(Trinidad Express) Businessman Kris Ramsaran, who was shot 16 times, died instantly on Sunday afternoon, just minutes after he had returned to this country from Guyana.
His had visited Guyana as he wanted to expand his business there, his wife said yesterday.
Ramsaran, 54, was the managing director of Worldwide Inspection Technologies and Industrial Services, which is based in Rio Claro. It is a business that is involved in the energy industry and is a supplier of non-destructive and inspection services.
His friend, Rishi Joseph, 44, a business owner, was also shot and killed as the two arrived at Joseph’s St Helena home around 4.30 p.m.
During a brief telephone interview yesterday, Ramsaran’s wife Netu Singh-Jalim told the Express she had no idea why anyone would want her husband dead.
She explained that on Thursday Ramsaran left his black Toyota Prado in Joseph’s care as he travelled to Guyana. Joseph transported him to the airport and on Sunday, he used the Prado to pick up Ramsaran when he returned to this country.
“The plan was that after Rishi picked him up at the airport, Kris would drop Rishi back home in St Helena and then come home in Rio Claro but he never reached Rio Claro,” she said.
Singh-Jalim said this was all she knew of what had transpired, and was struggling to understand why her husband was targeted.
“I do not know what to say. He was a real genuine person and I do not know who would want to do this. We do not have any children, but it is like these criminals really do not have a heart and do not care about people and their families,” she said.
On social media yesterday a number of people expressed their anger and disbelief over Ramsaran’s passing, especially given the circumstances under which he died.
One such person was senior counsel Larry Lalla who wrote: “While we exchange jokes about last evening’s cricket (TKR vs Guyana Amazon Warriors), I’m pulled back to the reality of our abysmal existence under our present ineffective PM, Minister of National Security and Commissioner of Police.
“Kris Ramsaran was apparently shot and killed in cold blood yesterday (Sunday) at St Helena. He was a businessman who worked in the energy sector and was a client and friend of mine. I knew him to be a man with a big heart who placed the interests of his family and his workers above his own.
“May he travel well, away from this hell-hole in which we are presently forced to exist. My deepest condolences to his family, friends and employees.”
The Express also visited Joseph’s home yesterday.
While there, a relative who asked not to be named said he did not believe Joseph, a father of three sons ages 23, 18 and 12, was the initial intended target.
“He collect one shot and his friend got 16, so you can do the math there and see what is what,” said the relative.
He too explained that it was after Joseph and Ramsaran returned from the airport that the shooting took place. After carrying out the murders, the shooters drove off and escaped.
Ramsaran was shot as he sat in the driver’s seat of the Prado, while Joseph was shot once to the head as he exited the vehicle.
The relative explained that Joseph was involved in the purchasing and customising of vehicles before reselling them. He also had a few apartments that he rented to tenants.
“He would buy one or two cars, fix them up and then sell. It is not to say he have a set of cars selling at one time. It is a small little garage. He did just enough to live. It was one car at a time he was flipping. He living off the rent of the apartments,” said the relative.
He denied speculation on social media that the killings occurred because Joseph refused to pay “tax” to criminal elements in the area.
“We do not know anything about that because if that was happening he would have told his family,” he said.
The relative questioned that if Joseph was the target, why would he be shot first, just once, with Ramsaran then being shot 16 times.
“He was already outside the vehicle. If it was really for him they would have got him and get out. They would not have had to come out of their car. They made sure to spray down the car, come out, and then let go it on the man,” he said.
Up to last night police said they did not have a motive for the murders, nor have anyone so far been arrested in connection with the killings.
