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01:20Saying that the phrase, zero-tolerance is outdated,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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