Anti-crime march starts outside murder victim’s home

SOUTH Trinidad will take on crime this weekend with protest action in Barrackpore where Ashmead Baksh was killed and a close of business places at neighbouring Penal districts. Today, hundreds of people will stage a march from Baksh’s Rochard Douglas home. Starting at 2 pm, various village proprietors, taxi drivers and residents, will assemble at different locations in Barrackpore. They will commence marching from their various destinations and will assemble at the Petrotrin Recreation Ground. Police have granted permission for the march.

Baksh, second eldest son of Naparima MP Nizam Baksh, was kidnapped and murdered close to his home Friday last. His sister, Shazaara Baksh, a secondary school teacher, told Sunday Newsday that the march is aimed at bringing to the fore the “bleeding hearts of all mothers who have lost a son at the hands of kidnappers.” Barrackpore residents staged a motorcade of over 100 vehicles on Friday afternoon as a mark of protest. The Penal/Debe Chamber of Commere president Leo Dougnath, confirmed yesterday that the organisation has issued a call for all businesses in the area to remain closed tomorrow. The action is being taken, a faxed release from the Chamber office stated, as a means of  sending a “silent” message against crime.