Port-of-Spain police were kept busy for almost 24 hours between Thursday evening and yesterday, after two murders, a fire which claimed the life of a six-year old-girl and a clash between gunmen and police, all in east Port-of-Spain. The incidents came hours after acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams announced a ten per cent decrease in murders.
While speaking at the launch of the Caribbean Institute for Security and Public Safety on Thursday, Williams said the Port-of-Spain Division had been responsible for the largest percentage of violent crimes. However, he noted that they had been able to reduce the overall murder rate by ten per cent in comparison to the same period last year.
After this latest killings, the toll for the year rose to 185. Figures from the Crime and Problem Analysis (Capa) branch of the Police Service show there were 203 murders between January and June last year. In the latest incident yesterday morning, homicide detectives had to run for cover at a crime scene when gunmen tried to clash with rival gang members at an apartment complex at George Street.
According to reports, around 8 am, homicide and crime scene detectives were called to George Street after a woman was shot dead in an apartment. While processing the crime scene, police said, a group of armed men began walking towards a group of residents and media personnel who were standing nearby.
Senior police sources said on seeing the gunmen, the homicide detectives ran out of the apartment, got into their vehicle and drove off. Police from the Port-of-Spain CID and Task Force led by ASP Ajith Persad and Insp Sahadeo Singh, who were on mobile patrol in the area, then came to the scene. They confronted the armed men, who ran away. Police shot at them, but they were not injured and continued running.
Police chased them to Mango Rose, East Dry River, where three of the men were eventually arrested. The suspects were detained at the Besson Street Police Station, where they were being questioned by detectives up to late yesterday. Investigators said the suspects were well known to police and were members of gangs based in East Dry River. A police helicopter was dispatched and was seen circling east Port-of-Spain for several hours yesterday afternoon.
When a news team from the T&T Guardian visited shortly after the incident, heavily-armed police in tactical gear were seen questioning and searching male residents of both communities. Some of the residents of George Street hurled insults at the police, accusing them of favouring residents of the opposing community. Several residents also warned that despite an increased police presence, gang violence would continue this weekend.
After several hours of tension, homicide detectives eventually returned at around 3 pm. Police sources said several temporary measures would be implemented this weekend to prevent further gang violence.