Hours after Drugs Sou Sou founder Kerron Clarke announced that his company’s operations would be placed on “indefinite hold”, La Horquetta residents were yesterday expressing disappointment and anger.
When the Sunday Express visited the community, the previously boisterous residents of Phase One shied away from commenting directly to reporters.
Those who did, spoke on condition of anonymity, explaining that they were worried, angry and upset about the DSS decision. Anger was directed not just at Clarke, but also at the Police Service.
“People would have put in money, the little money they have in times like this, expecting a return. They would have taken that sacrifice with the hope of getting more.
“Now it seems like they won’t even be able to get back the money they put in because the police take it all? How is that fair? (Police) seize everybody money looking for a few people? That is failure thing. The Police Service failing us,” one man told the Sunday Express.
Another who gave his name only as Ryan, said while he was upset that he wasn’t getting his hand (payout) from DSS anytime soon, it would not deter him from investing in other sou sou groups.
“The State never want to see poor people succeed so when things like this happen, it’s all part of the system. Since the first time SORT came down, I came to peace with the fact men might not get their money when the police come back…So I came to terms with this loss from since then. It still hard and I still want my money. But what are we going to do?”
In a four-minute video posted to social media late Friday night, Clarke confirmed that operations at DSS were on hold as a result of a court order on Thursday which allows investigators to keep the estimated $7.77 million seized from DSS two days earlier, until the completion of the investigation.
“With all our records, electronics, receipts, and close to $8 million of your money, the people of Trinidad and Tobago, and members of DSS (being seized)…we are at a standstill. Temporarily, until this whole situation rectifies,” Clarke said.
The operations at the Tobago-branch of DSS have also been affected.
This was not only due to the money seized, but also because police had seized the records and receipts for the company, which were used to keep track of the funds received and “hands” (payouts) given to members, he said.
Bank account closed
Clarke also claimed on Friday he received a phone call from banking group JMMB indicating that his business at the institution would no longer be facilitated.
“I would have received a phone call from the bank and issued a letter and a manager’s cheque for whatever sum I may have had in my personal business account and been instructed to take my business elsewhere,” Clarke said.
Asked for a response, JMMB Group stated only that it “stands powerfully to ensure that integrity, ethical and regulatory standards govern the management of all relationships with our clients.
“We are clear too, that our management of our banking/financial services must be an indicator of our accountability and obligation to protecting the interests of all our clients and stakeholders. At JMMB, your best interest is at the heart of all we do,” the bank said.
Clarke told the Express on Wednesday that he was working with his legal team to rectify the situation and hopefully have operations back up and running soon.
He also claimed a GoFundMe campaign launched Thursday morning to help raise funds for the legal fees had been “flagged” by an unknown individual which resulted in it being taken down.
The campaign was created on www.gofundme.com, a website which facilitates crowd funding online.
Clarke has said he felt targeted as a result of the investigations by the Police Service, and what he felt was the public manner in which it was being conducted. At the time, he said he felt as though he was being made a scapegoat as he had been raided four times by police over five weeks.
The latest raid took place on Tuesday when more than $7 million was seized under the Proceeds of Crimes Act.
DSS is under investigation by senior arms of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS).
Police Commissioner Gary Griffith cut his vacation short and returned to Trinidad on Thursday to oversee the investigation.
Two officers from the Royal Barbados Police Force are in the country to aid with the investigation. They have been sworn into the TTPS to the ranks of sergeant and superintendent.
A third investigator, from the United Kingdom, arrived last weekend.
The matter involves the seizure of $22 million in cash which had been found in the house at Kathleen Warner Drive in La Horquetta where DSS operates out of on September 22.
The money was returned the following day.
An investigation was launched into that and on October 16, four police officers were suspended and another 11 transferred under orders from Griffith. See Page 8
