Tabaquite cries out

Business owners and the councillor shared how disappointed they are about the state of what was once known as a peaceful village.

All owners interviewed refused to use their names and photos because they were afraid to do. They all stated that they believe if the Brasso Police Station was still operating, they would have been spared from the criminals. The businessmen believe the situation will get worse.

The only police station close to Tabaquite, the Gran Couva Police Station, is almost 15 miles away. Awong noted that the response time to calls from the village is very slow because officers at the station complain of unavailability of vehicles. The Brasso Police Station which was abruptly closed down eight years ago, was approximately five to seven miles from Tabaquite, Awong noted. One businesswoman who has been operating for almost 12 years said she believes drug trafficking is the cause of the increased criminal activity in the area.

“There is a lot of drugs in Tabaquite and then we have no police station so we are an easy target,” she said.

She suggested that a mobile police unit should be placed somewhere in Tabaquite. A businessman with over 49 years of service in the area stated that the situation is worse than any other he has seen in his lifetime as a resident of Tabaquite. He confirmed the first businesswoman’s statement about drugs in the area.

“Those young boys want easy money and they don’t want to work for it,” he said.” I close my shop early because of the crime situation. I definitely fear for my life and my family’s life and I think the Government should give people in areas like this guns. The only alternative we have is to protect ourselves because others not going to protect us. I find the situation really bad and really disappointing.”

A six-time robbery victim also pleaded with the Government to rebuild the Brasso station quickly. Reliving the trauma of her experiences she said, “My children and I were beaten about the body and my husband was chopped. The worst was when I was eight months pregnant with my last child. About 9.30 pm they came.

I was held by my hair and dragged through my house. They kicked me and I fell to the floor. My 12-year-old daughter and six-year-old son were beaten with guns.”

In another robbery her four-year-old son was slammed to the ground. The disappointed businesswoman said the robberies have affected her family psychologically.

“There were times when I could leave my doors open but now I am afraid and I’m even more afraid for my children.

Now I have to keep my children inside all the time,” the woman said with much regret in her voice.

When asked what she thinks is causing this escalation in criminal activity she responded, “I believe unemployment has a part to do with it and laziness in some of them. They look at it as an easy way out. Laziness has a lot to do with it.

They could go out and work but they don’t want to work. Also a lot of people coming in and settling in Tabaquite.”She said that there are plans to develop housing settlements in Tabaquite. “We don’t want any housing settlements here because when people from the outside come here, that is when things will definitely worsen,” she said.

The mother of four said that she has a damaged back as a result of one of the robberies and also suffered a nervous breakdown. What does she think will solve the situation?
“I think businessowners should be given guns in this area since we have no police protection. Everyone in the house should be trained how to use it.”

She suggested that the police should not come in marked vehicles since this would give the criminals enough time to run.

She also pleaded with the Government to do something about the crime situation. “I can’t close down my business because this is my livelihood,” she said.

Asked about the proposed housing settlements Councillor Awong said, “We are hearing that the Government will be building houses in Mota Settlement but no concrete evidence is there.” He has also heard of plans to rebuild the Brasso Police Station. “Yes, as far as we are hearing but I also read that they’re going to build it in Flanagin Town instead.”
So what does Awong think will be the cure for the crime rate in the area?

“We definitely need more positive activities for the young people in Tabaquite. “Right now I know the business community is living in fear because of robberies and kidnappings in the area. Therefore, we are calling on the Minister of National Security to rebuild the Brasso Police Station immediately.”

Awong also responded to a statement made by Junior Minister of Security Fitzgerald Hinds who stated that according to the report he received from the Gran Couva Police Station, Brasso is not a crime hot spot, therefore, priority was not given to rebuilding the Brasso Police Station.

“The people of Tabaquite and environs do not have transport to go to Gran Couva since no taxis work that route. Most of them would go to Chaguanas or Longdenville so the information he (Hinds) received is false,” Awong said.