, safety and security in our communities.

It was within this context we begged the Liquor Licensing Board not to grant this licence. The decision they made to Grant this Licence will inevitable allow the continued degradation of our society at the hands of reckless, irresponsible and immoral citizens of this Twin Island state of ours.

Being very Acrimonious we decided to pursue an answer as to what may have influenced their decision. Further to our Assumptions, information has come to us that Urmela Ragbir is the wife of Subash Ragbir CEO of MIC a Government Tertiary Education Program. Isn’t it ironic on the one hand we have the Husband participating in the development of youths and on the other we have the wife volunteering her services to destroy them? Which leads us to our next question: How is it possible that the wife of a Government appointed CEO be granted a Licence to sell Spirituous Liquors? Especially in light of the following:

1. There existed a number of Health, electrical, Fire and structural issues with the building where the said business establishment is located. All the necessary Statuary checks and inspection was not conducted according to law before approval was given.
2. The preservation of moral and ethical values in our community was compromised.
3. A number of religious organisations and churches are operating in very close proximity to the said establishment i.e. less than 400 meters away.
4. A lot of families with children live in very close proximity to this business establishment.
5. A lot of very young children and teenagers frequent this same business establishment and there is no clearly visible signs cautioning the Sale of alcohol to minors.
6. Just opposite operates a Day Care Centre.
7. The social culture in Tobago is as such that where ever alcohol is sold whether it be a Bar, Supermarket or Mini Mart you’ll find individuals sitting right outside consuming the alcohol they brought. And that was exactly what happened there. Urmela Ragbir and Dundee Mohammed would provide seating arrangements for their customers and would also gather and collect the empty beer bottles and take it inside their shop. They would often times have a young boy name Davanand Singh serve out Alcohol and cigarettes to the customers. Also visible at times were children accompanying those customers while consuming alcohol and smoking cigarettes. Doesn’t that type of activity bears the resemblance of a Bar? There isn’t any urinal so those customers would pass urine all over the compound thus creating an unhealthy environment with a stench in the air.
8. Directly arising out of the sale and consumption of this alcohol as it relates to this business establishment – ‘Stop n’ Shop’ – is a number of criminal and civil matters that is now before the courts.
9. Dundee Mohammed was convicted of a criminal offence and did spend time in a correctional facility.
10. It is alleged that Urmela Ragbir the wife of CEO Subash Ragbir attempted to pervert the course of justice by paying $100.00 to avoid prosecution in a matter where it is alleged she destroyed property belonging to a tenant. That alleged $100.00 was logged at the Crown Point Police Station by Officers Karute and Sergeant Piggott.    
11. There are already too many Shops and ‘Watering Holes’ that sell alcohol in the Canaan, Bon Accord and Crown Point area. Just to think, the very same street on which this shop is located there were already ‘FOURTEEN’ Shops, Bars and Mini-Marts that sell alcohol and this does not include the Shop in question and other areas of the community.
12. Copies of an objection letter and a petition were submitted to The Liquor Licensing Board and others.

In consideration of the entire above, one would assume that the granting of this licence was politically motivated. Our question is; was it?

Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front) sees this action as corrupt on path of The Liquor Licensing Board. We therefore call on all Citizens of this beautiful Island of Tobago to lobby The Liquor Licensing Board to review their decision in this regard and revoke with immediate effect any and all such Licence granted to Urmela Ragbir; the wife of CEO Subash Ragbir and by extension urge all stakeholders and Government agencies to have all such license reviewed and to further disallow all such first time application for sale of Spirituous Liquors in communities where it will negatively impact on our adult citizens and by extension our youths.

  

Ten (10) years from now when all statutory limits would have ended we may then come to the realization that a wrong decision was made in granting this and all such licence and we did nothing to prevent it. At that time it will be too late and nothing we do would be able to change it.

Umar Abdullah
Head of: Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front)
Tel: 1 (868) 365-6253
Fax: 1 (868) 631-8597
Email: waajihatulislaamiyyah@gmail.com

Grandmothers Sell Alcohol and Cigarettes....

Drunk Driving....

Embassy Scandal: Guards Now Watch Guards

‘Once a dog is accustomed to sucking eggs you can’t stop it.’ These Americans has infiltrated and occupied our Holy Lands and brought nothing but disgrace, dishonor and shame. Their indecent and vulgar behavior befits the destroyed city of Sodom and Gomorrah. They have contaminated our Holy Lands with their sick sense of living and have tarnished the idea of what life is really all about. These stinking descendants of Apes and Swines should be killed!