(Trinidad Express) Chinese Ambassador Yang Youming has expressed shock and horror at the killing of two Chinese nationals at their business place in Cunupia last Thursday.
Interviewed yesterday Youming said, “The embassy has appealed to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to take all necessary measures and precautions to ensure the safety of the lives of the Chinese community and their properties.”
He added, “The embassy is very concerned that Chinese nationals are often wrongly targeted for attacks and bombardment of lawlessness and acts of violence.”
Youming was responding to the killing of Chinese-born businesswoman Wu Xia Hua, 60, and her husband Yang Jiang Hua, 59, who was shot and died later at hospital. The couple ran Tiger’s Chinese Restaurant and Bar at 30 Southern Main Road, Cunupia.
Youming said, “When I heard about the killing, I was shocked. Officials of the embassy went to the hospital to visit the family. We strongly condemn this vicious act of violent crime and are calling on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Security Minister to initiate immediate action to find the criminals and bring them to justice. We insist that Government take all the necessary steps to ensure the safety of members of the Chinese community against such attacks.”
Youming said the incident has come at a time when the Chinese community continues to make a remarkable contribution to the development of the country.
“Chinese nationals have been in Trinidad and Tobago since 1806 and their culture has become part and parcel of the multiculturalism of Trinidad and Tobago and should be respected for their diligence, talents, humility and entrepreneurship.”
Youming said the embassy has already taken the initiative to advise Chinese businessmen to heighten the security of their business places and take all necessary measures to protect themselves and their property.
He added that the embassy had received several complaints from small business people about attacks on their business.
Youming said if violence were to continue against the community it can become detrimental to the local Chinese heritage.
On Saturday, four Chinese associations held a meeting in Port of Spain and agreed to meet with the Minister of National Security to advance measures for the safety of their members involved in business.
The four associations are China Society, Sun Wai Association, Toy Shan and Chung Shan.
Michael Lee, general secretary of China Society told the Express yesterday, “We have written the Minister of National Security about recent attacks on the Chinese community as well as the recent killing of two business people in Cunupia. In our letter we have pointed out the increase in violence against members of the community.
