Straker Village residents say they are living in fear as gunmen continue to terrorise their neighbourhood.
They said the village, which is located in Laventille, has been plagued by gang members who have robbed, shot, killed and forced them out of their homes. The small village that borders on Picton Road and Beverly Hills is surrounded by bordering gangs. Two weeks ago, Denzel Anthony Stewart 22, of KP Lands, Valencia, was shot dead by gunmen in the area. In an interview yesterday, one of the residents (who did not want to be named), said Stewart had left the area when he was 13 because of the crime in the community.
Stewart returned to visit family that day and was shot by gang members. In a strange twist, the home of the resident who found Stewart's body was destroyed by gang members.The man said she did not know why the gunmen destroyed the house. "They just come and mash up the house, even the toilet. He had nothing to do with it. All he did was find the body. The poor man cry when he see it. Them fellows mash up the man house and he wasn't even home when it happened. He was at work," she said. She said the gunmen have terrorised the whole neighbourhood and the many villagers have fled the area. "They have robbed us so many times. If you even buy something to enjoy it, it does not last," she said.
