THA Minority Leader reacts to Black Rock shooting: Tobago can't surrender to criminals

TOBAGO police are investigating a shooting in Black Rock on July 22 which left a 28-year-old man from Plaisance Park, Pointe-a-Pierre, seriously injured.

According to police reports, around 11.25 pm, the man – Michael Holder, who now lives in Tobago – was walking towards his home when a man wearing a black hoodie approached.

The man pulled out a gun and fired several shots at Holder before escaping by running through some bushes.

Members of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) took Holder to the Scarborough General Hospital.

Investigations are continuing.

Contacted for comment, THA Minority Leader Kelvon Morris said the upsurge in gun crimes across the island left him “extremely concerned.”

“We cannot and ought not surrender our beautiful island to these undesirables. It's time to make criminals as uncomfortable as they are making law-abiding citizens. We need to take the fight to their blocks, drug dens, and the places they hide.

"At the same time, we must address the root problems, dealing with rogue parents and deviant behaviours in our schools. Something has to give.”

Morris said, “Enough is enough,” also pointing to a shooting over the weekend near his family’s home in Whim as well as another outside KFC in Scarborough. They were stark reminders that the island could not continue down this path of gun violence, he said.

“An entire village traumatised. Thankfully, we were spared the news of another tragic massacre, but the fact remains: Tobago, we have a problem, and that problem needs to be arrested by the efforts of us all.”

He had a word of advice for young men.

“Put down your guns and choose more positive and constructive pathways. Our community's future depends on it.”

Parents and families, he said should take responsibility as well.

“Report known misconduct to the police. We must all come together to stop these miscreants from spoiling our villages and our beautiful island of Tobago.”

He said recently, he wrote to the Chief Secretary asking for a meeting of all stakeholders towards a united effort. Such a meeting, he said, is now more relevant and urgent given the continued reports of gun shootings across Tobago.

Newsday tried several times to contact THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine, but all calls and messages went unanswered.

Speaking on the Tobago Updates morning show, ACP Collis Hazel said last month, the police seized six guns and several ammunitions off the streets of Tobago.

Hazel said since becoming ACP in Tobago, he has advocated for and received some units such as the IATF and the Guard and Emergency Branch in Tobago to help fight crime.

“They are here presently now operating as we build out some accommodations for permanency working there, in terms of supporting that issue.”

He said he has also brought on board the Fraud Squad.

“Persons don’t have to think about journeying to Trinidad or being afraid to make the reports at the stations. So we have the Fraud Squad operating at the Shirvan road Police Station and we have all the other units of the police unit for persons who can make complaints from time to time.

“All these units are available right here in Tobago, and from time to time we have been bringing on board, of course, the Riverine Unit – working closely with our marine life operations here, and all those environmental police, to treat with issues that are environmentally sensitive on this island.”