Women who live in the Assaraff Road, Charlieville, Chaguanas area plan to arm themselves in order to ensure their safety. The women made the claim yesterday after a Dominican Republic woman was found stabbed to death near a walkover in the community on Monday night.
Police said a resident was crossing the walkover around 10.30 pm when he saw Esther Rodriguez's body on the southern side. The man stopped a nearby Highway Patrol vehicle and the officers cordoned off the scene. Rodriguez was stabbed repeatedly.
Speaking with Guardian Media yesterday, women from the area said the area near the walkover is poorly lit and women have been raped and robbed there in the past as the area is frequented by drug dealers. They said the killing is just a culmination of other criminal activities that have been taking place in the area.
One woman said she will now have to start walking with a knife in her bag while another said she will no longer be travelling home from school. A neighbour said her husband heard the screams but when she looked out she could see nothing. Some 30 minutes later Rodriguez’s body was found.
One man called on Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley to visit the area and address the escalating crime. Stephen Ramkumar said he used the walkover daily and with the killing there is need for “drastic measures.” He added that in his 57 years living in the area he had never heard of a murder and called on the PM and National Security Minister to intervene.
“I might have to move like the wild wild west and walk with a firearm because it is inhumane for someone to lose their life like that. It is out of control,” Ramkumar said.