Woodbrook resident Shastri Sooknanan broke down in tears before a room filled with neighbours and police officers as he spoke of constantly being terrorised by bandits. Sooknanan, one of the many residents of Scott Bushe Street who attended Wednesday night’s police town meeting at Queen’s Royal College, said he feared for his life every day.
Speaking before acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams and Port-of-Spain mayor Raymond Tim Kee, Sooknanan said he received no help from the police when he made a report. With a tremor in his voice, he said: “There is a guy who rides a bicycle, he sells drugs in Victoria Square. Please, I don’t want to talk too much because I don’t want to be killed.”
He paused and tried to compose himself as a fellow resident handed him a tissue to dry his eyes.
He said: “On Saturday morning I got up to go to the Central Market. He climbs over my neighbour’s fence. He stole my 24 plants from under my steps. “I went to make a report at the Central Police Station, the corporal who was there was in plainclothes. I asked him what was his name he said that’s not my business. “I know there are a lot of good policemen and he could have been the bad apple that spoils the whole bunch.
“Now, he was in plainclothes so I did not get his badge number or anything. I told him let us go to my premises and he said no, he has no one to send and he has no vehicle to go.
“I said I came with a vehicle and he could send whoever he wants. He said no, he can’t do anything about it.”
Sooknanan said there were other times when the same bandit stole items that he kept in his porch. Although making reports, he said the man had not been arrested and police said they could not find him. He said the man also sells drugs in the community, which was bad for the children around. “I am pleading with you to do something about it,” he said sorrowfully as he walked off.
It was not a one-off instant as several other residents of Scott Bushe Street also shared their experiences of being robbed.
Another man called on police to investigate people living and hiding in the Lapeyrouse cemetery who would jump over their walls of residents to steal their belongings. The residents said the bandits have become so desperate that they even stole an open padlock off his gate.
After an outpouring of complaints, Williams instructed senior policemen from the Central Police Station to increase police presence in the community. Williams promised to work with Sooknanan to find the officer who he said failed to provide proper service so he could be investigated.
The commissioner said the Police Service was working to remind officers that they were employed by citizens to provide a service.
