5 days ago
5
Shane Superville
Senior Reporter
Despite having good intentions, a Central businessman was attacked and robbed by bandits as he stopped to render aid at the site of a fatal Beetham Highway car accident which resulted in the death of a 19-year-old man on Tuesday night.
As a result of this, businessman Ian Harrow is calling on the public to avoid stopping on the Beetham Highway to render aid, even if they believe someone’s life may be in danger.
Police said Harrow stopped his car on the eastbound lane of the highway and tried pulling the body of Kavish Persad from the wreckage of his vehicle, but was ambushed as he was doing so, beaten and robbed by a group of men.
The men stole $10,000, along with Harrow’s identification and bank cards, before escaping by running through the Beetham.
Speaking with Guardian Media yesterday, Harrow said he recently returned to T&T, collected his vehicle in Port-of-Spain and was heading home when he noticed the commotion. He said while his initial instincts were to help as best as he could, other people nearby had other intentions.
“I try to pump his chest (perform CPR) to see if I could resuscitate him. Check his neck for a pulse, check his vitals and then I get one lash across my neck,” Harrow recalled.
“A guy just slap, hang onto my neck and started to pull me towards the Beetham. They cut my clothes from behind, my cash, licence, ID card, credit card… everything gone.”
Harrow, who is originally from Jamaica, said he has lived in T&T for over 20 years and visited the Beetham occasionally, noting he did his best not to stereotype the area, despite its reputation as being a high-crime community.
He said his recent experience has now changed his perception, as he was upset anyone could be a victim of crime in a time of crisis, where some people were trying to help others.
Harrow said while he was able to escape the situation with his life, other persons stopping on the Beetham Highway may not be as fortunate, as he urged them to put their own safety first.
He also lamented that even in situations where criminals claimed to “control neighbourhoods,” they should maintain some level of order among their underlings.
“Who have to dead let them dead… because you are going to lose your life there. If the boss can’t control those little youths in the ghetto, who will control them?”
Harrow said he was able to make contact with someone he knew from the Beetham to ask for his cash and documents returned, but was told by the individual that their understanding was that the cash had already been divided among the bandits.
He urged the authorities to take decisive action against criminals in the Beetham, noting that the robbery of people rendering aid could have serious consequences for accident victims in need of life-saving care.
When contacted for comment yesterday, Beetham resident and Laventille West MP Kareem Marcelle condemned the robbery, describing it as an embarrassing disappointment. He said while the incident was unfortunate, he maintained such persons did not reflect the entire community.
“I know that in our community, the vast majority of citizens will be good, law-abiding citizens and will want to do well and live a life that is productive. Then there will be a minority who consistently try to bring negativity and a negative image when they commit these heinous acts,” Marcelle said.
Marcelle also urged the TTPS to find those responsible for the robbery and prosecute them.
Referring to the serious nature of the robbery and the implications it had for other citizens wanting to render assistance on the Beetham Highway, Marcelle said despite the concerns over safety, drivers should continue to offer assistance in times of emergency.
“Our humanitarian instinct of all citizens ought to be encouraged despite and in spite of any instances like this,” he said.
“I would like to ask that we consider as a national community that the actions of a small minority isn’t a reflection of the full community.”
Marcelle implored the community to come forward and share any information they had on the incident with the police.
English (US) ·