The deadly robbery outside of Pennywise Plaza, La Romain on Monday highlighted several pressing issues facing T&T.
From the brazenness of criminals to the prevalence of high-powered weapons on our streets to the difficulties faced by security personnel, we got a glimpse of our ugly.
However, another issue that has been raised and needs to be addressed is our blood donation system.
After woman security officer Peola Baptiste was shot multiple times in the chest, shoulder and abdomen her family were left begging for blood to save her life.
This is a result of the chit system for blood that has been in place in this country for some time.
However, it is a system that the Health Ministry is now actively trying to overhaul with the introduction of the true voluntary non-remunerated blood donation system.
As it currently stands around 20,000 units of blood are donated by members of the public annually in T&T.
This, however, is woefully inadequate given the World Health Organisation's (WHO) recommendation that one unit of blood should be collected for every 20 people annually.
Given the size of our population, T&T requires 70,000 units of blood per year to ensure a safe and reliable national blood supply to meet our medical needs.
As such the Health Ministry is striving to recruit at least 20,000 people within the next two to three years to donate blood voluntarily about two to three times a year.
This target represents around 1.5 per cent of our population.
The major change with the true voluntary non-remunerated blood donation system is that donors will be giving in a purely altruistic manner without it being for a specific loved one who may be in urgent need of blood.
"Once successful, this new approach will negate the need for individuals to donate on behalf of specific patients and will make for a safe, adequate, sustainable and equitable supply of blood and blood products, based on 100 per cent voluntary, non-remunerated blood donations," Deyalsingh said last month.
With the phasing out of the chit system and the proper implementation of the true voluntary non-remunerated blood donation system, it is hoped that another person like Baptiste and her family are not left trying to source blood donations while dealing with unprecedented tragedy.
But the success of the true voluntary non-remunerated blood donation system depends on us.
Let's all do what we can to reach that achievable target.
While we look to the future of blood donation in T&T, we applaud all of those who would have answered the call to provide blood for Baptiste and others.
"It is not often that someone has the opportunity to do something simple that can save the life of someone. However, that is exactly what occurs every time someone donates blood. Every blood donation can help save or improve the lives of at least three people," Deyalsingh said last month.