Chief Magistrate laments epidemic fear due to kidnappings

CHIEF Magistrate Sherman McNicolls broke his silence over the spate of lawlessness, especially kidnappings, during a prayer service held yesterday in Tableland for the safe release of ten-year-old kidnap victim Vijay Persad, where Mc-Nicolls said the kidnappings had left the country in a state of fear. “This country has become almost like Colombia, and one has to consider the number of kidnappings not reported may be more than those reported. We do not even know how much money has been paid to kidnappers,” McNicolls told a large gathering at Robert Village Hindu School, which included Persad’s mother. McNicolls said criminal gangs were so well organised in this country, they were always one step ahead of the police. “There is a sense of  hopelessness in this country and we have to ask ourselves who is next on the list of the kidnappers.”

The chief magistrate referred to kidnappers as “vagabonds” and “rogues” and said a kidnapper was worse than a murderer. It has been over a month since little Vijay was snatched outside his Moruga Road, Princes Town home by three men who were refused entry into the family business by Vijay’s father. A ransom demand of $500,000 has been made for the boy’s safe release. “Although things look so hopeless, God can still find a way where there is no way, and we must keep faith,” McNicolls said. Other notable persons present at the function were Princes Town MP Subhas Panday, Pastor Clive Dottin and Princes Town Regional Cor-poration Chairman Khemchand Ramdath. Pastor Dottin said TT was promoting a culture of hooliganism, and the kidnapping culture, which he said took a period of time to develop, was now almost “institutionalised” in this country. Pastor Dottin also called on persons who called in radio talk shows to defend kidnappers, to stop immediately, “since your relative could be next.”