THE murder of a beloved mother figure in the Enterprise community caused shock and outrage yesterday, with the victim’s family and neighbours calling for relief from violent crime.
Bibi Zameela Swamber, also known as Zorina, was found dead in her living room around 3 p.m. yesterday, with hands tied and a towel wrapped around her neck.
The 68-year-old businesswoman was also bleeding from multiple injuries.
Crime scene investigators outside Swamber’s Inn, at the corner of Dass Trace and the Old Southern Main Road Enterprise, yesterday where the owner Bibi Zameela Swamber’s body was found.
Photo: ISHMAEL SALANDY
Swamber was found by an employee in her living room on the second floor of Swamber’s Inn, at the corner of Dass Trace and the Old Southern Main Road. She hadn’t been seen earlier yesterday.
Swamber was the owner of the establishment, a three-storey structure which houses tenants on the top floor and a bar on the ground level.
She lived on the second floor which was found ransacked.
Cash and valuables were reported missing by relatives.
The murdered woman’s daughter, who did not want to be named, spoke briefly to the Express and stated that she was “in shock”.
Swamber, who was widowed five years ago, was not known to have any enemies, relatives said, and lived a quiet life.
On Monday, Jouvert celebrations were held in a neighbouring parking lot owned by Swamber, with the party going on until afternoon.
A neighbour who took part in the celebrations stated:
“That is strange. People were liming until about 2 a.m., there were limers all around here and a lot of people who we know. We can only assume that the criminals were around and waited until everyone went home,” he said.
Other people said they were shocked about Swamber’s murder as residents on that block were very vigilant against crime.
“We’ve lost
a mother”
Several of Swamber’s neighbour’s cried outside the scene of the crime, saying they had lost a mother figure and “very kind woman”.
One neighbour recalled that Swamber “never forgot my birthday” and had been supportive through difficult times.
People described her as caring, and a philanthropist who assisted many families in need.
“This is not something we are used to in this community, no matter what people hear about Enterprise,” one tearful woman stated.
“The people on the main road look out for one another. This is very shocking because we keep a close eye out for each other.”
Another neighbour added:
“What are people working for? You are working hard your whole life and this is what is happening to you.”
One man called on the authorities to “get murders under control” as he lamented that “life has no value again in Trinidad”.
“This didn’t have to happen, we have to get a handle on these murders. They didn’t have to kill her. Why kill an older woman?” he asked.
