Business outraged over crime

Chamber of Commerce president, Christian Mouttet, in a press statement, said, "The chamber is extremely concerned that Trinidad and Tobago is steadily deteriorating into an environment unfavourable both to business activities and to day-to-day living for all our citizens."

This year already, there have been 255 murders and 44 kidnappings, the chamber noted, and said it was disgusted at the present crime situation.

The chamber referred specifically to the recent murder of Samdaye Vindra Nanan, great-aunt of MP Adesh Nanan, and the kidnappings of Kenny Harry and Justin Raymond-Guillen, son of Trinidad Guardian Editor, Judy Raymond.

In a separate release, the Petroleum Dealers’ Association expressed similar sentiments about Nanan’s murder, referring to it as a gruesome act.

Mouttet also pledged the chamber’s assistance to the Government in identifying constructive measures with which to arrest the crime situation. The chamber cited that in its 2005 National Budget recommendations, it had focused on the Police Service, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the witness protection plan and other crime-related institutions that needed more funding as a means of curbing the crime problem.

Mouttet said the Chamber was eagerly anticipating the presentation of the National Budget in the hope that additional funding would be provided to all law enforcement agencies, and that some of the chamber’s recommendations would be implemented.