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A police car, on October 30, is parked near the spot at which Miguel Lawrence, 36, was gunned down in the carpark of the Valpark Shopping Plaza on Morequito Avenue, Valsayn, after clubbing on the compound on the night of October 29. - Photo by Faith AyoungHOURS before the government moves to extend the state of emergency (SoE), gun-related violence, including a murder in the posh Valsayn area, led to the death of four more people.
On October 28, residents near Paria Branch Road, Toco heard gunshots.
The next morning, police found the body of Renaldo Marshall, 25, in a nearby marijuana field with gunshot wounds in his legs, neck and upper chest.
His death is believed to be gang-related.
Later that morning, a passer-by found 66-year-old Subash Ranjitsingh, lying in a track off Cemetery Street in Windy Hill, Arouca.
Police believe Ranjitsingh had been shot in the head sometime around 7 pm on October 28, during a botched robbery.
Officers had been looking for Ranjitsingh after his black Chevy Colorado was involved in an accident the previous night along the Eastern Main Road, but the driver fled.
Police found Ranjitsingh driver’s licence in the car but the picture did not match the description of the driver.
Tijanna "Rocky" Small, 38, was the third suspected murder victim when police found him in his silver Nissan Tiida near Antigua Road, Wallerfield at around 7.50pm.
Small was slumped in the driver’s seat with gunshot wounds while the car’s back door was open.
Three hours later Miguel Lawrence, 36, was liming at a popular nightclub in Valpark Shopping Plaza.
He left to purchase something at another establishment on the compound and his girlfriend heard gunshots.
She checked and saw Lawrence lying on the ground with blood oozing from his head.
The district medical officer visited the scene, declared him dead and ordered his body be removed for an autopsy at the Forensic Science Centre in St James.
SoE sees 40 per cent drop in murder toll
Commissioner of Police (CoP) Allister Guevarro earlier this week said he had recommended an extension of the SoE to permanently dismantle criminal networks.
The SoE was initially declared on July 18, in response to intelligence reports of planned attacks by criminal networks operating within and outside the prison system.
Authorities said potential targets included senior government officials, members of the judiciary, law-enforcement officers, and prison personnel.
On July 28, it was extended for a further 90 days, and on October 27, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar revealed a further extension will be debated in Parliament on October 31.
During the SoE, there has been a marked reduction in the murder toll compared to last year’s record breaking 604 murders.
The monthly toll for October stands at 39 compared to 56 as at October 30 last year.
Last year at this date, the murder toll stood at 530, while this year’s figure has been reduced by 41 per cent to 310.
In a series of voice notes, Guevarro explained while the initial threat that triggered the SoE had been “decisively addressed,” criminal networks remained adaptive.
“When leadership structures are disrupted, others attempt to fill the void. Our disruption phase was successful, but the dismantling phase requires sustained precision.
“Several individuals of interest have gone into hiding, and we are actively pursuing them through intelligence operations. The situation remains dynamic, and while significant progress has been made, our work continues to ensure long-term stability.”
He said while he submitted a recommendation to the National Security Council, any decision on the extension itself lies with the Parliament.
Guevarro added that his recommendations were not linked to the ongoing geo-political conflict involving TT, US and Venezuela
"The TTPS’s recommendations are based solely on the previous SoE period, threat evaluations, existing intelligence, and other key considerations.
“Any linkage to external affairs is outside my purview, and I would caution against speculation that detracts from the seriousness of our internal security efforts.”
The government does not require opposition support to approve an additional three-month extension in the Lower House but will need three-fifths majority for any subsequent extension.
Mall tenants call for better security
Tenants in Valpark Shopping Plaza are now calling for improved security after Lawrence’s murder.
They believe there is a direct correlation between increased number of nightclubs in the posh shopping mall and a rise in incidents on the compound.
On October 26, a driver lost control of his car on the compound and ploughed into the glass front of a store, causing it to be closed for two days while repairs were done.
Tenants told Newsday it was not uncommon to see broken glass bottles in the carpark on a Monday morning.
They said security measures had not been able to keep pace with the expansion of clubs and the influx of people, particularly on a weekend.
Newsday tried to speak with the mall’s management about the shooting and planned security measures but was told by a representative that they were too busy to answer any questions.
The representative met the media halfway down the stairs to the management office and said, “We are busy right now. We have no comment,” before turning, walking back up the stairs and sitting at her desk.
Meanwhile, a tenant claimed the security was never sufficient to begin with and wondered whether serious attention was being paid to the issue.
“There wasn’t enough security here in the first place. I mean they have security but what kind of security is the question.”
When Newsday drove onto the compound, the security guard appeared to be distracted as his back was turned and he paid no attention to the car or its occupants.
Another tenant’s employee said the shooting had left him scared and he was at the time considering asking his boss to change his working hours.
“I work the night shift and sometimes I leave here after 8 pm. I was telling my boss I’m scared about working the night shift so I want to know what’s going on.”
He said neither mall management nor his employer told him that anything had happened, and he was only told about the shooting when he arrived at work.
“They need more police around the area especially at night.”
He said the carpark sometimes looked like a fete had taken place with bottles and litter on the ground.
He said there needed to be more security “not only for the limers, but the workers too,” adding the situation was serious.
“You might (get shot) by mistake when you are passing to throw out the rubbish.”
Two workers at a nightclub on the compound said they were not concerned about their safety.
The men, Venezuelan nationals, said, “It’s the first time something like that happened. It never happened before and I don’t think it will happen again.”
A customer wandering in the mall also said she was not afraid. She suggested that she too believes it was a one-time incident and there is nothing to be concerned about.
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