Tobago Correspondent
Bethel residents and business owners are not pleased with Tobago’s inclusion in the Special Operations Bill, which was recently passed in the House of Representatives.
They argue their livelihoods could be threatened, as the economic fallout caused by possible curfews and heavy police presence would be disastrous.
The bill identifies Tobago among seven districts, with each managed by a senior police officer.
Authorities can designate communities within any district as “closed areas” with curfews, warrantless searches and permits to transit among the stringent measures.
Speaking to Guardian Media on Saturday, Cynthia Stephen, a supermarket owner near the Bethel junction, said the area was known in the past for violent clashes. However, she said the area has not seen such altercations for a long while.
“This area right now is not a bad area. Long time, them fellas fighting and all of that — but that done. We get unity around here these days,” she said.
Stephen said there was no need for police special operations as it would only hinder commercial activity.
“If they only have police around here, my business wouldn’t go nowhere. It’s the same fellas who lime on the road I does get my sales from. I wouldn’t like to see that happen.
“It would be worse than (the State of Emergency) because it go be every minute you would be seeing police, and as long as police coming here every minute the road go be dead, and it will affect us who doing a little business.”
However, she said she has complete faith in law enforcement and hopes they continue to make their regular patrols.
Another resident, who wished to be identified solely as Junior, said he welcomed the initiative, but warned police victimisation is a possibility.
“Is the man in the low class does feel the pressure,” he said.
“Let them come out and do what they have to do. In them kinda things, some unjust things does be happening. Yuh does get that, it’s reality we dealing with.”
Resident Leslie Alfred said police have done an excellent job maintaining law and order in the area, and is confident they will continue.
“For the last few months is low crime rate and violence, not only in Bethel but in Trinidad and Tobago,” he said.
Area representative Darren Henry said Trinidad and Tobago Police Service data would inform which areas need to be designated as closed. However, he believes most members of the public feel more comfortable with an additional police presence in their vicinity.
While acknowledging an improvement in the Special Operations Bill compared to the previous Zone of Special Operations (ZOSO) Bill, Innovative Democratic Alliance (IDA) leader Dr Denise Tsoiafatt Angus said it still does not sufficiently address the consequences to Tobago’s tourism sector. She said hotels and guests would be severely inconvenienced if it falls near or in a closed area.
Asked if she agreed with Tobago West MP Joel Sampson that Chief Secretary Farley Augustine should be consulted prior to any community in Tobago being declared closed, the IDA head said there should have been conversations even before the island was included in the bill.
