Tag: GUANAPO

Alexander urges prison officers to uphold integrity

HOMELAND Security Minister Roger Alexander is urging prison officers to uphold integrity in the face of growing concerns about contraband in prisons.

Speaking during an interview with Newsday on October 10 along the Brian Lara Promenade in Port of Spain, Alexander said while the ministry is taking steps to address the issue of illegal drones, specific details could not yet be disclosed.

He however remained tight-lipped about the technology being considered to combat illegal drones smuggling items into correctional facilities.

“We have some things happening. We want the public to understand we are dealing with that situation. This will not be under our tenure.” Asked about officers who may be involved in smuggling contraband, he said integrity must come from within.

“That is something you were born with: you came from home with it, at the foundation of your family life and learning.” He cautioned officers not to allow others to question or undermine their values.

“Don’t let people twist, exploit, and question your integrity. If they question it with facts, then that’s different, but otherwise, it’s just allegations.”

On if the prison service vetting process should be revisited, he admitted the system may have flaws but does not believe it needs revisiting.

“Sometimes persons get compromised because of their situation, whether it already existed or they are presently involved in something.”

Recalling a lesson from his mother, he added: “She always told me, ‘You have $20 in your pocket: make it work for you. Once you start taking things from people, you’ll have to bow to them.”

SHORT TERM GOALS

Alexander said his short-term goal for the prisons service is to improve safety and conditions in penal institutions.

“Prison officers and the administration must feel a sense of safety and security.” He acknowledged while some inmates are awaiting trial and are innocent until proven guilty, others are incarcerated because they have broken the law.

“I want the judicial process to speed up so they can either be proven innocent or guilty.”

He said physical improvements to the nation’s prisons have already begun.

“If you pass and look at the prisons in recent times, you’ll see some cleaning up taking place. That’s what we intend, to clean it up.”

In September, Alexander announced plans to move the Port of Spain Prison, with plans to relocate inmates, although no new location has yet been confirmed.

“We are at the part where we’ll be moving some inmates that can be accommodated elsewhere.”

He said the prison was never intended to house its current population, nor is the location ideal, being in the middle of a bustling business and residential district.

“A lot of these things were built way back. We need to move away from the system where we have a jail in the middle of town. Move it away: residents can also feel safe.”

TRUST THE TTPS

He also commented on the multi-million-dollar quarry raid in Manuel Congo, Guanapo, on October 9, where the Police Commissioner visited the scene.

“I allow the police to do their job and make little comments about it. But I commend officers every day for the efforts they are making.” Alexander said there are still some minor issues in the police service but insisted it is being addressed.

“It will be ironed out. The commissioner is doing a wonderful job, together with his other members of staff.”

The public, Alexander said, must also play its part in fighting crime and must trust the TTPS.

“What the police are really looking for is public support. The public needs to move away from the mindset of ‘I don’t trust. If the police are keeping a roadblock and someone gives you a signal, where does the trust lie?”

He argued that this kind of behaviour only fuels the crime situation.

“You’re talking about trust, but you’re warning someone who just shot a member of your family there’s a roadblock ahead. Does that make sense? So who has the trust issue?”

Asked about his budget wish list, Alexander said as line minister for several agencies, he hopes all departments under his purview receive the resources they need.

“I am hopeful. I want to see all those agencies properly resourced.”

Illegal quarry ‘boss’ falls ill, taken to private hospital

THE man described by police the “main boss” in a multi-million dollar illegal quarrying empire, reportedly fell ill hours after his arrest on October 9, and was allowed to be taken – with a police escort – to a private hospital in north Trinidad for treatment.

The man was among 19 people arrested during a raid by heavily armed police on an illegal quarrying plant in the forests of Manuel Congo, Guanapo. Police sources said they expect to lay charges this weekend against the 19 for illegal quarrying.

A senior police official connected to the investigation told Newsday two suspects, including the “big boss” fell ill shortly after their arrest and were taken to the private hospital, “at their own cost.”

The source added police did not object as this was preferable to the alternative, “Just to maintain that level of security, rather than (taking them to) a big hospital.”

The source said the illnesses weren’t “serious” and the men were discharged at around 11 am on October 10.

The officer said police are acting swiftly and co-ordinating with other agencies as they know they cannot hold the men indefinitely.

“We try to expedite our investigation so we have all the agencies amalgamating today and doing their part. We have some processing to do. It’s a huge scene. So the other agencies are coming to do the quantification of the aggregate and all these kind of things.”

Despite their description of the owner as a “big boss,” police sources said he will not be held via a detention order which is an option available under the state of emergency.

“If we believe that people are a threat to public safety, then we could keep them for 90 days on the preventative detention order. But I don’t see these people (held for illegal quarrying) qualifying for that.”

Newsday was told that at least three of the suspects are expected to be charged under section 45 of Minerals Act which prohibits the processing of minerals without a licence.

The offence carries a $500,000 fine and five years imprisonment, on first conviction, and a fine of $700,000 and seven years imprisonment on second conviction.

People and companies found trading in illegally obtained minerals are also barred from bidding on government-funded construction projects. Newsday understands police are expected to remain at the Manuel Congo quarry site as they do not have facilities to store the equipment and vehicles especially as these items may very well be evidence in the prosecution of the 19 suspects.

Manuel Congo illegal quarrying – Cycle of raid, rebuild, resume ended

FOLLOWING a Sunday Newsday Page 1 story, on June 29, on an illegal quarrying site in Manuel Congo, Guanapo, then newly-minted Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro visited the site in July, and the operation was shut down.

However, in a shocking development, on October 9 – just three months after his initial visit – Guevarro returned to the same location, this time declaring that the police was shutting down for good, a multimillion-dollar illegal quarrying outfit that included modern machinery which cleared acres of virgin forests, bit into hills and the ground, chewed up tonnes of earth and rock and converted them into aggregate worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

This development follows a series of public warnings and an in-depth investigation by Newsday.

In March 2025, the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) issued a statement condemning illegal quarrying operations polluting the Guanapo River.

WASA said a contractor had been discharging effluent directly into drains feeding the river, visibly discolouring the watercourse and threatening operations of the Caroni Water Treatment Plant which provides potable water to hundreds of thousands of people.

While the plant continued to meet safety standards, WASA warned this was not an isolated event. Similar incidents in 2021 had forced service disruptions.

Despite the severity of the warning, no significant enforcement action was taken in the months that followed.

QUARRYING OPERATIONS UNEARTHED

Then in June, Sunday Newsday published a detailed exposé uncovering the scale of the illegal quarrying. On June 25, officers from the Multi-Agency Task Force, an elite police unit, were alerted to the activity and a report was swiftly delivered to Commissioner Guevarro.

That Newsday investigation alleged the operator, based in Sangre Grande, had illegally excavated more than five hectares of state land, moving tonnes of aggregate on to nearby private property.

The operator, who did not possess a mining licence, was also linked to quarrying activities in Melajo, Matura, Wallerfield, and other areas.

These operations – which saw acres of virgin forests denuded, untold numbers of wildlife displaced and many rivers polluted and turned into slush ponds – continued for years under the watch of the Ministry of Energy (the line ministry for mining), the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) and the Forestry Division, with little to no intervention

Sources claimed the operator had political connections across major parties and used profits from illegal quarrying to fund real estate developments and other legitimate business ventures.

On June 27, Newsday shared its findings with WASA. The following day, WASA issued a strongly-worded statement condemning the “reckless and unlawful” discharge of effluent into tributaries leading to the Guanapo River.

WASA INTERVENES

WASA said the pollution already compromised water-production efficiency at the Caroni plant, forcing the authority to implement additional purification measures to maintain safety standards. The agency confirmed it was working with other regulatory bodies to halt the activity.

In response to mounting public concern, widespread media attention and social media condemnation, Commissioner Guevarro led a “targeted operation” on July 2, visiting illegal quarrying sites in Sangre Grande, Valencia and Manuel Congo.

A TTPS press release on July 3 confirmed the raid, acknowledging the serious environmental and infrastructural impacts of illegal quarrying, including disruptions to WASA’s operations. The release also noted that investigations were underway to determine the extent of any criminal conduct linked to the sites.

Following the police operation, the Guanapo site appeared to have ceased activity.

This however, was short-lived, as operations not only resumed but were expanded to the point that when the police led a raid on October 9, the plant was complete with modern quarrying facilities including motorised conveyor belts, aggregate washing facilities and specialised heavy machinery.

It remains to be seen where investigations will lead, as police confirmed that at least 19 people were arrested in the October 9 raid, including the owner of the Manuel Congo illegal quarry who police described as the “big boss” of illegal quarrying in the country.

Cops raid illegal quarry in Manuel Congo – 19 arrested

This story has been updated to include additional details. See updated post here.

AT least 19 illegal quarrying suspects were detained earlier this morning, October 9, after police officers from various tactical and specialist units within the TTPS raided an illegal quarry site in Manuel Congo, Guanapo, said to be at the centre of a multi-million-dollar operation.

A senior police officer, close to the operation, told Newsday the raid followed a year-long investigation.

One of the directors of the business, was reportedly on the premises when the raid occurred, and was among those arrested and are now in police custody.

Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Intelligence and Investigations) Natasha George, were at the scene spearheading the operation.

In a subsequent statement, the TTPS’ corporate communications unit said via WhatsApp: “Several people and millions of dollars’ worth of equipment have been seized as the investigation continues.”

This is a developing story and will be updated when more information comes to hand.

Police arrest 27, seize guns, ammo, drugs in SoE exercises

POLICE have arrested 27 people and seized several guns, ammunition and drugs during state of emergency exercises across both islands over the last two days.

Twenty-two people were arrested for various offences in the Northern North Division during exercises on the evening of July 24.

Reports said that of those arrested, 11 people were arrested after a comprehensive search of a mosque and seven people were arrested for firearms and drug possession.

Two were arrested on outstanding enquiries into assaults, and two were arrested on outstanding larceny enquiries. Officers recovered two pistols and 22 rounds of 9mm ammunition.

The exercises were carried out in the Arima, Guanapo, Wallerfield, Malabar, La Horquetta and Carapo police districts. They were spearheaded by ACP Simon, Snr Supt Maynard-Wilson, Supt Ettienne, ASP Pitt and Insp Mascall.

Meanwhile, two juveniles were detained, and several rounds of ammunition were seized from a Valencia home during exercises in the Eastern Division between midnight and 3 am.

Police said officers visited the home of a known member of an organised group around 1.40 am. The gang member was not home, but they found two juveniles who fit the description of suspects wanted in connection with several robberies in the area. The officers searched the house in accordance with the Emergency Powers Regulations and found several rounds of 5.56 ammunition.

The officers searched the homes of two other known organised gang members but turned up empty-handed.

The exercise was co-ordinated by Snr Supt Paponette and Insp Harper and was supervised by Sgt De La Rosa and Ag Sgt Francis.

Over in the Central Division, a 23-year-old man of Maracas Village was arrested during a roving drug block operation conducted between 1 pm and 5 pm for the possession of 112 grammes of marijuana.

The roving exercise was co-ordinated by Supt Fitzworme, Asp Reyes, and Inspector Conliff, and carried out by members of the CDTF Area South under the supervision of Sgt Ali and Ag Cpl Sarran.

Around 8 pm, officers arrested a 34-year-old man of Mt Pleasant for the possession of two grammes of cocaine in the Shirvan Road Police Station District in Tobago.

Officers in the South Western Division arrested two men, in separate incidents, in the Point Fortin District for the possession of ammunition and the possession of cocaine. They also arrested six female illegal immigrants ranging from 18 to 29 years old.

The exercise was conducted between 9 pm on July 24 and 1 am. It was co-ordinated by Snr Supt Thompson, Asp Corrie, Asp Forbes, Insp Prescott, and supervised by Sgt Smith and Sgt Breedy.

Police also arrested a 19-year-old New Grant, Princes Town man for the possession of a homemade shotgun around 4 am on July 25. PC Narace is continuing enquiries.

WASA: Bad weather disrupting water supply in north-east, Trinidad

THE Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) has issued an update on the impact of recent adverse weather conditions on its operations, particularly in the north east of Trinidad.

In a June 19 statement, WASA said heavy rain has affected the functioning of several surface water treatment facilities. As a result, water supply disruptions are being experienced in several communities.

Areas currently affected include Matura, Salibia, and Matura, as well as Valencia, Guanapo, parts of Arima, Pinto Road, Mt Pleasant, Calvary Hill, Aripo, Santa Rosa Heights, Tumpuna Road, and Malabar.

WASA said, “Every effort is being made to return these facilities to service as early as possible,” and further updates will be provided as the situation develops.

This follows a similar advisory issued by WASA on June 13, in which the authority reported that persistent rainfall and flash flooding had been affecting water quality and delivery.

The disruptions come in the wake of an Orange Level Riverine Flood Alert #2 and a Yellow Level Adverse Weather Alert #5 issued by the TT Met Office. At the time, the Manuel Congo and Caroni Rivers, particularly near the Tumpuna and El Carmen areas, had reached critical capacity.

In addition to flood-related warnings, the Met Office also noted the presence of Saharan dust in the atmosphere and advised individuals with respiratory sensitivities to take necessary precautions.

WASA advises delayed service resumption

Although improved conditions have led to resumed operations at a few surface water treatment facilities, the Water and Sewage Authority (WASA) said many remain out of operation as they await the clearing of river conditions.

The Northern facilities in Tompire, Matura, Quare, Guanapo, Aripo, La Pastora, Mc David, L&N, Acono, Tyrico, Las Cuevas, Rincon, La Fillette and Blanchisseuse are awaiting the clearing of river conditions to restart operations.

This will affect residents in Toco, Balandra, Matura, parts of Valencia, Arima, Pinto Rod, Mt Pleasant, Calvary Hill, Santa Rosa, parts of Tumpuna road, La Pastora, Lopinot, Surrey Village, parts of Maracas St Joseph, Maracas Village, Las Cuevas, La Fillette and Blanchisseuse,

The treatment facility in Caura, servicing El Dorado, Tacarigua and Tunapuna residents has returned to service.

Tobago’s Hillsborough West and Highlands Road facilities servicing residents in Hope, John Dial, Bacolet, Scarborough, Moriah, Upper Golden Lane and Mason Hall have also resumed service.

Arima man wins $14m Lotto Plus jackpot

WHILE the country was abuzz with general election fever, an Arima man’s life was changed forever when he picked the correct numbers to win the National Lotteries Control Board’s (NLCB) Lotto Jackpot of $14,003,989.74 on April 26.

A NLCB press release said the man is a long-time Lotto player who played his numbers at Chez Marten Restaurant & Bar on Tumpuna Road, Guanapo, Arima.

Raised in Port of Spain, and now a resident of Arima, this winner has been married for over 40 years and living a life grounded in simplicity, humility and faith. With no children of his own, the man told the NLCB he has always found joy in quiet moments and a deep commitment to helping others, especially the youths.

When asked how he discovered his win, he described his disbelief.

“With everything going on before the elections, I couldn’t even remember if I had played. Then I saw the winning numbers pop up on my phone…I found that they looked familiar.

“But I wasn’t sure. I just tossed my phone aside and went to bed.” He said the following morning, curiosity got the better of him. Digging through his wallet, he found the ticket and examined his numbers, which perfectly matched.

Still sceptical, he checked the ticket several times that day, unable to believe his own eyes.

Despite the excitement, he kept the news to himself.

“I knew the country would be focused on election results,” he explained with a smile, “so I waited.” It wasn’t until a few days later, just before heading out to claim his prize, that he quietly told his wife.

Describing his current state simply as “normal,” he says the win hasn’t changed him. The man said he taught himself everything he knows after never being afforded a secondary school education, so he was no stranger to making the most of what life has given him.

“I’ve had to work hard all my life. I missed out on school, I lost my father young and I didn’t get the kind of relationships I hoped for with most of my relatives. But my mother was my biggest supporter. She gave me everything.”

A firm believer in divine timing, he credits the Lord with guiding him to this financial blessing.

“I saw the jackpot had climbed to $14 million and 14 is my favourite number. That was enough for me.”

Though well-travelled, he dreams of one day touring Europe, not for luxury, but for the appreciation of history and culture. As for material things?

“I don’t have a dream car. If my car serves me, I’m fine.” Instead of a big celebration, he quietly thanked God in his heart. That, for him, was enough.

He said his greatest desire is to use the money to help those most in need especially young people facing the same challenges he once did. “I want to invest in youth, in their education and development. That’s where real change happens.”

He regularly plays Lotto, Cash Pot, and Play Whe, playing when he “gets the vibes.” His message to other players? “Follow your heart. And don’t play to get rich, play because you believe something good can happen.”

Outrage after cocoa farmer shot dead in Paria

This story was originally published with the headline Paria cocoa farmer found shot dead in car and has been updated to include additional details. See original post here.

THE murder of award-winning Brasso Seco cocoa farmer Javed Omardeen has triggered a wave of outrage among friends and relatives.

Omardeem, 33, was shot dead in his car near his home at Upper Gomez Trace in Paria on March 14.

He and his parents – Stephanie and Feroze – both medical doctors owned a cocoa estate and had won national awards for producing the best cocoa in the country.

Police said around 6.15 pm, Omardeen was sitting in his car talking to someone near his home. Around 9.20 pm, a passerby saw the car parked in the same location with the house lights on and the car idling.

The person stopped to speak to Omardeen but realised the driver’s window glass was shattered. She saw Omardeen slumped over the centre console, bleeding from his chest. He was already dead.

His mother was too distraught to speak of her son when contacted on March 15.

“We are devastated right now. It is a very painful time.”

In 2021, Stephanie and her son Javed won the National Cocoa Awards winner. They had invested in the 15-acre estate in 2018 and together with the eldest son revived an abandoned cocoa estate.

They also own the Omarbeans Organic brand, which can be found in local gourmet shops in Valpark and Hotel Normandie in St Ann’s.

Family friend and friend of Javed, Gail Pantin said in a telephone interview, “There are always senseless murders, but this boy never did anyone anything.

“They usually say wrong place, wrong time, but he was exactly where he was supposed to be. It is the wrong people who have the wrong things.”

She said she had met many young people across the world, but no one compared to Javed.

“He was truly one of a kind.”

She also wrote a tribute on Facebook asking people to remember Javed’s name.

“A young man with a heart of stone. A rare, precious stone. Rarer than a diamond… a sweet and so rare that it is out of the public view and seen by few.

“If you had ever met this young man with that precious heart you would know it was so unique and so rare and an absolute one of a kind.”

She recalled a story that involved Javed.

“One day I jumped, as a yellow snake slid by me. Javed took that snake and the two of them connected immediately as they were friends forever.

“It wasn’t only snakes but birds, animals and insects that befriended Javed.”

She said she ran out of words to describe the individual that was Javed. Pantin also did not know how to express her condolences to his parents.

“I am lost for the words to say to his parents that he’s in a better place and that he was wonderful but the truth is he was so needed here.

“Here in the natural world, here in this country of Trinidad and here to make a wonderful peaceful difference.”

Pantin said the loss of Javed was a great loss not only to his parents, but to his community, his sisters, his friends and the farming business.

“I hope to the person or people who made this decision of taking this heart from us that you realise the impact you have just done to all of us.

“I hope you find a way to turn your life around and do maybe one day of good – not the lifetime Javed tried to do, but one whole day.”

Homicide officers did not have a motive for Omardeen’s murder.

His killing brought the country’s murder toll to 83 for the year.

Police are also investigating a double murder in La Retreat Road, Guanapo and the fatal stabbing of a man at El Dorado, Tunapuna which took place on March 15.

Read our 2021 feature story on the Omardeen family and their Brasso Seco cocoa estate here.

[UPDATED] Double murder sparks call for police post in Guanapo

BESIEGED residents of La Retreat Road, Guanapo, Arima, still reeling from the trauma of a triple murder three weeks ago, were jolted by another double murder in their community on March 14.

The latest crime, in the midst of a state of emergency, has prompted them to demand a permanent police post and increased patrols.

Around 8.30 pm, three gunmen dressed in dark clothing and T-shirts, with the word “Police” on the back, pounced on a group of people who were liming outside a house just after the Guanapo dump and fired multiple shots before escaping by running through bushy tracks.

Two men were killed and a third injured.

The deceased were identified as Terence Romero, 59, and a 63-year-old man only known as Pa.

The injured man is a 39-year-old resident of La Retreat Road, Arima.

Other members of the group managed to escape as they ran in different directions.

The three men were taken to the Arima Health Facility where Romero and Pa died.

Police found 39 spent 9mm shell casings, two live 9mm ammunition, eight deformed projectiles, three fragments and one projectile at the scene.

Newsday visited the area on March 15 but those present were only willing to speak on condition of anonymity.

“Pa just come up here to sell some hog food. I don’t know if it was wrong timing or what and the gunmen came and everybody ran,” one resident said.

He said Pa stayed in a house only a couple metres away from a farm which is located behind the house.

“We need a police post up in the back here. Is outsiders coming in and spoiling this community.

“Last night it had plenty of children in the yard last night. What if one of them had pick up?”

Another resident said they are fearful of another incident like that happening,

“Because if it happens once, it can happen again.”

Other residents in the area echoed the call for the police post.

“The state of crime is too much. This going on for too long now. It had higher crime bosses in the country and they got caught.

“Why these criminals and them these days can’t get catch too?”

They called on the Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds to do more for poor communities, specifically in terms of safety.

“Visit these areas. Listen to the people. Understand us. We need help.

“The old people and the children here are traumatised. Most of them leaving their place and going elsewhere.”

On February 22, three people were killed in the same community.

Anicia James, 47, her brother Anselm James, 49, and her common-law husband Mitchell Francois, 30 were shot dead and a six-year-old boy injured.

That incident sparked a major police response the following day led by two deputy commissioners of police and various other units of the service.

Contacted for comment, acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Curt Simon expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and said the residents’ pleas were concerning.

“They have a right to be concerned, the same way the police are concerned by what is happening.

“We have had significant police presence in that area and the police response to the incident was very fast. Simon believes criminals are watching and timing the police.

“It suggests that we have to adapt to this. I understand the call for a police post and our ears are indeed inclined to the calls of the citizenry and the residents.

“We will do this through our police stations councils and town halls where the discussion can go further.”

Simon said he has been in contact with Snr Supt and the Assistant Commissioner of Police for the Northern North division.

“We are speaking about making certain adaptations, especially our response.”

Asked how long it would take to develop a police post, Simon said there would need to be significant discussions.

“That takes on a bunch of different dynamics, the logistics needed to be in place. The Arima police station is not too far from that area.

“We have our experiences with police posts and the advantages and disadvantages that it brings.”

Police said investigations are ongoing.

This story was originally published with the title “Cops probe double murder in La Retreat, Arima” and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

Two men are dead and one injured following an ambush by gunmen in the La Retreat, Arima area on March 14.

The deceased have been identified as Terence Romero, 59, and a 63-year-old man identified known as Pa.

The injured man is a 39-year-old resident of La Retreat Road, Arima.

Police said around 8.30 pm, the men were liming among a group of people when three gunmen wearing dark clothing with “Police” marked on the back of their T-shirts approached and shot at them.

The group of people ran, but Romero, Pa and the third man were shot.

The three men were taken to the Arima Health Facility where Romero and Pa died.

Police found 39 spent 9mm shell casings, two live 9mm ammunition, eight deformed projectiles, three fragments and one projectile at the scene.

On February 22, three people were killed in the same community.

Anicia James, 47, her brother Anselm James, 49, and her common-law husband Mitchell Francois, 30 were shot dead and a six-year-old boy injured.

Police said investigations are ongoing.

[UPDATED] 3 killed, boy wounded in Guanapo shooting

A triple murder in the quiet, rural community of Guanapo has left a six-year-old boy orphaned and hospitalised after gunmen stormed his family home, killing his parents and his uncle.

At around 10.15 pm on February 22, Anicia James, 47, was just about to close her shop on La Retreat Extension Road when two gunmen entered and forced their way into the adjoining house.

They ran through the house, shooting at the occupants, killing James, her brother Anselm James, 49, and her common-law husband Mitchell Francois, 30.

Her six-year-old son was shot in both feet and remains warded at hospital.

The gunmen then smashed their way through the front door, almost breaking it off its hinges as they left.

The gunmen, who came on foot, escaped by running through a nearby orange orchard.

Police say they have no exact motive yet, but initial inquiries have led them to believe the murders are gang-related.

Speaking with the media at the family home, James’s relative said he is unsure who was the target, but dismissed her involvement with any gang.

“I’m not sure if it’s gang-related or what, because I can’t speak on behalf of Francois. But I can talk on behalf of Anicia James, and I know she was a humble soul and she had her shop running, and that was basically it.”

He said online reports that the murders were the result of a dispute after a car accident which left Anselm James injured were untrue.

“I don’t feel this has anything to do with that.”

He said the family was cordial with the other person involved in the accident.

“They were dealing with him normal. Everything was cool. It could have never been that.”

The relative said although there are cameras at the front of the house, he is unsure whether they are working and no neighbours have come forward to tell him what they saw.

“The neighbours don’t really interact too much either, so nobody would (tell me anything).”

He said this, coupled with his experience interacting with police in the past, has left him unsure whether the family will get justice.

Gunmen kicked the front door of Anicia James’s home at La Retreat Road, Arima, off its hinges after shooting James, her common-law husband Mitchell Francois and her brother Anselm James dead on February 22. – Photo by Gregory McBurnie

“We were in a situation with corrupted officers already, so we don’t really trust them. I mean, not all police is the same, but it ent looking promising to me.”

He said the family is instead focused on helping her children recover.

“She has a little son and a little daughter she left behind. She also has a big (adult) son and a daughter, so they have to pick up from where she left off and basically take care of the smaller ones.”

The relative said he intends to help in whatever way he can with the children.

“I just have to help do what she was accustomed doing and take care of her children.”

Seven dead, six injured after two Guanapo shootings

The murders evoked sad memories from villagers of a 2023 incident in the same community which left four people, including three children, dead and five others injured after they were shot while sleeping.

Shortly after midnight on September 21, 2023, gunmen stormed the Peterkin family’s home at La Retreat Extension, killing ten-year-old Faith Peterkin and her siblings Arianna, 14, Shane, 17, and Tiffany, 19.

Two men from the area, Jalani Rivers, 22, and Jodel Noel, 24, have since been charged with the murders.

Speaking with Newsday on Sunday, residents said there has been an exponential increase in the police presence in the community since the 2023 shooting.

“It’s a big, big difference in terms of the amount of police in the area since those children died,” said a man who lives near James’s house.

An elderly man sitting in a yard added, “They are around right through, day and night.”

Although seven people have died and six were left injured after the two incidents in the community, the elderly man said he was not worried.

“I believe in this life if you do s–t, s–t will come around you. If you ent doing nothing, then nothing will happen to you. So I does go all about and come back any time.”

He said he believed the police are doing what they can to suppress crime in the area.

“We are pleased with the police presence because that does make a difference. Although, these days, the youths don’t care. Police or no police, you see how they are doing things.”

Another man echoed similar sentiments as he said the police presence has been ramped up since the killings.

“The police can only do so much. They are doing their work and they are here right through. If they not patrolling they out on the corner waiting for any calls because it’s a hot area.”

He said people in the community have to start to look within themselves if they want to fix the crime situation.

“I wouldn’t say police is the problem. It’s the people themselves, and what you involve yourself in. You reap what you sow.”

Despite the violent crime metres from home, the man said he is not particularly concerned about his safety.

He said although the country “right now is not the safest place,” he believes there is more to this incident than meets the eye.

“Yes, we will have concerns, but I don’t involve myself in them things, so I’m not so concerned. This is not just a robbery and killing. It have more to this story.”

James’s relative, who said he was not at home at the time of the murders, complained that the increased police presence was unable to prevent his family’s death or ensure the killers’ capture.

“The police was right around when the incident happened. They were right down the street, a few houses away, and nothing was done.”

He said the only nugget of comfort he had was the appearance of some of the top brass in the police service, who went to the home to speak with relatives.

“The seniors give me a good response, you know. They trying to do what they have to do to get justice. I comfortable with what they do.”

The relative pleaded with gunmen, as he said too many people are dying as collateral damage.

“It ent making sense. You are killing innocent people. Even if you come for one person, you’re shooting up a house and you know there are children and other people in the house. Look for whoever you want and don’t kill innocent people!”

Acting DCP Curt Simon, in a video sent by the TTPS, said the police noted the public’s concerns about shooting and murders during the state of emergency.

“The TTPS have come down in this area in great numbers to show that we are not about to take these murders without reacting to them in a positive way.”

Simon said several units, including the Victim and Witness Support Unit, went to the community in the aftermath of the murders.

“Three persons have lost their lives and it is of great concern to us, and we are here to assure you all that we will leave no stone unturned in penetrating this investigation with a view of apprehending, detaining, arresting and charging the perpetrators.”

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

At midday on February 23, police were still at a house in Guanapo, Arima, where three people were shot dead and a six-year-old wounded the night before.

At around 10.15 pm on February 22, two gunmen ran into a house adjoining a shop and killed a woman, her husband and brother.

The gunmen, who came on foot, then escaped through a nearby orange field.

The woman’s six-year-old son was also shot in his foot and remains warded at hospital.

Police say they have no exact motive yet, but initial inquiries have led them to believe the murders are gang-related.

WASA upgrades Guanapo, North Oropouche treatment plants

Shaira Ali, Director of Water Management Services at the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), expressed pride as she provided an overview of two projects aimed at improving water treatment infrastructure in northeast Trinidad.

The projects focus on upgrading the Guanapo Water Treatment Plant and refurbishing two storage tanks. Funded by the National Water Sector Transformation Programme of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Ali said these upgrades will significantly enhance the resilience, capacity and long-term sustainability of the country’s water infrastructure.

During the double sod-turning ceremony for the Guanapo and North Oropouche water treatment plants in Heights of Guanapo, Arima, on February 19, Ali described the projects as crucial.

The Guanapo Water Treatment Plant, located in the Heights of Guanapo, produces about 3.5 million gallons of water daily, serving 20,500 customers in Arima and surrounding areas.

Ali explained rapid development over the past two decades has led to a demand for water that exceeds the plant’s design capacity. Unregulated upstream activities and climate change have also further strained its operations, making it increasingly difficult to deliver effective service. In response, an intervention has been proposed for the treatment plant.

Ali said smaller projects, such as the Seabird Community Water Improvement Programme funded by the Assessment and Water Sector Adaptation Planning project, have provided immediate relief.

The Guanapo upgrade will expand the existing intake and install additional treatment units capable of extracting and treating 2.5 million gallons of water per day from the Guanapo River.
On completion, the plant’s total production will reach approximately 6 million gallons per day.

The work will take place in the existing compound, but separately from the current infrastructure to minimise disruption.

The upgraded facility will include an additional raw water intake, a chemical blending and dosing facility, a rapid gravity system, new raw water distribution pumps and an upgraded electrical system.

The project is expected to be completed in 11 months, with the new system enabling a 24/seven water supply in most areas served by the facility.

In addition to the Guanapo upgrade, improvements are underway at the north east Ocean Water Treatment Plant, which serves over 180,000 people.

The facility produces about 20 million gallons of water per day from the northern Caroni River, was built in the 1980s and has surpassed its expected lifespan, impacting its efficiency.

She said ongoing work at the ocean plant, along with other short-term initiatives, will improve network efficiency and the overall water supply. Upgrades are expected to be completed by early 2026, with some areas transitioning from a 24/three schedule to a 24/five schedule.

Minister of Planning Pennelope Beckles-Robinson, the keynote speaker, said water issues are a significant concern for residents in Arima. She stressed the importance of public education, particularly regarding the impact of rainfall on water supply and growth.

Beckles-Robinson highlighted the crucial role of pipeline infrastructure in ensuring a reliable water supply, alongside increased storage capacity.

Beckles-Robinson said her ministry facilitated the signing of an US $80 million loan agreement with the IDB aimed at supporting TT’s water supply improvement programmes. She said these programmes will provide water to underserved communities across TT. Additionally, she discussed a previous loan of USD $235 million, which was secured to support water sector investments that began in 2023 and are expected to be completed by 2026.

Beckles-Robinson said 200,000 people will benefit when the Guanapo and North Oropouche plants are complete.

The projects align with the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and aim at improving access to water, Beckles-Robinson said.

On completion, the Guanapo plant will serve customers in Pinto Road, Calvary Hill, Mt Pleasant, Alenore Gardens, Bypass Road and other surrounding communities.

Low levels at WASA reservoirs continue

THE Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) is facing an average deficit of 33 per cent in its three reservoirs in Trinidad when compared to the long-term average, while Tobago’s Hillsborough Reservoir is at 100 per cent capacity.

The figures were released in video updates posted on WASA’s Facebook page on November 14.

The Navet Reservoir faces the largest deficit, as it is more than 40 per cent below its long-term average.

The reservoir is usually 84.32 per cent full but as at November 11, was only at 49.63 per cent capacity.

The 62-year-old dam supplies water for a large swathe of South Trinidad, including Tabaquite, Gasparillo, San Fernando, Debe, Penal, Princes Town, Rio Claro, South Oropouche, La Brea, Moruga and Fyzabad.

Hollis Reservoir is at 61.88 per cent capacity, 24.5 per cent less than its long-term average of 81.95 per cent.

Built almost 90 year ago, Hollis Reservoir is the oldest of the dams and serves North Trinidad, supplying water from Arima to Port of Spain.

Arena dam is 53.9 full, a 34 per cent drop from its long-term average of 82.2 per cent.

In contrast to the other reservoirs, Hillsborough Reservoir in Tobago is the only one above its long-term average (98.9).

In an adverse-weather impact status update sent on November 14, WASA said its surface water treatment facilities in Aripo, Guanapo, Caura and Tompire had returned to regular service after persistent overnight rain in parts of North East Trinidad.

It added facilities in Matura and Quare were still down as it was waiting for river conditions to improve in those areas before restarting operations.

Gonzales: Reservoirs empty despite heavy rain

DESPITE heavy rainfall over the past week, Public Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales says the country’s reservoir levels are still significantly below their long-term averages.

He spoke to reporters at his ministry at Alexandra Street, St Clair, after a signing ceremony for his ministry’s US$315 million National Water Sector Transformation Programme funded by a loan from the Inter American Development Bank (IDB).

Reporters asked about the state of the reservoirs, given that Trinidad and Tobago was now in its wet season, as evidenced by recent heavy rainfall.

Gonzales said the reservoirs had not got enough rain, despite the Met Office saying TT was transitioning from dry and hazy conditions under the El Nino effect to wet conditions under the La Nina effect.

“We have not received the volumes of rainfall that can positively impact our reservoirs.”

Gonzales lamented reservoirs were now still “way below” their long-term averages.

“The Caroni-Arena is at 23 per cent when it is supposed to be at 46 per cent (as its) long-term average.”

The Hollis Reservoir is now just 28 per cent full, compared to its normal 42 per cent, he revealed.

“Navet at 22 per cent. It is supposed to be at 40 per cent, long-term average.

“So we have not gotten the type of rain that is needed to really have that positive effect on our reservoirs.

“That can only happen if we have about a week of prolonged, intense rain. Then you would start seeing our reservoirs start being replenished in a way you would expect. So we are still in a very precarious state. We are in a very delicate situation, so we have to monitor our reservoirs.”

Gonzales said while people see rainfall in their areas, this might not be happening in the areas of the reservoirs, such as Hollis, Caroni, or Navet.

“So that’s how the weather is. We are not in a good state. But we are hoping that in the next weeks, we are going to see some increased rainfall activity so our reservoirs can be full to capacity.

“We are not out of the woods as yet. While the reservoirs were now far better than a couple of weeks ago, they must be well managed in the coming weeks.”

Programme manager Gaynelle Abraham gave a project overview.

The first loan under the programme is US$80 million for 2023-2026 to improve the efficiency, quality, sustainability and resilience of TT’s water supply and water security, including a more reliable supply, better governance of water resources and climate resilience, and more access for underserved communities.

The programme has three main components, plus a US$2.81 million allocation for administrative costs.

The programme’s US$44.68 million water stabilisation and improvement component includes two new water treatment plants (Santa Cruz and Goldsborough, Tobago), five refurbished water treatment plants (Navet, Chatham, Guanapo, Freeport and North Oropouche) and six new wells (three wells at Freeport, plus one each at Chatham, Penal and Tucker Valley, Chaguaramas.)

The programme’s US$2.25 million support for water-sector transformation component includes restructuring WASA and re-assigning WASA’s water resource management role to a new integrated water-resource management entity.

The programme’s US$30.26 million water optimisation involves aged pipeline replacement, bulk meters, installing supervisory, control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems at water treatment plants and several boosters, and reducing non-revenue water.

Local IDB representative Carina Cockburn said in TT the volume of processed water for each person each year was enough to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool, namely 220,000 gallons, way ahead of the production for Barbados, which was 37,000 gallons.

Saying TT does not have a physical scarcity of water but an economic scarcity, she said the programme will improve the latter.

IDB director Robert Le Hunte, a former minister of public utilities, similarly said TT nationals enjoy 178 gallons per person per day, compared to 65 gallons in Jamaica and 66 in Barbados. He said TT has “one of the highest rates in the world” of water supply.

While saying funding was needed to fix shortcomings in TT’s water supply system, he also said water conservation was also a civic duty for residents.

Gonzales, in his main address, said the programme would help almost every region, was done without geographical bias and was the product of three years of hard work.

Protect delicate Guanapo ecosystem

THE EDITOR: I write to express deep concern about alarming environmental hazards plaguing the La Retreat/Heights of Guanapo area, particularly the presence of a hazardous waste landfill. It is distressing to witness the neglect of humanity’s well-being in favour of self-interest and financial gain.

The operation of this landfill without proper scientific analysis has led to severe air pollution in surrounding areas, with unknown consequences for the health of residents.

Furthermore, the contamination of rivers in the area, rendering the water unfit for drinking, cooking, and bathing, is unacceptable. Despite warning signage, many individuals including children, continue to use the polluted water, risking their health.

In addition to the landfill, activities of a quarry are exacerbating air and water pollution, further damaging the delicate ecosystem of the region.

Despite years of complaints from residents and the efforts of the Guanapo Community and Environmental Development Organization (G-CEDO), little to no action has been taken to address these pressing issues.

The lack of decisive action is not only endangering the health and well-being of residents but also hindering the potential for sustainable agricultural development in the area. The La Retreat/Heights of Guanapo region has the potential to contribute significantly to local, regional, and international agricultural markets, but this potential is being stifled by environmental degradation.

It is imperative that immediate steps be taken to address these environmental hazards and prioritise the health and safety of residents. This includes conducting comprehensive scientific analyses, implementing measures to mitigate pollution, and holding accountable those responsible for the environmental degradation in the region.

I urge the authorities to listen to the concerns of the community and take swift and decisive action to rectify the situation. The well-being of current and future generations depends on our ability to protect and preserve the environment for all.

CURTIS OBRADY

Arima

Over $500,000 worth of cocaine found in Aranguez

MEMBERS of the Northern Division Task Force seized approximately $500,000 worth of cocaine during an anti-crime exercise in Aranguez on April 24.

Police went to a courier shipping company in Aranguez, where a suspicious package was received.

After searching, they found 17 brown packets containing cocaine hidden inside a popcorn machine.

The drugs weighed 360 grammes and were estimated at $501,811.

Later in the day, police of the South Western Division Task Force discovered one and a half pounds of marijuana in a bushy area in the Guanapo area.

Two suspects were arrested for various offences including possession of a weapon.

Investigations are ongoing in both matters.

Funeral assoc head tells father of Guanapo 4: Police to blame for decaying bodies

HEAD of the Association of Funeral Professionals of TT Keith Belgrove says Shawn Peterkin should take legal action after the bodies of four of his children decayed while being kept by a funeral home.

In an interview with Newsday, Belgrove said police are to blame for the state of the bodies of Faith Peterkin, ten, Arianna Peterkin, 14, Shane Peterkin, 17, and Tiffany Peterkin, 19, who were killed in their Heights of Guanapo home by gunmen on September 21.

“They have to address that to the police because the police was working through an agent –⁠ an agent they did not exercise due diligence in selecting.”

Calling for a meeting with Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher, Belgrove said there needed to be regulations for selecting funeral homes to store the bodies of victims of crime.

His comments come after Peterkin told Newsday on Wednesday his four children’s bodies were so decomposed that all four would have to be put in closed caskets for their funeral on Friday.

On Thursday, Belgrove said this was not the first time this type of incident had occurred.

“This one today has brought it out to the public domain, but it happens extremely regularly, and it needs to be fixed,” he said.

He said funeral homes are used because the Forensic Science Centre does not have vehicles to transport the bodies or storage space.

Currently, he said funeral homes make applications and are given permission by the police superintendent in their area. But he said there are no guidelines on who should be selected.

“What criteria does he use? We do not know. It is not listed in the standing orders of the police, so he does not have clear directions.”

He also said some homes are unequipped to handle these kinds of cadavers, and the police often do not check before issuing permission letters.

“Some of these funeral homes –⁠ I don’t know about this particular one, I’m not saying this is what he (the home that had custody of the Peterkin bodies) has –⁠ but they buy a freezer at Courts. That is not made for the purpose. It’s an absolutely ridiculous situation.

“There’s another funeral home that don’t have the space, so the new ones (bodies) that they bring in, they put inside (freezers), and the ones that were there before, they take out.

“By the time (of) the funeral there’s a very disastrous situation at hand where families can’t even view or can’t even stand by. We need to fix the problem.”

Belgrove said the association had met with crime scene investigators to develop standards, and the police can adopt these standards to prevent a repeat of the situation.

“That standard must now become part of the police directives in their standing orders to know how to select or, based on those standards, the association would select funeral homes who are in good standing…who we go out and examine to make sure they have the equipment, facilities, vehicles, uniforms, body bags to do a proper job so we look professional, and we deliver a professional service to the people of Trinidad and Tobago.”

Belgrove said the association had tried to meet with the last three commissioners of police to discuss the matter but had been unsuccessful. He said the association is writing its fifth letter to Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher.

“We call upon the Commissioner of Police: please meet with representatives of our association. Together, we can quickly and easily fix this ugly problem and no longer will we cause distress.”

The bodies of the Peterkin siblings were being kept by Dennie’s Funeral Home until Tuesday. When the bodies arrived at the Forensic Science Centre in St James on Tuesday for the autopsy, their father, Shawn Peterkin, discovered they had already begun to decompose, and he could not identify his daughters.
The new funeral home, Allen’s, was preparing for a closed-casket service for the joint funeral on Friday.

An official at Dennie’s denied claims that the bodies decomposed while in its care. The official did not confirm whether the bodies were in a decomposed state or point fingers to indicate where this might have occurred.

However, he told Newsday to consider the time the bodies were removed from the crime scene, the time they were picked up by the home from the Arima General Hospital, the time they were escorted to the FSC on Tuesday and the time they were taken to the new funeral home.

Before Newsday’s interview with Belgrove, DCP Curt Simon said the police were aware of the decomposition of the Peterkins, and assessments are ongoing into what went wrong.

“Different agencies tend to become involved in such tragic circumstances and storage, transportation and examination of the bodies may all be conducted by these varying agencies,” he said.

“The TTPS is not about blaming and we have embarked upon a systems analysis in a bid to identify the problem and seek solutions. We do empathise with the friends and family who may encounter this additional trauma.”

Hinds calls for case study in Arima quadruple murders

National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds has called on other government ministries to join him in doing a case study on the massacre in the Heights of Guanapo, Arima, that left four siblings, including a ten-year-old, dead. Five other relatives were also wounded.

In “asking” the Social Development and the Sport and Community Development to come together with him, Hinds anticipated “a really big story” behind the incident.

“Sometimes, it is not the most pleasant. But certainly, to have resulted in the more than tragic result where four children, including a ten-year-old, lost their lives, there has to be a story,” Hinds said.

He believed that a combination of social and other circumstances resulted in that tragedy, which he described as heinous, unbearable, intolerable, nasty, and murderous.

The minister spoke at an anti-crime march on Saturday in La Brea hosted by the NGO the Sal Tarrae Sustainable Development Foundation, of which Jermel Pierre is chairman.

The minister said everyone, not only law enforcement officers, is responsible for dealing with crime. Government ministries, NGOs, faith-based organisations, and parents all have roles to play.

On Thursday at around 12.25 am, siblings Faith Peterkin, ten, Arrianna Peterkin, 14, Shane Peterkin, 17, and Tiffany Peterkin, 19, were shot dead as they slept at the family’s home at La Retreat Extension.

Five others, aged between 25-14, were hit but survived.

Hinds expressed confidence that the police are making progress on the case. He said he hopes that investigators identify the perpetrators, arrest them, and put them before the court “to give an account for their very heinous, murderous conduct.”

Hinds said this country has various opportunities for everyone wanting to make use of the talents that God gave them. When he sees violence and other forms of crime, he reflects on the opportunities available to the people.

He lamented that people do not have to commit crimes to succeed in TT.

“It is not necessary to have to kill to get food,” he said.

On the issue of bail being granted to people accused of murder, Hinds said many police have complained about it. In many cases, the accused people commit crimes while on bail.

He cited a report of a man on bail for murder being held with guns.

“God knows what he was about to do with them or can have done or have done,” Hinds said.

“The court guards very jealously its right to deal with the issue of bail. Even if you write legislation, the court construes it in a way that at end of the day that decision is for the Judiciary. We as a Government, I, as a minister, accept that.”

He, however, said the delays in the criminal justice system are a large part of why people get bail.

He added that the government has been doing all it can to quicken the criminal justice system, including decriminalising marijuana and introducing the demerit point system, for traffic offences.

Such initiatives took off thousands of cases from the magistrates’ courts that would have clogged the system.

La Brea MP Stephen Mc Clashie, community groups including No Youth Left Behind led by Quincy Joseph, and others participated in the march to “take a stand against crime.”

It began at the Vessigny Secondary School, then the Southern Main Road, and ended at the Brighton Anglican School.

He praised Pierre and his team for organising the walk, saying the community engagement inspires him.

Hinds added it was one of the social things the NGO is doing to respond to crime and criminality in an understanding that this is not for the police alone.

FAMILIES FLEE GUANAPO

GREGORY MCBURNIE

Some Guanapo residents and relatives of the victims of Thursday’s massacre have reportedly fled the area in fear.

On Thursday morning, gunmen stormed the house and opened fire, killing siblings ten-year-old Faith Peterkin, Ariana, 14, Shane, 17, and Tiffany, 19. Five others, including two children, were wounded.

Newsday visited the community on Friday and was greeted by silence and locked doors.

The house in which the massacre occurred was uninhabited, and the yard was deserted apart from some livestock and two dogs. The doors and windows of the surrounding houses were closed, with curtains drawn.

One resident eventually spoke to the media, saying many of the people in nearby houses packed up their belongings and fled sometime between Thursday night and Friday morning.

Newsday asked her if she intended to join the exodus of people leaving the community. A passing farmer who heard the question shouted, “The whole neighbourhood done move out.”

Another remaining resident who has been in communication with the family dispelled rumours of a fifth member of the family dying.

Hospital sources say the children who survived the shooting had surgery on Thursday night and remain warded.There was no word on the whereabouts of the two surviving adults.

One relative denied social media claims that the massacre was retribution for a robbery committed by a family member. Speaking with Newsday, she said none of the family members was involved in crime.

“Dat is not true, dem doh be in no gun ting…we does keep to ourselves, we don’t meddle.”

She also dismissed claims on social media that a certain male family member was involved in a gang.

“We never in no gang ting with nobody. You could ask anybody, them never used to be in no gang.”

The relative said the teenagers who had been shot spent most of their time at school or playing in the yard with other children in the community. She added that the family was at a loss as to the motive behind the shooting.

“Them children was love. I doh know who do it and why they do it. And they come in a house and only kill little children. Whoever do this should pay daily for it.
“We have to be strong.”

The relative said the family hoped the police could provide some justice.

Other residents, however, have less faith in the police, as they claim the police patrols have not been as regular as they had hoped.

After the incident, Snr Supt Kerwin Francis of the TTPS Northern Division said there would be an increased police and army presence in the area.

Speaking on TV6’s Beyond the Tape programme, he said, “These patrols will continue on an ongoing 24-hour basis until a level of normalcy is restored to the community.”

Residents say the police were camped out in the street Thursday night but left sometime on Friday morning Newsday arrived at the scene at 8.30 am on Friday, and there were no police vehicles. Police returned around 12.30 pm and spent under ten minutes in the area.
When Newsday left at 1 pm, another marked police vehicle was seen entering the street.

Several residents, who did not want to be identified, said the frequency of the patrols was insufficient, and the community still feels unsafe.

“We scared are here. I’m scared to sleep in my own house. Whole night we up because we afraid if they come back.”

Another resident said she hadn’t moved away as she had nowhere else to move to, before adding, “But if I have a child I don’t want them to grow up in this environment. I want them to be in a safer place.”

Farther away from the crime scene, other members of the community said the police should bear some blame for the situation. They said the police failed to consistently patrol the area, and when they did, they never entered the street on which the killings occurred.

They said there have been several robberies in the area within recent years and this has dented the community spirit.

“We don’t have any Christmas parties in the community again. It’s not safe.”

Thursday’s shooting has left residents feeling even more hopeless.

“Shops are now closing by 6 pm. Before, a parent coming home from work could pick up something for their child for the next day, but now it have none of that.”

Another resident said, “I have burglarproof and dogs and I still not feeling safe, because a bullet could rest down a dog.”

Police said they were unable to disclose the exact number and timings of patrols to protect operational security.

One resident singled out Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher and called on her to “do a better job.

“They need to revamp the service, because they need a different perspective. They need change.”

Newsday also tried to contact the councillor for the area, Roger Moore, to ask whether he was able to help the family as promised on Thursday. Calls to his phone on Friday went unanswered. Moore responded to a WhatsApp message for comment with an invitation to send an e-mail so that our concerns could be “addressed accordingly.”