Downtown Owners and Merchants Association (Doma) president Gregory Aboud says more could be done to prevent the ongoing spate of crimes this holiday season. He was speaking in the wake of three murders in Port-of-Spain on Wednesday. The latest was clothing vendor Stephen Pollard who was shot dead in front of witnesses in a brazen attack.
In a phone interview yesterday, Aboud said: “It seems to us, from the reports coming in, that the country is experiencing another low point in the state of law and order, and that from the incidents that are occurring in east Port-of-Spain, in Petit Valley and areas of San Fernando and elsewhere in the country, that there is another seasonal rampage taking place.”
He said the current shootings were occurring in broad daylight and in front of many witnesses which was a testimony to the arrogance of the criminals. “We do not want to make any comments about the same services that give rise to this sort of disrespect which is being exhibited by criminals and thieves, but it is obvious that something more can be done at the time of year like Christmas,” he said.
He said, unfortunately, people were now forced to rethink helping people or taking assistance to them, since the mere act of going to your gate could cost you your life. Aboud said every game required a referee and the game of life in T&T was now crying out for a strong impartial referee to blow his whistle “when an infraction is committed and this is simply not happening. This is the root of the problem.”