(Trinidad Express) Joint police and army patrols have been increased in central Trinidad, in response to the murders last weekend of three business owners, says Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon.
Responding to an urgent question in the House of Representatives, Port of Spain, on Wednesday, Dillon said an area had been identified for a permanent police station at Dass Trace, Enterprise.
He said the Government was looking at two options – construction of a new building on a parcel of land or refurbishment of an existing structure.
“We are looking at two options right now, one a piece of land and one a building that is presently on the site. So there are two options. No decision has been taken on which,” he said.
Dillon was unable to say when construction of the new police post was expected to begin.
In the meantime, he said, there was the presence of police and soldiers in the Enterprise area. A base has been set up at Lion’s Gate from which the police officers and soldiers operate.
“They have increased both their number of personnel both on the army side and the police side in the Enterprise area. And they continue to do intelligence led operations and we have continued to intensify our efforts in the Enterprise area. In fact, in the Central area in its entirety,” he said,
Two Fridays ago, pharmacist Rahzia Sieuchand was found stabbed to death in her home at Ring Roag, Lange Park.
Sieuchand, 65, owned R&R.S Drug Store at St Helena Junction.
Police said the woman’s home was ransacked but no valuables were taken, including cash. She was stabbed multiple times and her throat slit.
The next day, another woman was found stabbed to death in her apartment at Madras Road, Cunupia.
Enid Periana, 62, had moved into the apartment with a man three months before her body was discovered.
On Sunday, businessman Joey Basdeo, 40, was shot dead by a man on a bicycle as he drove out of Ruben Street, Enterprise.
His four-year-old daughter was grazed by a bullet. The child was seated in the back seat with Basdeo’s wife, Laura.
Basdeo, of Enterprise Street, was taken to the Chaguanas Health Centre where he died. His daughter was treated and discharged.
Basdeo owned Joey and Laura Wholesalers and was well known in the community.
Homicide officers are still gathering information and no one has been detained in connection with the deaths.