NOW EXTORTIONISTS TARGET DOUBLES VENDORS

BRUTAL criminal extortionists are now targeting doubles and other hard-working wayside vendors.

The thugs are pouncing upon the street hawkers and demanding a monthly sum as “protection money” to ensure the safety of the vendors and their loved ones.

The illegal practice is taking place around the country, especially in communities with a number of street-side food and other peddlers.

Some vendors have agreed to pay the so-called “tax” to ensure their safety, while others have not responded.

Some are considering getting out of street sales, and even migrating.

The growing incidence of the crimes has led to calls by Opposition parliamentarian Dr. Roodal Moonilal and others for a specially designated Extortion Unit of the Police Service and introduction of relevant legislation.

But National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds previously said the police could take appropriate action under existing laws.

Hinds said the police Gangs Intelligence Unit has been mandated to respond to all reports of criminals demanding “protection money.”

But there have been any recent known arrests for extortion.

Businessmen Kelvin Mohammed, of Enterprise, Chaguanas, was killed earlier this year after reportedly refusing to yield to the extortionists.

Several other serious crimes, including arson, have been linked to the crime of securing money through force of threats.

The Joint Consultative Council of the Construction Sector and several business organisations have revealed that their members are being targeted in the organised crime.

Small and medium-sized businesses have become particularly vulnerable to the thriving criminal activity.

The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and other official agencies have termed the racket a multi-million-dollar enterprise.

Some businesses have been writing off “protection money” as donations.

Others have added the sum to the cost of doing business, and passing it onto purchasers.

Caroni East and Couva South Members of Parliament Dr Rishi Seecheran and Rudranath Indarsingh respectively told Parliament of the prevalence of the crime.

Indarsingh said many victims are afraid to turn to the police for fear that the criminals would become aware of their reports.

He said: “Businessmen are now being sent photographs of their homes, spouses, children, where they go to school, their vehicles…”

He stated that extortions are part of “the business landscape” of his constituency and other areas of the country.

The MP said that businessmen have told him they get telephone calls that “if they do not pay X number of dollars, they won’t be able to conduct their businesses.”

There are fears that “underworld elements will be privy to their reports,” Imdarsingh said.

With the spread of the crime to pavement and other vendors, it is apparent that extortions are becoming more entrenched among major crimes, with little success by the police.

The prevalence of the “tax” crime adds to murders, carjackings, home invasions and other major offences in what some have termed “a reign of terror” in Trinidad and Tobago.