Fuelled by the memories of her brother being killed and the hope of a better future for her daughters, People’s National Movement Chaguaramas/Point Cumana councillor Akeilah Glasgow painted a love heart over a graffiti on her road acknowledging Scorpion Alley in Carenage as territory belonging to the “Rasta City” gang.
Speaking to the T&T Guardian about the reason for her act on Thursday night, a few feet from where the sign was painted, Glasgow said she was propelled to act because of her understanding of Rasta City’s influence as one of the largest criminal gangs in the country.
Saying it was time for citizens to take a stand against crime, Glasgow said she took her mother’s red paint and fashioned a misshaped love heart over the words “Rasta City” and nicknamed the lane “Love Lane,” as that is what should be promoted at the time when some communities are being overrun by crime.
Following in her footsteps, another unnamed resident painted over a wooden lamppost which had the words “Hell Town” painted on it in cream-coloured paint.
Glasgow said the mother of one of the children who painted the sign on the road later telephoned her and thanked her for doing what she did and apologised on behalf of her child.
“In our community we don’t have Rasta and Muslim, is only idle children doing this,” Glasgow said, admitting no one in the area was actually affiliated with gang activity but that it had been inculcated in them through the media.
“I am taking a stand to encourage people, we have to nip it in the bud. And as mothers she need to encourage the youth that they can do it legally, it really not making sense.”
Glasgow said in 2008 her younger brother Darryl was murdered, a case which remains unsolved. She admitted the community was once a violent place, but said it is now peaceful and she is hoping it remains that way so her daughters will be proud to stay and live there.
She said she lives with the peace that her doors are never locked and the words Rasta City carry such a negative connotation that merely seeing it in the middle of the road to and from home was enough to want her to get rid of it.
“I believe I saved somebody’s life. This has nothing to do with politics, it has to do with me being a mother and wanting the best for my children,” she said.
Glasgow said she is also not afraid of any repercussion for her stance. She posted in fact herself painting over the territorial markings on Facebook and up to the time of the interview it had earned 960 and garnered hundreds of comments, most of them supportive and encouraging.
Yesterday, however, she said her action was not done for the likes but to share hope to her community and others.
Speaking on the havoc caused by residents of Beetham Gardens on Thursday following the arrests of community leaders Kenneth “Spanish” Rodriquez and Ancel “Chemist” Villafana, Glasgow said everything that happened was illegal and it seemed the priorities of the people were “damaged.” She added that she believes in communities coming together, but supported Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s statement that their behaviour should not be condoned.