Business owners, patrons, residents: Ariapita Avenue under siege

WOODBROOK residents believe their community is turning into a hotspot, after four shooting incidents on Ariapita Avenue in the past year have left four people dead and five injured, including a UK visitor.

The incidents, on what has become one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most popular liming strips, are all believed to be gang-related.

A section of the avenue is lined with bars and fast-food outlets

Chair of the Woodbrook Residents Association Lynette Dolly said residents remain concerned, as they believe the police presence in the area is not enough.

In August 2023 ,Woodbrook residents were assured by the then head of Woodbrook Police Station, acting Insp Ramjattan, that there is usually a “heavy presence” on Fridays and Saturdays along the one-kilometre-long stretch.

Speaking during a town meeting organised by the police at Holiness Revival Church auditorium, French Street, Woodbrook, Ramjattan said plainclothes foot patrols were in force from 10 pm-6 am.

He said while marked vehicles also patrolled, criminals pause their activities until the vehicles have passed and then resume afterwards.

In a previous story, in April 2023, police claimed the gangs had come to a truce regarding Ariapita Avenue and considered it “neutral territory,” allowing members of various gangs to gather at the popular liming spot.

“Usually there (the avenue) is a common ground where anyone can go to lime,” the source said.

However, the major shooting incidents on Ariapita Avenue in the past year, all labelled as gang-related, suggest that is no longer the case.

Dolly also accused the police of disregarding residents’ concerns and not realising how unsafe they feel. She said residents also feel there is still not enough police presence.

“They have done nothing to increase the people at the station in Woodbrook…And you see the increase in units that come? They are gone by 3 am. Some of these (shootings) happen later than that.”

Sunday Newsday was told plans to build a police post in Adam Smith Square were rejected by residents.

Dolly said this was because they felt there was no point in building a police post when the police station was just two streets away, and to preserve the green space.

She said residents suggested a property on Robert Street, owned by the corporation, was more suitable for a police post.

“What they need is proper policing,” she said.

On Friday, Ariapita Avenue business owners said the crime situation is worrying and has affected sales to an extent, but many said there is little they can do.

One woman, who sold ice cream, said she closes her business by 9 pm to avoid staying out too late.

“My family is concerned for my safety but at the end of the day there isn’t much I can do. I have to make money to take care of my family.”

A fast-food vendor said because of the state of crime he does not feel any more in danger on the avenue than anywhere else. "Feeling unsafe is normal in this country,” he said.

Describing the avenue as "a hot ground,” he said gang-related violence has had some impact on business. He said some customers are hesitant to visit his establishment as regularly as they would like to at night because of the crime situation.

A businessman who runs an open-air food court said “Nobody feels safe,” adding that businesses are feeling the effects of this.

“We can't blame people for not wanting to leave their homes, because even us here, we don't feel safe. We try our best with security and everything, but even security guards have to put their lives at risk. So what can you do?”

He said while recent lighting improvements to the avenue and the current police presence are welcome, a more preventative approach needs to be adopted.

“These things always happen at the same time on the same days every week. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights at two or three in the morning. Maybe at that time, we just make sure we have excessive police presence. Just a presence, not going and harassing people, but just there to respond in case somebody's life is in danger.”

Patrons at several establishments said they try to limit the time they spend on the avenue.

One of them, an off-duty police officer, said crime on the avenue is one of the reasons she no longer hangs out there late at night. She said with Carnival approaching she also does not plan to be on the avenue unless she has to work.

Another patron said he understood the concerns but does not intend to stop liming on the avenue because of the shootings.

“Crime is a problem throughout the country. It's not just on the avenue. People are wary of wherever they go and they are more aware of their surroundings now.

"But you can't let it stifle your lifestyle and you can't let it just force you into fear and staying in your home.”

He suggested people still come to the avenue because they feel there is safety in numbers and they are less likely to be victims.

The government has announced plans to invest $7 million in the Ariapita Avenue Enhancement project, which aims to promote tourism within Port of Spain.

However, Dolly said the plan is contrary to what residents want, and does nothing to address the crime.

“All they have done is to do something with the pavements and put some lights and so on to make it a little brighter.
"But where are the support services? There's no proper parking facility. There's nothing to say the police are around monitoring up and down the avenue all the time. No health centre.

"The other support systems are not in place, and that includes the policing system.”

Responding to the concerns on Friday, a police officer assigned to the Western Division told Sunday Newsday there will be an increase in marked police patrols and officers in uniform after the latest shooting.

The officer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the increase will be maintained into the Carnival season and even afterwards. The complement of officers increased in the district last year after residents complained at a town hall meeting.

It is part of the police’s plans, according to the officer, to deter crimes in the area. Other arms of the police service have been and will continue to contribute to the policing effort along Ariapita Avenue.

The officer said, “Hopefully they will see the fruits of their hard work and sacrifice soon.”

Sunday Newsday tried contacting Port of Spain mayor Chinua Alleyne by phone and WhatsApp about plans to address residents’ concerns but got no response.

Woodbrook councillor Owen St Rose said he was unable to comment on the issue, as he expected Alleyne to address the matter in the coming week.

He said there are plans to meet with residents sometime this month to hear their concerns.

Dolly said residents are eagerly awaiting a meeting with Alleyne to raise their concerns.

Violent crimes on the avenue

On February 18, 2023, United Kingdom national Tessa French, 37, was shot in the leg andtwo men Atiba Rodriguez, 37, of Romain Lands, Morvant, and a man identified only as “Javon" of Morvant were shot dead near Alfredo Street during Carnival celebrations.

Two months later, a fight between rival gangs resulted in bottles being thrown and shots being fired as partiers ran out of a nightclub on Ariapita Avenue just days before TT hosted a two-day Caricom symposium on crime. In that incident, one man was injured when he was hit in the face with a glass bottle.

In October, music producer and DJ Kaveer Alvin Nandram, also known as DJ Global, was shot dead after buying food on the avenue. Nandram, Trinibad music artiste Kashif “Kman 6ixx” Alexander and another man were ambushed by gunmen after leaving a food court. Nandram died in his car and the other two men suffered minor injuries.

In the latest incident, 19-year-old Teneisha Jackie and a 30-year-old man were in a silver Hyundai Elantra just after midnight on Tuesday when an SUV pulled alongside them.

Two men got out and began shooting at them before returning to their vehicle and driving away.

The driver survived and remains warded in stable but critical condition. Jackie died of her injuries.