Methamphetamine (P) reaches out and snares more victims!

Here we go again! Yet more families will be affected by this latest criminal foray by a group of people who have gone to the 'dark side.' Go to my website and either buy the hard copy of Roskill or download the Ebook version. www.authorneilcoleman.com "Two people wanted in relation to an alleged kidnapping in Queenstown last week were found hiding out in a remote hut, police said. Joshua Veint, 23, and Lilly Boden, 21, were found by a police team in a remote hut on the shores of Lake Wakatipu yesterday afternoon, as a result of information received from the public. Around six hours later, police also spotted Pita Wilson, 38, leaving a Frankton Rd address. He was apprehended on the Frankton Queenstown walkway. The arrests were the culmination of a six day manhunt after 22-year-old Joseph Armstrong went missing last week. He was found on Tuesday at a camping ground in Queenstown, with injuries that needed medical attention. Police today praised the local community and "solid police work" for helping to solve the investigation. "Police thank the Queenstown community for their support during this investigation, which, combined with excellent police work by our staff, has led to an outcome that clearly demonstrates that working together we can all have a part to play in keeping our community safe," relieving Otago Rural Area Commander Inspector Olaf Jensen said. "The police's investigative team, comprising of Otago Rural and Southern District staff, has worked tirelessly over the past week to get a result." The investigation would now focus on the criminal liability of people who may have assisted those involved to avoid arrest, Mr Jensen said. "The investigation has also identified activity involving methamphetamine possession and supply which will result in further charges and potentially arrests." Three people were due to appear in Queenstown District Court this morning on a range of charges relating to the alleged kidnapping. A 38-year-old man and a 23-year-old man face charges of kidnapping, wounding and supplying methamphetamine. A 21-year-old woman faces a charge of possession of methamphetamine and will appear in the Queenstown District Court on Monday, while a 22-year-old woman is due to appear in the same court on Monday charged with being an accessory after the fact of wounding. Two other men also appeared in court in Invercargill earlier in the week on charges related to the incident." - NZME.

'Problem' gamblers 'helped' by an industry that preys upon them---yeah right!

Who the hell came up with the bright idea that ‘problem’ gamblers would be identified by staff in bars, casinos etc. and be ‘helped by them,’ apparently by means of refusing them service? It seems that very few people have been stopped and offered help. The numbers are a joke. Well actually---no---it is an abysmal failure. How successive Governments could possibly believe that some sort of ‘self-policing’ in the gambling industry was going to help alleviate the issue of ‘problem gamblers,’ is just a figment of the bank manager’s imagination. Why on earth would an institution that relies on someone believing the impossible dream, come up with a procedure that limited the profits that such institutions make? It’s a no brainer. Would it not be like a vineyard telling people they should not buy their wine or a movie theatre saying to patrons that the movie was a sad one and that it might be better that the patrons not buy a ticket. Come on---let’s get real about the gambling problem and yes, offer help, but that should be offered by a third party having access to patrons---in the actual bar or casino. Can we see that happening any time soon? Maybe they could issue ‘gambling speeding tickets!’ So let’s be honest about this and approach the issue from a different angle. Start by closing down so many of the gaming lounges and insist on those that remain have robust interventions and those interventions triggered by trained people who can assist when needed. OK---who is going to fill that role and under what circumstances would the ‘trigger-point’ be reached.’ There needs to be much discussion around this, but we cannot continue to let those who are least able to, decide to accept help, continue to ruin their lives, while filling the pockets of the institutions that prey upon them, and worse, take away opportunities’ for their kids! It is going to take a very brave group of politicians who can stand up to the gambling industry and the masses who believe that---just one more turn of the wheel----- and their problems will be over!’ To use the words of our Dear Leader, ‘At the end of the day, gambling is just another form of ‘P!’ Yeah I know---I am taking liberties. Read about ‘P’ in my book Roskill and see how a family deals with issue of ‘P’ and how it threatens to destroy a family. Go to my website for a hard copy (www.authorneilcoleman.com) or just click on (http://www.amazon.com/dp/047325655X) for a reader AP (Kindle) download.

Roskill--the old edition is in some libraries---tell me which ones!

I have been hearing that the very first edition of ROSKILL is in some libraries. I want to find out which ones and make sure that they have the 'improved' version, the one that I am in controll of. So---if you see one and it is the 2011 format, please let me know (This post will be on FB too) and I shall contact the library concerned and provide them with the new edition. www.authorneilcoleman.com

Nigeria battles Boko Haram!

Nigeria faces an almost impossible battle to try to stop the establishment of a Sharia Law based state in Northern Nigeria, if not the entire nation. The advocates of this ‘ideal,’ are the Boko Haram group who are prepared to use any method, including murder, genocide and kidnapping. They have struck fear into the inhabitants of the villages and cities, striking almost at will to achieve their goals. So far the Nigerian Government has been at a loss to reverse the tide of destruction and terror that BK inflicts on the nation. The Government has come in for much criticism re its inability to stop the group. This trend may be about to change. It appears that vigilante groups are allying themselves to the Government and are fighting back, using equally crude methods to fight the scourge that is BK. The villagers are arming themselves with basic weaponry, ranging from bush knives, agricultural implements right through to captured arms and they are taking it to BK. There is little organization at this stage but local Governors are now encouraging people to fight back. It is only when the people are behind the Government that things can change. Yes, Nigeria is not known for its ‘lack of corruption,’ but the alternative ‘state’ as espoused by BK is a massively negative choice. It is only when the majority of the population gets on board and follows through, identifying those aligned to BK and passing on information to the military that things will improve. Of course, even if BK are defeated, some of the reasons for their existence will still exist. The huge disparity in wealth distribution feeds directly into the establishment of groups like BK and ISIS. Unless real change occurs, politically and economically, there will always be dissidents fighting for change. When those groups use ‘religious extremism,’ combined with terrorism, then Governments will have little support. Nigeria has a narrow window of opportunity. If it wishes the people to support the Government, then that body must take a look at how it operates. The ‘look in the mirror,’ may not show them what they need to do, unless they open their eyes to the reality of life I Nigeria for the vast number of its people. BK can be defeated but it may also represent a Phoenix, ready to rise again at the ‘slightest invitation,’ one carrying the seeds of despair!