38 murders in West Trinidad last year

WESTERN Trinidad has joined the ranks of crime ‘hot spots’ if the latest police statistics are to be believed. Homicide statistics revealed that the West ranked second overall in the country for murders committed in 2004 — with 38 slayings. Up to yesterday, three persons were murdered in the Western Division this year with police being unable, so far, to solve any of them or make arrests. Yesterday, the country’s overall murder toll for January was 19, with arrests being made in only three cases.

Compared with the same period last year, 19 murders were recorded with arrests made in seven of those incidents. Matthew “Pharaoh” Polo was chopped to death at his Factory Road, Diego Martin home earlier this month. Polo who had several matters pending in court for various offences, was recently released from prison after serving two years for chopping a police officer. Last week Tuesday, Kellmis McCarthy, 41, was shot to death while walking along the Diego Martin Main Road with his wife and daughter. That same day, German artist Jurgen Keck, 61, who was living in Glencoe was shot dead during a robbery at his home.

A breakdown of the figures on murders in the Western Division for 2004, revealed that the West End Police District recorded 14 murders, St James had 11 murders, Maraval had five and Carenage and Four Roads recorded four murders each. Acting Head of Homicide Bureau, Superintendent Fitzroy Fredericks expressed alarm over the murder rate, especially the killings in the Western Division. He added that several years ago, the Western Division was not considered one of the districts with a high level of crime and murders. The statistics now reveal that serious crime and murders are on the rise in the Western Division. The areas identified as having the highest number of crimes in the West were  Factory Road, Diego Martin; Covigne Road, parts of Cocorite, Petit Valley and Carenage. Supt Fredericks added that the East/West Corridor continues to record the highest rate of serious crimes. Last year Central Division recorded 20 murders, Southern 16, Western 38.

Port-of-Spain Division had the highest number of murders with 77 people killed last year. The total number of people killed in 2004 was 259, with 61 of those murders being solved. Up to yesterday, Port-of-Spain Division had recorded ten murders for this January, with arrests made in only one. Southern Division had one murder, Northern Division — two, Central — one, South-Western - one and Eastern Division — one. Many of these murders were described as gang related or linked to revenge and arguments over drug turfs.