Gangs, Guns, and Governance in Trinidad and Tobago

[K74T]

Re: POSGH shooting

[MaxPower]

Every time i go into POSGH i feel traumatized.

If it’s not gunmen killing you, it’s the staff.

Yea or No

[Chimera]

Dem security who does quarrel with yuh ans rough yuh up when trying to visit yuh family cudda jump out themselves and tell the gunmen only one person allowed inside.

[Dizzy28]

Seeing lots of "if you don't like it here just leave" ppl bothered by the Gonzalez murders.

The vics are renowned?

Sent from my Pixel 7 using TriniTuner mobile app

[pugboy]

that is dem sole purpose to pull rank of distressed families

Dem security who does quarrel with yuh ans rough yuh up when trying to visit yuh family cudda jump out themselves and tell the gunmen only one person allowed inside.

[alfa]

that is dem sole purpose to pull rank of distressed families

Dem security who does quarrel with yuh ans rough yuh up when trying to visit yuh family cudda jump out themselves and tell the gunmen only one person allowed inside.

Little do they realize that when they themselves fall sick it's there self they ending up to face idiots like themselves cuz they can't afford to go private while making 18 and 20 a hour

[daring dragoon]

Dem security who does quarrel with yuh ans rough yuh up when trying to visit yuh family cudda jump out themselves and tell the gunmen only one person allowed inside.

[88sins]

Dem security who does quarrel with yuh ans rough yuh up when trying to visit yuh family cudda jump out themselves and tell the gunmen only one person allowed inside.

Funny thing tho
Ever seen what happens wrt visitors and general bedside manner and treatment meted out by other medical staff when a nurse or orderly or other colleagues are warded?
Is nothing like what you as an average person would have to deal with.

Yuh eh go see no actual dr warded, dem does go private at the 1st sign of an issue.

[The_Honourable]

Rise of the Resistance Gang

Corrupt cops implicated...

Mark Bassant

It was officially documented in 2023 that there are roughly 148 active gangs in Trinidad and Tobago. These gangs engage in criminal activity, from simple offences like theft to more serious ones like robberies, extortion, drugs and human trafficking, money laundering, kidnapping for ransom, and multiple murders.

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service currently divides homicides into two categories: gang-related and revenge-related. Notably, there are areas where gang violence is more common. In particular, the Northern and Port of Spain police divisions are known to have a high rate of violence and a well-established gang presence.
In these two divisions, official figures from the Crime and Problem Analysis Branch (CAPA) indicate that in 2023 there were about 100 gang-related killings. Murders connected to gangs have been reported more frequently in Tunapuna, Arima, and other surrounding regions that are under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Police Division.

Government officials face an uphill task in tackling the gang problem because many communities rely on gangs for both protection and financial support.

The Resistance Gang, regarded as one of the most vicious gangs, is examined in greater detail in this Sunday Express special report.

Dishonest police officers have facilitated the bloody reign of the Resistance Gang along the East-West Corridor where crimes such as murders, kidnappings, extortion and robberies have been unleashed with impunity.

An intelligence report seen by the Sunday Express prepared by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) has pinned this gang’s capacity to prosper criminally on the complicity of dishonest police officers.

The report describes possible police participation, the origins of the Resistance Gang, its primary shot caller, and the gang’s inner workings.

In May of this year, Sauce Doubles vendor Anisha Hosein was kidnapped from outside her business in El Dorado.

This was the most recent crime in which members of the gang were implicated by the authorities.

Hours after Hosein’s captors freed her on May 24, police shot and killed four individuals they believed were part of the Resistance Gang and may have been involved in her kidnapping. They were killed by police in the hills at St Michael Road, off St John Road in St Augustine. The men killed were Christopher Noreiga, Tevon Maynard, Akeen Punette (alias “Scheme”), and Joshua Allen (alias “Bounty”).

Haven of the hills

A senior officer familiar with the intelligence report provided the Sunday Express with information on some of the issues it contained.

The report briefly explained the emergence of the Resistance Gang between 2019 and 2020 (pre-Covid). It was headed by a man with the alias “R-man”, also known as “RP”, who had broken away from another man known as “Cocoa” who controlled a gang in the St John Road area in St Augustine around that time.

“They had controlled drug distribution along the St John Road and the Tunapuna Road and environs,” said the senior intelligence official.

The report spoke about the gang using the haven of the hills near Mount St Benedict as a base after committing crimes ranging from robberies to kidnappings and murders.

“In that area, there are several camps and a lot of hunters use them to catch game during hunting season and lately some of these criminals have started using those camps. They hide their guns and heavy artillery there and they sleep there, hiding out from the police,” the officer said.

“That location can take you back to different parts of St Joseph. They control those hills. This area provides them with an advantage based on the height and location,” the officer said.

The Resistance Gang was founded by R-man after he and Cocoa had a falling out and he was kicked out of Cocoa’s group.

The Resistance Gang leader then proceeded to form an alliance with a man in the Tunapuna area with the initials “DB” who is described in the report as one of his “main lieutenants”.

They also stretched their control into the Five Rivers area, Maracas, St Joseph, and later St Helena in Piarco.

“But they have not had smooth sailing in the Five Rivers area since there is another gang there known as J-12 headed by a man there known as “CP” who is in prison for murder and they have been at war with him,” said the officer.

According to the intelligence officer, there has been a continuous battle for drug turf in the Five Rivers area for the past few years, with several people from both gangs having lost their lives in the conflict.

The intelligence report spoke of R-man’s growing influence on his 200-plus members after he was able to convince three brothers that his former associate Cocoa had been responsible for their father’s death.

“He was able to spin that story and convince these sons who had a following in the St Augustine area,” the officer said.

According to the report, the Resistance leader’s style of dealing with his gang also gained him more respect and influence.

“So for instance he started to show men some more sympathy. If a man loses a gun, rather than being threatened (that he had) to pay for the gun, he will show some care and say: ‘Look, it’s just a gun; we go get back more’, which is a very rare thing for a leader to do. That charismatic personality and empathy show that he has a very strong influence on them,” said the officer.

“Some of these men have never seen RP as senior members of the gang pass on instructions from him through a young lady who visits him often in prison. She’s responsible for the finances and operations of the gang,” he added.

Rifle attacks

The report highlights the brutal methods by which the Resistance Gang carries out murders, with the rifle serving as the primary weapon of choice.

“Rifle attacks are one of their signatures. Once you see gunmen with rifles coming out and executing men and shooting relentlessly, that’s Resistance. They started to step up their game after Covid eased up in 2022 and you started to see more of this type of killings with their gang operating relentlessly,” the officer said.

The complete takeover of the St Augustine area by the Resistance Gang happened in January 2023 following a spate of killings in that area, according to the TTPS report.

The report named a man who was among those chased from the St Augustine area after at least five other people were shot and killed in early 2023.

The man is still missing and is thought to be dead.

“The takeover was final after they chased down another man along a street in St Augustine and it was captured on CCTV and shot and killed him,” said the officer.

The intelligence officer described this as a “hostile takeover” of all the drug blocks from St Augustine to Five Rivers.

The gang also expanded its crime tentacles into the extortion of business people stretching from Curepe to St Helena, Piarco.

“They threatened and demanded money from small business people from the doubles man to the fruit vendors from Caroni to St Helena. If you did not pay you would suffer the fate of either a wounding by shooting or you would have been fatally shot,” the intelligence officer said.

“All the vendors even along the Southern Main Road in Curepe have to pay what is called coward tax. The people pay this coward tax of $3,000-$6,000 weekly or monthly as the case may be. The police went to many of these people hoping to get statements but only one person came forward and just one person was charged by the Caroni police. Most are just afraid of the repercussions,” the officer said.

The report pointed to the Resistance leader’s iron hand in overseeing his extortion activities and the fact that he seeks the help of police officers on his payroll when something occurs in these areas without his knowledge.

According to the officer, “No one can rob certain areas without R-man knowing. If a robbery goes down in R-man’s area and that business person is paying him, he does his investigation with the assistance of key police officers. What usually happens based on our information is that police officers would access the Versadex system (a software application where information related to crimes is recorded) which can be accessed by any police officer. So when that crime and the information goes into the Versadex system in, let us say, Central, he may have a police officer in the North who accesses the information and passes it on to the gang so they can figure out who exactly put down the robbery.”

When people who entered the Resistance Gang territory without permission are identified, they are initially asked to return any stolen goods or money; if they refuse, harsh retaliation will follow. “They would usually have women patrolling Instagram to see who has been spending money. They even put up a lot of social media videos of the robbery if it is captured on CCTV and in some cases there are people in the underworld who could tell who these people are even if they are masked,” said the officer.

Targeting the affluent

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service received a report from the Strategic Services Agency (SSA) last year on a corporal in the Northern Division who had been aiding the Resistance Gang.

According to an intelligence officer who has access to the SSA report, the police corporal who frequently cleared the way for Resistance Gang members following their purported murder, robbery, or kidnapping was named.

The report also stated that the Resistance Gang has targeted affluent people or those who work for them in managing money and other personal matters.

Sometimes the gang obtains information on these individuals and uses that information to either attack or rob these gullible people on their way to and from the bank. It also occasionally turns out to be an inside job, said the officer.

In the TTPS intelligence report, an informant from the gang revealed to the police how carefully they planned a crime before it was committed. The informant disclosed that before committing a car theft, they would browse local car websites selling vehicles, obtain a licence plate of that exact car, and attempt to pilfer the precise brand and model of the car and attach the corresponding number plate.

“From the time they pick up the vehicle they ensure it is not wired with any system. So if they steal the car from Grand Bazaar they may take it to Trincity and vice versa. They will park it up there and observe it for a few days to make sure there is no GPS on it or it is not being reported stolen on social media. Once they get past that hurdle they take it to the Piarco airport car park, leave it there for a few days and when they are ready for the job they come and take it and tint it darker if needed before going on the crime,” the intelligence officer said.

In light of all the information obtained, the Sunday Express asked why the police have not been able to effectively suppress their activities.

In response, the officer said the TTPS needed to get its act together.

“There needs to be a level of cohesiveness and data sharing in order to clamp down on this situation, but it will never happen because of trust issues,” he said.

Tomorrow: Tune in to the TV6 News at 7 p.m. for a version of this story entitled “Gangs of TNT”.

https://trinidadexpress.com/news/local/ ... b380c.html

[Alpha_2nr]

Wait nah.

Like the newspapers got sudden inspiration from the CML videos?

[pugboy]

express have to be careful they don’t get charged with sedition

[The_Honourable]

The influence, challenges of Trinibad music
Narissa Fraser I Sunday 8 September 2024


Kyle "Rebel Sixx" George, 26, was shot dead at a house on Viceroy Crescent, Bon Air Gardens, Arouca, in 2020. PHOTO COURTESY SOCIAL MEDIA

RISE OF TRINIBAD MUSIC

TRINIBAD, TT’s spin on dancehall music, often addresses the harsh and violent realities of those who live in areas deemed ghettos.

The artistes behind the music and fans alike do not scorn the term "ghetto," as others may, though. In fact, they embrace it, proudly calling themselves ghetto youths.

Many TT artistes dabbled in dancehall for decades, but the rise of the Trinibad movement only began sometime in the 2010s.

What started as a genre scorned by mainstream media, forcing it to only be enjoyed in silos within the ghetto, has now evolved into one with global reach.

VIOLENT LYRICS MORE POPULAR

The Trinibad songs which get the most airtime on the radio and at social events in TT are arguably the ones containing lyrics about gangsterism, gun violence and other crimes.

But the genre also lends itself to other topics, including love, overcoming challenges, poverty, grief, spirituality, mental health, injustice, loss, self-development and romance.

But the public often listens to its more violent counterparts far more. This is evident in the number of views on YouTube music videos and charts on digital music-streaming platforms.

For instance, the music video for Kman 6ixx's track Up Now has 3.1 million views. The song focuses on remaining positive, trying to advance in life and making his family proud.

But the video for No Lethal has 7.6 million views.

Lyrics to this popular track include, "Nobody na go live when mi draw fi mi gun/Slowly dem a go perish, inna grave you belong," and "See how we kill dem, swear seh a hell weh we from."

The official audio for Phoenix, in which asks God to keep blessing him and urges people not to give up despite the challenges they face, was listened to 405,000 times on YouTube.

Meanwhile, Mafia was listened to 2.6 million times. That song includes lines like, "Just war again/Got the rifle, it bigger than all a dem/Woulda never waan peace, coulda God a beg/'Bout 'Seven lock the place,' that na happen/Every one of us born fi kill."

Plumpy Boss’s Me Alone speaks of being resilient even when life seems to be against you. With lyrics like, ‘Nuff things mi been through in life alone/Mi learn fi hold mi own inna dis lonely road/Come from poverty...Daddy dead and gone and mi Mommy alone/Never let that faze me/Work hard cause Jah no love lazy,” this was listened to 753,000 times.

Again, one of its more violent counterparts, Energy, has 3.1 million listens.

That has lyrics like, “Rifle tall, all the guns dem tall/It nuh make sense fi violate and diss us, ‘cause from mi kick it off, we kill them off, nuh inna no chit chat/Rise every rifle from the flats come to the hilltops/From a murder, then we in that.”


Kman 6ixx - Photo courtesy http://www.sknpulse.com

The debate in TT rages on as to whether the lyrics of this genre fuel gang violence and warfare.

Some people believe if all artistes stop singing about violence, fewer young people will be drawn to a life of crime. Others think the music is just part of a bigger picture. And some entirely dismiss the idea of the lyrics affecting people's actions.

Many of its artistes have shared their opinions on this over the years. Two things have remained constant: they consider it a reflection of their realities and experiences, and they believe the population gravitates more towards songs with violent themes and lyrics.

UN STUDY: SOME GANGS MAY USE ARTISTES FOR PROMO

A July 2024 study by the UN Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said law enforcement in the Caribbean is concerned about a link between music and gang activity in the region.

The UNODC said the study has not been formally edited and its contents “do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of (office) or contributory organisations, nor does it imply any endorsement.”

The study, Caribbean Gangs: Drugs, Firearms and Gangs Networks in Jamaica, St Lucia, Guyana and TT, said Trinibad music is a popular genre with “good regional reach.

“The most notable artistes tour and get airplay beyond the Caribbean in the US, Canada and the UK.”

However, it added, “As is the case with similar styles of music in Latin America and North America, most Trinibad artists have tenuous connections to the lives and events that they sing about.”

It said some artistes openly fraternise with gangs not only in TT but Jamaica, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines, among other countries.

It also addressed the topic of diss tracks – insulting rivals or fellow artistes – within the genre, and the practice of going live on social media to openly threaten or disrespect other artistes and their entourages.

“Gangs have also forged relationships with musical artistes to spread their influence and appeal. In partnership with musicians, prominent gangs have expanded their criminal linkages with affiliates in neighbouring islands,” it added.

In 2020, some Trinibad artistes from areas predominantly including members of the Sixx and Seven gangs held peace talks. But the next day, Trinibad artiste Kyle "Rebel Sixx" George was killed.

LYRICS CAN BE FICTION

Trinibad artiste Rheon Elbourne, 35, told Newsday the genre is “an expression of the society we live in today.”

He added that it shares many topics and influences with Jamaican dancehall.

“I think the society is filled with a lot of crime, violence and corruption, and it is a raw reflection of that.”


Rheon Elbourne

Much like dance and spoken word, Elbourne said, music is a form of art which allows people to be creative. In tapping into that creativity, he said, “People can exaggerate, make a story or make a movie out of it, or even get a point across to move the population.”

He said he cannot speak for other artistes, but he is not involved in any criminal activity, despite that being the theme of some of his songs.

“I can still express myself in such ways without physically going out in the streets to do anything. I can write, I can put (my feelings and thoughts) down on a track...

“People may think, ‘He’s a criminal’ because of the content of people’s music, but maybe they’re just venting, maybe they’re just getting a point across.”

Some Trinibad artistes have previously said while they are not involved in any gangs, it is possible actual gang members may use their songs to fuel their wars. Many members of the public also believe some gang leaders fund artistes who support narratives that align with theirs.


Trinibad artiste Kalonji Arthur.

In recent months, Trinibad artistes Kashif "Kman 6ixx" Sankar, Joseph "Medz Boss" Ollivierre and Mescach "Plumpy Boss" Emmanuel were charged with varying gang offences. In addition, Trinibad artiste Kalonji Arthur was charged with several counts of wounding and firearm offences. All four men have since been granted bail.

Newsday tried to speak to other Trinibad artistes, who expressed frustration at always having to defend their craft, and declined to be interviewed.

RAW SUGAR CANE

Elbourne suggested if private entities or even the government helped more young artistes, perhaps more positive messages could emerge from the genre.

Otherwise, “The funding will come from elsewhere…

“And if someone else is doing the funding, then I guess the message will come out however the fundee (sic) wants it.

“Trinibad music is like raw sugar cane – it just needs to be refined. We definitely know it’s a great product, but who’s going to take it and turn it into sugar or molasses or rum? Who is going to ship it and put it on the right planes and boats so it could get into the right stores to sell?”

Elbourne, who is involved in the Ministry of Youth Development and National Service’s 40 Under 40 mentorship programme, said a lot of the young people he mentors “want better for themselves.

“They complain about the potholes in the road, hearing gunshots every minute, violent crimes in their communities, having a lot of drugs and guns in their schools and communities, gangs, some of them have no water or electricity at home…

“These youths just looking for a way out.”

One former gang member, whose prime was in the 1980s, told Newsday the authorities, especially political parties, see Trinibad artistes as both a convenience and inconvenience.

"One minute, they will complain about them and their lyrics and say this and that – then election season, you will see that same artiste parading with them because they get hired to do a campaign song."

Artistes Prince Swanny and Plumpy Boss have both done election campaign songs for the UNC.

PROUD TO REP THEIR COMMUNITIES

Talent manager and owner of DiMedia Delicia Patterson told Newsday Trinibad represents “the voices of the ghetto youths.”

She manages Trinibad artiste Llano “Jahllano” Grant.

As a manager, she added that she feels compelled to “do more to change the narrative (of the genre) and create more opportunities for youths wishing to pursue a career in music.”

But she said Trinibad songs that aren’t about violence do not get as much attention.

“The biggest misunderstanding is that Trinibad is only about guns and violence. Let's make the tunes for the ladies and the positive lyrics popular and trending too.


Trinibad artiste Joseph Ollivierre, known popularly as Medz Boss. - Photo courtesy Joseph Ollivierre's Instagram page

“Music belongs to the creative industry. The creative industry is a multi-billion-dollar industry…Music is art, freedom of expression, it forms part of our culture. Music is freedom. The satisfaction is priceless when you indulge yourself in your passion.”

Most Trinibad artistes, she said, are proud to represent their communities.

Asked what could be done to change the current narratives, she, too, called for investments into young talent.

“People in authority or position with resources, finances, certified professionals and experts can unify more, as is being seen now with the many talent shows and music conferences, to focus on working together with communities experiencing high levels of discord."

She said she is working on the relaunch of a mentorship and development course – Music Business Principles – to use "music with a psychological approach…

"This programme is aimed at equipping youths and other upcoming talents in the entertainment industry with viable tools, resources and opportunities to create a solid foundation and eventually sustaining their career.”

TRINIBAD MAKING WAVES ACROSS CARIBBEAN

When one looks at the data, or even takes a casual walk in public in TT, there is no denying the genre's popularity and impact.

For instance, on September 3, there were 12 Trinibad songs on Apple Music's top 100 currently most-listened-to tracks in TT. These included: Kman 6ixx's Little Miss Best Body (5th), Show Them (12th), Obsessed (32nd), Mayhem (38th), No Lethal (59th) and This Life (89th); Plumpy Boss's Keep Up (35th), Bad Already (61st), and My Favorite (88th); Prince Swanny's BBQ Badness (10th), Not Bad (62nd), and Foreign (76th).

The only other TT artistes with trending songs were Lady Lava with Ring Finger at 25, and Kes with Tack Back at 66.

But the genre was also trending in Grenada, Barbados, St Kitts and Nevis, Belize, Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda. The artistes trending there included the same as those in TT, with the addition of Medz Boss and the late Rebel Sixx.

The Caribbean country with the highest number of trending Trinibad songs on Apple Music's Top 100 playlists was Dominica, with 23 tracks in total. Following closely was Barbados, with 20.

Non-Caricom countries were in the mix, too, including Anguilla, the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands.


Trinibad artiste Prince Swanny. (Taryll Swan)

These, along with TT, are the only Caribbean countries for which the platform curates these playlists based on data.

Further data from songstats.com – a website used by music industry professionals and labels to monitor trends – confirmed the genre's popularity.

Many Trinibad artistes' monthly listener tallies were in the hundreds of thousands, with some having their music streamed in 100 countries or more.

Prince Swanny, for instance, has an average of 230,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and is listened to by people from 155 different countries on Apple Music.

These artistes also regularly perform at shows and parties in the Caribbean, often met with crowds singing their songs verbatim.

However, in the last year, Kman 6ixx has been banned from performing in St Kitts, Antigua, the Bahamas, and, most recently, Dominica over fears his music could incite violence. More than one attempt has been made on his life in recent times.

Murdered Trinibad artistes:

Rebel Sixx (Kyle George) – 2020
Chucky Blanco (Jaheim Joseph) – 2021
CraigMan (Keenan Craig) –2021
Brad (Brad Bailey) – 2021
Siah Boss (Josiah Mc Clatchie) – 2021
Vice Versa (Tyler Williams) – 2021
Fari Dan (N'Kosi Bovell) – 2022
CJ Dan (Carlton Campbell) – 2022
Mad Dog (Daniel Hamilton) – 2022
Wacko Dan (Anthony Reyes) – 2023
Faces (Kevon Andrews) – 2023

https://newsday.co.tt/2024/09/08/the-in ... bad-music/

[Mmoney607]

They ain't fed up of this topic yet. At the end of the day it's nonsense they signing, no need for any high science

[Dizzy28]

It always boils down to the Government have to put more money!!!

[Mmoney607]

Like the new way they pushing back against gangs is by canceling birthday parties

[hover11]

Like the new way they pushing back against gangs is by canceling birthday parties

After taking the man money for 175k for police security

[pugboy]

he would likely get a refund
that party woulda be safe dunno why they hotting they head

Like the new way they pushing back against gangs is by canceling birthday parties

After taking the man money for 175k for police security

[The_Honourable]

Govt official, UK gangster in secret deal
Scrutiny over ties to money laundering, arms trafficking and drug smuggling...

Mark Bassant - 23rd March 2025


Global ties: The gangster, originally from T&T but has lived in the UK for several years, is suspected of being one of the Seven Gang’s primary financiers.

A CLANDESTINE business arrangement between a gangster from the Uni­ted Kingdom and a senior Trinidad and Tobago Government official allegedly linked to money laundering, arms trafficking and drug smuggling is now being closely monitored by local and foreign law enforcement officials.

The gangster, who is ori­ginally from T&T but has dual citizenship and has lived in the UK for several years, is suspected of being one of the Seven Gang’s primary financiers.

For years, he allegedly used his network of shell companies to avoid detection while directing unlawful activities in North America, Europe and the Caribbean.

Multiple law enforcement intelligence sources who spoke with CCN during the course of a three-month investigation confirmed that various intelligence files doc­­­umenting the gangster’s transatlantic illicit actions had been compiled.

In some cases, parts of these reports were shared with CCN, outlining his “long arms” in this country and across the globe.

These reports pointed to coordinated smuggling acti­vities and a complex web of financial transactions spanning North America, Europe and the Caribbean.

With the assistance of a European investigative counterpart, CCN identified a slew of shell companies that intelligence sources say helped conceal unlawful profits from global gun and drug running operations over time.

What’s even more concerning is his extensive in­volve­ment in the illegal fire­arms trade that has intensified in T&T over the last few years.

According to sources, he has ties throughout the Uni­ted States, Caribbean and Europe, which allow him to ea­sily smuggle firearms across borders.

“He has two counterparts in the US known by the aliases ‘Fathead’ and ‘Rman’, originally from Diego Martin, who facilitate the illegal guns from the US to Trinidad. And when it gets here, a man known as ‘Lman’ from Carenage is responsible for distribution,” a national security source said.

The CCN investigation, which began in late November, was spurred by a tip-off from another high-level national security source, which led CCN to the UK’s company registry, also called Companies House.

There, a startling discove­ry was made: a high-ranking T&T Government official was identified as one of two directors of a company formed on September 15, 2023.

The other director of the company, who was listed first, was the Seven Gang’s principal financier.

According to law enforcement sources, this discovery raised red flags—not only about the nature of the business arrangement but also about what the high-ranking Government official stood to gain from this private limited company.

The UK company registry listed the business as provi­d­ing “other transportation support activities”—a vague description that a European source said “could be a front for something far more sinister”.

Shareholding in this particular company was equally held by the Government official and the gangster, the document indicated.

Ten months later, on July 17, 2024, the high-ranking Government official ceased to be a person with cons­iderable control while also terminating his appointment as director of the corporation, according to the documents obtained by CCN.

The lone director and shareholder then remained the Seven Gang principal financier.


Director no more: A Companies House document shows the high-ranking Government official terminated his appointment as director of the corporation on July 17, 2024.


A document showing the cessation of the high-ranking UK official in 2024.

The Government official’s date of birth was recorded as part of the company’s information and was cross-refe­renced with his date of birth from other public records available, confirming it was the same person with a somewhat uncommon middle name.

In early December 2024, CCN sent several questions to the Government official via WhatsApp, and repeatedly over the next three months until the end of February this year.

The Government official declined to answer any questions regarding the controversial business arrangement and his long-time associate (the Seven Gang financier), who has remained under local law enforcement scrutiny for nearly 25 years.

Various sources told CCN that the Government official over the past months contacted several people for advice on whether to answer any of the questions and informed them about the impending story.

Sources further revealed that an overseas law enforcement agency had reported the high-ranking Government official’s alleged business activities and that several Government officials here were aware of the business arrangement.

A deep dive into filings at the Integrity Commission for 2023 by CCN revealed some key details about the high-ranking official.

Records show he co-owns a house in Central Trinidad with his wife, is a registered member of a political party, and is also affiliated with a particular association.

There is however no mention of his directorship at the UK company in those filings.

In his signed declaration of 2023 Form B, handed in September 2024, there was no mention under the heading directorship of companies or corporations of this particular company he had assumed directorship of in September 2023.

An official at the Integri­ty Commission explained to CCN on our second visit there last Friday that while Form A, which is filled out by the declarant, would not be available to the public because of sensitive financial information and their spouses or children, usuall,y if something like a directorship is mentioned in Form A, in most cases, the Integrity Commission would meet and would ask the declarant for it to also be included in Form B.

“It should be referred to in Form B and must be inclu­ded in their 2023 declaration,” the official explained.

“If they are a director in a company in September 2023, then by December 31, 2023, that should be part of their declaration—when they file in 2024,” the official said.

With the help of a European investigative entity, CCN discovered that the company related to the Government official and UK gangster was not the only one under scrutiny.

In fact, a clear pattern emerged. Over the past 32 years, the Seven Gang financier has registered at least seven other companies—most of which have either been dissolved or are now dormant.

But two remain active, raising even more questions about their true purpose and whether the previous compa­nies were used to facilitate illicit activities before being shut down.

The investigation uncovered several anomalies about these companies created by the Seven Gang financier:

1. All the companies share a common address in London and two suite numbers that are located at an apartment.

2. They also share a common company formation agent.

3. The recent companies seemed to have never filed any real financial statements; they never appeared to actually do business as companies. Most are now inactive, and one has yet to file a financial statement.

4. Doing an advanced search on these companies in the UK company registry revealed most had been dissolved and perhaps indicative of them being shell companies.


Sharing address: All the registered companies carried the address of this London apartment.

Some of the inactive or dormant companies of the Seven Gang financier provi­ded perceived automotive services or telecommunications activities.

A closer look at the tele­coms business indicated a fairly obvious trend, similar to some of the other companies.

That particular company was incorporated in November 2020 and later dissolved on August 3, 2021.

The last accounts were made on November 30, 2020 (but accounts indicated it was a dormant company and was struck off in July 2021 and dissolved in August 2021 by the Seven Gang financier who was the sole shareholder in this particular company, like many of the others).

Deeper research found that the Seven Gang financier, with his full name, had been listed as an ICT consultant at a high school in London until 2018. The European investigative entity noted, in digging for further information on the individual, that “it may be of further interest that his electronic footprint disappears after his school appointment”.

According to law enforcement sources, the Seven Gang financier is “low key” and rarely takes photos, but he is also described as “the mastermind” and “clever with his professional background”.

CCN was able to obtain images of him from an intelligence source in the UK, which were shot just under two years ago at an event he attended.

Questions sent to the high-ranking Government official between December 2024 and February 2025:

1. Can you indicate why you signed on as a director in a UK-based company (name called) in September 2023 and later resigned as one of two directors in July 2024?

2. Can you explain your relationship with Mr (name called) and how long you have known him?

3. What was the purpose of you becoming a director of this company, and did you profit financially in any way from the activities of this company?

4. Did you declare that you were a director of this company to the Integrity Commission in filing your declaration under the Inte­grity and Public Life Act?

5. Law enforcement and other sources have confirmed that Mr (name called), who has dual citizenship, is a person who is considered the major financier of the Seven Gang in Trinidad and Tobago. Are you aware of this fact? And if so, would it be wise to associate yourself with this individual who has criminal allegations hanging over his head in this country?

6. Additionally, are you aware that this company that you were part of is now dormant, and intelligence sources suggest this, along with other companies, were merely shell companies set up in the UK for allegedly illicit activities?

https://trinidadexpress.com/news/local/ ... 1b8ab.html

[paid_influencer]

The Government official’s date of birth was recorded as part of the company’s information and was cross-refe­renced with his date of birth from other public records available, confirming it was the same person with a somewhat uncommon middle name.

In early December 2024, CCN sent several questions to the Government official via WhatsApp, and repeatedly over the next three months until the end of February this year.

The Government official declined to answer any questions regarding the controversial business arrangement and his long-time associate (the Seven Gang financier), who has remained under local law enforcement scrutiny for nearly 25 years.

Various sources told CCN that the Government official over the past months contacted several people for advice on whether to answer any of the questions and informed them about the impending story.

Sources further revealed that an overseas law enforcement agency had reported the high-ranking Government official’s alleged business activities and that several Government officials here were aware of the business arrangement.

A deep dive into filings at the Integrity Commission for 2023 by CCN revealed some key details about the high-ranking official.

Records show he co-owns a house in Central Trinidad with his wife, is a registered member of a political party, and is also affiliated with a particular association.

There is however no mention of his directorship at the UK company in those filings.

Might be enough breadcrumbs here to figure out who this could be. But idk.

Some real strange things happening in this country of late. From the SoE to the pastor SSA coup ploy and the SSA attorney getting gun down in the street and the UK gangs/asylum/visa clamp down and the sudden resignation by the pm and the arrest of the commissioner or polices. Country doesn't seem very stable right now and is just like what happening next oui.

[bluefete]

Just call his blasted name and let him sue.

[hover11]

Lemme give you a huge hint....... the MP is very young yet he stated will not continue politics. Dizzy called him a genuine guy just this week. Anybody could tell me why leonce have records showing he was the owner of a company in the UK, I just asking

Sent from my SM-N986U1 using TriniTuner mobile app

[bluefete]

Might be enough breadcrumbs here to figure out who this could be. But idk.

Some real strange things happening in this country of late. From the SoE to the pastor SSA coup ploy and the SSA attorney getting gun down in the street and the UK gangs/asylum/visa clamp down and the sudden resignation by the pm and the arrest of the commissioner or polices. Country doesn't seem very stable right now and is just like what happening next oui.

There is a big heaviness lying over the country right now.

[bluefete]

Lemme give you a huge hint....... the MP is very young yet he stated will not continue politics. Dizzy called him a genuine guy just this week. Anybody could tell me why leonce have records showing he was the owner of a company in the UK, I just askingFB_IMG_1742749406868.jpg

Sent from my SM-N986U1 using TriniTuner mobile app

Ent he just get a big minister wuk from Stuartie? Minister of housing or some such?

[paid_influencer]

good question hovee

[hover11]

Lemme give you a huge hint....... the MP is very young yet he stated will not continue politics. Dizzy called him a genuine guy just this week. Anybody could tell me why leonce have records showing he was the owner of a company in the UK, I just askingFB_IMG_1742749406868.jpg

Sent from my SM-N986U1 using TriniTuner mobile app

Ent he just get a big minister wuk from Stuartie? Minister of housing or some such?

Remember all that was a charade them fellas know how to pappyshow the public

Sent from my SM-N986U1 using TriniTuner mobile app

[The_Honourable]

Leonce!?

No wonder he was twisting and turning back in december if to go back as MP or not. He said "personal family issues" but apparently he knew this file was going to buss. Constituency execs begged him to stay and he did... now this...

But low key i thought it was Foster

[pugboy]

must be why they locking up plenty sixxx st paul street gangsters but a disproportionate few 7

[Dizzy28]

Lemme give you a huge hint....... the MP is very young yet he stated will not continue politics. Dizzy called him a genuine guy just this week. Anybody could tell me why leonce have records showing he was the owner of a company in the UK, I just asking

FB_IMG_1742749406868.jpg

Sent from my SM-N986U1 using TriniTuner mobile app

Well this is awkward!!!

[16 cycles]

Gangsters embedded into that party?

Burks/Marlene...now this...

[hover11]

When the UK government did their investigation I'm sure they discovered all this and realized that the government officials are in bed with criminals. I'm pretty sure they saw how corrupt this country was and decided it wasn't in their best interests to have no restrictions in place. Explains why the Government had such a nonchalant approach to this whole situation

Sent from my SM-N986U1 using TriniTuner mobile app