WORKERS with the TT Postal Corporation (TT Post) are being warned to avoid wearing clothing or accessories that display certain numbers, as this could provoke attacks from rival gangs who use these numbers to identify themselves.

A memorandum from TT Post dated May 16 was circulated on social media on Wednesday. It advised employees not to wear clothing with the numerals 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9.

In the memo, TT Post said the advice had come from the police.

It added that the policy was necessary owing to an increase in violent gang activities.

Criminal gangs have carved out territories in East Port of Spain, Beetham Gardens, Sea Lots, Laventille, Morvant, St Ann's, Diego Martin, Enterprise, Chaguanas, Maloney, La Horquetta, Blake Avenue and Damarie Hill in Sangre Grande, Trainline, Marabella and several other areas along the East-West Corridor, among other districts.

In those areas, gang insignia can be seen painted on walls and buildings.

Contacted for comment president of the TT Postal Workers' Union Shellon Trim thanked TT Post and the police for their interest, as there was at least one incident in which a postal worker was threatened while delivering mail.

'6' ON AN UMBRELLA

Trim said that worker was carrying an umbrella with the number 6 displayed at the side when she was confronted by gang members while on the job in Port of Spain.

"Certain people told her, 'You lucky we not strapped, because if we were strapped we would have pelt some shots behind you.'

"Some people may laugh and think it's funny, but this is actually a very real, very serious matter."

Trim said the six on the umbrella was an indicator of which route or postal district it belonged to, as a means of distinguishing property at the postal office.

Police said the number six, sometimes stylised as "Sixx," is used as a symbol or identifier for a gang that broke away from the larger Rasta City gang, which went on to refer to itself as Seven in response.

Trim said boundaries set up by gangs not only affected residents of these areas but also workers for different services who have to visit the areas.

He said the boundaries of two gangs could be relatively close, so it could be dangerous for workers who simply want to do their jobs.

"Also in more recent times there would have been an upsurge in gang violence, and – I'm being honest – when I delved into what was going on, I was very shocked.

[caption id="attachment_1016609" align="alignnone" width="720"] Trinibad artiste Kyle "Rebel Sixx" Roberts, one of several performers in this music genre who have been murdered. -[/caption]

"On one side of the street is Sixx and the other side of the street is Seven, and they are at war.

"We have officers who need to go across the boundaries, so in one particular case – the officer understands how the community is divided – one day they will work in the Sixx side, the other day they will work on the Seven side.

"They don't cross over. That's how ridiculous it has come."

Trim said the issue of safety and security for postal worker