Police officers chased participants in a planned walk for peace on Piccadilly Street, Port of Spain, yesterday, ordering them to “go home” as law enforcement accompanied an unauthorised Peace Foundation TT event aimed at ending gang violence.
Officers arrested a woman after an argument erupted between police and her. She was heard saying she was looking for her sister and shouting, “I am not rioting.”
A man standing nearby was heard saying: “Leave she, nah…doh do she that.”
Two women police officers held the shouting woman against a car and handcuffed her.
Police did not say last night if she would be charged.
Two men suspected of robbery were also arrested after police observed them standing near where the marchers assembled, police told the Express last evening.
Participants of the Peace Foundation TT initiative had earlier gathered on Piccadilly Street dressed in white for what they described as a peace walk against violence.
Police guidance: Police officers instruct a group of men to go home during yesterday’s unauthorised Peace Foundation TT event at Piccadilly Street, Port of Spain, aimed at promoting peace and ending gun violence. —Photo: CURTIS CHASE
However, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) said no application had been made for the walk under the current state of emergency regulations.
One of the members of the organising team, Lynelle Gaskin of St Paul Street, said the purpose of the event was to bring communities together to promote peace and unity.
She cited the recent killings of two children in Belmont and Morvant in separate incidents.
The Express spoke with Gaskin after 3 p.m. She believed some participants were staying away because of the heavy police presence in the area.
“I feel it is just how the officers are around that they are not coming around as yet,” she said, adding that she remained hopeful more participants would turn out.
She said the community was fed-up and wanted unity and love among different areas.
She also raised concerns about officers “sending back people” who came out to march.
A number of police officers and Defence Force soldiers were deployed ahead of the peace walk shortly before its scheduled 3 p.m. start.
Activist and businessman Fuad Abu Bakr, who attended as a participant, said he saw a flyer advertising the event and decided to support the initiative.
“I believe in it 110%. I thought it was essential for me as a citizen, as someone who is very familiar with this community as well, to come and try to be a part of an initiative as such. That is what this is supposed to be about,” he said.
Asked about the heavy police presence, Abu Bakr said officers had conducted themselves respectfully.
Alexander: People looking for peace
Meanwhile, organiser Kendal Lewis told the Express by phone that he believed the walk was a success.
“We got about 60% of what we wanted to get done,” he said.
Lewis estimated that about 200 participants took part.
“We went through the back of Mango Rose community, then we ended up in the Duncan Street community and then St Paul Street,” he said.
He added that when participants went to Piccadilly Street, they were told by police to leave the area.
Lewis said Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander was present and spoke with members of the community.
Contacted for comment, Alexander confirmed he attended and spoke with a number of community members. He rejected suggestions that the police presence was excessive, saying there was a proper process for organising such events.
“We, as a Government, we’re not interested in gangs and having no conversation about gangs. I am willing to have a conversation with law-abiding citizens who have seen enough bloodshed and the lives lost of people, both old and young, including of children, on the nation’s streets to crime and violence that has no meaningful meaning at all,” he said.
The minister added: “If they are willing to, if they are in fact citizens who are willing to make that change and cause a positive impact in the lives of Trinidadians, we will sit with them and have a conversation.”
Also speaking with reporters yesterday, Snr Superintendent Raymond Thom said police had responded to manage the situation. He reiterated that no application had been submitted for the event.
“We have to prepare to protect the public. We have no idea about the magnitude, or how large the crowd would be, the number of persons that will be gathering and exactly what is the intent,” he said.
Thom stressed that police supported efforts to promote peace among all factions.
He also rejected suggestions by some demonstrators that the police response was overkill. “Everyone here, there are other things we could be doing, from crime-fighting initiatives to reduce crime. But because of the unlawful action, that is why we need to direct resources to be here,” Thom said.
