- 1 year ago
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Parents, strongly caution, this program contains some material that is unsuitable for young
00:22children.
00:30Yeah.
00:32Mhm.
00:34Let's see if the
00:37yeah.
00:39Mhm.
00:41Mhm.
00:43Mhm.
00:45Mhm.
00:47Mhm.
00:49Mhm.
00:51Mhm.
00:53Mhm.
00:55Mhm.
00:57Mhm.
00:59Mhm.
01:00Beyond the tape. We'll be back after these messages.
01:04No, this is radical trading and them have everything to cover anything. Radical trading have the best fabric design for your poster in the furniture, car, boat and even material for school bag. This will look really nice on my coach boy. They even make him pillow to prank shots of forgetful money. Serious paper it for me. Me and my
01:29boy. I wonder radical getting to cover multi yet radical trading for locations nationwide. Make the right choice and I will see the optical get the beat single vision lenses with frames for 2 99 single vision lenses with transition and designer frames 8 99 and get your progressive transitions with designer frames for 14 99 at CV optical affordable eyewear for everyone at cruising hotel and yachting center. We're all about time. In fact, once you check in, there's no time to lose. Reconnect
01:59with a little family time. Make a splash with some pool time. Spend some treasured quality time or just immerse yourself in some quiet time. Indulge your senses at dinner time. We even have the perfect venue when it's your celebration time. So it's high time you visit cruising, choose our day pass or called 607 4000 to make your dinner or hotel reservations or to find out more about our events.
02:29Take a time out at cruising hotel and yachting center.
02:59Good evening, Trinidad and Tobago and wherever you may be viewing. I'm Mark Bassant, your host for Beyond the Tape. And certainly some very worrying images emerging over the last couple of weeks involving people posing with what resembles police uniforms involved in kidnappings and robberies and so on.
03:21And it has really escalated with the latest incident happening last night in Moruga involving a businessman who was apparently at his place locking up and so on a furniture place when he was greeted by a number of men allegedly dressed in what resembles police tactical uniforms where he was robbed and then he was taken from that workplace.
03:48You can see the top shutter furniture store and while there they robbed him of valuables and so on. And then from there they took Mr. Thomas, Terence Thomas to his home not far away where they tied him up in front of his children and his wife and so on who was also tied up and they robbed him of a quantity of money during the excepture.
04:12Now during the discourse of that of course he was talking to these men saying that they claimed that they had a warrant and they said you're speaking too much because he asked to see the warrant. And what also happened on the journey from his workplace to his home they said that they were taking him to the police station.
04:31Of course when they got to the junction he said the police station I believe was right they turned left and he was like the police station is right not left. So we have today with us joining us ACP for the criminal division Mr. Kurt Simon. Welcome sir.
04:47Thank you, thank you Mr. Bassant. Good afternoon to all the viewers and listeners on this program and even on the triple W's, the World Wide Web who will be tuning in. I am Kurt Simon, I'm the ACP Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the criminal division and these crimes, these types of crimes do tend to come directly into my domain so I'm here to respond to some of the concerns that exist right now in the country.
05:16And I know, how is the police dealing with this uptick? We're seeing a trend starting to emerge again. I know it's not new but it's becoming more frequent now. I know at the press conference on October 10th you said maybe the time has come to have a conversation on the changing of police uniforms to make it completely different to what the bandits may wear. Has that conversation started with the Commissioner of Police and if so how far has it reached?
05:45I have not been involved in any such conversation with the Commissioner of Police. What I did say is that the time is here for the conversation to start and I don't think that we'd be too far off from that. It may or may not be that the TTPS may embark upon a total outfit change or just make some adjustments in that area but it's futuristic.
06:12It's left to be seen how we deal with that aspect. There are plans afoot. There are things that we are discussing. It relates a lot of administrative stuff really in terms of procurement and the amount of dealers that we use and so on. But generally I'm saying that the conversation now presents itself in my view.
06:37I know you had also said at the press conference that while some clothing found resembles actual police uniforms, they are quite different. Do you believe that rogue police officers are renting out their uniforms to criminals and even along with their guns and strobe lights?
06:56Mr Bassanta, you are aware that we do have some elements within the TTPS who I have described as rogue and even vagabond. It's really a term used out of the summary offences. It's not an invented term for persons who tend to crave to watch delinquency.
07:17In terms of uniforms being rented out and so on, there were one or two investigations, not in a great abundance, where we suspected that that sort of behavior was being committed. We have our investigative machinery which we unleash every time we hear that our equipment, our resources are used in the furtherance of crime. This of course is no exception.
07:48If you can walk us through, I guess, what are some of the measures you think can be taken to curb this type of criminal activity and accessibility? How easy is it for the normal man to get access to what looks like police tactical uniforms, camouflage uniforms, which is very similar to what the police and the army uses?
08:11Mr Bassanta, you know in this time where we can just go online and order equipment, we can order clothing, perhaps we can even walk into a store and purchase different types of clothing that may resemble what we use.
08:25There are a number of stores that sell tactical outfits, and that is why I'm glad that you are using the term carefully. Tactical outfits resembling police kit, and that is what it is, because there are tactical outfits that do tend to also resemble that of the Toronto Bagel Defense Force.
08:44So what the TTPS is doing, and even earlier today I had a conversation with someone at the Customs Department, and they too are making some adjustments to react and to respond to this.
08:57We do tend to work within the framework of the law, because we are law enforcement, and what exists in the law, we may tend to now offer some sort of recommendations for changes so that we can be more effective in dealing with the presence of this type of way that the police and perhaps other military outfits in the country would be using.
09:24I would like to really describe the look that I am seeing on social media and perhaps what ventured into this traditional media realm as that of very militant looking.
09:35Yes, we would describe it as resembling that of police wear, but if you look at it you would see persons wearing cargo pants, whether it be black, green, blue, any dark color pants.
09:47Some may wear boots, some may wear sneakers with it.
09:50Some tend to wear, a lot I'm seeing wearing jerseys.
09:53The Toronto Bagel Police Service, we do not have jerseys as any item of kit, but we have perhaps plain clothes for officers who would use different clothing when they are working.
10:06I think that persons might have observed us over time and tried to look as similar as we do when we are in our operative and operational mood, and that too the TTPS would be looking at in terms of how we present ourselves in our operational games.
10:26So I guess there must be a tightening up, as you say, with these things coming into the country because obviously if there are certain service providers that you will deal with, but then you see an individual ordering 15 tactical uniforms that doesn't even have a company, but it comes in and gets onto the streets because this is a normal man.
10:48So I think that is extremely important going forward, how customs and by extension working with you all to deal with that aspect of it because it is becoming a more serious problem and we are seeing it where men now are pretending to be police officers wearing what resembles police tactical wear and army wear as well.
11:13And for the normal citizens sometimes in the dark, you see the police with the velcro in their pocket and then the backpack police. So it's very easy to duplicate, yes?
11:25Yes, it is. And the police commissioner, the commissioner of police, she has sent out an order that police officers wear only those kit items that are in our patrol orders.
11:37So we have our patrol orders, you would know them, they're very familiar, gray and blue. Then of course we have the whites and of course we have the operational way and that is the one that a lot of people are clamoring toward, using what resembles the operational way, which is a dark blue jacket and cargo pants.
11:59And you find that that type of clothing is very, very easy to get. And that is why I'm saying that the conversation must be near in changing out of whole kit so that if persons are wearing military apparel that they are easy to discern as different from what the Trinidad and Tobago police service or even the defense force is using.
12:24We're certainly going to be carrying on this conversation a little bit later on, but we're going to go take a look at our headlines.
13:24Some of the headlines making the newspaper today, of course, one of the incidents that fresh.
13:54Deals with a business man, Terrence Thomas, who apparently last night was at his business place and the conversation we've been having with ACP Simon about tactical uniforms and this is a business place in case you're not joining us where Mr.
14:12Thomas was last night around nine o'clock when men dressed in what looks like police tactical uniforms entered his premises, ordered him to relieve, well, basically they ransacked the place and they went and stole a number of valuables and so on.
14:30And then they would have later taken him to his home there. You're seeing a image of Mr. Thomas there with his family. Very distraught, of course, very traumatized. Thankfully, they were, for the most part, unharmed, maybe traumatized, of course, by this event. And Mr. Simon, certainly this is something that you would never want to see any family go through.
14:55Certainly not. And, you know, the TTPS, we do feel the trauma that our citizenry are experiencing right now in this type of, in this situation, this volatile crime situation, especially where persons are coming into your immediate private domain, your home, and disrupting your activities.
15:17We do have a plan in place in treating with home invasions. We do have a plan in place in treating with the look that persons are taking on to perhaps physically resemble law enforcement.
15:30And, you know, you have ACP Smith, who is also heading up a certain section that would assist greatly in that area. While it deals with extortion, it tends to lend itself also into these home invasions.
15:46And so it tends to be, you know, there's some connectivity with the persons who seem to be perpetrating these types of crimes. And, of course, with our plans, where we use high intelligence gathering methods, you know, we do intend to have some success.
16:05Recently, we had some success. We had arrested nine persons, and they are still in custody. But that doesn't seem to be enough, because it seems as though a number of individuals in Trinidad and Tobago are looking to this type of activity for their own employment.
16:24And perhaps it's really skating into our social issue also. And some of our policies do lend itself to have collaborations with different government agencies. In terms of the Ministry of Social Development and all of these areas, the Ministry of Education, we do tend to work closely because we realize that there is some sort of connectivity, some sort of relationship between who is committing crime and perhaps their socioeconomic status.
16:54Certainly, it's a conversation we're going to be talking about as we go along in this program. But we're going to take a quick break. We'll be back. Stay with us.
17:24Introducing Master Astrologer Jaidev Paduval. He can solve any problem within days. Removal of evil spirits, negative energy, jealousy, witchcraft, and much more. Specialist in bringing back your loved ones. He has solutions for problems with family and friends. He can solve any problem within days.
17:45Removal of evil spirits, negative energy, jealousy, witchcraft, and much more. Specialist in bringing back your loved ones. He has solutions for problems with family, children, money, job, sexual problems, and personal problems. 100% guaranteed results. Expert Astrologer Jaidev Paduval. Call 377-2146 or visit at any location in Trinidad and Tobago.
18:09Worksite Tools, professional high-quality tools at great prices can be found at Mega Traders Home Improvement Center. Worksite Tools uses high-quality materials and advanced technology to manufacture power tools. From cordless drills, impact drivers, saws, routers, to angle grinders, rotary hammer drills, circular saws, jigsaws. Visit us at Mega Traders Limited, No. 81, Sapparo Street, San Fernando. Call 652-4438. Shop online at www.ebuystt.com.
18:39The Trinidad Express Newspapers is making changes to enhance the reader experience. Our back page will now carry the second biggest story of the day, making the inside back just one turn away from the No. 2 most viewed spot in the newspaper. With your message here, you get more visibility, more awareness, more impact, and more results. So don't wait. Take advantage of our special introductory rate and get in the back of the Trinidad Express Newspapers.
19:09Welcome back to Beyond the Tape. I'm your host, Marc Bessant, of course, joined today by ACP Kurt Simon, who's in charge of the Criminal Division. And we're going to be continuing our discussion, of course, about the use of what appears to be tactical police uniforms and so on, being used by robbers and kidnappers and so on.
19:37We want to take a look at a video. We are not certain where in Trinidad and Tobago this occurred, but it seems to have been a home invasion that occurred sometime in the last couple of days.
20:07I'm going to shoot him. Come on. Come on. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill
20:37him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going
20:44to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going
20:51to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going
20:58to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going
21:07to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going
21:14to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going
21:21to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going
21:28to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going
21:35to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going
21:42to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going
21:49to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going
21:56to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going
22:03to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going
22:10to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going
22:17to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going
22:24to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going
22:31to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going
22:38to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going
22:45to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going
22:52to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going
22:59to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going
23:06to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going
23:13to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going
23:18to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going
23:23to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going
23:28to… Only recently, I was looking at what was happening in Martinique where persons
23:33are coming out in large numbers and more or less rebelling against what is happening in
23:38terms of high prices of food. In Peru, persons are coming out against the police and against
23:43the governmental institutions, against crime. In Trinidad here, our TTPS, we see what's
23:53We see what's going on, and we know the importance
23:57of coming out and making that extra push.
24:00You would hear the commissioner making the comments strictly,
24:04khaki must lead, khaki must lead.
24:05And we have our senior officers now coming out onto the roads,
24:09coming out into the streets, coming out with the patrols,
24:12and leading the way in how we do things
24:15so that we can bring back that sense of safety,
24:18that sense of security to our public.
24:21Our mandate is to bring safety and security to the citizenry.
24:25And by no way, the TTPS has raised this hand,
24:28has lifted up his hands, and has surrendered.
24:30The TTPS, if we see that we have embarked upon something
24:35that isn't working as quickly enough as we would want,
24:37we would revisit the drawing board, so to speak,
24:40and we would redo and come again,
24:44you know, and go after the criminals.
24:46We will be relentless in our pursuit
24:49to ensure safety and security in this country.
24:53We talk about, you know, redo and we come again,
24:56and I think in the newspapers today,
24:58a number of the criminologists were asking, you know,
25:01is there time for new violence reduction strategies?
25:04Is there time, is there no need for new clearer objectives,
25:11new clearer strategies, and is there some kind of timeline
25:15that the citizens can look forward to that kind of relief?
25:20Mark, you know, the situation didn't just arrive,
25:25it didn't just occur.
25:27So, and even getting rid of it would not be,
25:31would not happen that quickly as people would like to.
25:34So what we try to do is in the short term,
25:38to be as efficient, to be as effective,
25:40to be even as damaging as we can be to the perpetrators,
25:43so that we can have that pushback,
25:45but the long term, the long term is to ensure
25:48that the TTPS goes to a place where we are quite adaptable,
25:52where we can make the adjustments quickly,
25:55where we can focus on the different
25:57intelligence gathering tools,
25:59where we can focus on the training of our officers,
26:01that our officers come up to a much higher standard
26:04of effectiveness, where we can liaise with our communities
26:10and have these community engagements
26:11so that persons can know that we are there
26:13and can feel a part of solving the problem,
26:16where we can take our leaders from one place to the next,
26:22from one level to the next, so that they can motivate,
26:25not just themselves, but the charges under them,
26:27so that there'd be an all encompassing approach
26:31towards solving this problem.
26:33We have a problem, and the fact that we have recognized it,
26:38I think that is a plus in itself,
26:39and now is the different solutions,
26:42the different road paths, the different pathways
26:44to the solutions to these problems,
26:46and we have not given up as I have said.
26:48We're glad to hear that, of course,
26:49and I know a lot of people always talk about lip service,
26:52but they're not seeing the results,
26:54and of course, it's not an easy job, as you have just said.
26:58It involves a combination of factors.
27:01We do have a caller on the line.
27:03Caller, good evening.
27:05Good evening, Mr. Markosan, good evening, Mr. Simon,
27:10and congratulations to you on your recent elevation.
27:13You hear me good, right?
27:14Yes, we are.
27:15Yes, Simon, I saw recently, well, today,
27:19a post is going wrong, a video is going wrong
27:22with the breakdown of overtime payments
27:24for police officers across the TTPS,
27:26and I'm seeing a graph, a stock reduction
27:30in the amount of money allocated for the CID,
27:35criminal investigation, versus the patrol and the IATF
27:40and the GB units, 20-something million
27:43versus 2-point-something million,
27:45and I'm thinking that the resources could be,
27:48and I'm just showing it out to you to hear your side of it,
27:53could and should be focused more on detection,
27:59especially to bring up that number from two,
28:02so maybe 10 or 12 or more,
28:05because I don't think that we have patrols solving murder,
28:10and there's a small percentage of murders being committed
28:16and the apprehension, immediate shootout, and that kind of thing.
28:20So what is your take, basically,
28:22on upping the amount of money, for lack of better words,
28:26on the detective aspect and strengthening the detective,
28:30because I know that you came from a detective background,
28:33and pour the money into there and the resources,
28:35if you don't want to pour money,
28:37the resources and the techniques,
28:39versus to strengthen the strong arm of the GB and the IATF,
28:43patrols, patrols, patrols.
28:44What is your take on that, Mr. Simon?
28:46I listen up here.
28:48Thank you for your question, sir,
28:50and I do not affix any minimal role
28:55towards the patrol function,
28:58but yes, coming out from the investigative function,
29:01I believe that there is more that could be done,
29:03and more is being done to enhance the investigative function
29:07of the Toronto-Bagel Police Service,
29:09and it goes really hand-in-hand
29:11with scientific and technological developments
29:14within the service, and then, of course,
29:16the training of the officers to be able to deal
29:18with the advanced technology and science
29:21that we have to deal with,
29:22and of course, it will go a long way
29:24in helping in solving the problem.
29:26Detection, I have looked at it
29:28throughout perhaps different countries,
29:32and detection do play a role in crime reduction,
29:36and yes, the focus must be on investigations.
29:42There must be a deeper focus, I should say,
29:44on investigations to go along
29:46with what we do with the patrols.
29:47The patrols are that item, that element
29:51that brings that sort of relief,
29:53that sort of presence to the population,
29:55and we know that it reduces their fear with that presence,
29:58but the detection, of course, plays quite a similar role
30:03as it would remove persons off of the streets
30:06who are committing these offenses,
30:08so I agree with you, so that detection does
30:11and must play a significant role in crime reduction.
30:15Certainly, food for thought.
30:16Well, we're gonna take a short break,
30:18and we'll be back, stay with us.
30:20Take the right choice in eyewear at CV Optical.
30:22Get complete single vision lenses with frames for 2.99,
30:25single vision lenses with transition
30:26and designer frames 8.99,
30:28and get your progressive transitions
30:30with designer frames for 14.99.
30:32At CV Optical, affordable eyewear for everyone.
30:35Cheekly Show Limited, the Caribbean's largest manufacturers
30:37of plain and printed paper bags.
30:39Leaders in plastic bags, vermicelli,
30:41split piece powder, and grease-proof paper,
30:43ideal for doubles, french fries, and sandwiches.
30:46Supporting the world's largest and most popular
30:48French fries and sandwiches.
30:49Supplying stores nationwide.
30:50For quality products, trust Cheekly Show Limited.
30:52665-3336.
30:57Welcome to Holiday Inn Express.
30:59I'm just messing with you.
31:01Do enjoy your stay, sir.
31:03Thanks.
31:04You want some coffee?
31:08Can I have a cup of coffee?
31:10No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
31:13Perfect, ma'am.
31:18That's exactly what we need.
31:21Hi, your order is this way.
31:25Whatever you're here for, we're here for you.
31:28Stay smart at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites.
31:39Step into delight.
31:40Make the best choice for price, quality,
31:43and performance this Diwali.
31:44With new appliances for your home.
31:46Choose from our expanded range
31:48including new French door and side-by-side refrigerators,
31:50microwaves, ceramic cooktops with four or five burners,
31:53chest freezers, automatic washing machines, and much more.
31:57Enjoy the festival of light
31:58with new appliances for your home at an affordable price.
32:02Get the best range of appliances available nationwide.
32:05Welcome back to Beyond the Tape.
32:07I'm your host, Mark Bessant, of course,
32:09joined by ACP of the Criminal Division, Mr. Kurt Simon.
32:13Very intriguing topic we're talking about here.
32:15And I do believe we have a caller on the line.
32:17Caller, good evening.
32:20Hello, good night.
32:21G'day.
32:22Good evening, caller.
32:23Hi.
32:24Good evening.
32:25How are you?
32:25Good evening.
32:26Good evening.
32:27Good evening.
32:28How are you?
32:29Good evening.
32:30Good evening.
32:30Good evening.
32:31Good evening.
32:32Good evening.
32:33Good evening.
32:34Good evening.
32:35Hello?
32:36Yes?
32:37Good evening, caller.
32:38Hi, good evening.
32:39Good evening.
32:40You know, thank you all for your time.
32:43Couple different topics I would like,
32:45I really would like to address,
32:47but I'll keep it specific to the conversation of the night.
32:51The, once again, recent, but going on for some time,
32:56is you have persons dressed in police uniform,
33:01you know, operating police vehicles
33:03who are not official police officers.
33:06I'm sure that is a broad topic
33:08and a lot of investigation will take place.
33:10Now, I have no experience in Ministry of National Security.
33:14If I just had to add that, I guess,
33:16I would guess that, you know, the importance of this sector,
33:20the importance of these items,
33:22a lot of procedures, checks and balances would be in place.
33:25So, to the very best of your knowledge,
33:28to, could you even begin to shed a little bit
33:33on how could it be possible for these items
33:37to be obtained repeatedly from persons
33:40who are not police officers?
33:42Thanks for the time.
33:44For persons who are not police officers, sorry.
33:47I think, how do they get access
33:51to the clothing and the vehicles?
33:54And to marry that point, of course,
33:56I had a question that he called a kind of hedge denter.
34:00On October 8th, the TTPS had issued a statement
34:02that a raid was carried out in Mova
34:04and police officers found, among other things,
34:06they had two police operational jackets,
34:09one operational pants, a pair of black boots,
34:11three black hats, one police-issued bulletproof vest
34:14and strobe lights.
34:15Were these items, in any way, as far as you all know,
34:18traced back, issued by the TTPS?
34:21And that is the, so that is why we're going back
34:23to the whole thing about new kit
34:25that the police alone would have.
34:27Whilst we would describe perhaps the blue jacket
34:31as a police top, it is a top that could be gotten
34:35almost any way.
34:36People can even sew them.
34:39The things that are traceable in that
34:41would be the bulletproof vest.
34:44So we can trace that back to police heritage.
34:48The strobe lights, again, I was having a conversation
34:51with someone at the Customs today.
34:54And we need to have some sort of effective change
34:58to the law in strengthening Customs' ability
35:02to respond to that.
35:03But I wouldn't want to go too much in that
35:04as I would prefer Customs speak to it.
35:06But I was just inquiring today as to how we can partner.
35:10And that came about, that there is some challenges
35:15that we would need to get over.
35:17And I guess it's really via the law.
35:19We can work together as much as we can.
35:20These things can come in.
35:22And the law would really have to be put in place
35:25to deal with it.
35:26And that's a serious point you raise there
35:28because just about two weeks ago,
35:31I attended a senior superintendent's 70th birthday.
35:35I wouldn't call his name.
35:36And apparently, he told me, he's not retired,
35:40he's almost retired, sorry, he was brought back
35:43to help out with some back pain and so on.
35:44And he told me that he was driving on the highway
35:47heading east at night.
35:49And from very far away, he saw this flashing light.
35:54And they were driving in a kind of aggressive way.
35:57And from very far away, he pulled aside
35:59onto the shoulder thinking that,
36:02and they pulled aside and they said,
36:04one of your taillights not working and so on and so forth.
36:06But the manner in which they would have driven behind them
36:12and so on, of course, and it's dark.
36:14And anybody could put a strobe light
36:16on front of their dashboard and claim to be a police vehicle
36:19and stop you.
36:20And then that is where I think the fear now arises
36:23to people as to when they see a SUV
36:25with a blue strobe light, do they really stop?
36:28Or do they go to the nearest police station
36:31if they are not comfortable?
36:33Because you never know who might be sitting in that vehicle.
36:36You know, and we have started our conversation
36:38to have a perhaps a very standardized look
36:41with our unmarked vehicles and the lights.
36:44And that would be shared sometime in the near future,
36:48of course, with the public.
36:50So we are having a conversation,
36:51but remember, there'll be a procurement issue involved,
36:53there'll be a cost involved.
36:54But the conversation has started
36:57with having that standardized look with our lights
37:01and our unmarked vehicles in particular.
37:03All right, I want you to stick up in there.
37:05I do believe we have a caller on the line.
37:07Caller, good evening.
37:09Hello, good afternoon.
37:12Hello?
37:13Yes, good day.
37:14Good afternoon, we are hearing you, sir.
37:15Can you hear me?
37:16Yes, we are.
37:17Yeah, I just want to touch on two things.
37:20One, I have, a time ago I was having a conversation
37:25with someone who had belonged to the China Defense Force.
37:31But what happened is that they were telling me
37:34that these uniforms that the police and them
37:39and even the army, they could purchase that in any store.
37:43They have stores that they could purchase that in.
37:46So I don't know if you can look into that.
37:49And the, to Mr. Simon there,
37:54I want to ask you one thing.
37:55Is the PDPF looking at the officers
38:01and them who educate themselves so that,
38:04are looking at the troubles that the commissioner had
38:11last, this year, not last year.
38:14It's this year, but they give a one-year extension.
38:19So this would not, they would not go outside
38:23and look for a new commissioner.
38:25I'm just asking, is the PDPF looking at that?
38:32Well, in the PDPF, we have a skills bank
38:36and I had a look at the skills bank quite recently
38:40and I was very, very impressed at what it is I'm seeing
38:43in terms of the educational qualifications
38:47of our young upcoming cadre of officers.
38:49So I think that as far as education,
38:54as far as academic qualifications are concerned,
38:56the TTPS is in a very good standing in going forward.
39:01Hope that answers your question, sir.
39:03All right, great.
39:05We'll have more after this break, so stay with us.
39:14Before undergoing weight loss surgery,
39:17I faced challenges with high blood pressure and sleep apnea,
39:21affecting the quality of my life.
39:24Now, after undergoing weight loss surgery
39:26at the community hospital in Trinidad,
39:29my blood pressure is under control
39:32and I enjoy uninterrupted sleep, a better quality of life.
39:36Thank you to the weight loss surgery team.
39:39My wife can now embrace me with ease.
39:42Take your first step towards a healthier you
39:45at the Community Hospital of Seventh-Day Adventists
39:48in Trinidad.
39:50♪ The Community Hospital of Seventh-Day Adventists ♪
39:55Where good private healthcare is affordable.
40:00Make the right choice in eyewear at Seaview Optical.
40:02Get complete single vision lenses with frames for $299.
40:04Single vision lenses with transition
40:06and designer frames $899.
40:08And get your progressive transitions
40:10with designer frames for $1499.
40:12At Seaview Optical, affordable eyewear for everyone.
40:15Do you know how vulnerable we are to climate change
40:17as small islands?
40:19Darling, what is this about now?
40:21Well, small changes can make a big impact.
40:24Simple things like unplugging devices when not in use.
40:27Okay, I can do that.
40:29Keep the fridge closed and air dryer closed
40:33instead of using the dryer.
40:35You know, growing up in Tobago as a child,
40:37we used to be drying and bleaching our clothes outside.
40:40I still prefer it on a sunny day.
40:41Those were the good old days.
40:44I'm talking to the people.
40:47Celebrate their lives
40:49with a special All Saints and All Souls Memorial
40:52in the Express Classifieds.
40:55Book today to honor your loved ones.
41:03♪♪
41:11Welcome back to another episode of Tobago.
41:13I'm your host, Marc Bassant here on Beyond the Tape,
41:15of course, joined by ACP of the Criminal Division,
41:18Mr. Kurt Simon of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
41:21We continue our discussion,
41:23but I do believe, sir, we have a caller on the line.
41:26Caller, good evening.
41:28Yes, good evening, gentlemen.
41:33When you have a runaway tree,
41:35you do have time to build a station to control a tree.
41:40You have to derail it.
41:42Now, I have an idea.
41:43I don't know if it is possible or if they have this already.
41:48The East, the Central, and the West,
41:53we have a group of trained men, police and soldiers,
41:57to control the East,
42:00a group to control the Central,
42:01a group to control the West,
42:03so that people who are doing things,
42:07they're subjected to this particular group of people
42:12who are already Central,
42:14who are already East.
42:16The people from East don't want to come West,
42:19that kind of thing.
42:21I don't know if that might be,
42:22if you have something like that in the service,
42:25because what is happening is that people
42:26running all over the place and doing this thing.
42:30And this thing about this police uniform,
42:33I think we need some legislation here.
42:36The Parliament need to do something quickly,
42:39an emergency to stiffen the penalties
42:44for impersonating a police and the self-inflicted,
42:49unless they don't do that,
42:51that we have a serious problem.
42:53Officer, I know all you're fighting and re-battling,
42:56because as you're dealing with this, one come up.
42:59You're dealing with this, another one coming up.
43:01So I don't know.
43:02I think that if they,
43:04because one police commissioner,
43:07if you have one police commissioner,
43:08I think that's another thing.
43:09That is too much work for one police commissioner.
43:13So we have to divide up this thing
43:15so that people could,
43:16the police could take care of that,
43:17concentrate on one area,
43:19concentrate on this next area and concentrate,
43:22so that they have a better control over this situation.
43:25Thank you, gentlemen.
43:27Mr. Simon, thank you for your contributions.
43:31Okay then.
43:34I wanted to ask,
43:36just before we go into your statistics,
43:38I know that the PCA, the Police Competence Authority,
43:40would have made some recommendations,
43:43I believe in September of this year,
43:45in terms of implementing a serial number of the uniforms
43:49that perhaps could track it
43:50in case there is some rogue activity
43:53with these uniforms and so on.
43:55Has that been looked into in any measure at all?
43:58And can you at least shed some light?
44:01Well, that has not been the first time
44:03that we have heard or even considered,
44:06or the conversation has arisen
44:09with using technology to trace our equipment,
44:13including the uniforms.
44:15And that is part of the ongoing conversation right now.
44:20And it has been going on even before the PCA
44:23would have perhaps noticed or even made any recommendations.
44:27So it is something that we are looking at.
44:29How many times, if you can,
44:30tell us that since 2020,
44:33that the police uniforms have been changed?
44:37Well, remember, our uniforms have not been changed.
44:40So we are using the same kit.
44:41What happened over the last couple of years
44:43is that we brought on the operational way.
44:47But generally, our kit has not been changed.
44:51Can you tell us the different types of uniforms, the TTPs?
44:55But as I mentioned earlier,
44:56yes, I told you earlier,
44:57we have the normal green and blue.
45:00And then you will see the blue operational way,
45:03which is very familiar now with our citizenry,
45:06seeing us in that look.
45:07And of course, the senior officers,
45:09as from inspector, they have the khaki to that blend.
45:14So, and then of course, we have our ceremonial way
45:19and so on, which is not really part of this conversation.
45:21What we are concerned with
45:23and what the public sees is the operational way.
45:26And that imitation look,
45:30that apparent imitation look
45:31at the operational look of the police.
45:35A lot of people are using jerseys, as I said.
45:38The police service, we do not have jerseys on our kit.
45:41All right, but still you see persons using that
45:44and attaching some sort of emblem on their shoulders
45:47or their chest and back and so on,
45:50and purporting to be police officers.
45:52And perhaps these are the things that our citizenry
45:56can look at.
45:57We have our way, the operational ways,
45:59the blue jacket look with the black cargo pants
46:03and our boots.
46:04And we wear our boots in our,
46:06the pants in the boots in a certain way.
46:08That's how we are trained to dress
46:10when we are in operational way.
46:13And then of course, we have the normal,
46:14the gray and blue, which is so popular in this country.
46:17When did the TTPS see an increase in,
46:22or an uptick rather, in persons or criminals
46:24using what appears to be police uniforms
46:28to perpetuate crime?
46:29When did you all see that trend starting
46:30to really take off?
46:32I think one might want to associate it
46:36with the pandemic area.
46:38That pandemic period, you started seeing that
46:42coming more to light.
46:43But I do recall though, even in the mid 1990s,
46:49from time to time, you would hear persons
46:51wearing the gray and blue look,
46:54not necessarily our gray and blue,
46:56but having the gray and blue look
46:59and pretending and looking like police officers.
47:01And I think that has just morphed itself now
47:04into the operational way that we wear more regularly now.
47:07You'd say then the advent of technology now
47:09makes it a lot more easier to duplicate
47:12or replicate these kinds of uniforms.
47:16Well,
47:16I mean, if they can make 3D guns from a computer.
47:19Technology is responsible for a lot of the advancements
47:23that we have made, and it's good and bad.
47:26And I think with technology, when technology comes forward,
47:31what perhaps law enforcement should focus on
47:33is looking at that technology to counteract
47:37whatever ills we may see arising
47:39out of anything coming forward.
47:40And that's supposed to be the look now.
47:42Definitely.
47:44I do believe we have a caller on the line.
47:46Caller, good evening.
47:48Good afternoon.
47:50I'm calling from Arima here.
47:52I have a concern.
47:53We have four to five criminal lawyers in Trinidad and Tobago.
47:58Is the police service using their expertise
48:01to expedite the reduction of crime?
48:04If so,
48:06what information they have given them
48:09that could see a better Trinidad and Tobago reduction of crime
48:12and criminal activity to reduce the fear?
48:15Could you just tell me?
48:16I'd be grateful and listen of it.
48:21I am aware that from time to time,
48:24the commissioners of police do seek advice
48:27from criminologists.
48:28I can't say how many of them she would liaise with.
48:32I can't say when,
48:33and even I can't say what are the arrangements for it.
48:36But I am aware that the commissioners of police
48:38do seek advice from criminologists.
48:41And I know now we are on the cusp of 500 meters.
48:46We are actually on, what, 498 meters.
48:50What sense of comfort can we give citizens
48:54with about two and a half months left in the year?
48:57And we are hopeful, of course,
48:59that it would not get to that 605 that we had in 2022.
49:03Ms. Markhan, you know,
49:05we do something called predictive analysis
49:09in looking at the murder count.
49:11And I think you would have heard even criminologists,
49:13Randy C. Posad, Professor Randy C. Posad,
49:16would have made some comments.
49:18And, you know, his figures look very, very close to the,
49:22or very possible to be happening.
49:24It doesn't mean that we are not trying to do things
49:26to push it back from occurring.
49:29But we do have concerns about the figures
49:32as we see them now.
49:33And perhaps that is the reason why you are getting
49:37that additional and extra push from our police officers.
49:41And I really want to commend our police officers here
49:44and not just to do that publicly,
49:46but to do that publicly,
49:47because I know throughout all of the divisions,
49:51the effort that is being made, you know,
49:54in us fighting back that crime, pushing it back,
49:57the IATF, the GBs, the different task force and so on.
50:02And I know I heard some comments earlier in the parliament,
50:06you know, with regards to overtime and so on.
50:09And I remember saying to myself,
50:11I wonder if our officers are not there as we have them,
50:16because we are calling them out time and time again
50:18to give us that extra, to be present.
50:21And I'm wondering if they are not present,
50:24what might we see?
50:25I mean, we cannot necessarily measure that.
50:27But you know, it is something
50:29that we have to be concerned about.
50:30And of course, the cost that I heard being mentioned today,
50:35it's something that the executive of the TTPS
50:37is speaking about, you know,
50:39and we are looking at the pros and cons of it.
50:42And Trinidad and Tobago, you know,
50:44we are in that space where your TTPS
50:50is looking to ensure that you get,
50:53you the public, you the citizens,
50:55get value for the money that you are paying us,
50:57your tax paying dollar.
51:00So whatever adjustments we have to make, we will make.
51:04But I assure you that we will not put down our hands,
51:08we will not give up, we will not surrender,
51:10we will push, we will be relentless.
51:12And we will do all that we can do within our power,
51:18our own bodily power to push back
51:21and to stymie the push of crime coming forward,
51:24the push of that darkness, as I like to call it.
51:27You know, and perhaps it's not a good time
51:29to share with you, John Tobago, what I have observed.
51:33Well, let's take a pause for a break.
51:35And when we come back,
51:36we'll definitely hear what you have to say.
51:40Hi guys, I'm going to talk to you about what to use
51:42when a child has a fever.
51:44So with fever, you can actually use paracetamol or Pandol
51:47every four hours or ibuprofen every eight hours.
51:51Now in cases of dengue, you would want to avoid ibuprofen.
51:55You can also use other techniques
51:56such as lukewarm baths, not cool,
51:59or cool rags to the forehead and under the arms
52:02to soothe the fever.
52:04And if you have a fever,
52:05you can also use paracetamol or Pandol
52:07every four hours or ibuprofen every eight hours.
52:11Slowly bring down the temperature.
52:12You wouldn't want the temperature to drop too quickly
52:14because then the body will feel cold
52:16and it will automatically try to warm itself up,
52:18resulting in a rebound fever.
52:21Thanks for joining me.
52:22Make the right choice in eyewear at SeaView Optical.
52:24Get complete single vision lenses with frames for $299,
52:27single vision lenses with transition
52:28and designer frames $899,
52:30and get your progressive transitions
52:32with designer frames for $1499.
52:34At SeaView Optical, affordable eyewear for everyone.
52:37The number one digital news publication in TNT,
52:40the Trinidad Express ePaper,
52:42gives you more ways to subscribe.
52:44Hey!
52:45Whatever your style, we've got you covered.
52:47Call, email, download the Trinidad Express app
52:51for Apple or Android,
52:52or visit digital.trinidadexpress.com
52:55and begin your journey
52:56into the enhanced ePaper experience.
52:59Enjoy bonus pictures and videos with select stories.
53:02Get articles translated into 11 languages.
53:05Use the convenient voice reader function
53:07when you're on the move.
53:08Set up customized alerts and never miss a story
53:11with access to past editions at your fingertips.
53:14The Trinidad Express ePaper
53:15gives you more ways to subscribe.
53:17Sign up today for a free 90-day trial.
53:22The choice is clear.
53:24The TV6 News is the number one news broadcast
53:27and the most watched program in TNT,
53:29including all cable programming.
53:32With over 50% more eyeballs than the closest competitor,
53:35advertisers trust the TV6 News
53:37to deliver their message to their target audience.
53:40Competitive rates ensure the biggest bang per buck
53:43and the authority and reputation of the newscast
53:45help to build and maintain trust in your brand.
53:48So regardless of the size of your business,
53:50the choice is clear.
53:53TV6 News delivers results.
54:06Welcome back to Beyond the Tape.
54:07I'm your host, Mark Bassan, of course,
54:08joined today by ACP of the Criminal Division,
54:12Mr. Kurt Simon.
54:13And just before I go to Mr. Simon,
54:16I just want to make an appeal to those people
54:19who may have Mr. Suvish Ramnarain in their arms
54:25to, of course, release him
54:26and maybe he gets back safely to his family
54:30in Central Trinidad.
54:31Mr. Simon?
54:34That's a very heartwarming appeal, Mark.
54:36We do appreciate that appeal.
54:38Trinidad and Tobago,
54:39I just want to bring to your attention something
54:42just perhaps for you to,
54:43while you are at your homes,
54:44while you are looking at this program presently
54:47and even in the future, to consider this.
54:50The Homicide Bureau of Investigations,
54:53generally on an annual basis,
54:55would charge no less than 100 persons for murders.
54:59No less than 100 persons.
55:01The issue with bail for murder
55:03has only come about within the last year.
55:05So if you just consider perhaps 10 years from prior to now
55:10with 100 persons being charged for murder per year,
55:15you would have 1,000 people charged for murders.
55:19And that was without the bail.
55:211,000 people cannot fit in any of your living rooms.
55:24And whilst you have that 1,000 people
55:27over the last 10 years,
55:28and for this year so far,
55:30this homicide has reached, what,
55:3288 persons charged for murders.
55:35And I'm sure that they will reach the 100
55:38and perhaps more persons charged.
55:41You have to ask yourself,
55:42well, then who is committing all of these murders?
55:45How many persons really are involved
55:48in the commission of this heinous crime
55:51that we call murder?
55:52How many of us are doing that?
55:54And certainly, the persons who are doing it,
55:56they come from our homes,
55:59they come from our streets, our communities,
56:01they come from this nation.
56:03They are persons, men and women,
56:05born of men and women in Trinidad and Tobago.
56:09So then why are we having this problem?
56:11Why are we continuously charging
56:14this high number of individuals for murders
56:17and yet facing a climbing murder toll yearly?
56:22And that's a question I really want us to ponder
56:25whilst we are in our homes this evening.
56:27Mr. Simon, we certainly want to thank you for your time.
56:31I know you're a very busy man,
56:32and of course you have left a very profound question
56:35with our viewers,
56:37and I'm hopeful that they will ponder over it
56:39and at some point be able to reflect on that
56:42and be able to answer it within themselves.
56:46So that's a wrap for now.
56:48I guess repeat tonight.
56:52My producer said we have a couple of seconds,
56:54but is there anything you want to add before?
56:58You were talking about murder,
57:00and we did have Mr. Narad Sankar
57:02appearing for the murder of Laura Sankar
57:05who was brutally attacked at her home in Newgrant on Saturday
57:10and he was charged with domestic violence, of course.
57:15You would find those types of murders
57:17will be solved pretty quickly.
57:19Yes, and generally domestic murders
57:22are solved quickly enough,
57:25and of course our heart goes out to the family,
57:27the relatives, the friends, the well-wishers,
57:29the loved ones of the deceased in this matter,
57:32but when we look at the situation,
57:37the domestic murders,
57:40I think it's something that this country
57:43can only ill afford,
57:44and we tend to pay a lot of attention
57:48to one aspect of that crime,
57:50and there's another aspect that I want to perhaps
57:52put to Chantabigo on another time when I visit.
57:55Right, Mr. Simon.
57:56Thanks a lot for your time,
57:57and definitely repeat tonight at 11.30,
58:00tomorrow at 11 o'clock.
58:01Stay tuned, the TV6 News is up next.
58:04The coronavirus is killing us.
58:06The virus is killing us.
58:09The virus is killing us.
58:16The top stories are brought to you by Flow.
58:19Rediscover Flow at discoverflow.co.
58:22Flow, inspired by you.
Comments