First of three Debe murder victims laid to rest

Tiwarie was speaking at the funeral service of Sanjay “Bobby” Mahabir, 42, one of three men killed on Thursday night by gunmen at a bar in Debe.

“It is sad to see that something like this happened in Debe,” Tiwarie said.

“Debe is a very peaceful place.

We may have little crimes from time to time. Crime is getting out of hand and I do not think it is going to get better. I hope something can be done to resolve this murder situation because it is very, very unbearable to see.” At about 7.30 pm on Thursday, two gunmen ran into Runway 69 Shorts Bar in Debe and opened fire. Patron Kevin Fuller, 31, a scrap iron dealer of Naparima/ Mayaro Road in Palmyra, sustained multiple injuries and died at the scene. His friend, Terry Edwards of Wellington Gardens in Debe attempted to flee but the gunmen shot and killed him also.

Mahabir, an off-shore worker who lived nearby at Rose Garden Drive off Wellington Road in Debe, was outside the bar and was speaking to his wife on his cellular phone. As he attempted to reach his car, gunmen shot him several times. He collapsed and was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital where he subsequently died. Another patron, Daniel Che Ching, 19, of Debe, sustained a gunshot wound to the hand but survived the ordeal.

Yesterday scores of mourners flocked to Mahabir’s home to bid him farewell. Among the mourners were Member of Parliament for Oropouche East, Dr Roodal Moonilal who referred to Mahabir as an innocent bystander and a very jovial, happy, hardworking husband.

Moonilal labelled Debe a hotspot and called on the National Security minister and police to treat the community as such.

“We have enormous robberies taking place in this community and while that is happening, the government concentrates on the breathalyser and speed test,” Moonilal said. “Had the police been on patrols and doing the type of stop and search randomly, gunmen would not have been able to parade this country at will and commit this type of brutish activity.” He called on constituents to organise themselves so as to have better safeguards.

“That is the crisis we face. The canefields of Debe have now become the killing fields of Debe and we must take note. I call upon the Government to reintroduce, urgently and immediately, the Community Comfort Patrol.” Mahabir’s body was taken to the Shore of Peace Cremation Site at Mosquito Creek for cremation.