THE United States Embassy in Port of Spain issued a security alert on Thursday highlighting several places in St Augustine and environs, all south of the Eastern Main Road.
The warning was titled, Security alert — Exercise caution – Potential for increased crime."
It said, "Location: Trinidad, St. Augustine area
"Event: Exercise caution as there is potential for increased crime."
The alert said criminal activity often occurred in crowded public locations such as markets, shopping malls, airports, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, transportation hubs, schools, and other areas. "Due to recent increased gang activity in St Augustine, US citizens are advised to exercise extreme caution in the St Augustine areas of Trincity Mall, Trincity, Grand Bazaar, and Valsayn areas into the new year." It advised US residents of actions to take.
These were: Exercise vigilance or avoid areas with heightened criminal activity, review your personal security plans, be aware of your surroundings, and monitor local media for updates.
The warning was posted 24 hours after four people were shot dead in an incident on the Churchill Roosevelt Highway, near Spring Village, on Wednesday.
A car veered off the highway and its passengers jumped out and fled, pursued by four gunmen alighting from another car. They shot dead the driver trapped behind the steering wheel.
Video footage from local homes and businesses posted online showed the gunmen hunting the passengers, shooting at them as they ran.
They chased their victims through residents’ yards, with one video showing a man scrambling over a wall to try escape the gunmen.
In the end, three men lay dead, with one survivor escaping, said to be a TriniBad music artiste.
The victims were named as Levi Criss, Damien Criss and Jerry Hollingsworth, while Kashif “Kman 6ixx” Alexander escaped.
Tragically, Spring Village resident, businesswoman Lana Sahadeo, was struck by a stray bullet and killed, after peering out of her window to see what the nearby commotion was all about.
Newsday was unable to contact Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds and Police Commissioner Erla Christopher.
BUSINESSES CONCERNED
Two business organisations in the area on Friday lamented the highway shooting incident.
The San Juan Business Association, in a statement lamenting the kidnapping of El Socorro businesswoman Anesha Narine-Boodhoo.
"The level of criminal activities has reached such proportions that every citizen feels unsafe. The shooting at the Churchill Roosevelt Highway and now this."
Greater Tunapuna Chamber of Commerce president Ramon Gregorio on Friday told Newsday that regrettably Tunapuna has always had a level of lawlessness and criminality, which was now on the proverbial doorstep. Asked if it was right for the US alert to warn about local shopping areas in a response to the highway shooting, he commented on the happenstance of the shooting location by remarking,"Today Tunapuna, tomorrow Westmoorings or Barrackpore."
He said, "We have to get to the root c
