Tobago records 25th murder for the year

Tobago Correspondent

Tobago recorded its 25th murder yesterday when a man was found dead on a beach behind the ANR Robinson International Airport runway.

Senior Superintendent Earl Elie said a bather spotted the body of Guyanese national Marcas Archer among some trees in a corner of the beach.

“The body appears to have a single wound to the neck believed to be a chop,” he said.

Elie appealed to the public to work with the police and share information that would bring perpetrators before the court.

“Just like any other crime we ask for the cooperation of the public, any information that you make have, whether you think it’s valuable or not, give it to the police,” he said.

The island’s record-high murder count is now much higher than the previous highest toll of 16 recorded more than two decades ago.

Last year, there were 14 murders as Tobago police battled to get gun and gang-related activity under control.

Following a National Security Council meeting hosted by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and attended by National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds and members of the TTPS executive in Tobago, a new crime plan was formed.

Key measures included assigning Police from Trinidad to the island in the short term and on a rotational basis.

In May, when the toll stood at 16, more officers from Trinidad were added to the personnel from the Guard and Emergency Branch and Inter-Agency Task Force officers were deployed to the island.

In September, the island’s top cops ACP Collis Hazel and Snr Supt Rodhill Kirk, were reassigned. Their replacement, ACP Oswain Subero, has met with the island’s stakeholders as part of his efforts to zero in on the criminals.

Chairman of the Tobago Chamber Martin George, who is also a Crime Stoppers director, has pledged to revitalize the initiative on the island, to tackle the escalating crime problem.

He has committed to working with fellow directors to relaunch, revamp and revitalize the programme.

George, in his capacity as Tobago Chamber head, lamented the growing violence on the island.

“It is damaging the fabric of our society. It is damaging our business community. It is ripping apart families,” he said.

He urged the police, Tobago House of Assembly (THA) and central government to intensify their crime-fighting efforts, describing the situation as “beyond belief” and a crisis that cannot be ignored.

“We of the Tobago Business Chamber pledge our support for the efforts of the TTPS, the THA, and the central government,” George added, saying that the chamber is ready to partner in efforts to stop the worrying trend.

He called for an “all hands on deck approach” w

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