Kidnap insurance on offer

Three businesswomen who each head a chamber of commerce came together to host a recent seminar on the Kidnapping Bill 2003 and to each plead for a united front to tackle violent crime. The event occurred on Thursday at Home Construction Lim-ited Organisational Centre, Tacarigua.

President of the Greater Tunapuna Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Kiran Maharaj, said: “It is outrageous that we are afraid in our own homes. Our children can’t go outside without us keeping five-minute tabs on them or they don’t go out at all. When will the time end? There must be unity in diversity in tackling these issues.” She called on the different political heads to put aside their differences to tackle crime. Maharaj said that if one had the “desire” this would lead to “will” which would lead to “deed,” which would determine our “destiny.” 

President of the Sangre Grande Chamber of Commerce, Indra Sina-nan Ojar-Maharaj, said: “Women, who are the most affected by crime, are becoming more and more emotional, when our sons and daughters are kidnapped, murdered and raped...I’m calling on the Government and Op-position to put their agendas behind them.” “While I agree about the need for constitutional reform, the issue of kidnapping is just as important. As a businesswoman I can tell you that foreign investors are concerned (about crime). Despite the Wallerfield Project, there will be a brain drain. Families are migrating, closing their businesses. In 1990 Prime Minister Robinson said ‘Attack with full force.’ I’m calling on the Government and Oppos-ition to come together. Despite the pain of  having to compromise our political differences, let’s come together and attack this scourge with full force, sooner rather than later.”

The seminar was earlier addressed by Attorney General Glenda Morean and Pointe-a-Pierre MP Gillian Lucky debating the Kidnapping Bill. Gail Merhair, President of the San Juan Business Association, said that those present as business people were the main target of kidnappings and now sought to understand the Kidnapping Bill so as to make informed decisions. In the question and answer session, Down-town Owners and Merchants Association (DOMA) public relations officer, William Latch-man, revealed that he had been approached by insurance companies of-fering him kidnapping insurance. Another man opined that deportees from North America were largely to blame for the recent kidnappings. A businessman of Tunapuna felt that the legislation would not actually improve the detection rate for kidnappings.