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00:00This program contains graphic scenes, viewer discretion is advised.
00:30Beyond the Tape will be back after these messages.
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01:18Guess what everyone?
01:19Today on our class trip to the Asia Seekers Centre,
01:21we saw amazing animals and learned all about their solar bb system.
01:25That's wonderful Dolly.
01:27Well, come and tell us more.
01:29They showed us how solar power works and how it's helping them save money and the environment.
01:33Wait, wait. You said save money?
01:36And we get to save the planet too?
01:38That sounds like something we should look into sweetie.
01:40So, you have any more pictures?
01:41Yeah.
01:43Solar power to the people.
01:48Every year there's an event that captures the true spirit of carnival.
01:51This is the Caribbean Queens of Soka.
01:54Featuring the most dynamic soka divas in the Caribbean.
02:12Two nights of sensual sweet soka music.
02:15All happening Tuesday the 18th of February at Napa and Wednesday the 19th at Sapa.
02:19Showtime 7pm sharp.
02:21Serenading the queens is Mikhail Teja.
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02:40Tickets bought by this Thursday February 13th cost $25 less.
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02:50It starts here.
02:52With the Trinidad Express newspapers.
02:55To enhance your reading experience.
02:58Our back page will now carry the second biggest story of the day.
03:02Leading to all of the content you want.
03:05Local and international news, sports, weather, lifestyle articles, puzzles and more.
03:11So whether you like reading from the front or the back.
03:15Our new design has you in mind.
03:19It starts here.
03:20With the Trinidad Express newspapers.
03:35Welcome to Beyond the Tape.
03:37I'm your host Mark Bassan.
03:38Welcome to our viewers across Trinidad and Tobago.
03:40And of course our global viewers across the world.
03:43It's day 44 of the state of emergency.
03:48And gracing us with his presence for the first time as acting commissioner of police.
03:53Is Junior Benjamin.
03:55Welcome sir.
03:56How are you?
03:57It's a privilege to be here.
03:58I tell you.
04:00It has been a busy time.
04:03But I'm grateful to be here.
04:05The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
04:07We're really grateful for Beyond the Tape.
04:09And the contribution that you're making.
04:11In terms of educating the public.
04:13In terms of what the police is doing.
04:15So as the acting commissioner of police.
04:18I want to say thank you for the job that you all are doing here.
04:21Most welcome.
04:22And I think from the team.
04:23Jackie and the team behind as well.
04:26We would like to also congratulate you.
04:28And your appointment as acting commissioner of police.
04:32And I know it's been a very testing time of course.
04:35To take over that reign at the TTPS.
04:39And this time at the very testing time.
04:42What do you think you will be doing differently?
04:45Not only to regain the trust and confidence of the public to a higher level.
04:49But also increasing that morale within the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
04:53And encouraging officers not to lose faith.
04:55In what they do to protect citizens every day.
04:58Well I always like to say.
05:00I don't see it as being doing something different.
05:04I think it's about more building on the foundation.
05:07And I will always want to again appreciate the hard work.
05:12And the commitment of Commissioner Erla Christopher.
05:15And the foundation that she leads.
05:17I always see myself as building on that foundation.
05:20And I think that she has done a tremendous job within the police service.
05:24And she will always be remembered as to me an icon.
05:28And a person who has made a tremendous contribution to the service.
05:33That being said I would want to continue that foundation.
05:37By spending more time with the people.
05:40I think it's important.
05:42Especially at this time when persons might be hurting.
05:44And the morale might be low.
05:46That you take time to really stop and listen to the officers.
05:50And listen to what is happening.
05:52Because when people are hurting.
05:54You need to really show that level of compassion.
05:57And therefore I want to spend that time listening to the officers.
06:01But at the same time I want to make sure that I seek to praise in public.
06:05And public criticize in private.
06:07I want to make sure I reward the officers for the hard work that they have done.
06:11And the SOE certainly has shown where the officers have really committed themselves.
06:15And I really want to applaud them.
06:17And to say that I'm really proud to just be part and parcel.
06:20Of what they are doing here in Trinidad and Tobago.
06:23So to me it's a proud moment to be a police officer.
06:28And to just lead some great men and women who are seeking to make a difference in Trinidad and Tobago.
06:35And as we speak about the state of emergency.
06:38It's day 44 and we just want to bring you up to scratch with the latest statistics.
06:45I don't know if you want to take us through Commissioner.
06:47Yes, as you can see.
06:49We are working very, very hard in ensuring that we have a number of operations.
06:55We have at least 2,372 operations thus far.
06:59And the priority offenders that we have targeted is 1,992.
07:06It is interesting to know that the searches which is where we go to homes and vehicles.
07:11We have done up to this point 16,053 searches.
07:17And in terms of traffic operations 2,103.
07:22In all we have at least 1,781 persons arrested.
07:28To me this is where it gets very interesting.
07:30Because again based on the traffic operations.
07:34We had at least 8,160 traffic offenses detected.
07:38But the firearms which is about 83 firearms.
07:41And I wish we could see 830 but right now it's just 83.
07:47We still humbly thankful for the 83.
07:51Because it's much more than we had last year around this time.
07:54But nevertheless much more work needs to be done.
07:57But we have 83 firearms recovered.
07:59We have at least 1,667 assorted ammunition also recovered.
08:05And in terms of dangerous drugs just under 296 kilograms of marijuana.
08:14And just over 1 kilogram of cocaine.
08:18So what you see there is a tally in terms of where we are now.
08:23And I think that there is so much more to be done.
08:27But I think we must be thankful.
08:29And I must still commend the officers for the hard work and dedication.
08:34You've seen the officers they are going out there.
08:37And based on the intelligence led policing.
08:41They are going out and they are seeking to apprehend persons.
08:45And I think that it is helping us when we look at the murder toll.
08:50Again we've seen that we have nearly 20 murders less than we had last year.
08:55And to me that is commendable thus far.
08:59And I think that we must really stop and thank God for that.
09:04But there's still again much more because when we look at the numbers.
09:08I think about 38 murders.
09:10So far I said 38 murders too much.
09:12And we will continue to fight to reduce that.
09:16You're going to be talking a lot more as we delve a lot into some of the statistics of course.
09:21But one of the things that have been quite on the front burner over the last 24 to 48 hours.
09:27Following the Trinidad Express story.
09:30Referencing a particular police officer Sergeant Hewitt.
09:34Speaking about a particular senior officer as it relates to him writing to another senior.
09:42About the particular behavior of that officer.
09:46I just wanted you to kind of I know you would have spoken about it already.
09:50But just to give an overview of that matter.
09:54Okay well first of all I want to say that in terms of that matter.
10:01I have been informed that the matter would have been at least sent to ACP Simon.
10:09Who was then DCP Simon.
10:12And in fact he's no longer DCP.
10:14He's no longer DCP again.
10:16This is his second as he said the second time on the rodeo.
10:20But yes so acting DCP Simon would have dealt with that situation.
10:26And when he received the correspondence he would have passed it on to the legal department.
10:34The legal department looked at it.
10:37And again they would have ensured that they gave certain instructions.
10:42And when they looked at it.
10:45It certainly showed where there was still more information and things that was needed.
10:53It lacks all the evidence to really say that it satisfied his claim.
11:00That information was passed on to the officer.
11:04And even time was given for the officer to comply with the instructions.
11:10And thus far he has not.
11:12My understanding as well is that extensions were given and he did not comply.
11:16So we're dealing with that matter.
11:20And I think that we would eventually right now there are even some things to me that we must look at.
11:29In relation to that whole matter that I think is something that we would see in a very short space of time.
11:37What would be the pronouncement on it.
11:39All right thanks so much acting commissioner.
11:42Let's take a look at now at our headlines.
11:50So those are some of the headlines within the last 24 hours.
12:17And you know quite troubling.
12:19Last night there was a road accident in South Trinidad that claimed the lives of some very young persons.
12:28Teenagers rather.
12:30Commissioner you know there's been seems to be an uptick in road traffic accidents over the last couple of weeks.
12:36Into Christmas into the new year.
12:39The vehicles there.
12:41We understand two teenagers ages 16 and 17 occurred in the Marabella area.
12:49My understanding that the alleged they sped past a police operation.
12:57And shortly thereafter they collided with a utility pool.
13:05Shortly after.
13:07And you know this is something that we must seriously you know addressed as you know the police service.
13:15I think that some of these accidents we can avoid if we just first of all seek to follow the regulations.
13:24Yes it is important that especially we recognize that young people they take a craze for driving above the speed limit.
13:33There's a reason for the speed limit.
13:35There's a reason why we ought to be a law abiding citizen and as a law abiding citizen there are laws and that we must seek to really uphold those laws.
13:45And when we fail to uphold the laws.
13:49These are some of the unfortunate consequences because you're speeding you're flying past.
13:56And again because you lost control of the vehicle.
13:59Yes.
14:00The lives of young persons has now gone and not just yours but again if someone else was in the car again another person's life has lost.
14:09So I think that we need to really encourage persons to stay within the speed limit.
14:14We want to recognize that at this time this year we want to see a reduction in everything not just crime but also in terms of road fatalities.
14:23So we are asking persons please when you're driving drive with some care.
14:27Understand it is doing it right for yourself but drive for the other person because so many times the innocent person is the one that normally lose their lives.
14:34Yes clearly.
14:35And you know we had we had a speed of accidents also over the weekend.
14:39You know especially along the Salomon Hochar Highway or Butler Highway heading south or coming from south rather.
14:48You know at very different times of the day.
14:50I saw one at approximately 6 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon.
14:54There was one and I was actually coming back up.
14:56And that night the vehicle was in the middle of the median and people were trying to take people or there was an ambulance and a wrecker there.
15:04So certainly there must be some heightened vigilance.
15:09And this was an accident that happened I believe in Endeavor sometime yesterday as well.
15:16I'm sure you need drivers to be a little more alert and a little more assertive on the roadways and also a little more observant for their fellow motorists.
15:25Yes certainly and that is what we're hoping these things would really give that level of caution.
15:32Because the road fatality is it has been increasing over the years and we really want to see a decrease in it.
15:40And I'm saying that this is one time we're talking to the man in the mirror.
15:44Everybody must take a look at themselves.
15:46And we're saying that please don't speed.
15:49Take your time on the road.
15:50You'll get there safely.
15:52All right.
15:53We're going to take a short break and when we get back we'll take your calls.
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18:38Welcome back to Beyond the Tape. I'm your host, Mark Bassan, joined today by Acting Commissioner of Police, Mr. Junior Benjamin.
18:44Mr. Benjamin, we've been talking about firearms, and we're seeing that the 83 is us far.
18:50But the number of firearms and narcotics that are entering this country through illegal and legal ports, we are having this issue at these legal ports in a big way.
19:02Customs and other authorities, is it perhaps tackling the problem more in a head-on way in this area so that we can stymie the number of guns getting onto the streets and falling into the hands of criminals and gangsters?
19:15Well, I think certainly if we can really secure borders, it will help us tremendously.
19:23And also, you know, look at the ports of entries.
19:29I think that is something that is so very important.
19:31But nevertheless, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, we are called to do our crime prevention strategies.
19:39We are going to use our crime suppression strategies and our crime intervention strategies to help us as we seek to fight crime within the realm that we are called to do.
19:49And therefore, we have been looking at the crime situation.
19:53We are allowing the intelligence to guide our operations.
19:56And as the intelligence guide our operations, we are hoping that we can get some really big hits coming down.
20:03Because we have some big intent.
20:06This year, with the SOE, we want to see really an increase in our firearm retrieval.
20:14So therefore, there are some things that you're going to hear very shortly that we will be doing to, again, ensure that we increase that.
20:20But thus far, we are using our intelligence.
20:23We are doing crime prevention, as I said, crime suppression, and also our crime intervention strategies as well to help us in that regard.
20:29All right, I have a follow-up, but we have a caller on the line.
20:31Caller, good evening.
20:33Hi, good evening, Mr. Batang.
20:35And also good evening to Commissioner Benjamin.
20:38I want to start very briefly by wishing yourself, Commissioner Benjamin, and the TTPF, as a just citizen,
20:47one I wish you all the very best in terms of treating and neutralizing crime.
20:53I saw the statistics.
20:55I know we're still in the SOE.
20:57The most important criteria, I would think, is what steps and measures would actually be implemented to prevent us, as a country,
21:08ever coming back in a state of emergency and really mitigating and rooting out crime itself.
21:14Mr. Batang, as I'm viewing right now, you touched on a very good point, the items entering the country in legal and illegal points,
21:25those root causes, aspects.
21:28As a just citizen, I don't have any experience of that.
21:31But I think addressing that before might be very helpful and something we need to look at.
21:36And second point, too, I saw a clip on, just as important as what I just said, on the news yesterday with schools, I believe,
21:45Ministry of Education and also Ministry of Labor.
21:48They need to do their part because what you see going on, these school students fighting and everything,
21:53that only going to lead to people coming out and reoccurring cycles.
21:57So thanks for the time.
21:58All the best.
22:00And I think that the caller is right on point in terms of some of our crime prevention strategies is where we are going into the schools
22:07and we are going to be talking to the students.
22:09And because if we fail to reach this generation, they are going to be the problems we have next, you know, very soon.
22:16So we really want to go into the schools.
22:19We also have youth clubs that play a very active part in terms of finding alternative ways so that persons can become more productive citizens of Tuna and Tobago.
22:30So we are going and we are also talking to the parents.
22:34And, you know, these are some of the things that we have.
22:36And we will continue to do to really help all young people really understand that there is another way other than, you know, going after the gangs and going after the drugs.
22:48I think if we can really find alternative ways of getting them active, we can really divert them and probably place them on track for having a destiny that they could be, you know, feel worthy of at the end of the day.
23:04All right. Thanks for that, Acting Commissioner.
23:06We also have another call on the line.
23:08Caller, good evening.
23:09Good evening, Mr. Posad.
23:11Good evening, Acting Commissioner.
23:13Good evening.
23:16I believe it's the right intervention that the Acting Commissioner is on the program today.
23:20Because I would have called on two separate occasions regarding the situation with recruitment.
23:25And I think the Commissioner, Afton, would be in a position to assist the public.
23:30And those parents who would have—sorry, excuse me—proposed $2,200 for the candidates to do a Medicare.
23:38Some of these candidates were sent to do a psychometric assessment in Arima.
23:46And to my understanding, all of those who were sent up there by the CPS were not successful.
23:53So I'm asking the Commissioner from his point of view and his vantage point.
23:59If it's fair for the candidates and their loved ones who have to find that money,
24:05the CPS send them and tell them what recourse do these candidates have.
24:11Because they were not called. Somebody had to call.
24:16And then the training college told them that all who went up there failed.
24:22Can the Commissioner look into the situation and see whether or not the candidates have any recourse whatsoever?
24:30Alright, and I'll wait for your response.
24:32Thank you so very much, caller, for that.
24:35Let me just see.
24:37There is certain criteria and there are certain conditions a person must have in order to be a police officer.
24:48This does not just include psychometric. Psychometric is one.
24:51We have polygraph and you know, we have what we call the pop art where they do the exercise and so forth.
24:58And I'm saying that at one time the problem was polygraph.
25:03Everybody failing the polygraph and so on.
25:05But the bottom line is if there is a system in place, we have to look at the system and ensure that persons pass.
25:13You must pass based on the system.
25:15I think that the concern might be one that we could certainly, as the Commissioner of Police,
25:21I would certainly look into and see if, you know, there is anything there that probably we need to look going forward.
25:30But however, these things are parameters that are set there and it's there for a purpose.
25:36We want to ensure that the persons who are coming into the police service are persons that are able to do the job and do the job well.
25:44We want to make sure that they are qualified and that is the reason why we have those things.
25:50But nevertheless, we will continue to review and that is something that we normally would do.
25:56We would normally review all our systems and where we believe that changes need to be made.
26:02We will make those changes, especially as we go forward to ensure that at the end of the day,
26:07we want to get the best of the crop to come and join the police service so that we can make a difference in Trinidad and Tobago.
26:14Most certainly.
26:15We have another call on the line.
26:17Caller, good evening.
26:18Good evening.
26:19Good evening, Mr. Bassant and a very, very good evening to the acting Commissioner of Police.
26:26Sir, congratulations.
26:28Thank you so much.
26:29I'm going to give you a hypothetical question and then let me give you the direct question.
26:35And I'm going back to those bodies found in Davie.
26:40I believe another host on another program has assisted you all tremendously.
26:47And that particular area reminds me of the area of where Andre Barrett's body was found.
26:56If you could recall the history of that subsequent to that, there were several bodies found there.
27:02The fact that there's two or three bodies being excavated recently in the Davie area,
27:08wouldn't it be prudent for the TTPS to basically have a track net in that area?
27:16I mean, it's a way in an SOE.
27:18So it might be prudent, and you might pick up a lot of these in a serious character.
27:24But looking at the program, you saw where the gentleman, the host, showed you where the body might have been moved.
27:33And where the gentleman was moving with all the nefarious activity.
27:38And I'm sure people, the same people who have given him information, might be very helpful to you all
27:44if you all go up there and try to rule them out.
27:46Now the hypothetical question, there's legislation passed for four marijuana plants in your yard, right?
27:54When those three get huge and you become a farmer to prune it, where does one put the cuttings?
28:03Can they put it on the road? Can they put it outside the yard and allow somebody to come and pick up?
28:11For example, if five people on the road have four cuttings to do, there's a lot of cuttings.
28:17A gentleman could say he's scavenging and he's going to pick up all the cuttings,
28:21and you all hold him for a hooker's bag of marijuana.
28:25In a situation like that, how should we respond?
28:28I do have an email, sir, telling you.
28:30It's true, another hypothetical question for you all to answer.
28:33Bye, have a nice day, and enjoy your new job and challenges.
28:37Thank you, thank you so much, Conor. Thank you so much.
28:40If the person picks up a bag of those things, I hope it doesn't pass.
28:46Once it doesn't pass, the amount that you're supposed to have, if it passes,
28:49you will have to go and at least talk to the magistrate, as the case may be,
28:54because the law is the law. How much you should have on you remains that. It doesn't change.
28:59So it is important that persons stay within the law.
29:04I understand in terms of what you said there about having the dragnet and so on.
29:10Those are things that come out based on intelligence.
29:13Really, we want to ask the public, just as you've shared that information,
29:18I think it's important that we encourage the public to share information with us
29:23because the more information we have, we can now use that to shape our operations.
29:29So yes, I think it's something that I would like to know,
29:34and again, the more we know that, we can probably work around that to see
29:38if there is something there that we could do to get more information.
29:41Anything to help us solve our situation, that is what we want to do.
29:45At the end of the day, crime is everybody's business,
29:47and we believe that the more persons take control of their community and help us,
29:51we are going to solve the crime situation. So thank you very much.
29:54Just to touch on that point quickly, the remains of two persons were found there,
29:59believed to be Mr. Winston Rostad on January 28th,
30:05and then the remains over the weekend, which the family apparently identified
30:09as the missing businessman, Shashi Ramprasad, that went missing.
30:13He was kidnapped on November 21st last year.
30:19So certainly, as the Acting Commissioner pointed out,
30:22those matters are ongoing, of course.
30:24There's somebody already charged in relation to that person, Mr. Ramprasad,
30:29and inquiries are continuing.
30:31All right, we're going to take a short break, and we'll be back. Stay with us.
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33:50To be on the tape, I'm your host Mark Bassan,
33:52joined today by Acting Commissioner of Police, Mr. Junior Benjamin.
33:56So we quickly want to go to a feature involving a narcotics fund
34:01during a regular traffic exercise in the Southern Division.
34:07Okay, what happened?
34:09I left my phone in the car.
34:11I don't know where it is.
34:12I don't know where it is.
34:13I don't know where it is.
34:14I don't know where it is.
34:15I don't know where it is.
34:16I don't know where it is.
34:17I don't know where it is.
34:18I don't know where it is.
34:19I don't know where it is.
34:20I don't know where it is.
34:21I don't know where it is.
34:22I don't know where it is.
34:23I don't know where it is.
34:24I don't know where it is.
34:25I don't know where it is.
34:26I don't know where it is.
34:27I don't know where it is.
34:28I don't know where it is.
34:29I don't know where it is.
34:30I don't know where it is.
34:32Okay, what happened?
34:35Alison, an anti-crime operation was conducted in the Southern Division during the period
34:45of 8 p.m. on the 6th of February, 2025 and 2 a.m. on the 7th of February, 2025.
34:52It was supervised by our senior officer in the division, which is Senior Superintendent
34:59Kirk.
35:00It was also supervised by Superintendent Singh, our one and only ASP, Phillip.
35:06All right?
35:07Inspector Wilkinson, a good man.
35:09All right?
35:10Also, it was directly supervised by Sergeant Steele, number 16350, and it included Corporal
35:19Lancaster and Corporal Mitchell.
35:21All right?
35:22I hear they really get you in this bus, eh?
35:25Yeah, boy, we get you big in the bus.
35:27All right?
35:28But how did this happen?
35:29Tell me now.
35:30Boy, here's what happened, eh?
35:32It was a simple stop and search we'd have done.
35:39You lie random, just so?
35:40Yeah, yeah.
35:41Information from a reliable informant caused us to stop and search vehicles in the area.
35:51Oh, they get you, right?
35:52Yeah, yeah, yeah.
35:53But what kind of vehicle it was?
35:55A high-end vehicle, what police normally pass straight.
35:58Two persons, husband and wife, dressing suit and tie.
36:02Wait, so you mean to tell me anybody just so, eh?
36:06Everybody, yeah.
36:07And what's the quantity?
36:08Yeah, yeah, yeah.
36:09Definitely.
36:10Definitely.
36:11All right?
36:12So we arrested two persons, which is a husband and wife.
36:15All right?
36:17And further information, due to intelligence, and an investigation was further done.
36:25It revealed that there's other items being hidden at...
36:31Which part?
36:32The residence.
36:33So them have more than you?
36:34Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
36:35At the residence?
36:36Really get you this time, eh?
36:37At the residence, we then proceeded.
36:40And we met Granny.
36:44Granny's 66 years old, walking with her stick.
36:49She know about it?
36:51Granny was the one who was doing a lot.
36:54Granny knew a lot about it.
36:55Show me while I get something.
36:56Yeah, well, come on.
36:57Let me show you, man.
37:01This is the quantity of items, illegal drugs, that will have been seized.
37:07Cannabis, all here.
37:10We also have...
37:12What's this?
37:13This is what they call mushrooms.
37:18Okay.
37:19And what's this thing looking like?
37:21What's that?
37:22This is pure cocaine.
37:26Pure cocaine.
37:27All right, all right.
37:28All right?
37:29We also have pure cocaine here.
37:31We got information that this was supposed to be shipped.
37:36But due to the good work of the Southern Division Task Force,
37:39we was able to intercept them.
37:44Look at that pills and things here.
37:46We have ecstasy pills.
37:48We have hashing.
37:55But what's this really, though?
37:57First time I feel like I've seen this one or no?
37:59Well, hashing is one of the dangerous drugs
38:02that's classified in Republic of Toronto and Tobago,
38:05as we all know as police officers.
38:07All right, we have conducted further inquiries,
38:10and the hashing here, it is over the legal limit.
38:13So you will also be charged for same.
38:16I understand.
38:17Southern Division Task Force really get through here, boy.
38:19Yeah, you know, what I also say, and I also inform other police officers,
38:25we as police officers should keep up the good work
38:28and a simple stop-and-search,
38:31simple stop-and-search, randomly.
38:34We actually score a lot.
38:37So members of the Southern Division Task Force,
38:40we always do simple stop-and-searches,
38:42and we have continued to score.
38:44Also, members of the public provide us with all the relevant information
38:49that cause us to make this type of bus.
38:55So we want to also thank members of the public
38:58for their assistance in providing the information,
39:03and we look forward to continue partnering and working
39:08with members of the public.
39:10And also, we have the opinion that all police officers of all divisions
39:16should come together and coordinate information
39:19so we could be a better place, Republic of Toronto and Tobago.
39:24All right, brother.
39:25Congrats.
39:26Thanks a lot, man.
39:28A boss job, and I hope that we continue this effort.
39:32Definitely, definitely.
39:42So, Commissioner, on a greater scale, a much larger scale,
39:48we've seen the operation there, but they talk about intelligence,
39:52and I want you to address it in a more general sense.
39:55Does the police encounter an issue with other law enforcement agencies
39:59in terms of intelligence sharing and gathering intelligence,
40:03and does that hamper the ability of the TTPS in pursuing certain cases or matters?
40:08Well, once you talk intelligence, again,
40:13we have different agencies that will be doing intelligence.
40:18I will tell you this much, that the SOE has really brought those agencies together,
40:24and instead of having the conflict, what you'll find is that we are working things through
40:30and we are sharing the information.
40:32In fact, we have the firm opinion, and I am of the firm opinion,
40:36that what we need now, it's not about what we used to do in the past.
40:40In the past, you know, it's about need to know,
40:43but now I think it's about need to share.
40:45We need to share.
40:46When we are going to fight this crime situation, it is about all of us coming together.
40:50It doesn't matter what agency, it is about Trinidad and Tobago,
40:54and therefore it's time for all national security to come together as one,
40:58and we understand that, hello, we are in the crime fight together.
41:01So what you see coming out now is a greater collaboration in terms of coming together,
41:07the intelligence of all the arms coming together and sharing,
41:11and therefore even in the operation, you're not just seeing the TTPS alone,
41:15but even the defense force join in with their personnel,
41:19and we are working together as law enforcement outside there as one team.
41:23All right. Thanks for that.
41:25We're going to take a short break, and we'll be back.
41:27Stay with us.
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43:31What are we, outside?
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43:53The Express celebrates the memories, moments, and milestones of Carnival
43:58with Chronicles of Mass.
44:00This commemorative publication features the iconic bands, portrayals,
44:04and creators that have defined the masquerade throughout the years
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44:21It's Chronicles of Mass, free this weekend with your Sunday Express.
44:30Chronicles of Mass
44:48Welcome back to Beyond the Tape. I'm your host, Mark Bassant.
44:51With me today, Acting Commissioner of Police, Mr. Junior Benjamin.
44:55I think we have a call on the line. Caller, good evening.
44:58Yes, good afternoon, Mr. Bassant. Acting Commissioner of Police, Mr. Benjamin.
45:03Good day.
45:04Congratulations to you, sir.
45:07If memory serves me right, you are the second poodle from the same village?
45:13Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
45:17That's right, that's right.
45:18Congratulations, congratulations.
45:20Thank you, thank you.
45:21Yes, and a very good footballer from the same village.
45:25Very well, very well. Yes, sir.
45:28You are doing a very good job.
45:31And I know you will continue, by God's grace.
45:33Thank you, sir.
45:34Keep up the good work.
45:35Thank you kindly.
45:36Right, thank you.
45:38I guess you know that gentleman.
45:41At least, you know, from the personalities, they know me quite well.
45:45So, I appreciate.
45:47And really and truly, I just want to say, I think that, you know,
45:51the support has been tremendous coming in.
45:53And I just want to just thank, you know, the public.
45:55I want to thank, you know, my family.
45:58All those who have supported me along the line, me being here.
46:01I want to, you know, sometimes you need to remember your parents
46:03and all those, you know, who have played pivotal roles for you being here.
46:08You didn't get here by yourself.
46:09And above all, you know, my wife always say,
46:12a kite don't ever stay up in the air without the tread.
46:15True.
46:16So, I want to really just, you know, appreciate my wife and my daughter,
46:20who is a very key part of my life.
46:22So, I thank God for them.
46:23Certainly, family is very important when you're doing a job like this
46:26or any other job for a matter of fact, speaking.
46:29And, you know, there was a shooting incident in the El Carmen Road
46:35in Sangha Gandhi on Sunday night where two men were shot and injured,
46:40one in critical condition.
46:41Let's take a look.
46:45So, Commissioner, you'd see that a group of people here hanging out.
46:49Yes.
46:50They're not so much the center of focus here.
46:53You will look at the street there, you'll see a guy in a white T-shirt,
46:58and then some time will elapse, maybe about 10 to 15 seconds.
47:05See that area there, top of your screen there, heavy gunfire.
47:10Yes.
47:13Oh.
47:14Right.
47:15People who were gathered there probably playing a card game of some sort
47:18based on the initial audio.
47:22My understanding is that two persons were injured in that attack,
47:26one, Mr. Butler, and another, a minor, I would not call his name.
47:30Mr. Butler was shot several times about the body
47:33and also chopped across the body.
47:36After he was shot, he had a scuffle with the assailant,
47:41and he was able to take the ski mask off his face.
47:45He's actually in critical condition now at the hospital,
47:48and the other guy apparently was shot by a stray bullet.
47:51So we see that proliferation of firearms in situations like this.
47:58Yes, certainly.
48:01When you see these things, you really feel sad.
48:05You feel sad because this is not the type of thing you want to see,
48:09especially in a time of an SOE.
48:11We want to see that persons should start to have some sense of fear
48:18or even control because the presence of the police is there.
48:23But what I recognize is that because crime is not a static thing,
48:28you will find that, again, they still have those brazen persons
48:33that would want to still continue in that behavior,
48:36and we are not daunted by it.
48:38We recognize that you will find these situations,
48:41but the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, we remain so focused.
48:44We are going after those persons.
48:46We are saying to persons, especially those who would have been there,
48:50probably you would have seen something, let us know.
48:53We are not afraid of the criminals.
48:55We are going after them, but we need to have the information.
48:58If we don't have the information, if we don't have the intelligence,
49:01we cannot turn the intelligence into evidence.
49:04Therefore, once we have the information,
49:06we are going after those persons to ensure that those persons
49:10have their being caught.
49:12Again, we are saying we want the community to join in with us.
49:16We want you to make Trinidad and Tobago safe again,
49:19and therefore we are encouraging persons to join the police service
49:23and let us fight crime together because crime is everybody's business.
49:27Commissioner, a lot of the gun-related incidents also are gang-related
49:33or gang-connected, and we have had the incursion of gangs
49:36that have become rampant and morphed over the last 20 years.
49:40Why do you think the police has not been able to arrest this problem
49:43in a big way of these gangs?
49:46Well, I think that the gang culture is something that has crept in,
49:52and just as a tree, after it has gained roots, it's not easy to root out,
49:59but it is not impossible to root out, but it's not easy to root out.
50:04Therefore, when you have that culture pervading a society over a while,
50:10it is going to take a while to root it out.
50:12However, I believe that, again, success is small,
50:15things done correctly, consistently.
50:17Therefore, if we continue to really have authenticals in the right place
50:23with these gang leaders, and that is why the SOE is so important
50:26because we want to get those gang leaders,
50:29and we want to put them away in that preventative detention,
50:33and while we're doing that, we are going to dismantle and disrupt the operation.
50:37Therefore, we want persons to join in and to help us
50:40because you know where they are.
50:42If you know where they are, let us know so that we can bring your community
50:47and make it safe again.
50:49Bring them in, and let's put them away at least for the detention period,
50:54and afterwards, we are going to have enough evidence to at least put them behind the bars.
50:59All right, we're going to have much more after this.
51:01Stay with us.
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54:00Welcome back to Beyond the Tape. I am your host Mark Waasan.
54:02Joined today by Acting Commissioner of Police, Mr. Junior Benjamin.
54:05We want to take you quickly to a video involving a supposed, you know, hit-and-run of some sort here.
54:12So you're seeing this vehicle reversing up a street here, and there's a parked vehicle here, Commissioner.
54:21Yes.
54:22And suddenly, it veers towards, and seems like he rubbed down the vehicle.
54:29Wow, yes. That hits the vehicle, and then seems like...
54:39He drives off, then he says, well, there's a vehicle approaching, so he has to brake.
54:44We don't actually see the end of the vehicle, but I suppose, what would be the right thing to do?
54:49Well, obviously, you need to either make a report, or at least, you know,
54:54sometimes you could even come leave your number on the windscreen, so the person could get in contact with you.
54:59But these are things that we recognize is happening, and what person would tend to do is to drive off,
55:07and so that the person, you know, would not know who did it.
55:11And it is really a very, I should say, it's not a nice thing to do.
55:17And I think we need to have citizens who are really, really persons who are law-abiding,
55:23and understand that, you know, integrity is doing the right thing when no one else is watching.
55:28And we need to be persons of integrity, and really of high value, and moral.
55:35So I think that it's unfortunate. I think a report should be made.
55:39If we see the video, we can do some, at least the police, we can go to licensing, get a number.
55:48And I think this is something that could be easily solved.
55:51Commissioner, this is a two-in-one question with about two minutes and a bit.
55:5445 days into the SOE, it has gone. Still another month or so left.
55:59And what do you believe are some of the critical things that are needed to be done
56:03during the remainder of this state of emergency?
56:06And what do you make so far of the guns seized?
56:09And is it lower, higher, comparatively, in your estimation, in terms of a volume over last year?
56:17And what about the big fishes?
56:19Right. See if I can answer all of that in one, two minutes.
56:23Yeah. So first of all, what I think about the SOE,
56:26the SOE, I think we are going in the right direction.
56:29But there's still so much more for us to do.
56:31So therefore, we cannot be comfortable. We cannot be satisfied.
56:34Police service, we have to keep on going.
56:36And therefore, we need as much persons to help us accomplish these tasks.
56:41We continue to have more robust strategies to ensure that we could be more effective.
56:46And therefore, we are hoping as we go out there and we apply those strategies,
56:51that we would see some positive yield even as we move forward.
56:56In terms of...
56:57Big fish. And is there any intention by you to perhaps
57:01establish any new specialized units like the previous commissioners would have done?
57:06Well, at this point in time, I would not say that
57:09I have intentions of doing any specialized unit.
57:11I think that we probably have too much units.
57:13We need to probably downscale those units so we can have more persons in the station.
57:19The station is very important.
57:20And we need to understand that social peace.
57:22So I would want to really see what we could downscale
57:24and really just get more persons on the streets
57:28and have more persons out there so that we can report.
57:31We can at least have persons dealing with reports
57:34and having that precision policing that we look at.
57:37So an amalgamation of units maybe and trimming some of the people.
57:42That's my personal view that we need to see how we can reduce some of those units.
57:46Because some of those things can be done by even another...
57:51Like CID could probably do some of those gender stuff and so on.
57:56So it's some talk that needs to be done.
58:00And for me, it's about consultation.
58:01So we're going to have more of that while I'm there as the commissioner.
58:05All right.
58:05Acting Commissioner of Police, Mr. Junior Benjamin, we really appreciate you
58:09taking time off your busy schedule to be here with us.
58:12And we expect you will also be on the show in weeks to come as well.
58:16Remember, repeat tonight at 11 o'clock.
58:19Sorry, 11 theatre.
58:21Repeat tomorrow at 11 o'clock.
58:23The TV6 News is up next.
58:24Stay with us.
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