PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):
THE MURDER toll in Trinidad is now 375, with five new murders and one shooting taking place on the Christmas weekend.
The murders, which took place within a 14-hour period between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day started with the shooting death of Arima businessman Wold Kaleabban. He was gunned down 'execution style', while driving home about 9:45 p.m. on Saturday.
KNOWN FELON KILLED
The second was 20-year-old Abiola Primus, a known felon from the volatile East Dry River, Laventille area. Primus who had a firearm case pending in court was shot dead around 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Police describe the murder as being gang-related. Investigations are continuing.
The third Christmas Eve victim was Martin Francis, 30, of South Trinidad who was stabbed several times in the chest and arms during an altercation with an unidentified man. He later died at the San Fernando General Hospital.
The first of the Christmas Day victims remains unidentified at this time. He was shot in the head in Petit Bourg, in East Trinidad around 1:45 a.m. He remains in hospital and officers are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Only a few minutes after that shooting, 57-year-old Samuel Sylvester, of Mahogany Trace, Diego Martin, in the west, was killed at nearby Sea Trace.
Sylvester died on his way to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital.
The fifth murder victim was a suspected drug pusher and robber, Mark Hamilton.
Twenty-three-year-old Hamilton, who lived in Port-of-Spain, was liming in front of an apartment block when a black car pulled up and an unidentified man came out and sprayed him with bullets. He died on his way to hospital.
Meanwhile Commissioner of Police Trevor Paul promised that the New Year will bring a "much more professional Police Service and a higher quality of service".
In light of the five new murders over the Christmas weekend Commissioner Paul who was speaking at a news conference at the Besson Street CID office Sunday, refused to blame the police for the record-breaking crime rates.
Instead, he blamed rising crime on the "malice and recklessness" of certain sectors of the population.
Paul, who spent Christmas morning along with National Security Minster Martin Joseph visiting five police stations, reported no absenteeism among officers, whom he said were mindful of the fact that they needed to be vigilant while the rest of the country was celebrating.
