The scent of violence and fear hung thick in the air on the “Gaza Strip” in Enterprise last Friday. “They does call here the Gaza Strip. Here have Taliban,” a resident said, hurrying to get off Enterprise Street. Warfare between rivals gangs, Rasta City and the Muslims, had reignited in the area. Gunshots have been ringing through the neighbourhood day and night, heard by fearful residents even in the nearby upscale Lange Park community.
The few residents on the streets quickly conducting their business were afraid to talk. A woman, busy stripping the husks off corn in a shed at the front of her house, did not look up once as she spoke. “I don’t have nothing to say. It happening over so, in Crown Trace and Bhagaloo Street. “I don’t have time with them and they crime. At the end of the day, I looking for a dollar.
“I have over 30 grandchildren. I does sell roast and boil corn by Busy Corner (Chaguanas). “I pray to God to reach back safe and I lock up my gate and I inside. “I living here 33 years and is only good morning, good evening and I gone by way. “They creating they own monsters.” An Unemployment Relief Programme (URP) worker on the “Gaza Strip” said she and other workers could not go to work on sites in Crown Trace and Bhagaloo Street.
“Yesterday, we had to run. Is gunshots, morning, evening and lunch time. It have no special time. “Is like a lockdown. It affecting everybody.” The office of Enterprise South councillor, Ronald Heera was closed. A resident of John Street said the area was normal at one time and claimed she did not know what started the war.
An elderly woman, who identified herself as only Margaret, preached a judgment sermon on the street when asked for a comment on the gang war in the area. “Before God destroy a city, He does send a warning. What going on here is God work. “People not hearing God voice. Is only sinning and feting and God want righteousness. This is God judgment coming.”
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Government PROJECTS, DRUGS
Fighting for Government projects may be one of the reasons behind the gang rivalry in Enterprise. Sources said gangs in Central are fighting for Local Government and Community-based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (Cepep) and URP projects, running workers off sites and demanding jobs. Fighting for control of drugs turf is another reason.
Police said the Beetham-based Rasta City, with connections in Enterprise, moved into the area last year. A war began between the Muslims in Enterprise and Rasta City. The conflict began when the Muslims moved in on a rival gang dealing in drugs in the area demanding they hand over their goods. The rival gang wants to control Enterprise, the source said.
In June last year, gang warfare erupted in Enterprise with several shootings but no fatalities. Central police arrested two key players and slapped 34 charges on them, confident that would have kept them in jail for a long time and end the war. The war resumed around April this year. Nikhail Dyer, 24, and his 18-month old daughter were shot dead at his Eagle Avenue, Enterprise. home. Police believed the killing was related to gang warfare in the area.
There were two gang related killings and several shooting injuries from nightly gunfire in the area. The gangs have been displaying photos of themselves on social media with high-powered weapons. Rasta City and the Muslims each made videos of their own “anthem” which they have also posted on social media.
Security cameras for Lisas Gardens
The upsurge in criminal activity in the Lisas Gardens and California areas is directly related to a fight for Government projects, the Guardian was told. An official with the area’s URP programme said gang leaders have been claiming turf on job sites. “If any work is about to take place they move in and threaten workers, saying they need jobs.”
Between Couva and Chaguanas areas like “The Wall” on the Orange Field Road, Wyabi, Waterloo and Brickfield have been identified as other central hot spots. Couva North MP Ramona Ramdial had earlier said criminals migrate from north areas to these spots to cool out. There was a shootout in “The Wall” in May last year but the area has since been quiet. Last week, a 19-year-old Akile Tallan of La Brea was shot and killed in California.
The same night two brothers from Lisas Gardens, Anwar Young, 24, and Jamal Young, 20, were shot and injured at their home. Residents of the area said apart from June and Annabelle Streets, the rest of the area is relatively quiet. Mary Peltier, who said she was a Government activist in the area, said while there are some turf wars, Lisas Gardens was “not like Laventille”.
There are plenty unemployed youths in the area who need good jobs, she said. Peltier said “its fellas from outside” who are responsible for most of the crime in the area. President of the Couva Chamber of Commerce Liaquat Ali has called for the urgent intervention of the armed forces in the area.
Ali said the business people in the area, frequent victims of robberies, are fearful, especially as the September 7 general election approaches. He said the chamber has asked the National Security Ministry for a meeting to discuss the setting up of security cameras in various hot spots in Lisas Gardens and other parts of Couva. The cameras cost an estimated $1 million.