Tobago Correspondent
The killing of a 15-year-old boy has left Tobago, particularly Golden Lane residents, grieving and concerned about rising criminal activity on the island.
Tobago recorded its first murder for the year with the victim identified as Beris Joseph, a Form Four student of Signal Hill Secondary School.
At his family’s home at Golden Lane yesterday, relatives preferred not to talk. However, in a brief conversation, the teen’s aunt said she was concerned about the recruitment of young men in the community by gangs.
Joseph’s body was found yesterday morning in the Mt Hay area, between Patience Hill and Black Rock. Residents reported hearing gunshots overnight and the teen’s body was found on the roadway around 8 am.
While one resident claimed Joseph was involved in gang activity, a man who claimed to be a member of the AGB gang denied Joseph was a member. He said young people in the community are looking for opportunities and are finding them in the gang community in Golden Lane.
He said he knew Joseph and would interact with him from time to time. He defended the teen saying he was not involved in illegal firearm or criminal activity.
“The men here even cry when we hear that because somebody of them grow up with him,” he said
Residents described the teen’s murder as heartless.
A man who didn’t want to be identified said: “Let we be real. What a 15-year-old could really do? At the end of the day crime has to fix and it has to start from the system and they not really doing nothing. Just up and down the place making up themselves.”
He said he was shaken by the tragedy and now fears for his safety because violent incidents had become more frequent.
“I must be scared too because I have two girl children, I have a boy child. I and all frighten for them. At the end of the day, we have to come out and help the place. It starts from we, the village itself.”
Another resident said Joseph was often left unsupervised. He said he had done all in his power to steer him away from delinquency butt within recent years the teen had fallen into the wrong hands.
He said Joseph’s mother is in Trinidad and the teen is in the care of an aunt.
Homicide investigators are yet to determine a motive for the murder. Residents are calling for justice and action to curb the gang violence.
In a social media post, the Signal Hill Secondary School sent condolences to the family, “We regret to announce the passing of one of our very own, Beris Joseph of Form 4A5. May his family be granted courage, strength and peace during this very difficult time. Rest in eternal peace Beris Please remember his family in your prayers at this time.”
For the same period in 2024, the island had also recorded one murder but by December the toll hit a record high of 26.
