THE increasing number of murders and shooting incidents in the capital city, especially those occurring in broad daylight on busy shopping streets, has injected fear and caution in those who work, shop and live in Port of Spain.

While an increase in pickpocketing and purse or phone-snatching is also a big concern to many, people who frequent the danger zones say they still have to carry on with their routine, but they are more vigilant.

Up to April 26, 35 people were murdered in the Port of Spain police district, and about 18 of those took place in the city itself. There have been numerous shooting incidents, in some cases no one was injured, but others left a trail of people wounded.

The upsurge in violent crime in Port of Spain has been blamed primarily on gang violence with tit-for-tat killings from opposing gangs in the East Port of Spain, Beetham Gardens, Laventille and Belmont.

[caption id="attachment_1080143" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Police officers on patol along Charlotte Street, Port of Spain on March 11. - Faith Ayoung[/caption]

Vendors and store owners believed more people were staying away from the capital as much as possible, only venturing in when they had to. They also believed a higher level of police officers on foot and mobile patrol in the capital would help reduce crime and make people feel safe enough to return to shopping.

A woman, who worked at the South Port of Spain Relief Centre on George Street, said she was sure everyone living, working or passing in town was concerned as criminals did not seem to care if they shot men, women or children.

She said she and her co-workers had to duck and hide at the sound of gunshots. She said they were fearful for their lives when they heard gunshots as the noises usually sounded close by and they never knew where the sounds were coming from.

She said she usually walked with her children to school in town and, walked to work and then home every day. She was worried they would be hit by a stray bullet.

“I don’t feel safe, but we have to make the trek to school and work every day. I think the police should have more foot patrols, not passing in their vans with their windows up and air conditioning on because then they don’t notice anything.

“I saw plenty of joint police and army patrols during Carnival for the tourists but that’s done. I guess tourists are more important than the citizens of this country.”

A fish vendor on George Street told Newsday he comes to work in fear, but that was just part of life at the moment. He said he was always worried about who would be the next victim but since he could do nothing about the crime and violence, he “prayed hard.”

[caption id="attachment_1080141" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Two officers from the Capital City Patrol Unit on duty along Charlotte Street, Port of Spain on April 2. - Faith Ayoung[/caption]

Petal Jack, a bartender at D Bass at the Trinidad All Stars panyard, at the corner of Duke and George Streets, said she was accustomed to hearing gunshots in the area, but a