Fyzabad chamber calls for joint patrols after businessman’s murder

Senior Reporter

kevon.felmine@guardian.co.tt

President of the Fyzabad Chamber of Commerce (FCC) Anjanie Jairam is calling for the urgent deployment of joint national security patrols to address escalating crime in the community. Her plea follows the murder of businessman Muath Nassar, 49, who was gunned down while working at his food outlet on Fyzabad Road Tuesday morning.

Police said Nassar, a Chaguanas resident and proprietor of Syriana Middle East Foods, was reportedly conducting sales when he was attacked. A resident claimed that extortionists have recently been targeting local business owners.

Speaking with Guardian Media yesterday, Jairam said that joint police and army patrols could offer a short-term solution.

“I have been making calls for over two years to strengthen the police with joint patrols for Fyzabad and all ‘hot spots’. The citizens cannot continue to live with uncertainty.”

Jairam referenced recent visits by Keith Scotland, the Minister in the Ministry of National Security, to business groups in Port-of-Spain, Chaguanas and San Fernando, and noted that he mentioned Fyzabad during the national budget debate when discussing joint patrols.

“To date, we have not seen that,” she said, stressing the critical need for additional support for Fyzabad police.

Since assuming the presidency of the FCC, Jairam said she has advocated for more resources for officers of the Fyzabad Police Station and the establishment of joint patrols. She lamented that Fyzabad Police often lacked the vehicles to respond effectively to calls from the public.

She added that while the FCC has not officially received reports of extortion, Jairam said the chamber has heard accounts from committee members and the wider public. She acknowledged that one FCC member was allegedly being extorted, but has not formally reported it to the chamber. She attributed the underreporting to fear, aligning with statements from the Police Service (TTPS) that extortion often goes unreported.

Jairam said Nassar’s murder and recent incidents of crime could deter businesses and entrepreneurs from investing in Fyzabad, hindering commerce and economic growth.

“Christmas is coming, and people expect a little freedom to work and shop. They are looking forward to doing business, but they are also worried about what might happen when the place gets very busy,” she said.

The Southwestern Division Police confirmed there have been no formal reports of extortion from Fyzabad’s business community. However, they said there are also hotlines for reporting crime. For now, investigators are treating Nassar’s murder as an attempted robbery.

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