VICIOUS VIPERS

That was the consensus of residents of crime-ravaged Enterprise, Chaguanas, yesterday reflecting that most of them, if not all, have lost a loved one by the hands of gunmen who are more “vicious than vipers”.

“We are a people of losses. Most, if not all of us, have lost a loved one for nothing,” said a resident of Dass Trace. “The killings are senseless.

There are people here who are trying but others are trying to fulfil the prophecy. All we want is peace.” Though the area is considered a ghetto, the resident who requested anonymity said it is a civil community with plenty poor and good people.

Four shooting deaths within five days in Enterprise last week resulted in an increased police and army presence as an uneasy calm prevails.

Residents said what used to be a peaceful area appears to be a war-zone and now the lives of innocent and law-abiding residents are at risk.

“All of us used to live nice, nice, nice before,” another Dass Trace resident told Sunday Newsday.

“Imagine we grow up here, and men who we grew up with telling us we are not allowed in certain streets. They (gang members) are more vicious than vipers. It dangerous out here. It mad. It is not as it was before. Before I go anywhere now, I pray (sic).” On Friday, National Security Minister, a former head of the Defence Force, Edmund Dillon, met and engaged an alleged member of the Unruly ISIS gang during a tour with other top ranking officials.

Residents however said they are not convinced a tour will solve the crime as they labelled some police as being rogue elements. Some residents further accused officers of contributing to the problem by supporting “certain gang members”.

Dass Trace is located on the western side of the Southern Main Road not far from the police post at Lion’s Gate. The western side is considered the stronghold of the Unruly ISIS gang. Some other streets are Bhagaloo Trace, Crown Trace and Jackson Street. Unruly ISIS is warring against the Rasta City gang located on the eastern side of the Southern Main Road, home to streets such as Freedom, Enterprise, John and Railway Road.

African Grounds is also located in this area.

When Sunday Newsday visited the popular grounds, scores of children of the Eagles United Sports Club took a break from football practice. Manager Christopher Regis said despite the negative reports about Enterprise there are many positives.

“In this club, we have the Enterprise Girls basketball team,” Regis said. “We have a junior and senior football team. We are here every Saturday, every holiday and whenever we are invited to events. In the Central Zone (football league) for the season 2016-2017, we placed second.” Members are between the ages of four and 15.

Regis called on parents and guardians to focus more on the youths, the future, to have a better country.

“Most of the shootings are not done at African Grounds as reported in the media,” Regis said.

“Despite everything, here nice and it will get back to the way it was before.

The people themselves need to invest more in the youths. We have been in existence for about five years.” He noted that although the membership is dwindling “because of fear” many youths are stilling showing up for practice. He commended other colleagues such as the club’s head coach Curtis James and assistant coach Eric Alfred, for their effort in making the community a better place.

Many persons interviewed yesterday refrained from commenting on the warring gangs but called for an end to the bloodshed.

Councillor for Enterprise South, Ronald Heera, suggested that love and communication are the solutions to the crime in the community.

“We need love and communication because if you look at the videos circulating, these fellas are reaching out and they want somebody to talk to. We have to bring them together,” Heera said.