COLLEAGUES at the respective workplaces of possible murder victims Dale and Jerome Ramsahai were up to late yesterday "hoping against hope" that they were still alive.

At the Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of Service Industries (TTCSI), where colleagues of Dale Ramsahai were "shocked", chief executive officer Nirad Tewarie called for those with the power to bring crime under control to get the job done.

Tewarie has offered condolences to the family in the event that the bodies found yesterday in Arima are positively identified as that of the Ramsahai cousins.

Dale Ramsahai was at work on Thursday where he participated "enthusiastically" in a strategic planning exercise.

"Dale was an extremely ambitious and hardworking young man who had sought out further education and international experience but wanted to come back to Trinidad and Tobago and do something meaningful here," Tewarie said.

He said individuals like Dale Ramsahai were the ones who will build the future of this country but this potential could be lost when people like Ramsahai are gone or afraid to settle here.

"If we continue to lose them or scare them away or allow them to be scared away the country will not ever achieve its full potential," Tewarie said.

"Crime is out of hand and it cannot be business as usual. We cannot continue to speak about it and do things the way we have been."

Tewarie said crime continues to be a mounting disincentive to local and foreign investors.

"It must be dealt with by those who have the authority to do it," he said.

At the Park and Pembroke Streets branch of Scotiabank, where Jerome Ramsahai held the position of business banking manager, his colleagues also awaited, with dread, confirmation that he was in fact dead.

"We are deeply saddened by the news that it may be him," said Cindy Mohammed, manager of public and corporate affairs.

Mohammed said the fact that Ramsahai did not show up for work yesterday had added to the fear that his may be one of the bodies to be identified.

"If we receive confirmation that it is him, we will put the necessary measures in place to lend support to his colleagues and to his family," Mohammed said.