3 months ago
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Police in Tobago are assuring citizens that everything possible will be done to deal with gang and gun violence on the island.
But the TTPS executive asked Tobagonians not to panic as the island’s murder toll hit a historic 19 after a woman was shot and killed on Monday afternoon in Argyle.
At a media conference on Monday night in Plymouth, ACP Collis Hazel said Tobago was seeing a level of violence it has never experienced before.
Hazel said this was not a time to criticise law enforcement, but rather, it is a critical period in which every citizen must play their part in the fight against crime.
He assured citizens that Tobago police have not given up the fight against crime. “Today is not an easy task for us to speak as police officers with this increase, knowing what we are accustomed to,” he said.
“I want to give the citizens the assurance that we—as officers of the law—will not negate our task and will continue to live up to our oath of office,” he added.
He lamented the prevalence of high-powered guns on the island
And while the police in Tobago have been performing well in several areas such as larceny and robberies, he admitted that gang influence and activity remain concerns.
“Our problem in Tobago was larceny dwelling houses. That was our problem—larceny—and we are enjoying a 20 per cent reduction at this point in time,” ACP Collis Hazel pointed out. “We didn’t have a gun problem. Now, we have a gun problem because our borders are porous, and anything can come inside there.”
He assured that all is not lost, as the division is seeing a 16 per cent decline in robberies and a 20 per cent decrease in larceny.
He added, “The police are not responsible for the protection of our borders at this point in time. But at the end of the day, we are made to police it [illegal weapons] when it gets on land. We will be relentless in ensuring that we work with our communities to ensure that we rid this island of this gun problem.”
Meanwhile, Snr Supt Rodhill Kirk said the police were prepared to deal with the crime.
“We have seen about 100 per cent increase in terms of shootings, and why that is so is mainly because one incident would result in four or five victims.
The intelligence suggests the increase came about because of the gangs and drug involvement. It’s not a quick fix.
“We have seen the problem not only in Tobago, but greater alliances have been formed in Tobago with gangs in Trinidad, and that has resulted in some of those violent crime spikes. Notwithstanding, we have Tobagonians engaged in criminal activities.”
He vowed to focus more resources on this issue before it develops further.
Guerra the target in Monday’s killing
Meanwhile, new information from investigators reveals Victoria Guerra, 32, who was murdered in Tobago, was the intended target, as her husband walked away unharmed. She became the island’s 19th murder victim for the year so far.
Police said Guerra, a businesswoman of Phase 4, Beetham Gardens, murder is linked to gang violence. According to reports, around 3.52 pm on Monday, her husband, Kemo Mc Shine, arrived at Roxborough Hospital with his wife bleeding. Mc Shine told the doctors that his wife had been shot on Lammy Road, Argyle.
Investigations revealed that at approximately 3.45 pm, Guerra was walking towards a shop along Lammy Road when three men armed with firearms exited a silver Nissan Tiida and fired several shots at her.
The suspects then re-entered the vehicle and fled west along Windward Main Road. Guerra succumbed to her injuries, and doctors pronounced her dead at 5.07 pm. Her body was moved to the mortuary for an autopsy sometime this week.
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