Management of the Police’s Central Division is being strengthened via creation of an Assistant Commissioner of Police (Central) who will ensure the area receives “more focused attention” says National Security Minister Edmund Dillon.
Speaking in the Senate yesterday, Dillon explained,
“In this new arrangement, the Central Division receives more focused attention as it’s grouped with one other division. This is opposed to the original arrangement of (Central) being one of the three divisions forming Region South.”
Dillon was replying to questions from Opposition Senator Wade Mark who sought information on measures to address lack of resources being experienced by Central Division officers.
Apart from detailing resources, Dillon said attention has also been placed on strengthening Central Division’s managerial capacity. Previously, the division was supervised by a Senior Superintendent. The ACP (Central) portfolio will now be held by an executive ACP officer, overseeing the division.
Following recent upsurge of violence in Enterprise particularly, Dillon said additional resources have been assigned to bolster operational strength there.
He said soldiers and police from the Rapid Response Unit, Inter-Agency Task Force and Guard and Emergency Branch (GEB) have been deployed to increase law enforcement visibility and responsiveness in Enterprise. Increased foot and mobile patrols are also being conducted.
Dillon said officers at Central Division stations are “well equipped” with requisite protective gear including bullet proof vests, firearms, ammunition and vehicles.
“The human and material resources are deemed sufficient at this time to address the current challenges. Should circumstances change, immediate steps will be taken to address any identified shortfalls.”
Asked if resources would be long term, Dillon said, “As the situation determines..”
He couldn’t put a time frame on when tenders will be issued for the promised police station at Enterprise,”But it would be constructed in the shortest possible time.”
Mark asked if armoured personnel carriers would be purchased to protect officers from criminals’ sophisticated “firepower” being seen on social media.
Dillon said, “The Police Service is well equipped to deal with any eventuality presently.”
Mark grilled Trade Minister Paula Gopee- Scoon on how Government intends to convince business investors T&T is safe. Gopee- Scoon, who said T&T “is and always will be attractive” to investors, detailed incentives.
Gopee-Scoon said she couldn’t link any decline in Southern business with murders and didn’t believe Mark’s statements that Southern business people want to close on Saturdays due to crime. He noted Southern Business Association president Daphne Bartlette spoke of the issues recently. Gopee-Scoon said she was aware of Bartlette’s view but didn’t think it applied to all business groups.
