MP blames crime migration for increased robberies in Freeport

The recent spate of criminal activity in Freeport and environs is alarming, and MP for Caroni Central Arnold Ram has blamed it on crime migration.

He told Newsday on Thursday, a lack of economic opportunities is the cause.

“For a while now there has been crime migration to many parts of central and south Trinidad. It is a reflection of the hard economic times that people have reverted to crime. The unemployment rate has skyrocketed.

“Our youths do not have avenues in which to divert their energies and have turned to a life of crime. It is a social issue that we have to deal with but, sadly, the government seems inept to deal with these realities we face.”

Ram said police have been co-operative, but they too have challenges with a lack of resources.

“We have watch groups and patrols, but this has lapsed because the police station in Freeport is deprived of resources in terms of vehicles. There is little they can do with the resources they have.

“The provision of additional police stations has to be considered because the geographic area for which the Freeport police is responsible is quite large.”

He explained that with bad roads and other poor infrastructure, the response time to incidents and criminal activity, including praedial larceny, has slowed.

Ram said his office has been trying get youths involved in activities to assist in employment, and has recently launched a programme to help them become marketable.

“We have, along with sponsorship from a charity group, engaged 25 young people to tell us what courses they want to pursue and why. We want to help them become more marketable and to empower them to get gainful employment.”

Earlier this week one family was tied up and forced to hand over their sou-sou money or witness their children being killed. No one was harmed, but the bandits made off with $15,000.

At Lime Fruit Road, another family was also tied up, beaten and robbed of cash and jewelry. The assailants attempt to kidnap their 18-year-old daughter was foiled after her screams alerted a neighbour who was able to trigger a security alarm.