tidings
Elizabeth Gonzales
Tobago police are keeping a close eye on repeat offenders during the island’s inaugural Carnival celebrations, which officially began on Friday and ends on Sunday.
At a joint press conference hosted by Snr Supt Junior Benjamin of Tobago, Snr Supt Oswain Subero of the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) and Acting Snr Supt Earl Elie, Head, Warden and Emergency Branch, at Shirvan Police Station on Friday afternoon, officers vowed to do everything in their power to keep the festivities incident-free.
Over the past two weeks, a team of officers from the Mounted branch, the IATF, the watch and emergency branch and the air support unit were stationed in Tobago to help increase patrols and other police operations.
Benjamin said, “We will be looking at our priority offenders. Anyone involved in firearms, robbery, drug, theft offences, we are targeting these individuals and looking for and ensuring that safety and security must be a priority in Tobago.
“We’re having a J’Ouvert celebration, people will see that the police will be out doing exercises, checking vehicles and people coming in, because we want you to know that you can feel safe going and coming.”
He encouraged all visitors to contact any police officer or visit any police station for assistance.
“We are asking you to stay in groups and if you have any problems contact any police station – we are here to increase public safety.”
Benjamin said there are areas where policing needs to improve, even though the island has a high detection and resolution rate.
“We understand that murders have escalated; where we have nine murders, five of which have been solved. Our detection rate is almost 55 percent, which means one in every two murders is solved.
“This is one of the highest of all the divisions.”
He said four of the nine murders occurred as a result of fights, two from domestic violence, one gang-related and two occurred after robberies.
