‘We now live in a country where playgrounds, schools and coffee shops are no longer places of play, learning or connecting ‘-Member of Parliament for Chaguanas West Dinesh Rambally
A DIEGO MARTIN man who went to sell his vehicle at Sun Plaza in Cunupia was killed just in front of a Starbucks coffee shop.
Kurtis Smith, 25, was gunned down around 4 pm on Saturday.
According to police reports, Smith went to the plaza to sell his vehicle – a grey Mitsubishi Lancer.
However, when he arrived at the location for the transaction and was walking in front of Starbucks, he was ambushed and shot, dying at the scene.
Starbucks was open to the public at the time and there were customers and staff inside the shop.
In a video circulating on social media taken from inside Starbucks, a woman’s voice could be heard saying, ‘I cannot function right now.’
Saturday shootings
On Saturday, a man who attempted to rob a supermarket on Cipero Street in San Fernando was shot and killed by a security guard.
He died at the scene.
Reports are that he and two other suspects robbed Just In Time Supermarket, just before 4 pm on Saturday.
The other two escaped after stealing bottles of alcohol, some of which were recovered outside the supermarket.
In Tobago, also on Saturday, a special reserve officer was shot multiple times in Les Coteaux.
Kyle Lashley was shot in a drive-by shooting and died upon arrival at the Scarborough General Hospital.
Crime must not be condemned
Member of Parliament for Chaguanas West Dinesh Rambally condemned the criminal act in Cunupia and the effectiveness of the government in dealing with crime.
In a statement issued he said, “I wish to record my strongest condemnation of the brazen acts of criminality being perpetrated across Trinidad and Tobago, which now leaves no neighbourhood safe.
“Sadly this killing brings the current murder toll to 530. It is clear that the continued incompetence and ineffectiveness of this PNM administration to combat the criminal element in our society is having disastrous consequences for our country and citizens. The longer this failed PNM government remains in office the greater the threat will be to the safety of all citizens.”
And in a social media post he wrote, “Under Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds and the rest of the incompetent PNM Government, we now live in a country where playgrounds, schools and coffee shops are no longer places of play, learning or connecting.”
