[UPDATED] Morvant murder victim's daughter, 6: My daddy watches over me

The six-year-old daughter of a murdered Morvant man has told relatives she feels her father is watching over her from heaven.

The girl's father, Iko Callender, 29, was gunned down in Chinapoo, Morvant, on Friday night.

Nearby residents heard the gunshots and called the police, who took Callender to the Port of Spain General Hospital, where he was declared dead.

Speaking with Newsday at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, on Monday, Callender's relatives said his daughter was saddened by her father's death but was taking it in her stride.

"She says he is looking down at her already. She is dealing with his death really mature(ly). She might be six years old, but she is more mature than her age."

Asked what could have led to Callender's murder, one relative said he was threatened some time ago but did not elaborate.

They said Callender worked several small jobs to support himself and his family.

Another relative said Callender was perceptive about his environment.

"He used to see things. He used to see and feel for people who may be in trouble. He had a kind of sixth sense where he could see something coming from a distance."

When asked to comment on the crime rate, one relative said she felt the authorities were not taking seriously the danger citizens faced .

"I'm sorry to say it, but the way this country is going, they (those in authority) don't care about us.

"They're not putting the citizens first, they're not listening to us, So this is how it is.

"Trinidad is too small for this. I will be 54 in June and I lost a family member, Kernel Job, in 2013, so I know. He died when he was 27, just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time."

There have been 118 murders for the year thus far, compared to 108 for the same period last year.

Callender was one of three Morvant men gunned down between Friday and Saturday afternoon.

On Friday afternoon, 33-year-old Brandon Victor was shot and killed while working at his Cascade jobsite.

On Saturday afternoon, Curtis Charles, 56, was shot dead while liming at a mini mart on Coconut Drive, Morvant. A 62-year-old man was also wounded.

Speaking with Newsday at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, on Monday, one of Victor's relatives, who asked not to be named, blamed his murder on an ongoing war between rival gangs in Mon Repos and Valley Road, Morvant.

The relative said the bloodshed was heartbreaking, as many of the people involved in the conflict grew up together and were on good terms at one time.

"I'm an elder in the community and I try to talk to these fellas.

"It's hurting on all the sides. All of them are supposed to be living well together. They used to lime and drink together at the side of the road.

But now, the relative said, "It's not now this started. Not one person they killed in Mon Repos, they accustomed killing we out.

"Their parents know, everybody in Mon Repos knows what's going on."

The relative implored those involved to think about their actions and create a better community for each other.

"I want to see unity come back together, I want to see love between the Valley Road and Mon Repos again."

Contacted for comment, North Eastern Division police confirmed they were aware of a gang war between the communities and said they were working to try to better secure the areas.

One officer said investigators suspected one factor in the conflict might be a falling-out between two gang members who were currently in prison.

He also said while the police would take action against the gangs, the public had a responsibility to report any suspicious activities to the police.

"I confirm what has been said: it's been going on since last year November, when several people were killed.

"Police exercises will be done, but it will be done based on intelligence gathered.

"But while we have an idea of the people who are involved when it comes to murders we need an eyeball witness or concrete evidence.

"I want to advise them (residents), if they see something, to say something. Without the citizenry we can't get anything done, because while we as police may have an idea of who the perpetrators (are), we need the public's assistance.

He said any such reports would be confidential.

Police from the Homicide Bureau of Investigations Region II are investigating the murders.

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

The six-year-old daughter of a murdered Morvant man has told relatives she feels her father is watching over her from heaven.

The girl's father, Iko Callender, 29, was gunned down in Chinapoo, Morvant, on Friday night.

Nearby residents heard the gunshots and called the police, who took Callender to the Port of Spain General Hospital, where he was declared dead.

Speaking with Newsday at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, on Monday, Callender's relatives said his daughter was saddened her father's death but was taking it in her stride.

"She says he is looking down at her already. She is dealing with his death really mature(ly). She might be six years old, but she is more mature than her age."

Asked what could have led to Callender's murder, one relative said he was threatened some time ago but did not elaborate.

They said Callender worked several small jobs to support himself and his family.

Another relative said Callender was perceptive about his environment.

"He used to see things. He used to see and feel for people who may be in trouble. He had a kind of sixth sense where he could see something coming from a distance."

When asked to comment on the crime rate, one relative said she felt the authorities were not taking seriously the danger citizens faced .

"I'm sorry to say it, but the way this country is going, they (those in authority) don't care about us.

"They're not putting the citizens first, they're not listening to us, So this is how it is.

"Trinidad is too small for this. I will be 54 in June and I lost a family member, Kernel Job, in 2013, so I know. He died when he was 27, just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time."

There have been 118 murders for the year thus far, compared to 108 for the same period last year.