Shutdown
leaves streets bare
By Carolyn Kissoon
Trinidad Express
Port
Spain
Petroleumworldtt.com
01 28 07
Several stores remained closed yesterday on the
Chaguanas Main Road in support of Inshan Ishmael's
rally calling for a shutdown of Trinidad and Tobago.
Scores
of business places remained closed, many schools
were half-empty and and a shortage of taxis left
hundreds of commuters stranded as many areas in
south and central Trinidad heeded the call to shut
down the country against rising crime.
Up
to late yesterday, the cost of the shutdown was
still being tallied.
Many
business owners said the losses they would incur
as a result of the shutdown was a small price to
pay if the shutdown could have the desired effect
of sending to the authorities the message that murders
and kidnappings must be reined in.
The
Ministry of Education reported that all primary
and secondary schools operated as usual but checks
at the institutions showed classes at several schools
in south and central Trinidad were less than half
filled.
For
many of those who attended classes there was the
problem of transport-schoolchildren were among scores
of people who lined the streets waiting for taxis
to get home.
Up
until late evening there were no taxis or maxi taxis
on the Point Fortin stands.
Inshan
Ishmael, businessman, activist and talk show host,
had called for an island-wide lockdown against crime.
Ashmeer
Mohammed, president of the Couva/Point Lisas Chamber
of Industry and Commerce, said his group did not
endorse the call to shut down the country.
But
many businesses along the Couva Main Road remained
closed.
Ramsingh's
Stores, one of the more prominent businesses in
Couva, had a banner outside its building which read:
"Keep T&T Crime Free".
Several
clothing stores, hardware, pharmacies and one gas
station stayed shut.
Rampersad
Seuraj, president of the Penal/Debe Chamber, said
the majority of business in his area were closed.
"The
bigger businesses were opened but all of the smaller
ones were closed. We went around to the businesses
and asked them to shut down for the two days."
Daphne
Bartlett, president of the San Fernando Business
Association, said all jewelry stores and small clothing
stores on High Street remained closed.
"The
stand we took was to remain neutral but it is a
personal choice of each business owner if they wanted
to close their businesses," she said.
Many
businesses along Cipero Street, San Fernando, mainly
those selling vehicle parts, remained tightly shut.
Food
Basket Supermarket was also closed. An official
at the supermarket said they decided to close as
a means of support for the family of Vindra Naipaul-Coolman
who was kidnapped 37 days ago.
Police
reported that the majority of businesses in Point
Fortin were closed.
Trinidad
Express
Friday, January 26th 2007
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©2006 Trinidad Express. All Rights Reserved.
