GIVE US GUNSBy LEISELLE MARAJ Monday, October 12 2009
UNDER siege from bandits who have no qualms about committing murder if anyone steps in their way, fedup San Juan businessmen are sending out an SOS to acting Commissioner of Police (CoP) James Philbert, to give them guns.
San Juan Businessmen Association (SJBA) public relations officer Abrahim Ali yesterday said that in the month of September alone, there were over 700 crimes perpetuated against businessmen located mainly in El Socorro, Barataria, the Croisee in San Juan and Aranjuez. Supermarkets and gas stations are the businesses most targetted by criminals who mostly commit armed robberies.
“What we are experiencing in terms of criminal activity are hold-ups and armed robberies. In San Juan, there are not too many murders thank God, but there are lots of armed robberies, hold-ups and extortion in that businessmen have to pay ‘safety tax’ to not get robbed or kidnapped,” Ali said.
“And this is why we make this call to the Commissioner. We want firearm licenses granted to us so that we can feel a sense of security and protection,” he added.
Ali explained that the police were of little help when these crimes are committed since on many occasions when a call for help is made to the police, excuses ranging from a lack of vehicles to all officers being out on the field are given.
Statistics from the Crime, Problem and Analysis Unit of the TT Police Service, seem to support Ali’s claim of rampant robberies and hold-up in San Juan, Barataria and Aranjuez in that robberies, larceny and break-ins were the main forms of serious crimes committed in these areas between January and June. Out of the 271 serious crimes committed in that time frame, armed robbery stood at the top of the list.
The SJBA PRO said businessmen in the area are being refused by the Police Commissioner when they apply for firearm licenses.
He explained that businessmen who applied for licenses are either told that there are no licenses to be given or they simply get no reply as to why the application was refused. Ali complained that while local businessmen are refused licenses, foreign nationals who arrive in the country to do business, are readily accommodated by the TT Police Service hierarchy.
“We feel almost naked not being able to protect ourselves,” Ali said. “What is alarming is that we are seeing foreign nationals running mediocre businesses like restaurants and small scale groceries and they are given licenses while locals with bigger businesses are being refused and not even being told why they are not getting the license,” Ali said.
He made reference to a recent court case where a Chinese woman appeared in court charged for having too much ammunition as outlined in her firearms license documents. When she appeared before a Port-of-Spain magistrate to answer the charge, it emerged that the accused could speak no English. This led the magistrate to ask how can someone who cannot speak English, be afforded a firearms license.
The situation, Ali said, is becoming a deterrent for local businessmen who are struggling to make ends meet because of the economic downturn. He explained that additional costs to beef up security will be a heavy burden to bear considering goods and services have to be given a low markup in order to attract customers.
“At least the police could pay us the courtesy of saying what criteria businessmen are missing to get these licenses, especially in light of foreign nationals being given licenses. I am not saying to give licenses to everyone who applies but they should grant licenses to those who are in line with the criteria. Some of the businessmen in the area who are denied should have been given licenses because of their character and the size of their companies,” he said.
In the Senate last week, National Security Minister Martin Joseph in answering a question listed on the Order Paper, stated that over the past eight years, 41,000 persons applied for a gun licence. For this year, up to September 15, 4,220 applications were made, but only 215 licenses were granted. Some 144 non-nationals, out of the 4,220 applicants, were granted licenses.
SBJA President, Imtiaz Ali agreed with his PRO saying that many businessmen some of whom have been in operation for many years, are now contemplating closing up shop all because of the crime situation. “I absolutely agree that we should be able to obtain guns. It seems as if everyone else has guns except us,” he said.
When contacted for comment yesterday, Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police, Gilbert Reyes said that ag CoP Philbert was the only person who could speak on any concern regarding gun licenses. Efforts to contact Philbert yesterday proved futile.
