Enterprise residents want foot patrol in community

“Two men riding around in a jeep is not patrol,” argued one angry resident who asked not to be identified. “What we want to see is foot patrol as two men in a jeep is a waste of time. They get friendly with the men and them. Is a war you come to face.” The camp which is housed in a Housing Development Corporation (HDC) apartment building is located a couple streets away from the spot where Lewis was gunned down.

The resident recalled that on Friday night Lewis was liming on “the block” - a police vehicle was parked in close proximity to the well known block.

Newsday was told that about four men came out the track with guns blazing.

He then gave this account: “When the (gun) men come out from the track and start firing, the police van drive off. Gunmen came from both sides and they (police) only returned when it was over.” The man accused the officers of failing to assist the wounded Lewis in getting medical attention.

“Man over him trying to lift him up to carry him to the hospital and the officers would not even lift a finger. Is almost like if is a joke to them,” he said.

“If they had helped, he might have been alive today.” Lewis was shot in his back as he tried to escape gunmen and succumbed to his wounds in the arms of his uncle while on the way to the Chaguanas Health Facility.

The resident warned that if law enforcement officers don’t step up their game in the community, the same gunmen they are friendly with will turn their guns on them.

“They are out of control. Is “Muslims” they (police) dealing with.” Another eyewitness who spoke to Newsday said he narrowly missed being shot and was scared to go to work on Saturday.

When Newsday spoke to Lewis’ mother on Saturday, she had a different view about the work being done by the officers saying that they were doing their best in the crime ridden community.

She however felt that it was left on the young men to change their lifestyle. She said her son had been warned about hanging out on the dangerous blocks in the community.

Officers of the Central Division, up to yesterday, continued the hunt for Lewis’ killers. Police are also searching for the “hit man” who shot and killed Barrackpore doubles vendor / wrecking service owner Ramesh “Raj” Jacob on Saturday. At about 6 am, the 41 year-old father of two was killed while setting up his doubles stall outside the entrance of the Ato Boldon Stadium, Balmain in Couva where he has peddled his trade for the past 17 years. His wife Halima and employees who were present at the time escaped injuries. Investigators believe his death was a “hit” as nothing was taken from him.

It was reported that a gunman alighted from a car and walked up to him shot him in the head and back before escaping in the waiting vehicle.