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The once beautiful and peaceful village of Rampanalgas, a tourist attraction located in East Trinidad, has now become like one of those “old Western towns” with the exchange of gunfire at frequent intervals.
One house has been burnt down, a car was set on fire, two men were shot dead and several others have been warded at hospital with gunshot wounds, including 80-year-old man who is currently fighting for his life.
Villagers who spoke with T&T Guardian and asked that their names not be mentioned for fear of being the next victim said the entire village has become a ghost town, with only a few villagers being seen on the streets.
“Look around and see if you see anyone, before this shooting and killing you will see many families liming out of their house and socialising with others, who ain’t playing cards or kicking ball will be listening to music, while some making jokes,” a villager said.
“Today it has become different, people are living in jail in their own house, they are afraid to leave their house for fear of being shot at.
“This shooting and killing never occurred before in Rampanalgas, it is the first time. The criminals have forced villagers to impose a curfew. By 7 pm all man inside their house. We are living in jail, our freedom is being taken away by a few who do not even belong to the community,” one mother said.
There is now a problem in the once crime-free village, people are traumatised and are living in fear because of the threats they are receiving from the criminals.
Villagers who live on Roberts Street, Rampanalgas, said they are afraid and do not know who will be the next victim.
“We sleep with one eye closed and the other open, expecting the unexpected. Some of us have sleepless nights and are always frantic, stressed out because we don’t know when the criminal elements will attack, shoot up our house, or burn it down. We are just scared,” said one man.
They said the entire village was united in prayer as this is their only hope for peace.
The police are in the village patrolling on a 24/7 basis, leaving little room for reprisal, for which the community of Rampanalgas is grateful.
“The police presence gives us some hope and protection. We feel safe when we see the blue flashing lights indicating they are in the village serving and protecting us,” one man said.
Senior police officers believe that this continuous shooting and killing is a reprisal.
Strange people are seen in the area and in one of the shootings a man from Endeavour Road in Chaguanas and another from Malabar were shot.
A mother of three told T&T Guardian that on Tuesday another shooting took place on Alsindor Street where a senior citizen was shot and fighting for his life at hospital, while one man only known as Richard aka “robber” was shot in the face and other parts of his body. A third man, who is unknown, was also shot.
‘Bring in the army to search for guns’
A youth who gave his name as Dwayne said there are problems in Rampanalgas and if action is not taken it will run out of control and many more lives will be lost.
“Innocent Mandela was killed, the man was humble, sell fruits for his living and when boats can go out to sea he joins the fishermen, apparently nobody knows what going on, people living in fear. This is my first experience of so much crime in Rampanalgas, I live by myself and don’t be around anybody so nobody can say anything to me. It is really a problem, everybody inside.
“Sir, just before you came a van with strange men pulled up outside and asked for certain people, I did not respond and the van drove away.”
Villagers are calling for street lights in the village of Rampanalgas and also for more stringent action to weed out the gunmen who are having them living in fear.
“Bring the army and carry out a search to have the guns used by the criminal elements found and arrest where arrest is necessary. We want our peaceful way of living to return,” the villager said.
Last Sunday Keron Marshall, also known as “Mandela,” was shot dead.
His wake was scheduled to be held last night.
Villagers hope that there will be no more bloodshed.
Police officers have indicated that they will increase their presence in the area. They also said they have everything under control.
Calls to the MP for Toco/Sangre Grande Glenda Jennings-Smith went unanswered as well as those to her political adviser, Eric Taylor.
RALPH BANWARIE