Rio Claro threatens shutdown against crime

Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corporation vice chairman, Hazarie Ramdeen, said despite meeting with a number of senior police officers, the crime situation in Rio Claro has reached "frightening proportions" with most businesses employing curfew closing hours.

Ramdeen said the recent kidnap attempt of hardware owner, Narine Ramrattan, had forced a number of businessmen to hire private security to safeguard their families. "We had a meeting with the business people of San Pedro, Poole Village, Fonrose Village and Rio Claro. They have all agreed to shut their businesses down unless the Ministry of National Security takes immediate steps to strengthen the Rio Claro Police Station," Ramdeen said. Ramdeen stated that the police station, which was responsible for patrolling an area stretching from Poole Village to the outskirts of Mayaro, was manned at any given time by two police constables and a corporal.

Ramdeen stated that a recently-introduced task force to stem the rising spate of crime in Rio Claro and Mayaro had been moved to Laventille. "We are calling for the reintroduction of the task force, more police officers and a joint army/police presence," he added. A letter has been forwarded to National Security Minister Martin Joseph outlining the community’s concerns and notification of the planned shutdown action. Ramdeen declined to say when the community would shut the town down.