Commissioner of Police (CoP) Allister Guevarro is standing defiant in the face of death threats from the criminal elements directed at him and his family, insisting he will not allow “cowardly” acts of intimidation to deter him from hunting down the criminals.
Responding to questions relating to a reported threat that if the criminal elements were unable to get to him – they would instead go after his two daughters, Guevarro labelled the threats, “A cowardice act.”
The latest threat was received by a police constable via the 999 hotline at 9.27 pm on Saturday (July 11). It claimed: “Bosses and them want to come outside. It have too much f@##ing bosses inside and if they don’t come out, If we can’t get to him, we will get to his f@##ing children. We know he have a big daughter and a small daugh(ter).”
Referring specifically to the threats, Guevarro said, “That is cowardly. Come after me all you want.
“But to threaten me to leave the bosses or they will come after my daughters…I want them to know that Gopaul luck is not Seepaul luck.”
Guevarro, noting that he is not prepared to back down from doing what needs to be done, including putting people considered to be “untouchables” behind bars, also warned, “Same rain does fall on everyone’s roof.”
While he refrained from saying much else, the top cop reaffirmed his commitment to the job, repeating the oath he swore on the day he was installed as CoP.
Standing behind the CoP yesterday, ready to defend and carry out all lawful and legal instructions, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Richard Smith said the officers of the T&T Police Service (TTPS) would not be cowed or threatened into, “turning the other cheek by illegal entities intent on creating chaos and instilling fear in those who are fearlessly doing their job.”
Concerned and angered over the threats also aimed at Guevarro’s children, Smith also dismissed claims that a Preventive Detention Order (PDO) had been sought for a senior police official, who it was being claimed was corrupt and had close links to several underworld factions whose operations had been interrupted with the arrest of several of their agents/affiliates.
He said, “Claims that this officer had fled the country are erroneous.”
Smith accused certain people with “hidden agendas” of attempting to create mischief following claims that this officer was, in fact, the person responsible for issuing threats to Guevarro and his family.
“I can assure you that the commissioner will continue to do his job without fear or favour,” Smith said, adding that the executive of the TTPS was standing firmly behind Guevarro.
Meanwhile, Homeland Security Roger Alexander also confirmed that he was aware of the threats issued to the CoP and his family yesterday.
“The commissioner and I, we speak on a daily basis, just like in any other institution for which I’m the line minister,” Alexander said during an event he hosted for youths in his Tunapuna constituency.
“We spoke and what I can say is the information seems to be very credible. I have a lot of confidence in the Commissioner of Police. He knows what to do and what angle to take this.”
He added, “This is why I was telling persons before. What I was trying to explain to them is every time we get in Parliament and give the information as to the threats that are coming to ministers et cetera, people outside there are changing the game.
“So, if I say, ‘A threat is coming with a box in Parliament,’ are you still going to use a box?
“So, the information keeps coming, I have a lot of confidence in the Commissioner of Police and his team. He has my full support of his actions once it is within the framework of the law.”
