[UPDATED] SHARMA: WE ARE ALL TARGETS

FORMER Fyzabad MP Chandresh Sharma said TT is now a country where “anyone is a target” to senseless violence as he reacted to the death of his 38-year-old nephew Dr Rudradeva Sharma, who was abducted with a colleague on Tuesday night.

Sharma said he and his relatives were struggling to come to terms with the his nephew’s death but he is not blaming the authorities at the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH) or the South-West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA).

Speaking with reporters outside the Forensic Science Centre, St James, on Wedneday afternoon, the elder Sharma said crime and violence were not exclusive to TT.

“The hospital has security, but they can’t be everywhere at once. They are at the entrance and exits and the car park is well lit.”

The SWRHA issued a statement on Wednesday saying the two were not in the hospital or its grounds when they were kidnapped.

Sharma said, “Something unfortunate has happened, but this is not a time to blame. It’s a time to reflect and make a statement for other doctors.”

He found out about the incident when relatives called him and told him that he along with another doctor were abducted.

He said at the time he was only told his nephew had been taken hostage.

“He was still alive when I found out. I think we were all hoping he could make it.”

Reports said Dr Sharma died on impact when the SUV in which he had been abducted crashed on the Solomon Hochoy Highway.

Sharma said he remembered his nephew as a bright, compassionate young man who dedicated his time to helping others, and seldom took days off from work.

In a release, he said the family was heartbroken after his nephew’s death and said everyone was now a target for criminals.

“We now live in a country where anyone is a target to such senseless murder and destruction is truly a tragedy beyond compare. Too many lives are now being lost to crime and criminals, too many families are suffering the long-standing, indeed never ending effects, of the trauma that these dastardly acts of criminality bring and the time has come for us all to ensure that somehow, it stops.”

Sharma also extended best wishes to the doctor who was abducted with his nephew.

Police said around 10 pm, the two were on Rushworth Street, San Fernando when three men grabbed them and tossed them into the back of a white Honda CRV.

At Macaulay, on the northbound lane of the highway, the SUV crashed and Dr Sharma, of Sunset Ridge Avenue in San Fernando, died on impact. The other doctor, Prem Naidoo, was taken to the SFGH. The SWRHA said it could not give information on his condition because of doctor-patient confidentiality.

Police said they found a gun at the scene of the accident.

This story was originally published with the title "Chandresh Sharma on death of doctor nephew: No time to blame" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

Former Fyzabad MP Chandresh Sharma says he and his relatives are struggling to come to terms with the death of his 35-year-old nephew Dr Rudradeva Sharma, who was abducted together with a colleague on Tuesday night. But he is not blaming the authorities at the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH) or the South-West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) for what happened.

Speaking with reporters outside the Forensic Science Centre, St James on Tuesday afternoon, the elder Sharma said crime and violence were not exclusive to TT.
"The hospital has security, but they can't be everywhere at once. They are at the entrance and exits and the car park is well lit."

The SWRHA issued a statement on Wednesday saying the two were not in the hospital or its grounds when they were kidnapped.
"Something unfortunate has happened, but this is not a time to blame. It's a time to reflect and make a statement for other doctors."

Sharma said he found out about the incident when Rudradeva's father called him.
He said at the time he was only told his nephew was taken hostage and held out hope he could survive the incident.

"He was still alive when I found out. I think we were all hoping he could make it."
Reports said Dr Sharma died on impact when the SUV in which he had been abducted crashed on the Solomon Hochoy Highway.

Police said around 10 pm, the two were on Rushworth Street, San Fernando when three men grabbed them and tossed them into the back of a white Honda CRV.

At Macaulay, on the northbound lane of the highway, the SUV crashed and Dr Sharma, of Sunset Ridge Avenue in San Fernando, died on impact.

The other doctor, Prem Naidoo, was taken to the SFGH.

The SWRHA said it could not give information on his condition because of doctor-patient confidentiality.

Police said they found a gun at the scene of the accident.