“Crime affects everyone.” That’s a pretty common cliche. Today though, people across Trinidad and Tobago are outraged over the gruesome and untimely murder of a 20-year-old female bank employee, whose body was found in the warehouse of a popular store, IAM and Company, along Charlotte Street in the capital city, Port-Of-Spain on Thursday. From artistes to bankers, reporters, janitors, radio personalities, talk show hosts and the man on the street, the name of Shannon Banfield is being spoken of and the common refrain is, “this has got to stop.”

Bunji Garlin, like others including MXPrime and various radio personalities, wore black in solidarity today.

In a social media post today, entertainer, Bunji Garlin said, “We all have to share in this pain because we are all going to be affected by this, one way or the next. Now that we have all worn our black, the question comes, WHAT NEXT?”

Bunji, a native of East Trinidad where places like Maloney and D’abadie has, in recent days, felt an intensified crime scourge, said:

“We all have to think about what the texture of society will be like as the responsibility is on us to make it better or worse for our lineage to come.”

The ‘Differentology’ singer went on to engage his fans saying, “Prayer without action is fruitless, faith without works is dead. The Lord will help those who help themselves. We are at a critical point as a people because the ironic thing is victory, peace even love is not achieved without pain, loss or even wars. I often want to believe otherwise but it was written in time itself to be that way. It is very, very sad that we have come to this point and it is because we failed miserably as a people when the events were on a smaller scale. Now we’re all ready to scamper for our lives.”

Other people in the music and entertainment business in Trinidad have also worn black in solidarity with the common sentiment that something has got to be done. Today, EBUZZTT.COM spotted MX Prime and Kevin Baker- radio personalities at Boomchampions 94.1FM, wearing black clothing, standing against the injustices taking place in the land of their birth.

Radio personality, Chinee

On the airwaves, on urban frequency RED 96,7FM, popular personality Chinee questioned what is really taking place in the land, pointing out that the country’s women and children are being slaughtered. His DJ complimented his sentiments, playing Reggae music that spoke to the times presently facing the country. In Jamaica, artistes like Tarrus Riley and others have banded together, calling on citizens to strive for a Crime Free Christmas. Many in Trinidad and Tobago feel like the crime situation in the land will soon equate to the numbers being recorded annually in Jamaica- an island that has seen murders in excess of 1000, committed yearly.

Slaughter is praying for brighter days in Trinidad and Tobago.

Yesterday, Xcaliber Sound head honcho, Derek “Slaughter” Pereira penned a prayer for the bloodshed to stop. Just weeks ago, his uncle and cousin were shot dead in an attack in D’Abadie. He proceeded to share his feelings on social media.

In light of this period of mourning and contemplation over the future of Trinidad and Tobago, EBUZZTT.COM stands in solidarity with the many people who have lost family members, friends and loved ones to crime, not only in Trinidad and Tobago, but in the Caribbean and across the world. We say it is indeed time to stand up against CRIME and take back our world- a beautiful place created for all of us to live and love, with purpose.