YES say residents, NO says DOMA head

The President of the Downtown Owners and Merchants Association Gregory Aboud yesterday condemanded the decision by the police to  carry out a “Baghdad” invasion of the Laventille area to deal with gang-related murders.

Aboud told Newsday that while the spate of gang killings is a cause for concern, he believes that the police can adopt a different approach to the problem. He said that there are lots of law abiding citizens living in and around Laventille and they could be affected by any police/army invasion. But residents of Laventille yesterday welcomed the planned move stating that they were fed up of not being able to leave their homes at night, leave their windows open or even sleep without fear. They added that the police had to maintain a continuous presence in Laventille to flush out the criminal elements. Residents said that the police come to the area, carry out raids and then leave. They described Fort Picton as a base for the criminals who use the fort to carry out illegal activtities.

They claimed that the Fort served as a lookout for the criminals who could see whenever a police vehicle is approaching. They are calling for a police post to be built at the Fort and that police officers patrol Laventille round the clock. Residents said that an empty building located next to the Desperadoes Panyard can also be used by the police to set up a base. Aboud said that Minister of National Security Howard Chin Lee should seek dialogue with all the parties which could assist in dealing with the escalating crime situation. However, ACP Crime Oswyn Allard said that the planned police/army action will take place and the police will ensure that the criminal elements are weeded out. He added that “enough is enough” and the police will return Laventille to a peaceful community. He again issued his call for the lawbreakers to surrender all their arms and ammunition, or face the consequences.

A base has already been identified along the East/West Corridor from where the police action will be launched. For the year 75 murders have been recorded, compared with 49 for the same period last year. More than 50 percent of the gang-related killings took place in the east Port-of-Spain/ Laventille area. Last year, 172 persons were murdered. Homicide sources said yesterday that they do not expect the killings to stop since most of the Laventille areas are filled with tracks which killers use to escape after a murder takes place. On Sunday night Kevin Alexander, 26, was shot dead near his Rudolph Charles Link Road home. Then around 6 pm on Monday gunmen opened fire on a family, shooting three including a one and half year old baby. An eyewitness claimed that around 6 pm, five gunmen went to the Picton Road, Laventille home of Garvin Alexander, 24, where they met Callender’s common law wife Arlene and Garvin’s cousin Shanice. The gunmen then began firing. Arlene was shot on the foot, while Shanice was shot in the right hand. They were rushed to hospital where they were warded in serious condition.

Police officers attached to the Besson Street Police Station told Newsday that all the shootings and killing are gang-related. They also claimed that almost daily and nightly they investigate several shootings, robberies, break-ins, sexual offences and other crimes. Residents of Laventille yesterday were critical of Prime Minister Patrick Manning and Members of Parliament for failing to deal with the crime situation in the area. Newsday learned that a government Minister is expected to meet with residents shortly to discuss the problems and to find out from them what could be done to alleviate the problem.