DOMA: Crime situation unacceptable

“The crime situation in this country has been unacceptable for sometime now and the action being taken in South Trinidad gives an indication that citizens are fed up with having to live in fear and being constantly abused by a few lawless individuals who are destroying our country.” So said President of the Downtown Owners and Merchants Association (DOMA), Gregory Aboud, as he spoke to Newsday yesterday on the decision of businessmen in Penal and Debe to close their stores for three hours on Monday in protest of the crime situation.

Questioned as to whether businessmen in Port-of-Spain could be expected to follow the example of their Southern colleagues, Aboud noted that it would be premature for him to comment. The Association, he admitted, has received calls from members who are in support of such action. However, the board of DOMA has not yet met to discuss this issue, which, he said, would be raised at its next meeting. President of the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association (TTMA), Anthony Aboud, expressed his belief that there was nothing wrong with a peaceful demonstration, but was not in a position to say whether it would be effective. He called for the citizens of TT to adopt a proactive approach to deal with the crime situation, working together to solve it.

“The TTMA,” he said, “has always promoted dialogue. Last year members of the various business associations met with the Prime Minister, the Commissioner of Police and the Minister of National Security to discuss the situation. We were very well received and given a number of assurances. Some things came about, specifically the commitment to a mobile police unit and a larger police presence. “Crime is escalating, but I don’t think that the cries of the people are falling on deaf ears. The government knows the issues and have to deal with it. “To depoliticise the crime situation is our problem as a people. It was not created overnight, but by anything and everything we do and we have to work together to solve it,” he asserted.