Man stabbed outside Curepe pub

A Laventille man is now in a critical condition at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital after being stabbed by a rival gang member and left to die outside a Curepe pub on Sunday morning.

According to reports, police on routine patrol on the Eastern Main Road, Curepe, around 3.30 am observed a bleeding man lying on the ground with a stab wound to his stomach. The Emergency Health Service (ambulance) was contacted and took Andrew Edwards, 25, of Point Pleasant Lane, Laventille, to the hospital where he was warded up to press time. Investigations by Newsday later revealed that Edwards was accosted by a member of a known Laventille gang described as a “tall red African man” around 10 pm on Saturday, inside the Leadership Pub, Curepe, (upstairs Royal Castle). An argument started, followed by a scuffle which ended up downstairs. This was followed by the stabbing.

Edwards collapsed and remained on the ground until police arrived.
Police sources told Newsday that in recent times the pub had become a hotbed for violence, where gangs from various areas gather to carry out vendettas. Police were cautious in blaming management for the reoccurrence of violence at the pub. Two persons were killed and several injured at the same pub three years ago following a shootout between rival gang members. Randal Marquis, 25, of Plover Road, Morvant, appeared yesterday before Tunapuna Court Magistrate Gloria Jasmot, charged with wounding with intent. He was not called on to plead and was advised to seek a judge and jury in chambers for bail. The matter was adjourned to January 12. Ag Cpl Alert Groomes laid the charge.