Calls are being made for Snr Supt Johnny Abraham to remain as head of the Central Division police after a gunman opened fire on a group of men in California, yesterday, killing labourer Gerald Deosaran and injuring three others.
Police said Deosaran, 29, of 7th Street, Dow Village, died at Borris Bar along Stalin Street after he was shot in the head by the gunman who walked into the bar pretending to be a customer. Up to last night, Wayne Seepersad, 39, of Temple Street, and Jason "Kimmy" Baboolal, 34, a contractor of Canary Street, Couva, were warded in critical condition at the San Fernando General Hospital. Jainarine Ramnath, 47, a mechanical supervisor of Endeavour, Chaguanas, who was also at the bar, was recovering in hospital in a stable condition.
Reports stated that Deosaran, Seepersad and Baboolal were at the bar liming when around 11.45 am, a man wearing a green pants and T-shirt labelled Cepep walked into the bar to order drinks.
The Guardian was told that the man initially ordered three Carib Pilsners but was told that there was none. He walked outside, returned with another man and ordered a Malta and paid for it. He then pulled a mask over his face and shot the men. At least 11 patrons had to rush for safety while the 65-year-old female bartender ran to the back of the building. One patron said when he heard the shots, he dived to the floor and did not get up until the men left.
Several onlookers at the scene yesterday said crime might increase with the departure of Abraham and they were praying that he did not leave.
Central Division police, including Abraham, Insp Harry, Sgt Toolaram and Sgt Benjamin, responded within minutes but the suspects were long gone. No motive was established for the shooting, but police said they were building profiles on the victims in the hope of finding leads.
Owner to close down business
The owner of the bar, who requested anonymity, said the business, which has been a popular attraction for the past 35 years, would be closed down.
He said the community was usually peaceful, but having been shot and robbed back in 2009, he could not put his family through another traumatic experience.
At Deosaran's home yesterday, his brother Donald said he left for work on a construction site in Cunupia, but because the material for the job was not ready, he came back to the village. His sister Rhonda said no one knew if Deosaran had been threatened or was in trouble because he rarely spoke to anyone about his problems. She said up to yesterday evening, no one had told his four-year-old son of his death.
Baboolal's uncle Boodlal Harrychan cried when he learned of Deosaran's death, saying it was only that morning they spoke to each other. He said when Baboolal and Deosaran returned from work, they joined another man for a lime.
Ramnath's niece Candice Chin said although Ramnath lived in Chaguanas, he would lime at the bar on Fridays and Saturdays. She said the father of three had just walked into the bar to purchase a drink when he was shot.
Johnny's movepolitical–Indarsingh
Blaming the PNM Government for the murder and shootings, Couva South MP Rudranath Indarsingh said this was the fallout of Abraham's transfer to the Port-of-Spain Division. Last week, acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams transferred Abraham, saying that he was not satisfied with the leadership in Port-of-Spain. He believed Abraham's leadership would help to curb crime in the city.
However, speaking to reporters at the scene, Indarsingh said the move reeked of politics.
"They have moved him (Abraham) out of Central Trinidad and took him to a division they control politically and it has left a void in terms of leadership and initiative to deal with crime-fighting strategies.
"Probably this is the fallout where criminals and perpetrators of crime are acting in a very lawless and brazen manner where, in the middle of the day, they came into Borris Bar of Dow Village and carried out this very tragic act.
"It reeks of a political division and this is the fallout of it. The killing of this gentleman and the wounding of another three lies squarely at the hands of the Minister of National Security and the PNM Government," Indarsingh said.
Dillon: Police taking measures to curb murders
Speaking to reporters while observing a police operation in Cap-de-Ville, Point Fortin, yesterday, National Security Minister Edmund Dillon said there was no evidence to connect the PNM's election to Government with the surge in murders.
"There is no evidence to support that, no empirical evidence, so I will not respond to that in any way. My remit is to deal with the situation, to give the TTPS and other agencies what is required for them to perform their job effectively and efficiently.
"It (murder rate) will continue to trouble us because murder is something that none of us can accept and so, measures are being taken by the TTPS to deal with the murders so far as investigations and prosecutions are concerned.
"I will not go into details as investigations are taking place but rest assured that it is on the frontburner. It is something that we all are concerned with. I myself extend condolences to all those who have lost their loved ones," Dillion said.