CHAGUANAS – AN armed robbery took place at Suarez Brothers Circus on Endeavour Avenue in Chaguanas, on Tuesday evening leaving three victims shaken and more than $30,000 in cash stolen.
Chaguanas MP Dinesh Rambally has described national security in Trinidad and Tobago as a “clown show.”
A police report indicated that around 8.10 pm, as the owner was preparing to pay employees at the back of the business, a white Nissan B15 drove onto the premises. Four armed men emerged from the vehicle, announcing the robbery and instilling fear in those present.
The owner, identified as victim #1, was forced to surrender $30,000 in cash, along with his passport and other personal documents. Victim #2 suffered several blows to the body and was robbed of $2,300, while victim #3 lost $500 in cash.
The assailants quickly fled the scene, heading north on Endeavour Avenue in their vehicle.
PC Ramsubhag is investigating.
In a statement on Wednesday, after news of the robbery broke, Rambally said, “A show meant to bring joy to families is the latest victim of our spiralling out-of-control crime rate.
“National security in our nation clearly appears to the criminals to be a complete clown show and which all citizens are forced to endure.
“While the actual circus troupe might know how to pull off a balancing act, the government keeps dropping the ball on dealing with crime.”
The robbery, he argued, was a stark reminder that crimes can occur anywhere, jeopardising not just property but also the community’s peace of mind and sense of safety.
“Citizens are fed up with the government’s inaction, watching officials make grand statements while criminals dictate the reality,” Rambally added.
During the recent budget debate, Rambally said he had called for initiatives to reduce the country’s high recidivism rate, which exceeds 50%. He criticised the government’s lack of effective crime detection and the failure to prevent repeat offences by former inmates.
Rambally called for data-driven solutions to reform the criminal justice system and enhance the resources of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service. “Without these changes, we’ll continue juggling the same excuses,” he said.
In a strong appeal, Rambally urged leaders to prioritise the nation and collaborate meaningfully to tackle the crime epidemic. “It’s time to end this circus of incompetence and reclaim our country from this so-called ‘clown show,'” he said.
