MURDER TOLL NOW 139

THE MURDER tally for the year now stands at 139, only 33 away from last year’s tally of 172, and there is still almost five months remaining in the year.

By contrast, the number of murders last year for the corresponding period stood at 81, police sources told Newsday yesterday.  Currently the murder rate is averaging 16 per month and senior police officials said they are optimistic that the murder rate could be kept on par with the 172. However, police said they are very mindful that the month of December usually accounts for the highest amount of killings, owing to the Christmas season and the many shows that accompany the festive season. Mother of four, Juliet Gonzales-Cummings was the country’s latest murder victim, having been stabbed to death by a man she knows.  A man has since been charged.

Police could not give the statistics for solved murders for the year, but Acting Commissioner of Police Everald Snaggs said the Inter Agency Task Force, comprising police and army officials is responsible for solving 13 murders since its inception last May. Snaggs also said that the number of shootings and murders in the Laventille, Morvant and Belmont areas has slowed down considerably, given the trend that continued from last year into the early months of this year. The top cop also said that the Task Force has recovered 12 firearms, seized 93 rounds of ammunition and eight kilogrammes of marijuana. “The Unit will continue to aggressively implement its activities but will be physically closer to members of the community, in order to foster good relations and trust,” Snaggs said.