The escalating gun violence in Tunapuna is causing its residents to live in fear, restricting their movements and negatively affecting their livelihood.
PNM councillor for Auzonville/Tunapuna John-Boyd Briggs said, at the moment, his district was probably “one of the hottest” areas in the country with seven or eight different criminal gangs.
He said because of the crime situation, Tunapuna saw a decline in visitors for Carnival compared to previous years and residents are living in fear.
He said Tunapuna had a vibrant business sector and no business person had reached out to him about extortion so he could not speak to rumours of gangs harassing businesses for money.
However, he was aware people were afraid to go to the Tunapuna Market since the shooting in January that claimed the lives of Mikael Voisin and Aaron Leander.
The men were killed near the Tunapuna Market at night when a car drove up, three men got out and shot at a group of people liming nearby. Two men and a woman were also wounded and taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope.
Briggs said the corporation and the market committee were putting measures in place to address the situation, including adding more police patrols.
[caption id="attachment_1065922" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Gang violence and extortion has affected several businesses in the Tunapuna district. Market vendors are among those tragetted. - ROGER JACOB[/caption]
In addition, about a month ago, he hosted a prayer vigil at the Good Shepherd Anglican Primary School where Baptist prayers were held.
“I must say, after that prayer, we haven’t had any more major unfortunate shooting incidents except for the police killings in Dookie Trace and Monte Grande.”
Dirrel “Fire” Ramsahai, 22, was shot by the police on January 19 along Dookie Trace. Then, on February 17, Shaquille "Duss Boss" Mc Gregor, 29, Jadel Ottley, 18, and a man identified as "Silence" were killed by police during a reported shootout at Monte Grande, Tunapuna.
Briggs said the corporation was working with the municipal and local police to devise a plan to reduce crime and gang activity in the district. His team was also in the process of developing youth programmes to be implemented this year to get them “off the streets” and lead more productive lives away from crime.
He is hoping to arrange an employment drive for the people of his area soon and hopes to get assistance from the “higher-ups.”
UNC councillor for Caura/Paradise/Tacarigua Sookdeo Barath said there were gangs in several Tunapuna areas like Bamboo and Achong Traces and his districts were being affected as well.
“There is a direct relation between gang warfare and the murder rate. Residents there more or less have a self-imposed curfew so after certain hours you wouldn’t want to go there.”
He said many workers offering public and private services have refused to go into certain areas and the situation was affecting how people live and where they go.
In addition, gang members were extorting money from busin
