Revellers intent on drinking and driving this Carnival should be prepared to jump up behind bars. This was the warning yesterday from National Security Minister Gary Griffith, who said there would be no compromise by the police. Eighty-seven more police officers have been trained to do breathalyser tests nationwide during the Carnival season. They completed the stipulated five-day breath-alcohol testing, training and evaluation to be certified in breathalyser testing.
There are close to 300 police officers trained to do breathalyser testing, said SRP Brent Batson, co-ordinator of the Police Service’s road safety project. Griffith said the fact that it was Carnival was not a reason for people to drink and drive. “It is not negotiable. Officers will not turn a blind eye. Carnival or no Carnival, there will be no excuses for drinking and driving and breaking the law in general.
“Why should the police be flexible in performing their duties just because it is Carnival? Officers will take a zero-tolerance approach and those who have no intention of listening will certainly pay the consequences,” Griffith added. He said for every Carnival event the police had specific operational plans which were intelligence-driven and also took risks into consideration. “The Police Service have been working closely with the Defence Force and so far we have had no eventualities,” Griffith added.
He said there would also a be strong visible presence of uniformed and plainclothes officers on the roads supported by officers of the Licensing Division. “The intention is to remind partygoers to always be mindful of traffic laws and act responsibly by practising road safety during this hectic period of non-stop Carnival events,” Griffith urged.
CoP: police out in full force
Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams, who was in full support of recruiting more officers for breathalyser testing, said in a telephone interview yesterday police would be out in full force everywhere. “There will be no concentration of officers in Port-of-Spain only. Those who want to drink and drive should be wary, because officers will indeed be all over the country,” Williams said.
He echoed Griffith’s sentiment that the Carnival period was an opportune time to increase the manpower to train police in breathalyser testing. Saying that far too often innocent people have been killed on the roads, the acting top cop added, “What is happening is, we are continuing to increase the number of officers who are trained as technicians to facilitate breath testing.
“We continue to advise people don’t drink, (or) get a designated driver, because people who are not drinking alcohol are getting killed by people who are drinking alcohol and driving. We are protecting innocent people,” Williams said. Saying there was a comprehensive Carnival plan in place Williams added, “This year’s Carnival will be better than last year.”