Businessmen not moving despite kidnapping threat

BUSINESSMEN in Port-of-Spain are adamant that they are not going to pack up and go because of the “renewed kidnapping activity which we know can destroy the economic and social fabric of Trinidad and Tobago.” Speaking through the Downtown Owners and Merchants Association, the businessmen noted that the criminal behaviour (kidnapping), will affect the confidence of investors, the creation of jobs and the motivation and ambition of a wide cross-section of those in business and those wanting to go into business. They also pointed to the indescribable anguish of family and friends during the uncertain days and nights, while awaiting the safe return of their loved ones.

DOMA feels that the greatest victory for the criminal element would be for its members to start fighting among each other or to run from the very grave threat that looks over them. “To fight among ourselves would be a signal of disunity and this association has maintained that disunity may be interpreted as the weakness of society by lawless individuals and thus may act to encourage them to be more bold in their current behaviour,” said DOMA. Claiming that it understands the fear that has gripped the majority of  citizens, DOMA said: “We too are afraid for ourselves and our families, but we do not believe that we should give up on the dream of building a great nation, because of the selfish intent of a minority of lawless individuals.” It noted that not only businesspeople had suffered at the hands of criminals. “Many of our fellow-citizens from all walks of life and almost every neighbourhood have been injured or killed by murderers, kidnappers and thieves.” DOMA failed to see why its members cannot work together and with the authorities to bring this very dangerous and destructive criminal behaviour to a halt.