AN expose on crime during a meeting between the Couva/Point Lisas Chamber of Commerce and some 70 Couva businessmen last Tuesday has led to an increased police patrols in Couva.

The police did not attend the meeting.

However, Sgt. Balkaran Singh of the Couva Police Station said officers of the crime unit and robbery squad are patrolling Couva with effect from July 27 (last week Wednesday).

This was a directive from senior officers, Singh said of a move welcomed by the chamber.

Azamuddin Khan, executive member of the chamber and manager of Scotiabank in Couva, said: “The chamber believes the presence of patrols may assist in deterring crime.”

He said: “Police response to reports of crime are somewhat restricted by limited manpower in a district growing with an influx of industries and housing developments.”

Khan related: “Couva itself is expected to take off further in its economic development.

“The most important area of concern at this time is crime and it should be given attention, noting an increase in nefarious activity over the last few years.

“We have moved from petty crime to hold-ups, with persons suffering bodily damage.”

Khan said employees at the bank were still traumatised after a teller was robbed of $18,000.

Justice of the Peace (JP) Ferdinand Rajaram closed his business place, Mom and Lass Store, after being robbed of his B15 Nissan Sentra motorcar last June 11 on his premises on Couva Main Road.

He operates only as a JP now.

Rajaram, a businessman with over 40 year service in Couva, said the area was no longer peaceful.

“We can’t walk in the back streets -- Bryce, Noel, Pascal and La Croix Streets -- in peace. I stopped going out.

“I had just returned home from church when two men approached me and demanded my car keys,” he recalled.

“One of the men had a gun but I didn’t have mine, otherwise I would have taken them both.

“I thought the only way to get out of the situation was to scream but both of the men hit me with the gun on my left forehead for doing so.

“They fled with the car and I received four stitches.”

He said police responded 10 minutes later and proceeded to interrogate him.

“They could have apprehended the men and retrieve the car.

“I had to advised them to send out an All-Points-Bulletin (APB),” Rajaram said.

At Ghatie’s Photo Studio, Ramlal Ghatie (deceased) was robbed six times.

The Couva Police Station -- cops will be
patrolling in Couva from July 27.

Scotiabank on the Couva Main Road --
robbed last week.

Couva/Point Lisas Chamber of Commerce
executive member AZAMUDDIN KHAN
wants serious action.

This sign speaks volumes about the runaway
crime situation in the Central Trinidad town.

Justice of the Peace FERDINAND RAJARAM
was robbed of his car.

REENA GHATIE was forced to kneel before
she was robbed.

At DVD World, Reena Ghatie said she was forced to kneel last July 21 around 1.10 p.m. when two young men of African descent walked into her business.

She said at first one of the men came into the store looking at DVDs and she went to assist him.

“Another man came in and told me to kneel on the floor and that it was a robbery.

“They asked me for all the money and I told them it was in the draw.

“One of the men said he had a gun and I should open the draw.

“He took $700 and left,” Ghatie related.

Ghatie, who is still shaken over the robbery, said the Couva police responded 20 minutes later.

She said the police had to make four calls to get directions.

The Blue Gardenia Bar was robbed of $3,000 last week Wednesday while employees were about to close the premises.

Reports said two armed men walked in, announced a hold-up and demanded cash.

There are reports of robberies at many other businesses in Couva.

An executive member of the chamber said action will be stepped up by businessmen.

Other businesses robbed were V&S Supermarket, Couva Glass, Great Northern Insurance, Tyre Clinic, Ramsingh Sports World, Calcut Insurance, Toolsie Supermarket, R&R Trading and businesses within the Couva Shopping Complex.

Acting ASP Terry Khan told TnT Mirror he hopes the public could rest more comfortable with increased police patrols.

He said the rise in crime in Couva is of major concern to him.