Three months ago she closed her business after operating in Laventille for years. The ongoing rivalry between resident of Beverly Hills, Block Eight and St Paul Street, coupled with two close relatives being shot, led this businesswoman to call it quits. But now that the soldiers are patrolling in the area and have taken over vantage points that criminals once held, her parlour is open again. Speaking to the T&T Guardian on Tuesday, the woman, who wished not to be named, said her shop at Block Eight, which overlooks St Paul Street, had been used as a shooting target for years.
The woman said after her daughter was shot while at the shop and two bullets lodged in beams just above her head as she took cover from gunmen, she packed up and vowed to never return. She said after the murder of Lance Cpl Kayode Thomas on June 29 soldiers began to patrol and her business was re-opened, thanks to the presence of the soldiers. “As soon as them gone, I gone,” she said repeatedly without hesitation. The woman said when her daughter was shot while at her business and the police came, both her daughter and police had to duck for cover. The gunmen do not respect the police but they respect the soldiers, she said.
Also in the midst of all of the gang warfare in Laventille are residents like Roxanne Henry and Andrew Holder, who are also pleased with the presence of the men and women in green and black camouflage. Henry told the T&T Guardian she was happy seeing the soldiers patrolling the streets of Laventille, particulary Rodney Street, where she lives. “I don't have a problem with it. It had too much killings. I was saddened by the killing of the woman. I know the lady. Innocent people dying,” Henry said. The woman she spoke of was 39-year-old Patrina Salandy, who was killed during a shootout between rival areas of St Paul Street and Block Eight on June 22. Salandy was shot in the head around 11.45 am as she made her way from a nearby parlour. Also killed that day during the shootout was Rohan Ayres, 15, a pupil of the Russel Latapy High School.
On the soldiers’ presence, she commented: “Some residents didn't like it. I liked it for one. Some don’t want them here because they would not get to do what they want.” Henry added that despite several reports she never saw soldiers beating anyone. “I am pleased. I can't complain. I want them to stay longer. My granny sleeping comfortable... other people sleeping good,” she added. At Beverly Hills, Holder, 57, said he had been living in the area for over 30 years and has no quarrels with the presence of soldiers in the area and in fact they should have been deployed a while now.
He said the police did not command the same respect, adding that while police patrolled, criminals shot at them but while that happened to police, no one dared to raise their voices at the soldiers, far less a gun. Holder added: “The army has a job to do. People who get beat up give attitude and the army not taking that. They trained a different way. They not making friends with you. “The police does try and fight down small talk, not the soldiers. Who would have a problem is the gangs. Monkey know what tree to climb. If the soldiers getting the job done, let them stay.”