Business community slams Bakr

In a strongly worded statement, the organisation’s representative of the private sector in Trinidad and Tobago called upon the Government and Police Commissioner Trevor Paul to view Bakr’s statements as a possible threat to the safety and security of the population.

The group said it was appalled that Bakr could issue threats of "bloodshed" and "loss of life" if wealthy members of the national Muslim community do not pay the Muslim alms or "zakaat" to the Jamaat as self-appointed collector, or face the consequences.

The group said it was inconceivable that threats of this nature could be made publicly in the name of religion and "by someone with the antecedents of Mr Abu Bakr." Regardless of whether Bakr’s statements were made in the context of religion or not, the group said the authorities must not ignore this threat "at their own peril."