Residents of the Paria, Brasso Seco and surrounding areas yesterday were promised an increased police presence, help to set up a youth club and professional counselling by acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams. Speaking with the residents at the Brasso Seco Paria Visitor Facility Information Centre yesterday, residents said they needed police patrols in the area following the abduction of five villagers and the murders of three.
Williams said members of the Police Service’s Victim and Witness Support Unit would counsel affected residents. He also promised to join with the youths in the area to establish a youth group following a suggestion by one of the youths, Chrystal Garcia. Before Williams made his promises several villagers spoke of the abduction of Irma Rampersad, her daughter Felicia and Jennelle Gonzales and her 14-month-old daughter Shania Amoroso.
While villagers thanked police for their assistance during their ordeal, they criticised their neighbours for allowing such a thing to happen in their once peaceful and family-like village. One resident, Petra Joseph, called on her community to examine themselves. She said there were too many delinquent parents in the community, some of who were blaming outsiders for their recent troubles.
“Incest taking place here, uncles having sex with their nieces, men having sex with their children and it is hidden but it will be revealed,” she said, adding that men in the community need to play a more active role in their families. Baby Shania’s grandfather, Steve Amoroso, spoke of the hurt he was experiencing following the discovery of her decomposed body in a sleeping bag on November 8.
“I came up this evening paralysed. The apple of my eyes was brutally murdered. The doctors told me I am one visit away from a stroke and I should take it easy. “I in this community here about two years and I come to ask the community to come together so people from the outside would not come in and hold us as fugitive in our own homes,” he said to applause.
One resident told the gathering the entire villager should not be held responsible for the actions of Azmon Alexander, who police identified as a person of interest in their investigations into the kidnappings and murders. He further called on Insp Roger Alexander to apologise for his comments that the villagers were to blame for harbouring the wanted man. The suspect was arrested on Saturday in Malabar and has not yet been charged for any offence.
Resident Bernadette Salina-Roach angered some of the youths in attendance when she said the increased police presence stopped them from smoking marijuana and walking around with guns. “It is us who condone the wrong things. We need to stop doing this. Parents you all need to step up since this tragedy happen, no young men have been seen smoking weed. These young men have firearms but we not seeing them anymore,” she said.
Immediately after she spoke, 24-year-old Akeem Garcia said the youths were jobless. He said that was the reason they stay on the roadway smoking and liming during the day. “We don’t need people to point fingers, we need jobs, employment, not people judging us, we don’t want that.” Williams told Garcia he should make himself employable and not depend on handouts.
MP for the area Rodger Samuel was also present at the meeting. Samuel said he would meet with Chrystal Garcia about developing a youth group in the area and other youth-oriented events. He also assured that the roads would be fixed.
Good treatment
Regarding complaints made by Azmon Alexander’s attorney Fareed Ali that his client was not receiving the best treatment in custody, Williams said he was not being kept at the Hyatt Regency Hotel or the Radisson.
Alexander, who was arrested last Saturday, has not yet been charged for any offence. Asked about the period of time the suspect has been in custody without charge, Williams said the police have the discretion to detain a suspect until a “reasonable” period and if Ali was concerned he could file a writ of habeas corpus in the High Court.
Yesterday Ali said his client was allowed to bathe using a hose in his holding cell. He added that his client was given his medication on Tuesday night after he complained.