The killing fields of T&T

The Trinidad and Tobago Police reported that violent crime was down for the first quarter of 2019 (January1 –March 31).

Slained teenager NATANYA MOHAMDALLY, poses for a photograph with PM Dr KEITH ROWLEY at the St Jude’s Home for Girls in 2017

NATANYA MOHAMDALLY

Murders galore in T&T

But many people are saying that while the statistics are showing that there is a drop in various categories of crime, nearly every day there is either one or two brutal murders and several robberies. T&T is now dubbed the “killing field” and no one is safe either in their homes, standing at the side of the road or in a place of worship. The murder toll to date is 130. Over the weekend Police recorded six murders. Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley during an interview on CNC Morning Brew programme last Monday admitted that T&T is a violent society, but he noted that “there is not much fear of crime as before”. Does the population believe that rhetoric? Even police officers are coming under attack from criminals. Some police officers are also getting involved in criminal activities. As of the time of writing, so far for the year 123 people were killed as compared to 136 for the same period last year. A number of people have been “executed” in true mafia-style and bodies dumped in various parts of the country. One of the most gruesome killings was 17-yearold Netanyna Mohamdally, who was chopped to death and her body found in a drain in Couva. She had gone missing from her Chaguanas home for five days. Who would have done such a heinous crime is what people are asking. Already for the year l0 women have been murdered under different circumstances across the country. What about the bandits who went to rob devotees at a prayer service at a temple in South Trinidad recently and ended up killing a worshiper, Joseph Narine and shot pundit Shevron Narad in the head? He is battling for his life at the San Fernando General Hospital. One of the bandits demanded money and jewelry. And last week a Chinese businessman Jinyuan Ye, was shot twice in the head during a brazen robbery at Club 2000 bar at Duncan Village, La Romaine. He had gone to pick up cash from the night’s earnings from the roulette machines and according to a police report Ye was followed by a bandit who after he was handed a bag with more than $100,000 in cash, shot Ye at close range and then made his escape. Not to be left out, the police shot and killed l0 men for the year during a confrontation with them. Police said the men were shot during a shootout. Although the murder rate may not exceed last year’s killings of 516, there is still concern about the violent crimes in the country. Scores of people have survived bullets and are thanking their lucky stars that they are still alive. The crime spree has been the talk around the country and even in the bars and in homes.

Last week when Ramsingh, and his rum posse, Balkie, Dougla and Sam met for their usual lime at Corky’s bar they were talking about what is taking place in the country.

Ramsingh:

“Barman when yuh think all dis set ah killings and robberies go stop and d people go feel safe from dem criminals? May be in ah long time from now. For decades crime has been a problem but not as bad as now. Gary feel dis was ah easy job to stop dem murders and robberies every day.”

Barman:

“Yuh eh realise we have ah criminal ‘factory’ that every day we turning out more and more ah dem. D more bad boys get kill is more coming out dey hole. Most ah dem is dropouts from school and eh have no parents to show dem dat crime does not pay.”

Balkie:

“Yuh know of all ah dem set ah people who dey murder, ah really feel sad how dey kill d young gyal in Chaguanas. It have ah lot ah people who have ah mental problem and walking all over d country. How ah man could watch ah nice gyal like dat and chop she up so?”

Dougla:

“Barman how yuh could say dat crime doh pay. Dem criminals making more money than me and yuh when dey rob people. It have hit men who making plenty money to put down ah job for ah man or owman who want somebody kill.”

Barman:

“For d murders to stop, Gary might have to put ah policeman by every lamp post and dat go be impossible. How d police go know when dem bad boys planning to kill somebody?”

Dougla:

“Yuh know ah stop buying papers now because every day when yuh open d papers is some man or owman get kill, some businessman get rob or some other type ah crime. Ah does wait to listen to d news on d radio.”

Balkie:

“During d last general election Rowley campaign on crime, ah want to see what he go say about d crime problem now. He go say crime going down under his government and dem PNM supporters go believe dat. PNM sycophants easy to fool, yes.”

Ramsingh:

“As yuh talk about election, ah see Rowley giving away land for any religious group to build churches or temples. He say he go give d Baptist people ah piece of land in Central Trinidad to build ah Cathedral. He even promising ah piece ah land fuh a cemetery in Princess Town. It have so much people getting kill now, it eh even have place to bury d dead.”

Barman:

“It is d fust time ah see d PNM hold ah Baptist celebration down in Moruga. After three years in office Rowley decide dis year he would sponsor ah celebration for dem. Ah see ah big banner ‘PNM Shouter Baptist Celebration 2019’ at d back of d stage. Even some ministers went down to celebrate also.”

Balkie:

“Ah see he was giving ah history of d Baptist struggles since l917, but he shame to say dat it was UNC Basdeo Pandy when he was Prime Minister in l996 dat declare March 30 d Shouter Baptist holiday. And when Kamla was Prime Minister she give d Baptist ah piece ah land to build ah school near La Horquetta. Now Rowely want dey vote he promising to give dem land to build ah Cathedral. Dat is politicking!”

Dougla:

“Yuh must know when ah election is coming. Dem prime ministers does make all kinds ah promises to get votes. Yuh does see ministers turning sod to start some kind ah project which dey might not even start before d next general election. Is more than three years now Rowley in government and is now he want to build road and get ah new ferry for dem Tobago people, so he go sure dey go vote back d PNM in a next election.”

Sam:

“Dem Tobago people could ketch dey arse under d PNM dey go still vote Rowley. Kamla eh have ah chance in Tobago. Dem African people eh go vote no Indian for Prime Minister. It eh have plenty Indians living in Tobago.”

Ramsingh:

“Yuh right Rowley start he election campaign for Local government dis year and general election next year. Ah see he making appearances on TV and on radio talking bout how d PNM is d best political party to run d country. He giving an account of how he running d country. He should talk bout how much workers losing dey job since d PNM came in office in 2015. He should talk bout how people ketching dey nennen to buy food. Meh pardner say he went to buy oxtail to make ah soup and he was shock to hear it is $50 ah lb. He had to use chicken foot instead. Yuh tink it easy!. Everything going up under dis government.”

Until next week.