Senior Reporter
rhondor.dowlat@guardian.co.tt
After a social media warning was sent out to University of the West Indies (UWI) students following a robbery late last week, principal of the St Augustine Campus Prof Rose-Marie Belle Antoine has given the assurance that patrols have increased and new equipment purchased for the university’s security.
However, on campus yesterday, students expressed concern about the crime situation and called for more to be done to protect citizens.
“We really have to hold Trinidad accountable for the lack of safety around its citizens. We cannot even go out to get a drink without being held up or walking on the road and people robbing you and catcalling.” said Mariah Bisson,
“I know where to go on campus and where the estate police are, especially at night time. The criminals are roaming the North Gate side, which is the most dangerous side. When I walk through the gates of the university I feel more safe than the areas around.”
Another student, Travis Ramdial, recounted an experience he had last year, “Around 3 am some students who live in my building ... they went out to the gas station and they had their car robbed right in front of them.
“The area where I live, which is the road that runs by South Gate, is very unsafe especially after dark. It has police patrols and I see them park up with their lights on but it’s not enough because criminals are lurking around and attacking students.”
Mark Lessey said that while he has not had any problems with crime, he had heard about problems with “people being abducted and harassed from the villas close by but you cannot be too safe anywhere”.
Prof Antoine confirmed that there had been a robbery last week and added that security patrols have increased.
“I know we had a robbery this week and my police officers were on him but that is much of what I know,” she said.
Asked if she would make calls for increased police patrols and higher visibility around the campus, she said, “We have always been requesting this and the deputy principal deals with those things and the registrar, not me personally. But we have increased our patrols and I bought equipment for our police.”
Student Guild president Aishwarya Maharaj did not respond to calls for comment yesterday.
