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  • 8 months ago
The National Security Minister is expressing his confidence in the capabilities of the Police Service and the Defence Force to ensure the safety and security of the General Election.

This as a representative of the UNC and the leader of the NTA are also weighing-in on the announcement by the Acting top cop yesterday about a possible threat to the election and a zero-tolerance approach where any attempt to disrupt the election is concerned.

Political Editor Juhel Browne reports.
Transcript
00:00The National Security Minister is expressing his confidence in the capabilities of the police service
00:04and the defense force to ensure the safety and security of the general election.
00:10This as a representative of the UNC and the leader of the NTA
00:14are also weighing in on the announcement by the acting top cop yesterday
00:18about a possible threat to the election and his stance on a zero-tolerance approach to disruption.
00:24Political editor Jill Brown reports.
00:26TV6 News sought responses to Acting Police Commissioner Junior Benjamin's announcement on Tuesday
00:34that the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service's intelligence says things are afoot to disrupt the electoral process.
00:41And we would be taking a no-tolerance, a zero-tolerance in dealing with that.
00:48Certain things have come to our attention and we are saying,
00:50based on the things that have been brought to our attention,
00:54that anyone that seeks to break the law as it relates to the elections
01:01or anything dealing with the offenses under the elections,
01:07we are going to deal with that decisively.
01:10TV6 News has spoke with the political leader of the National Transformation Alliance,
01:14former Police Commissioner Guy Griffith,
01:17who is his party's candidate for the St. Joseph constituency.
01:20Saying that the phrase, zero-tolerance is outdated,
01:23Mr. Griffith recalled planning for the police for the 2020 general election when he was the top cop
01:30and said nothing like that has been done thus far for the 2025 general election.
01:36Mr. Griffith also wanted clarification from the acting police commissioner.
01:40If it is intelligence has proven this, but what you have done now,
01:44you've made a public statement just to basically, that can cause more fear and more panic,
01:49and was it necessary?
01:50If it is your intelligence would have provided this,
01:54should you not have just dealt with it, monitor it,
01:57or do you feel that by telling the public it is going to give some degree of support
02:02to assist them in reducing the threat?
02:05And if that is not the case, why make it public in the first place?
02:08That can cause problems, that can cause issues.
02:12So I am very confused.
02:13He needs to make, he has a lot of explaining to do.
02:16TV6 News also sought a comment from Dr. Rudal Munilal,
02:19the candidate for Oropuch East for the United National Congress,
02:23who has often spoken on behalf of the UNC on issues regarding national security.
02:29We are calling on the police to maintain order,
02:32ensure that the process is fair and not tainted.
02:35I cannot doubt or confirm intelligence reports received by the police,
02:42but one believes that the police would be taking those matters seriously.
02:48At this stage, there is no intention to discuss these matters with law enforcement,
02:53but continue to monitor and be vigilant as to the elections.
02:58In response to questions, TV6 News, National Security Minister Marvin Gonzalez said that he can confirm
03:05that he was briefed on the matter and he is satisfied that the TTPS,
03:10with the support of the TTDF, the Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force,
03:14will deploy all resources of the state to protect the electoral and democratic process
03:19and to ensure it's carried out free and fair.
03:23Mr. Gonzalez is the People's National Movement's candidate for Aruka Lopino.
03:28The Elections and Boundaries Commission issued a post on their Facebook page on Wednesday
03:32warning the public to avoid any offenses that would prevent voters from casting their ballots
03:38in the general election on April 28th.
03:41Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
03:44The Elections and Boundaries Commission said today that it has referred allegations
03:48of a falsified document to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
03:52In a statement this evening, the EBC said the falsified document currently in circulation
03:58inaccurately claims affiliations between the Commission's chief election officer
04:03and several returning officers with a political party.
04:06The EBC said it categorically rejects and unequivocally condemns these baseless claims
04:12and further said they pose a direct threat to the integrity of the electoral process
04:17and the forthcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for Monday, April 28th.
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