The Daily Herald – New illegal industries

Extortion is imminent

business survival

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad–In a statement to “Business Guardian”, the Confederation of Regional Business Chambers (CRBC), which represents the retail sector in Trinidad and Tobago, said it views the current crime situation in Trinidad and Tobago with great concern.

“CRBC believes that crime not only affects economic productivity when victims miss work, but that communities are also affected by loss of tourism investment and retail sales. Even the so-called victimless crimes of human trafficking, drug abuse and gambling have major social consequences.”

The statement also said that crime has a negative impact on business investment and government spending on infrastructure work.

“This is because of the emerging crime of extortion, which is on the rise and is very alarming. The police need to be more flexible and adapt their structure to set up a unit that tackles extortion practices and protects small businesses and legitimate contractors.”

The statement added: “Chronic problems with crime can lead to the closure of businesses, especially small businesses that do not have the resources to recover. This is a real situation as many families involved in business are closing their businesses and migrating to the United States (US) and Canada. There is a huge loss of trust and a high level of disproportionate fear among these families.”

In the statement, the CRBC called for increased joint police and military patrols in all districts of Trinidad and Tobago, saying citizens now consider all of Trinidad and Tobago as “hotspots.”

“It has only been in recent press reports that it has been highlighted that the town of Arima is plagued by gang violence, with businesses closing and even residents moving out of the area. This is an opportunity for Minister Keith Scotland to be strategic and use both hard and soft power to bring lasting stability to the trouble spots of Arima.”

The statement concluded by saying that there is a “fantastic opportunity” for Minister Scotland to have a meaningful and constructive dialogue with the many different business chambers and associations to understand their challenges and exchange views on some practical solutions.

Business Fronts as Targets

Economic activity in Trinidad and Tobago continues to be negatively impacted as millions of dollars worth of illegal arms trafficking and murders continue to rise unabated.

In May of this year, author and criminologist Daurius Figueira published a research report in which he analyzed crime statistics that show the impact of increasing transnational crime on business.

It also highlights the worrying trend of the emergence of new illicit industries in Trinidad and Tobago. The research paper is titled “An analysis of kill events with two or more victims in Trinidad and Tobago 2017-2023.”

In an interview with “Business Guardian,” Figueira gave more details.

“The war between two competing business models in the illicit trade has changed the nature of the illicit trade in Trinidad and Tobago, changing criminality, further impacting the cost of doing business and sending it up at a time when demand has taken a hit. There is now a resort to attacks on the person and property where businesses and their owners/operators are targeted. The wars in the illicit trade and the new order of illicit trade have now limited opportunities for those seeking employment,” he said.

He also referred to underworld figures who damage the image of the business community by using legitimate companies as a front for their illegal activities.

“The demand is outstripping the supply of opportunities. The displaced are now embracing attacks on people and property. Those involved in illicit trade and running front companies are targets in the war of illicit business models, which is like blood on the water for criminal activities.

“The murder rate for 2024 so far indicates that it is likely that in 2024 we will surpass the murder rate of 2023. If this means we return to the days of 600 murders a year, only time will tell. We do not have a gang problem in Trinidad and Tobago, we have transnational organized crime that creates and controls gangs and their evolution. We now need to control those who pull the strings, not just the puppets.”

While the government and business community have repeatedly called for the development of new economic sectors and industries to solve the country’s economic challenges, Figueira’s research paper shows that new “industries” are being developed, but that these are illegal industries that have nothing to do with legitimate economic activities.

In the research report, Figueira explains that the use of illegal firearms as the primary instrument of murder in Trinidad and Tobago during the period 2017 to 2023 calls for insight into the illicit trade in small arms in Trinidad and Tobago.

He said that obtaining a stable and affordable supply of weapons of the AR-15 and AK-47 platforms by Colombia’s allies and non-allies in Trinidad and Tobago became an absolute necessity to defend their hegemony and survival.

“An arms race in Trinidad and Tobago’s illicit trade subsequently appeared in the second decade of the 21st century, intensifying the nature of the involvement and at times pushing it to the point of paranoia with a predilection for terrorism. A concurrent development arising from the reactivation of US supply lines was the smuggling of reloading equipment, black powder, detonators and bullets for reloading spent cartridges into live ammunition.”

He also said that this new illegal industry created a huge demand for used cartridges, making all shooting ranges targets for the supply of this valuable commodity.

“The landscape of illicit trade has changed organically, diversified with the presence of two transnational organized crime groups in Trinidad and Tobago’s illicit trade, which has implications for the social order of Trinidad and Tobago never before experienced in the history of illicit trade.” ~ Trinidad and Tobago Guardian ~