Rowley saddened by young farmer’s murder

PRIME MINISTER Dr Keith Rowley yesterday expressed his concerns about the wanton violence plaguing TT, and strongly condemned the recent unlawful killing of a teen farmer.

In a release, Rowley sent condolences to the family and friends of Leon Bebe.

Bebe, 19, a hydroponics farmer, was shot dead on Tuesday at Malick, Barataria where he was supposed to collect money owed for produce.

Rowley described him as an ambitious and hardworking entrepreneur who fully immersed himself in the field of agriculture. “He has also been described by those closest to him as an honest, positive role model,” Rowley said. “His positive activities in agriculture held out such hope for young people.

It is terribly disheartening that we are producing people in our society who will attack and kill others for their own personal gratification.

“We must encourage all our citizens and more so our young people to strive for excellence and to dedicate themselves to improving their lives and contributing to the overall development of our nation. We must also stand strongly together as a nation in condemnation of those who are bent on marring Trinidad and Tobago with violence and criminal activity.”

Rowley told citizens who choose to adopt a criminal lifestyle, they must not find “solace and comfort in homes and communities.”

He said the law enforcement and the judiciary must continue to do their part, and law-abiding citizens need to co-operate with the authorities so they can rid the country of the homicidal scourge.