One day after a landlady was killed while attempting to collect rent at her Aranguez, San Juan, apartment, police public information officer, ASP Joanne Archie, yesterday advised landlords to use different methods of collecting rent from tenants. She said so while addressing media personnel at the weekly police press briefing at the Police Administration Building, Port-of-Spain, yesterday.
Reflecting on the incident, Archie suggested that landlords use services offered by banks. She added: “In the circumstances, I would advise that landlords and landladies use the services of banks to transfer money. It is safer than confronting disgruntled tenants. There are also legal areas that can be pursued as opposed to going personally to collect rent.
Archie’s comment came even as police were continuing their manhunt for the suspect in the murder of 45-year-old landlady Vidya Persad. Persad was bludgeoned to death with a hammer at her Moulla Trace, Aranguez, apartment building on Tuesday morning during an argument with a tenant over unpaid rent.