Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner has written to the acting Commissioner of Police James Philbert telling him of an alleged dramatic increase in crime in Central Trinidad. Warner in his letter, dated March 30, said over the past weeks he has been receiving reports of an escalation in the incidence of crime in the residential and commercial districts of Central Trinidad.
He said there have been several armed robberies at stores, particularly jewellery stores in Chaguanas and Couva. Warner added that taxi and maxi taxi drivers have complained that they and their passengers have been the victims of bandits. Warner told Philbert that residents of Edinburgh Village and Carapichaima have reported armed hold-ups at business places and their homes.
Warner said there was "a particular and grave concern" about four alleged incidents of rape in the area. He said there is an "overall fear among the residents in Central Trinidad that what happened." Warner called for an urgent meeting with Philbert to further discuss the issue and "to formulate a meaningful response that can bring some measure of safety to our citizens and stifle this crime epidemic."