TT like Syria war zone

“he said, adding, “if these world reporters were here in Trinidad.

I tell you something, all these areas that are covered because of violence and crime they would be joke to what is happening in the killing fields of Trinidad and Tobago.” “And for those of you who love to say that crime is down, well crime is not down in Aleppo, Syria, it is not down in San Fernando or Port of Spain or Trinidad and Tobago,” he said, and noted that by his reckoning.

over 1,000 families have been affected by the spiralling murder rate between 2015 and 2016. “Our killing fields in Trinidad and Tobago is more vicious than the truck attack in Berlin,” he said, adding.

“too many families in our society will not celebrate Christmas this year and their sadness will go on into the new year.” Teelucksingh was addressing a packed congregation during a Christmas worship service at Susamachar Presbyterian Church, Coffee Street, San Fernando yesterday. In his trademark candid approach.

Teelucksingh cited the song, Blue Christmas, as the unofficial anthem of these families who would be shedding tears amid pleas for justice which would remain unanswered as Trinidad and Tobago seems to be “a land where so many cases go cold.” “Who are these families who know about the sad tear drops and the sad memories that come calling, 420 of them in 2015, about 450 in 2016 so far, family members who were murdered,” he said, adding, “ I want to remember and think about a mother’s sadness. She lives in Barataria - her 15-year-old son was shot to death this month. Did you hear about the Penal truck driver? He has a family - the family missed him for 11 days and he was found dead near an oil well in the district with his body duct taped, wrapped in a tarpaulin and dumped. For 11 days they cried and 11 days they prayed. I want you to remember the grief of a son who witnessed the shooting death of his mother a few days ago, a mother who was weeping for her young son who was shot to death for his gold chain and the sad tear drops keep falling for that young lady in Port-of-Spain who was murdered in a warehouse.” “This is a land where nobody seems to care,” he said, adding, “and I want to appeal to all families in Trinidad and Tobago to spare a thought and say a prayer for the families that will not be having a merry Christmas.” Teelucksingh also noted that the Holy Family of Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus were not without their problems but, instead of giving in to their problems, remained a family while dealing with their many challenges. “I want you to bear this in mind. Don’t think they were such a Godly family and they had no problems. That model family had problems just as any other family throughout the ages,” he said, adding, “do you know that Mary and Joseph and engagement problems? A real serious problem that they nearly break up.” They sought the guidance of God and they worked it out and stayed together, and that’s important. I want you to remember that lest you think that was a marriage made in heaven. I don’t know about that one. But I will tell you something as far as my family and your family is concerned.

that family had problems. They dealt with their problems they prayed about their problems and I am sure they discussed it with other people,” he said. Teelucksingh said the family had to remain the “nation’s premium fortress” against the many ills of society just as the Holy Family had managed to overcome the wicked devices of King Herod who had plotted to kill the new-born baby Jesus.