In the wake of five recent gun-related deaths that shook the small community of Sennon Village in Trinidad and Tobago, nearly 300 residents and cross-regional supporters gathered on Friday evening for a unified public demonstration against rising violent crime. Dressed all in white, a symbol of collective hope for peace, and carrying glowing candles, participants joined the Walk for Peace and candlelight vigil—an event organized collaboratively by local community leaders, concerned residents and law enforcement, all working toward the shared goal of reviving the quiet, safe way of life the village once knew.
The intergenerational procession stretched through Sennon Village’s main streets, accompanied by rhythmic live music from a mobile sound truck and traditional African drumming. A large contingent of police officers, ranging from junior patrol officers to senior command staff, accompanied the march, managing traffic flow and maintaining public safety throughout the event.
Christopher Henry, chairman of the Sennon Village Movement and one of the event’s lead organizers, explained that the recent outbreak of violence has left the entire community reeling from grief and fear. Henry, a former resident of the area, emphasized that the wave of bloodshed was driven by the actions of a tiny faction of people, and does not reflect the values of the broader community. He traced the root of the rising violence to deep-rooted social issues: an erosion of shared community moral values, a breakdown of longstanding village camaraderie, and a critical lack of safe, constructive social outlets for local youth. These gaps, he argued, have left young people vulnerable to recruitment by gangs and other negative outside influences, pushing many into harmful, anti-social activity.
Following the recent string of killings and smaller crimes in both Sennon Village and neighboring Quinam Road Village, the Sennon Village Movement partnered with the Quinam Road Village Council to plan the demonstration. The event came to life with additional support from the Siparia Deltones Steel Orchestra, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, the Siparia Regional Corporation, and multiple other local community groups.
Speaking to the crowd gathered at the walk’s starting point at the Siparia Deltones panyard on Railway Road, Henry noted that the massive turnout itself sent a powerful message: the violent agenda of a few does not speak for the community as a whole. “We will be walking in peace and sending a message not only to our community, but to the wider nation of Trinidad and Tobago,” he told attendees. “Violence and crime do not affect Siparia only; it affects all areas of our country. We are standing in the gap today as strong men and women in our community to send a message to those who want to disrupt us and change the narrative of what community love and strength is about. We will not tolerate that.”
The march brought together a diverse cross-section of local society: young musicians from the Siparia Deltones Steel Orchestra, multi-generational families, middle-aged residents and elderly community members from Siparia and surrounding towns. Notable attendees included former Olympian quarter-miler Ian Morris, a lifelong Siparia resident, members of the Siparia Rhythm Section, and the entire Hunters Search and Rescue Team led by Vallence Rambharat.
For lifelong Siparia resident Joel Bikhoo, the event carried extra personal meaning: it fell exactly on his 24th wedding anniversary. Joined by his wife and their two daughters, Bikhoo explained that his family intentionally chose to mark their special occasion by participating in an initiative that would benefit the community they call home. “We chose to spend this special day doing this for my Siparia community and its young people,” he said. “I was born and raised here, and I want to see peace return to my village.”
Assistant Superintendent Joel Forbes, a senior officer assigned to the local police division, praised the community-led anti-crime initiative and applauded residents for taking a public, unified stand against violence. Forbes called for a collective commitment to restoring law and order, urging local residents to partner closely with police to stop further bloodshed and rebuild the village’s long-held reputation as a quiet, peaceful place.
“I love the turnout we have here today, rank and file and a cross-section of society in this community,” Forbes said. “We are sending a message that we are right-thinking in this community and not permitting anyone to hold this community to ransom, to do what they feel and change what we consider to be good. We are here to stamp our authority. Sennon Village and environs should be ‘no-crime’ zones, beautiful and loving communities which I love. I sense the love in this community, and I do not want anything negative to take hold in this place.”
Pennelope Beckles, political leader of the People’s National Movement and Leader of the Opposition, also attended the event to offer her support to the community and to families that had lost loved ones to recent violence. Beckles noted that the national state of emergency aimed at curbing crime is set to end next month, and said she and her party remain deeply concerned about the country’s ongoing crime crisis. She added that the PNM is committed to supporting government-led anti-crime initiatives that align with public safety goals, and emphasized that events like the peace walk play a critical role in raising public awareness, fostering cross-community collaboration, and rebuilding unity and positive social cohesion across the country.