HUA FAMILY FLEES TO CHINABy Lara Pickford-Gordon Thursday, July 19 2012
The family of murder victims Yang Jiang Hua and his wife Wu Xia Hua plans to return to China next month.
The couple, both aged 60 years, were shot and killed last Thursday at Tiger’s Chinese Restaurant located at Southern Main Road, Cunupia. The business was opened by their son Yang Wu and the couple were assisting him. Yang Jiang was a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture treatment and massage. The restaurant remained closed for business in the aftermath of the slaying and Yang Jiang’s daughter, Amy, though still in mourning, spoke briefly with Newsday and persons from the Cunupia Business Owners Association. Her brother had gone out.
She mentioned the closure of the business and plans to return to China in response to a question about when Tiger’s would reopen. Still overwhelmed by the events of a week ago, Amy, whose English was limited, said, “next month (we) go back to China”, and “no open.” With the death of her parents, Amy, her brother and sister-in-law are the ones left of the family..
In the restaurant there is a table with the photos of Yang Jiang and his wife and a vase of white roses on each side. Candles are lit and there is incense.
Asked her views of Trinidad she said, “here is very dangerous.”
Her parents came to Trinidad about four years ago and she said of their feelings for their adopted home, “my mommy and father very, very like Trinidad.” On the criminals responsible for their untimely deaths, she hoped that the police would catch the killers “fast”.
The Hua family came to Trinidad to have a “good life.” Amy said the family did not have a business in China; Yang Wu worked as a cook while she designed cars.
Last rites for Yang Jiang and Wu Xia will take place on Saturday morning at the Chinese Christian Chapel, Long Circular Road, St James.
Ramdeo Boodram, president of the Cunupia Police Community Council, said other Chinese business owners might follow the Hua family and also close their businesses because they felt threatened.
Members of the Cunupia Business Owners Association said crime has been on the rise and not only the Chinese, but local business people are fearful for their lives and their families.
Association president Rasheed Ali said, with reference to the killing of the Chinese couple, “these two murders in Cunupia are two too many.”
Faizal Mohammed Akaloo, vice-president of the association, said all business people were in fear. “I recently opened another new business, and it is not far from here, and I might be thinking of closing that business. It is already risky. The pros and cons might outweigh one another and the safer thing to do might be to close down. If I close that business I am putting ten people out of a job,” said Akaloo, who owns two restaurants.
Akaloo said, “Robbery is on the increase, car theft is on the increase and murder is on the increase. The police need more resources. Their complaints are always lack of resources.”
Ramdeo agreed and said from January to the present, 15 businesses, particularly small ones have been attacked. Many small businesses were owned and operated by families. Not only businesses are targeted. Newsday was told that a Kiss bakery van was recently held up by two gunmen at upper Ragoonanan Road.
An emergency meeting of the business association took place on Tuesday night and a decision was taken to arrange a meeting with senior police officers for the Cunupia area, Member of Parliament for Caroni East, Education Minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh and other ministers as well as councillors. The meeting will be scheduled for next week.
Ryan De Castro, a member of the association, in a television interview stressed businesses will close because of the rampant crime in Cunupia.
He said he had a shop on Munroe Road, but closed it down and relocated to an area outside of Cunupia. However, he wants this trend to stop and for businesses to return to the community.
