Trinidad and Tobago record alarming 15 murders in first week of 2024

Trinidad and Tobago: The first week of 2024 has recorded an alarming 15 murders in Trinidad and Tobago. This is more than any comparative period in recent years, as the last two years, 2023 and 2022, recorded 10 and 11 murders, respectively.

In the latest incident, Selwyn Pierre, a 50-year-old man, was gunned down in Aranguez. According to the reports, Pierre was robbed of his vehicle before being shot dead on Sunday, January 7.

Residents of the area reportedly observed that Pierre's home had been broken into and ransacked, and his silver Mazda 323 car was missing.

Upon investigating, they discovered Pierre unresponsive, with his hand tied and multiple stab wounds around the body. They contacted the police, who responded along with a DMO and declared Pierre dead.

A CCTV video later revealed that Pierre's vehicle, which was reported stolen, was used in a shooting which claimed the life of a man in Mt Lambert also on Sunday, January 7, 2024.

In another incident, a 26-year-old loader employed with the National Carnival Commission was gunned down at the Queen's Park Savannah. Police say Akile Archer was killed at around 1:45 pm on Sunday. He was found by the police officials with a bullet wound to his head.

On the other hand, at around 9:30 yesterday morning, Afiba Moraldo is gunned down in Mt. Lambert. The police reports say that the murder took place near a shop.

Another man was shot dead in Belmont on Saturday night. The victim has been identified as 25-year-old Shakell George.

Notably, the woman in charge of the Trinidad and Tobago police service, Erla Harewood Christopher, is reaching out to God for help in the fight against crime.

With the murder toll in double digits in seven days this year, on Sunday, the police commissioner told a service at the cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Port of Spain that God will intervene.

The police commissioner got some words of advice from the father, David Khan. He feels that she needs help. The commissioner is ready to deal with the situation collectively.

Opposition Leader calls for immediate action

The opposition leader of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamala Persad Bissessar, has also called on the incumbent government to take immediate action or else the country could face harsh consequences.

Notably, the last two years, 2023 and 2022, have been the most murderous years in the history of the nation, with 575 and 605 homicides, respectively.

Kamala Persad said that the 15 terrifying murders in the first week of 2024 have not provoked the government to take even a single operational action.

She said that if action is not taken at the earliest by Rowley and the POLSC, the country may well record another year of over 600 murders.

While making a call to the government, the opposition leader said that she repeated her call to introduce strict laws and give law-abiding citizens access to legal firearms.

She also added that her party, UNC, remains prepared and committed to engaging in meaningful discussions with the government, headed by Prime Minister Keith Rowley.

"However, the party which I lead will not just wait for the PM to put ego aside for the sake of the country," said Kamala Persad Bissessar.