IAM & Co owner relieved

“I feel much better now. It gives me a little peace of mind that the police have made an arrest. My staff, my entire family are feeling so good that the police have made an arrest. I think the whole of Trinidad is feeling a sense of relief,” Ali said. He told Newsday yesterday that on account of the incident, his business and family including his grandchildren at school, have suffered. Over 100 staff were also affected.

Yesterday, he said, Ag Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Wayne Dick paid him a visit at his Trincity office and they held discussions. The keys to the Charlotte Street branch, Ali said, were returned to him but Ali added that he would not reopen this branch for the rest of this week leading up to the Christmas weekend. “I have to tidy it up. Some of the workers will be scared to go back there, so we will do a little prayers for the place. We will get a priest to bless the building and then reopen,” Ali said.

Asked if he had made contact with Banfield’s parents, Ali said he was trying to make arrangements through a priest who was at the funeral as to how he will go about meeting with Shannon’s relatives them. Though he reiterated that he wants to help the family, Ali admitted, “I have not offered anything as yet.”