Tobago Chamber head: Stop blaming Trinidad
TOBAGO Chamber of Commerce chairman Martin George yesterday called on Tobagonians to stop saying that Trinidad gangs were “infiltrating” Tobago and accept that “we are raising and breeding our own home-grown bandits”.
He also urged the Government to pass legislation to proclaim the Tobago Police Bill or to make the necessary amendments to the Tobago House of Assembly Act so that a supplemental police force could be set up on the island.
George was sought by the Express yesterday for his response following yesterday morning’s triple homicide which occurred in Black Rock, Tobago.
The murders pushed Tobago’s murder toll to 15 for the year.
“Now we have reached the record books which is Tobago’s first triple murder being recorded on Monday morning and there is a fourth person who I understand was shot also,” George said.
“So Tobago. We have to stop making the excuses that we are accustomed to making. We have to stop saying that it is gangs from Trinidad infiltrating Tobago and we have to stop burying our heads in the sand whereby we refuse to acknowledge that we are raising and breeding our own home-grown bandits into Tobago,” he said.
Urging that CrimeStoppers be used in the crime fight, George said that “crime is at our door step and many of the perpetrators are persons that we know…persons in our community, persons in our families, persons in our homes.”
“I urge Tobagonians to utilise the CrimeStoppers hotline and call in any information. You can do so anonymously. You do not need to give your name as there is no caller id. Nobody records your phone number or anything of the sort and you also have the opportunity to earn a reward if your tip yields results. So let us use that Crime Stoppers number 800 TIPS,” he said.
“I also call upon the TTPS and I call upon the Commissioner of Police (Erla Christopher) because certainly we have to ensure that Tobago as the smallest police division is a place that remains a safe space and safe place for us all,” George said.
“It cannot be allowed to descend into the madness and mayhem that is daily life in Trinidad where murders are rampant so at least let there be one area in T&T where persons can feel safe. Let that be Tobago and we all need to rally to that cause. We all need to recognise the seriousness of it and we all need to take decisive action immediately to stem this tide of crime and blood-letting that is being unleashed across the beautiful isle of Tobago,” George added.
BY: GYASI GONZALES
Tobago Chamber head: Stop blaming Trinidad
