[UPDATED] Influencer blames government for KFC robbery

Social media personality Nigel "NCW" Watson has blamed the government for his robbery after identifying himself as the target of an armed robbery in a KFC car park in Diego Martin on the night of April 23.

Watson, 41, shared details of the incident in a Facebook video, where he also issued a critique of recent political commentary he believed endangered his safety.

He linked the incident to what he described as controversial remarks made by Prime Minister Stuart Young, Minister of Youth and National Service Foster Cummings, and Laventille West MP Kareem Marcelle.

These officials, Watson claims, have irresponsibly alleged that social media influencers are being paid large sums of cash to promote the opposition UNC.

At a PNM meeting in La Horquetta on April 14, Cummings claimed the UNC was paying influencers up to $10,000 weekly to produce anti-government content.

Watson said those claims were unverified and had painted influencers like himself as wealthy political operatives, making them targets for criminal activity.

Watson said he was robbed around 8.07 pm while he was seated in the passenger seat of his vehicle, waiting for his wife. A masked man with spiky hair and dressed in dark clothing entered the car through the driver’s side, brandished a firearm, and demanded money.

After telling the suspect he had no cash, the man threatened to shoot Watson before ordering him out of the car. Watson complied, and the assailant fled in the vehicle, which was later found abandoned near Crystal Stream.

In his video, Watson expressed gratitude to police and his supporters while emphasising that his experience reflected a larger national issue.

"I know I’m not a special case. A lot of citizens go through this daily. That’s why we need change: this is ridiculous. I'm okay, but I’m giving the PNM a double thumbs down."

He condemned the government's public discourse, reiterating it had put social media influencers at risk owing to unfounded allegations.

"If your country has a high crime rate and your leaders go on national platforms claiming the UNC pays influencers $40,000 or more without proof, what do you think happens? People now think I have millions and I don’t."

Watson also called out what he saw as a double standard in how black entrepreneurs and influencers were treated compared to established businesses.

"When big business owners run ads, no one questions it. But when a young black person builds a platform, suddenly it’s a problem. That’s on the government."

He ended the video playing the UNC’s campaign slogan: Yellow is the code.

Watson's remarks come amid a climate of political tension, as on April 11, Young accused the UNC of paying criminals to intimidate PNM supporters, an allegation made following the arrest of a local “Trinibad” artiste in connection with a viral video in which he appeared to threaten violence against political opponents.

The 35-year-old artiste, a resident of Santa Flora, was detained by officers from the National Operations Unit during a police exercise in Penal.

In the video, the young man dressed in a UNC shirt said he bought 1,000 tie wraps to tie up the hands and the feet of PNM people so they could not vote on the April 28 election day.

This story was originally published with the title "Gunman steals car at KFC carpark, Diego Martin" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

A 41-year-old man was robbed of his car while in the carpark at KFC on the corner of St Lucien Road and Sierra Road, Diego Martin, on April 23.

Police said around 8.07 pm, the victim was waiting in the front passenger seat for his wife, who had gone inside to purchase fried chicken.

The car doors were unlocked when a man of African descent, described as having spiky hair and wearing a dark-coloured jersey and a medical face mask, got in his car from the driver’s side.

The suspect pointed a gun at the victim and demanded money. When the victim explained he had no cash, the suspect threatened to shoot him and ordered him to get out of his car.

The victim did as he was told and the suspect sped off with the vehicle along the Diego Martin Highway. The stolen vehicle was later found abandoned in the vicinity of Crystal Stream.

In Chaguanas, a 20-year-old clerical assistant was beaten and robbed after meeting a stranger to sell his black Samsung S22 Ultra cellphone, valued at $3,500.

Reports say around 1.15 pm on April 23, the victim went to a savannah on Nibblette Street, Enterprise, to complete the sale. He was driving his silver Nissan AD Wagon, valued $40,000.

The victim parked and waited for the potential buyer when he was approached by a man who told him someone else was bringing the money for the phone.

Sensing something was wrong, the victim tried to drive away, but a second suspect ran up to the car and pointed a gun at him. The men announced a robbery and started beating the victim.

They subsequently stole both his cellphone and his car.

The victim described the first suspect as being of African descent, slim built, approximately five feet eight inches tall, wearing a red T-shirt, grey three-quarter pants, and a light green camouflage hat.

The second man, also of African descent, was slim built, about six feet two inches tall, and dressed in a white T-shirt. He was armed with a firearm.

Police are asking anyone with information to come forward.