More than 24 hours after being reunited with his son who was abducted outside the family’s businessplace in St Augustine, William Samuel says he will not let him out of his sight again.
Samuel’s son Zaheer, 14, was snatched by gunmen and bundled into a car at around 5.30 am on December 18, outside S&S Plant and Garden Shop along the Eastern Main Road (EMR) while offloading plants from a truck.
Samuel was at the side of the building, and by the time he heard the commotion and came to investigate, the gunmen were already driving off with Zaheer.
Twelve hours later, Zaheer escaped from where he was being held in a hunter’s camp in the hills of Valencia after the gunmen left him blindfolded as they believed police were closing in on their location.
Zaheer then trekked through the forest for almost five hours to find any sign of civilisation and was reunited with his family at around 11 pm.
Speaking with Newsday on December 20, Samuel suggested although his son was safe, he would not take it for granted.
“I will keep my eye on him. If I have to stay home and watch him I will do that. If I have to carry him to school and drop him off and then pick him back up every day, I doing that too.
“You know how much pressure my wife went through to make that little boy?
"At 55 I was so proud to make a little boy. Now, after 15 years, you want to come and snatch my son?!”
Samuel added he intended to be more vigilant but said he hoped the police would also increase patrols along the EMR.
[caption id="attachment_1127823" align="alignnone" width="1024"] William Samuel, father of Zaheer Samuel,15, who was kidnapped on December 18, speaks with reporters at his plant shop on the Eastern Main Road in St Augustine on December 20. - Faith Ayoung[/caption]
The area has seen a rise in extortion this year.
Samuel said although he had never been a victim, more police would reduce the likelihood of businessmen being targeted by extortionists, kidnappers and bandits.
“We still have to protect ourselves and have our eye open. But at the time (the kidnapping took place), half past five in the morning, you expect police to be on patrol. This is the EMR.
“Half past five in the morning, four gunman pull up on the Eastern Main Road in St Augustine and not a police van around. You're supposed to have a patrol on the road because at that time people outside already. Everybody coming out to put out all their goods and open their business.
“What are we going to do and what is the government doing or will do for us? We had Minister Amery Brown come and he support us. He is a kind gentleman and we are thankful for that. But businessmen need more protection.”
Samuel said many businessmen have to fend off criminals while barely making ends meet
“Everybody feel you making money. Someone will drop plants, someone else will drop pots and another person will drop soil, and at the end of the week or fortnight, you have to pay these people.
[caption id="attachment_1127822" align="alignnone" width="1024"] William Samuel, fath
