Some locations initially identified for Government’s 30 police posts are being reconsidered because law enforcement may not regard the original sites as strategically suitable, Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander has revealed.
Alexander said the initiative has been in development for more than a year, but explained that proposed locations can be shifted following assessments by law-enforcement officials.
The disclosure comes after Government completed the installation of a couple posts over the weekend, including the contentious one at the Eddie Hart Recreational Ground in Tacarigua, as part of its latest anti-crime strategy.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced that 30 mobile police posts would be deployed across T&T as part of that initiative.
However, the initiative has come under scrutiny from Opposition parties, which have called for transparency over how much is being spent on the posts and the procurement procedures used for the project.
Asked about those concerns yesterday, Alexander said, “We are also asking for the Opposition to be transparent with Balisier House.”
He said selecting the locations was not simply a matter of deciding that a particular community should receive a post.
“This has been a year and more in the making and we will go to an area, but it might not be an area that law enforcement see as a strategic one. So, we could reconsider that area and move lower down, or higher up, or higher intersection,” Alexander said.
“So, that is what we’re doing right now. We are looking at the area, but at the same time we want to get the facilities to make the officers comfortable as they protect citizens, because again, this is about public safety. That’s where the focus is.”
Asked further about the locations, Alexander confirmed adjustments were being made to some of those previously examined.
“Yeah, there are some areas that we have looked at, but others we are twisting or moving the goalposts somewhat, if you want to call it that. Anywhere you see the mobile booths already erected, that means that we are thinking about that location. We have already dealt with that location and we are moving forward.”
Work on the police posts at Tarouba, Eddie Hart Grounds and Grand Bazaar were completed over the weekend.
Alexander, however, would not disclose how many police officers or Defence Force personnel would be assigned to the individual posts. He said those decisions would involve Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro and Chief of Defence Staff Air Vice-Marshal Darryl Daniel.
“What I can tell you is this, yeah, I don’t want to, listen, that is a strategic arrangement and I wouldn’t want to give out such information to members of the public, but what I can tell you is this, both the Commissioner of Police and the Chief of Defence Staff, we will sit, we’ll have a conversation on how we intend to treat the amount of personnel that will be at any one location, at any one time.”
The question of staffing comes as Government prepares to increase manpower within the T&T Police Service, which is currently undertaking a recruitment exercise.
Alexander said another group of police officers is expected to become available next month.
“Next month a number of police officers will be coming out, I think it’s 233. We have the prison service going in, there are persons already started to train and next month another 250 is going in, so there are 250 by 250 and next year March is 300.”
Asked whether the rollout of the police posts was part of the Government’s security response as the State of Emergency approaches its end in September, Alexander did not give a direct answer.
“If the citizens behave in a manner that is consistent with good, proper, parenting, good and proper respect for persons, then we might not have to do it again,” he said.
