Residents of Felicity, Chaguanas are being warned to look out for armed bandits committing on-the-spot robberies in the community. This call came from Sundar Jokoo, the councillor for the area in the Chaguanas Borough Corporation.
Speaking with Guardian Media over the weekend, Jokoo said a 65-year-old cyclist was stopped by two men armed with a gun in a Nissan Tiida vehicle sometime around 1 pm on Saturday.
Jokoo said the man was robbed at gunpoint and told to look away. Jokoo said the victim is now traumatised. He said the villagers started a night-time neighbourhood watch to combat criminal activity.
However, the councillor said bandits are also now committing robberies in the day and anyone can be a target.
“This is how lawless our society is we are trying to keep our community safe at night look at what is happening in broad daylight in the afternoon. I think the Government of the day needs to do something to get our country back on order,” he said.
Alvin Ripla, a fisherman in the community, said his boat engine was stolen and has not yet been recovered.
Meanwhile, Chaguanas West MP Dinesh Rambally said criminals were, “Breeding like mosquitoes and crime was spreading like dengue” in communities in Central Trinidad.
Following the spate of murders over the weekend and robberies in areas like Carlsen Field, Rambally said, “We have had a violent crime wave, an upsurge in the last 48 hours, with nine murders in 24-hours and that is signalling the lack of decisive action on the part of leadership in this country.”
He said in his constituency of Chaguanas West there was an incident of aggravated home invasion in Bejucal Road and daylight robberies in Felicity.
“The home invasions have increased in this area, businesses are being targeted. We are seeing an upsurge, it is a stark indicator of the lack of proper governance and lack of decisive leadership by the authorities.”
The MP said criminals have become emboldened and are not afraid to rob and kill in the day.
