Pastor's son among teens killed by cops

A pastor's son was among two Tobago teenagers killed by police at a guesthouse in Sou Sou Lands on September 16.

The teens – Rezin Quashie, 19, and Hakeem Anderson, 17 – were suspects in a number of robberies and shootings. They were shot in an apartment during a confrontation with intelligence and CID officers who descended on Roy’s Island Guest House after receiving information that they were armed.

The two, who hail from Golden Lane, were taken to the Scarborough General Hospital but were pronounced dead on arrival.

During an interview with Newsday on September 18, a Golden Lane community activist said she never imagined both teenagers would be involved in criminal activities.

The activist said while she did not know the young men personally, their parents were upstanding citizens. She said Quashie’s mother is a pastor and her late son was also a talented drummer.

“It was so sad,” she said of the shooting.

“Is not something you would expect because the parents were upright people. So everybody was surprised. You weren’t expecting that at all. I know they are parents who will try their best. But as they say: yuh could lead the horse to water but you cannot make it drink.”

The activist said Quashie’s mother is very civic-minded and would usually talk to the mischievous young men while driving through the village.

“She would talk to the young men if they are doing something wrong and encourage them to come to church.”

Known for its large silk cotton tree, the focal point in the legend of Gang Gang Sarah, Golden Lane has produced several people of note, including late former chief secretary Hochoy Charles, Snr Supt Rodhill Kirk and beauty queen Renessa Ortiz.

But within recent years, Tobago police have identified the area as one of the island’s hotspots, known largely for its proliferation of guns and gang activity.

In June 2022, then ACP William Nurse revealed that at least 20 gangs were operating in communities on the island. He said 70 per cent of the island’s most notorious criminals lived in the Les Coteaux/Golden Lane area.

National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds, responding to a question about Tobago’s crime situation in the Parliament in May, also identified Golden Lane as one of Tobago’s hotspots. He said then that crime in Tobago was as a result of criminal gangs and gang activity spilling over from Trinidad to the island.

'All the youths have guns'

Saying many of the young people in Golden Lane appear to be easy targets for gang activity, the activist said within the past three to four years, the crime situation in the area has worsened.

“It did not have so many shootings, but you got chopping – not to the extent where it would lead to death. But off late, it is terrible. People will tell you that everybody have a gun. You have been hearing that, that all the youths around have guns.”

She believes there are too many idle young men liming on the blocks in Golden Lane and its neighbouring villages: Mt Thomas, Culloden, Old Ground Trace, Mt Cullane and Seaview Trace.

“There are more than 50 of them on the streets and everybody looking for an early-morning ‘wuk’ so that they have the whole day to lime. Some of them would go out to sea after they finish their jobs. But you have some just lingering in the junction all the time.”

The activist said there was a slight change in the trend when the community returned to the Tobago Heritage Festival this year after an absence of some 21 years. She said several of the young men participated in the presentation, Courtship Codes.

“So we hoping, once we continue in the festival, we can slowly draw a couple more off the block and get them being involved in things like the heritage group.

“We want to grab the attention of the younger ones that just out of school. But they are still a little stubborn and on the block. But I guess with the older youths being with us, then they might get them coming in eventually.”

She said many years ago, the young people in the area were more inclined to perform certain activities selflessly. Now, she said, they want money for simple tasks.

The activist said, “When we just started performing in the heritage festival in 1989, we had fellas anxious to climb coconut trees and cut down branches. We used to build a house and fellas used to be anxious to come and help. Nobody looking for money or anything. Now if you ask them for two branches of a coconut tree, they asking, ‘How much you paying?'

"That is what you getting now from them.”

Many activities for youths available

She said Golden Lane is not lacking for activities.

“We have a lot of things going on in the community to help keep them off the streets.”

The area has a vibrant police youth club, village council and small pan side, Tobago Pan-Thers, all of which have been trying to create programmes for the youths over the years.

The churches, she said, are also deeply involved in the life of Golden Lane and very concerned about the youths.

“They are trying in every possible way to see how best they can change the situation. They have active youth groups and fellowship with shows to make it interesting, not just talking. But the youths still do not come out.”

The activist observed, though, that many of the young people are interested in sport.

She said there was a seven-a-side football game at the Tablepiece recreation ground in neighbouring Les Coteaux some time ago, which attracted a large turnout of young people. Groups from Mt Grace, Moriah and other areas participated.

“So if we have stable sporting groups or groups that can organise these activities a little more often, the young people will support and be off the streets.

“We know that there is a problem that never used to be in Golden Lane. And these are the things that can distract the youths from the guns. But there is still a lot of work to be done.”