‘IT WILL BE LIKE BAGHDAD’

THE police and army will soon launch a “Baghdad” invasion of the Laventille area to deal with gang related murders according to ACP Crime Oswyn Allard.

“It will be like Baghdad,” said Allard who said that Government has also been asked to implement a limited state of emergency to facilitate the police/army action. While he would not divulge details of the planned action, Minister of National Security, Howard Chin Lee yesterday confirmed that efforts were underway to rid Laventille of the criminals who are terrorising the area. Newsday was told that the police have several “packs of cards” of the criminals involved in the spate of murders in the Laventille, Sea Lots, Belmont and Beetham areas where 75 percent of the murders in the country have taken place. The operation is intended to flush them out. The police have not given a date for the action. Yesterday, Allard issued a warning to lawbreakers to surrender all their arms and ammunition, or face the consequences.

He added that the police are determined to stop the operations of criminals in Laventille, and the planned action will send a clear message to the criminals that they either obey the law or face the repercussions. “What I can say at this time is that the elected government is the only government, and no community leader or gang leader will be able to dictate what happens in the community of Laventille, ever again,” Allard stated.  He said that the initiative has already been discussed with Police Commissioner Hilton Guy and the police and army have already identified a base in the East/West Corridor from where the action will be launched. Newsday learned that police officers from all police divisions will be called out to assist in the anti-crime plan. Soldiers will also assist the police.

Up to yesterday 79 persons have been killed for the year. More than 75 percent of the murders took place in Laventille, Belmont, Beetham and Sea Lots. Yesterday, Minister of National Security Howard Chin Lee said that the spate of gang related murders in Laventille is alarming. “We recognise that most of murders are gang related and strategies are being put in place to deal with gun related murders, and the number of guns entering the country”, he said. He revealed that an aggressive anti-crime initiative will be launched shortly and said that this plan will yeild the desired results. He said that while he could not divulge the details, he is certain that Laventille will soon be rid of the undesirable elements. The Minister pointed out that the law abiding citizens of Laventille would also be required to do their part to assist the police and army.