By Prior Beharry
MP for Moruga/Tableland Michelle Benjamin is calling for decisive action after a prominent businessman and his wife were beaten and robbed in another home invasion in her constituency on Tuesday morning.
Police said that Mohan Persad and his wife, both 78 years old, were asleep at their New Grant, Princes Town, home when six bandits broke in after prying open a window. Persad is the owner of the Persad ‘D’ Food King supermarket chain.
Reports indicated that they were beaten about their bodies and the bandits, one of whom had a gun, robbed the couple of $13,000 in cash from their vault and also stole two of Mohan’s licensed firearms – a Smith and Wesson revolver and a Remington shotgun – and ammunition. They also took a DVR, jewellery and the couple’s Samsung cellphones.
In a release, Benjamin said, “It is indeed a sad day for the Moruga/Tableland community as they grapple with the shocking news of a prominent businessman and valued stakeholder falling victim to a vicious attack perpetreated by rogue elements that have been plaguing the area.”
She said, “The community had long looked up to this individual as a beacon of hope, someone who not only contributed to the local economy but also played a vital role in fostering unity and development. This brazen act of violence not only threatens the safety of individuals but also the very fabric of the community itself.”
Benjamin said, “The incident serves as an immense reminder of the challenges faced by many communities across Trinidad and Tobago, where lawlessness and criminal activity seem to thrive. It highlights the urgent need for the Ministry of National Security, local law enforcement agencies, and other stakeholders to come together and take decisive action to rid these areas of the menace of rogue elements. Community members must also unite in solidarity, providing support to the victim and working hand in hand with the authorities to ensure that justice is served and their neighbourhood can once again thrive in peace.”
