RAGE IN ENTERPRISE

Residents began blocking access to John Street and surrounding roads with burning debris some firing flares and setting off firecrackers creating a gridlock as they demanded action on the Unruly Isis gang, which they blamed for Alexis’ murder, and a spate of killings in the central Trinidad community.

There were reports of gunshots being fired in the air.

Alexis, elder brother of Selwyn “Robocop” Alexis, who was also murdered last year, died when two men opened fire on him with high-powered guns from a vehicle as he stood outside his home at about 6.30 pm.

A police unit parked a short distance from the street, as part of their patrol duties, responded on hearing the gunshots and called for back-up when they found Alexis’ body. By 7.15 pm, neighbours and residents began streaming out into the streets, and angered by the Alexis’ murder began setting fires.

ROADS BLOCKED A joint police-soldier patrol posted at a HDC house in the area arrived soon after and cordoned off the streets, as Fire Services were called out to put out the fires.

The old Southern Main Road, a main thoroughfare which passes through the community, was also obstructed with debris along some parts triggering a traffic jam up to outlying areas including Chin Chin Road, Cunupia from where the fires could be seen.

A driver called Newsday and reported being unable to go past Chin Chin Road and had to find an alternative route.

Commuters had to divert through Longdenville and Ragoonanan Road as police redirected the traffic.

Just two weeks ago, on March 11, two men, Terrance “Boomy” Patrick and Christian Mohammed were shot while liming at the corner of John and School Streets in Enterprise. Patrick was pronounced dead at the Chaguanas Health Centre and Mohammed succumbed to his wounds at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope the following day. A man and a woman were also shot but survived and were discharged from the Mt Hope hospital after being warded for a few days.

Police believed the March 11 shootings were reprisals for the murder of Selwyn “Robocop” Alexis, a community activist who was charged for extortion and kidnappings but was never convicted. He and a customer were gunned down at his car wash in Enterprise last July 17.

The gunman was killed in the cross-fire.

Three men were detained for questioning about the murders of Patrick and Mohammed and one of them was identified as a relative of Selwyn Alexis. The suspects were however released. Sylvan is the third Alexis sibling to be murdered as brothers Mervyn Alexis and Selwyn “Robocop” Alexis were also gunned down in unrelated incidents.

BUILD POLICE STATION Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams last night told Newsday he was not yet in a position to comment.

“I’m not down at Enterprise, so I’ll have to receive an update. A murder has taken place but I have to get the facts from the officers down there.” Asked if he is monitoring the situation, he said, “We have a substantial operation there, of police and soldiers, so that’s in operation. The events of this evening I’ll have to find out the details.” Pressed as to if he would give his initial impressions, Williams replied he had not yet got the feedback. “The Divisional Commander, in assessing what transpired today, will provide me with the information.” Chaguanas East MP Fazal Karim, whose constituency includes Enterprise, last night reiterated his call for a police station to be built in the area, to replace what he described as an inadequate police post at Lions Gate near to where yesterday’s shooting occurred. He said, “A police station will do a lot to comfort local people, compared to just the temporary police post.” He also urged more joint police/army patrols in the area. Karim said he condemned in the strongest possible the shooting of Alexis, just as he would condemn the killing of any citizen. He said it is worrisome that crime is out of control to the extent that people are afraid to leave their homes.

LINE CROSSED Recalling a religious leader at yesterday’s funeral of WPC Nyasha Joseph lamenting her murder as a serving police officer, Karim remarked that when persons commit murder near a police post they have proverbially crossed the line, even as he lamented a murder near the Chaguanas Police Station.

He urged citizens to assist the police in their inquiries. Karim said he is working to try to establish skills-training programmes and police youth clubs in that area as an anti-crime deterrent.

He is also working with local schools, NGOs and faith based organisations, even as he recalled a recent ecumenical week of prayer to boost spirituality in the area. “We continue to pray and seek God’s intervention,” he said.

Parents too can play a big role, he said, given that many crimes are committed by young people. Asked if more should be done to try to directly stem feuding amongst gangs, he said he’d ask religious leaders to try to mediate peace.

Saying the Government must step in to take responsibility in this situation, Karim promised to work with the Ministry of National Security and any other ministry towards a settlement of this unrest.

He again condemned the killing and urged all citizens and groups to work together to address the scourge of crime in both central Trinidad and nationwide. Efforts to contact National Security Minister Edmund Dillon were unsuccessful last night.