By Chantalé Fletcher
YOUTUBERS engage in activities like doing vlogs with alleged gang members because they get likes.
This was the comment made by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley after a Canadian Youtuber was charged under sedition laws of Trinidad and Tobago and others used social media to feature similar content.
Speaking at the post-Cabinet press conference on Thursday, Dr Rowley said people engaged in the activity do it because it benefited themselves, not because they want to help the country.
He added, “They get likes and the more ridiculous, the more violent, shocking, the better for them. So they come and do it here because we are an open society. We are open to nationals and foreigners who are friendly to Trinidad ,if it was not him, it would have been somebody else.”
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Dr Rowley said, “ They make themselves available to him. They don’t make themselves available to the police as they too need to be out there especially if they are no consequences and we in establishing consequences while being an open society, we are governed by the rule of law.
“And our laws here permit certain things and we have to step very carefully. Information is not evidence, in the absence of evidence , you cannot arrest people.”
Dr Rowley said, “I don’t think the country should be ashamed. However, we should try to learn from it and ensure of security people find these miscreants because they are threatening all of us.”
He said he was not surprised that the issue with the Youtuber had arisen due to the advancement of technology.
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Canadian YouTuber Christopher Arthur Hughes, who goes by “Chris Must List” was charged with publishing a statement with a seditious intention on May 29.
Hughes allegedly posted videos featuring individuals professing to be gang members, advocating criminal activities, and using threatening language.
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Dr Rowley said, “I’m not surprised this issue has arisen because it’s something that people have an interest in and once people have an increase in it and you are technologically able to feed that interest this is the type of thing.”
He said, “Unfortunately it does not show our better side, but in our population like in other populations we have some people who engage in activities that do not make us proud and threaten our own safety and security.”
