Skip to playerSkip to main content
CCNTV6
  • 8 months ago
Amidst claims of increasing tension in Sea Lots by some residents and the Police, MP for Port of Spain South Keith Scotland assures that there is no war.

In fact he tells Tv6 the situation has been blown out if proportion and there seems to mischief afoot.

Nicole M Romany reports.
Transcript
00:00Minister in the Ministry of National Security and MP for the CELOTS community Keith Scutland
00:07says he has been involved in the situation from the start.
00:11He says it began with a fracker during Juve and has been sensationalised to appear like
00:18a war has broken out.
00:20The minister tells us he was amazed to hear via the news that there was either a gang
00:25war, a war over CPAP contracts or a political war in the area.
00:31He adds that despite reports in the media of accounts given by some residents and some
00:37police, there are no increasing tensions.
00:41There is no such issue, there is always, there may always be a disagreement and I say to
00:47CELOTS that they are entitled to legitimately have disagreements, there is nothing wrong
00:53with that, it must not be blown out of proportion, that is what is being done.
00:58So I have no doubt that maybe those were the reports coming to the officer but I can say
01:05to you that having done it myself that there is no such deep division and there is unity.
01:17Mr Scutland says he personally visited each community in CELOTS on Sunday, unaccompanied
01:24by anyone, including security, to ensure there are no safety issues as is being touted.
01:31He reiterates there was no war brewing, adding that it seems so easy to paint a negative
01:37image of the community.
01:39What about the claims of residents that they were no longer safe as they had to walk along
01:45the waterfront to access their homes, but West residents called for a police post to
01:50be set up.
01:52That is simply not so and I am speaking firsthand and this is not a novel conversation because
02:01as I spoke to your other colleagues and other aspects of the media, the same doubting and
02:07the same interrogation that you are producing now is what I was faced with and I had to
02:13say do not take my word for it.
02:15Well I wouldn't call it interrogation.
02:18The minister was asked if he was aware that senior police officers have given the assurance
02:23of a heightened presence in the community to ensure the safety of residents.
02:28There's no chasm between a heavy police presence and what I have said because of how it started,
02:34meaning a fracas between young persons and the potential for it to escalate.
02:42It is only wise that there's an increased police presence.
02:45What is there's no chasm there in what I am saying.
02:48I am aware of that and I applaud that.
02:52One questioned further about reports that the controversy began since 2005 over the
02:58awarding of CPAP contracts allegedly in favour of some persons over others.
03:04The minister sought to clear the air by explaining his position on the matter.
03:10I have tried to be even-handed in the little, in the little, and I say little, that I can
03:15do in the area because I am trying my best with limited resources that we have to ensure
03:21that there's equity and I'm very sensitive to that feeling that has been expressed.
03:27It's not the first time I've heard it but I've dealt with it.
03:31Nicole M Romany, TV6 News.
Be the first to comment
Add your comment