Fed-up Fuad launches new Anti-Kidnapping Squad

DISSATISFIED with several government initiated anti-crime plans and concerned over the the spate of kidnappings in his constituency, San Juan/Barataria MP Dr Fuad Khan, yesterday launched a new constituency-based civilian Anti-Kidnapping Squad which he called “Guardian Angels”.

Dr Khan spoke to the media yesterday at his constituency office at the Priority Bus Route Mall in the Croisee. He said the group, which would be formally launched next Monday, comprises mainly of young people living in his constituency, between 15 and 18, who will carry out anti-kidnapping and anti-crime manoeuvres including surveillance work. Dr Khan called on all Members of Parliament to launch similar groups in their constituencies to monitor strange persons or activities and to report them to the police. “I am calling on the Prime Minister to support this drive and to lend whatever assistance he can to see that it is a success,” Dr Khan said. He told the media he had written a formal letter to Commissioner of Police Hilton Guy yesterday requesting police officers to train Guardian Angel (GA) members in combat, use of firearms and surveillance techniques.

Dr Khan said on Monday, 15 GA members hit the streets and began investigations into the kidnapping of 13-year-old schoolboy Gewan Geelal, the son of millionaire San Juan businessman Premnath Geelal. He did not say what stage those investigations had reached. Dr Khan said GA was not a vigilante group and would operate within the tenets of the law. He said persons wishing to become members first had to get approval from police. Dr Khan said the GA would operate at ground level and report all their findings to the relevant police authorities. He also said the Anti-Kidnapping Squad had a small police staff and could not handle all of the kidnapping incidents effectively. “I have always said that legislation alone does not stop crime, but implementation of common law does,” he said.

Dr Khan said he was hoping to get the support of the police in this venture. Within the past three weeks, three young children were kidnapped in separate incidents in San Juan, prompting fear and outrage especially among the business community in San Juan. Khan said the GA programme, which is structured under a similar one set up  in New York some years ago, has received the blessings of the San Juan Businessmen Association, Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday and “some” members of the Police Service. Efforts to reach Commissioner of Police Hilton Guy for a reaction proved futile. However his Deputy, Trevor Paul, said he was not aware of either the formation of the group, nor the letter sent to the CoP by Dr Khan, requesting training assistance. I will have to examine the contents of this letter before I make any comment,” DCP Paul said. Dr Khan has also called on the business community to contribute monies which would go towards the acquiring of the necessary infrastructure to make the group more functional.