Friendsfield lime ends in Tobago’s 20th murder – Trinidad Tribune

Tobago

Undertakers remove the body of murder victim Kerlon Thomas from Friendsfield Road, Tobago, on August 21. – VISUAL STYLES.

One man was killed and three others were wounded in a shooting in Friendsfield on Wednesday night. Tobago recorded its 20th murder of 2024. The dead man was 21-year-old Kerlon Thomas of Friendsfield.

According to police reports, on August 21 at approximately 7:30 p.m., a group of men were standing on the side of the road when three men, armed with weapons including a rifle, got out of a white Nissan station wagon and began shooting at them. The men then got back into the vehicle, which then drove south on Friendsfield Road.

Nine minutes later, police responded to a report of gunshots on Friendsfield Road, Scarborough. On arrival, three men were found lying in the road with gunshot wounds, while Thomas appeared to be lying motionless on the ground at the bottom of the steps on the east side of the road.

A local doctor attended the scene of the accident and at 10pm pronounced Thomas dead, and ordered his body to be taken to the Scarborough General Hospital mortuary.

Of the three surviving victims, one is in critical condition, while the other two are in stable condition.

Nicholas Bovell, also from Friendsfield, was among those injured. Bovell is the brother of murdered Trinibad dancehall artist N’Kosi “Fari Dan” Bovell, who was shot multiple times while liming at the Dutch Fort Restaurant and Bar in Scarborough in May 2022.

The names of the other men have not been released.

The vehicle used in the shooting was later found abandoned on Belmont Road, Mason Hall.

The Homicide Unit continues to investigate.

When Newsday visited Friendsfield on Aug. 22, it was a ghost town. But Friendsfield Village Council President Javon Thompson said that while he didn’t know Thomas personally, the incident had affected him deeply.

“I thought, ‘Why are the people of Tobago letting these people come from Trinidad and influence this lifestyle?’

“Or even, ‘Why do you want this kind of lifestyle for yourself? That lifestyle makes no sense.’”

Thompson said the whole island was “out of control…

“Growing up, we were never used to these things.

“If someone disagreed, they fought it out and then they all went back to their own homes. But the generation of today, I don’t know what’s going on. We’re going down a path that’s very scary.”

He said the council had discussed youth activities in an attempt to get young people off the streets.

A few hours later, Police Chief Rodhill Kirk spoke about the murder on the morning show Tobago Updates.

“We recognise that it is directly linked to gang activity, even though the deceased may not have been involved in gang activity. However, we recognise that the level of association (with gangs) among the young people (has increased).”

Kirk said Friendsfield is normally known for its gatherings, but there was a drug den nearby.

“We recognize that if you look at the pattern, it is the same everywhere. It seems that individuals are being targeted and sought out directly and this – it is a rivalry.”

He called on the community to play their part.

“Don’t leave it all up to the police. We were out there and people would tell you the response was quick.

“The vehicle that was used in that incident was also recovered in a short time. But again, people need to be vigilant in their surroundings. You also need to watch your own space because we know what’s happening.

“We have resources on the ground. We have resources that move around, and the thing is, again, the police can’t be everywhere at all times. So we rely heavily on community members to work together, to play a role in terms of when they see something, say something.

“It would shorten the time in which we can respond because we would have some degree of oversight over what is happening.”

Kirk said that while other serious crimes were not of great concern, the shooting and wounding concerned him and his officers, as the shooters did not care who got hurt once they started shooting.

“They may be targeting one person and innocent people who are in the vicinity would also be affected. We recognize that vehicles in the vicinity have been hit, and that is what concerns me.

“It may seem like the police are doing nothing – the police are doing a lot – but again, we recognize that we can’t even point to a hotspot in Tobago right now because wherever you see these young guys, that’s the intended target. And despite that, the police are always there.”

He added that the police are not just reactive.

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“Yes, we have intelligence, yes, we have information, we have taken a lot of proactive measures. We have increased our visibility, based on the data that we have. We have used it to strategically deploy our patrols. But again, when we focus on certain areas, these incidents migrate to other areas…

“We have had some cooperation from members of the public, but we need more. A lot could be done with the cooperation of all stakeholders.”

Farley Augustine, the Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), was unavailable for comment. However, Minority Leader Kelvon Morris said he was extremely saddened and disappointed by the behaviour of some young men on the island.

“Despite the best efforts of law enforcement, the bloodshed continues, indicating that the problem of crime and criminality is even more serious than we could have ever imagined. Now, more than ever, those efforts must be redoubled.”

Morris added: “If we see anything, we must add our voices and hands to the fight against crime. To give up is to hand our beautiful paradise over to those who would destroy it.

“Now is the time for all arms of the state – the central government, the THA and law enforcement – ​​to work together, side by side, to restore peace and security to our island. We must work together to root out criminal elements wherever they may be.”

He said that everyone at this point must remain vigilant, hopeful and united in the fight to protect Tobago.

“This is a fight we must fight together, and it is a fight we must win.”

Martin George, chairman of the Tobago Business Chamber, expressed his disgust.

“It seems that the people of Tobago are comfortable with this, because while some are concerned, many of them remain numb and mute as the island tumbles over the edge of chaos and confusion and the Chief Secretary sits in New York City bungling while Tobago burns.”

While Tobagonians on the streets said the problem was worrying, they shared their suggestions.

“Get a good police chief – Erla is not cut out for the job.”

Another said: “Bring Gary Griffith back, he’s the best man for the job – tried, tested, proven.”

On August 12, Keith Scotland, Minister of the Department of National Security, was accompanied by Police Commissioner Erla Christopher-Harewood on a walk in the Crown Point district, followed by a tour of police stations across the island. The duo said they were in Tobago for 48-72 hours and planned to visit various communities across the island in order to improve the crime situation in Tobago.