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02:28Welcome to Beyond the Tape. I'm your host, Mark Bussand. Welcome to your viewers across Trinidad and Tobago, and of course our global viewers, as well as our brothers and sisters in the island of Grenada.
02:49It's certainly a very wet Thursday, and there's been a lot of flooding across Trinidad and Tobago overnight into this morning as the rainfall continues into this afternoon.
03:04And obviously tonight, you know, to be seeing various areas, reporters from the CCN and the Express, this today would have brought us several images and videos of flooding across the East-West Corridor, South Trinidad, Central Trinidad.
03:28You know, we're seeing places inundated by water, two, three, four feet even. In some cases, in the central area, we had a river boosting its banks, places like St. Helena and all these other areas, obviously affected by this persistent rainfall that has, you know, been greeted us since yesterday.
03:52And obviously we expect, you know, there are images like this where, this is in Talparo, where this vehicle apparently submerging water could go, no longer go any further.
04:07And of course, today with us is ASP Ishmael Pitt from the Northern Division. Welcome to this very wet Thursday.
04:16Yeah. Wet indeed. Pleasant evening to you. Pleasant evening, Sean Tobago. How have you been coping with the weather?
04:23Wow. I mean, it's very tough because, you know, you have to like leave a location way before ahead of time.
04:30So if you think it might take you 20 minutes, you have to leave another 20 or 30 minutes before because, you know, certain areas around Port of Spain, you know, there's always heavy torrential rainfall.
04:42There's flooding. Flash flooding. And then you also have persons trying to leave the capital early.
04:48Yeah. So you also have the advent of traffic with this adverse weather, with the flooding, persons trying to literally find alternative routes.
04:57Because, you know, some of the streets yesterday we showed Sackville and Woodbrook and so on flooded and persons leaving.
05:03I was, I actually came from where you usually, you're based, Rima.
05:10And in the duration I spent there for about two hours, you know, rainfall came down, you know, several times.
05:17And when I was coming back into Port of Spain, let's say just after five or before five o'clock, there was serious traffic coming out of Port of Spain.
05:28And I know that a lot of people, yes, people have been faced or are facing right now major flooding woes in various areas across Trinidad and Tobago.
05:39And, of course, seeking the help of the various authorities in helping them to mop up and so on.
05:45And I know that the authorities have been on the ground since yesterday trying to prepare for what is to come in the coming days.
05:53Because we expect with this persistent rainfall, when the rain ceases, there will also be continuous flooding in these areas.
06:00Yeah. Well, we will be playing our role regarding the level of support and presence that is needed to ensure that, you know, law and order is maintained.
06:12Because there are persons who would want to capitalize on the ills of others.
06:17Yes. And we would not at all relent.
06:23We would be providing for those persons who are directly affected in terms of ensuring that traffic flows.
06:31What we would want to advise the motoring public is to be extremely vigilant, extremely cautious.
06:39Because there are areas that are possible, yes, but your driving activity must change.
06:48Because if you don't do that, you might find the vehicle in itself might not be responding the way it would usually respond under normal conditions.
06:57So we must take those things into consideration regarding the issue of flooding.
07:01Sometimes there are areas that we may not totally be aware of.
07:07And because it is covered by water, holes and so on and so on, cut holes, can in themselves pose a tremendous challenge.
07:17So we are asking persons to be very, very vigilant.
07:20And if any issue that warrants the intervention of the police officers, please feel free to communicate that information.
07:28Yes. This is the Talparo area here. I remember. I recollect this bridge here. San Rafael, sorry.
07:33Yes.
07:33But if we could go back just to the last image, video, where we actually, you were talking about, you know, traversing floodwaters.
07:43And we saw, after the fire truck, we saw what appeared to be a Hilux pickup traversing the floodwaters there.
07:51But there was a car just in front, obviously knowing that for them to try to go through that.
07:57Yes.
07:57Will obviously be not wise because they are much lower.
08:00And that's a good decision.
08:01Of course.
08:01That's a very good decision. If you recognize your vehicle cannot pass, do not take the chance.
08:08If you, and don't gamble. Don't gamble at all. Please.
08:11Agreed.
08:12Because I remember a couple of years ago, maybe a year before, somebody decided in Sangigandi area, if you recall that,
08:19in a high-end SUV to go drive through, I think, about two to three feet of water.
08:25And of course, we know what happened.
08:26He met an area where there was a kind of indentation with the river, and then the vehicle stalled completely.
08:33And we want to not encourage people to do such because it's extremely important that you understand that you put your vehicle at the risk of expense, and of course, your safety as well.
08:45Definitely. It's a serious situation where your safety can be compromised.
08:50Yes.
08:50The vehicle is one thing. If it is that, given the floodwaters and the currents that accompanies it, in some areas, you can be totally washed away.
09:01And this is in the area of the Penal Regional Corporation, assistance being rendered here by the Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force.
09:10They are actually laying sandbags because that river there is threatening to, of course, cross over into the road, the path of the road, and the nearby houses as well.
09:21So, they are hoping that that advent of the sandbags will mitigate the water having to cross the roadway and, of course, cause problems to nearby residents in that area.
09:33Yeah, that is correct.
09:34So, we ought to be our brother's keepers and look out for each other in this time.
09:39As I said before, we know that there are persons who would want to pounce on the ills of others, and we will be prepared to treat with those situations, those circumstances.
09:50Don't take anything for granted.
09:52Of course not.
09:53Do not gamble with your safety.
09:56Do not put your vehicle in areas that you are not certain about.
10:00You know, continue to be updated by the advisories so that you can make the best decision regarding where you pass in order to reach where you want to go.
10:11And thanks for pointing out the advisories.
10:13I know that the Ministry of Education, of course, would have sent out an advisory earlier on today, of course, monitoring the weather conditions.
10:21Because we know with this kind of weather, it's important that children, and by extension, adults who are working in various workplaces, you know, leave a little bit earlier, of course, if the weather permits that, you know, it's time to go before it gets even worse.
10:37Of course.
10:38Of course.
10:38And I'm glad that you mentioned children, Mark.
10:40Yes.
10:41Because we need to be extra vigilant regarding our children.
10:47Indeed.
10:47Because for some, this might be a, we all know about running in the rain, playing in the rain, dancing in the rain, and sometimes given that lack of maturity, children may venture into areas that might be very, very dangerous.
11:03Yes.
11:03So please don't take things for granted.
11:05Don't allow your children to go unsupervised in these circumstances.
11:10Well, it should be, generally speaking, but even be more cautious in these circumstances so that we don't have to get any news of anyone being washed away or anything like that.
11:18Yeah.
11:19We had a couple of incidents like that over the last few years, you know, tragic incidents, of course, you know, children playing near a drain even or in that vicinity.
11:28And these rising floodwaters, it's, it is no, it doesn't care who you are, whether you're a child or an adult.
11:34Well, you're swept away and, of course, sometimes you're lucky that you're saved by somebody who might have seen you or throw a rope.
11:42Yes.
11:42And sometimes, unfortunately, you found, the person's body is found quite a distance from where they actually went missing.
11:51So we want to kind of implore all those out there to be very vigilant with this adverse weather in effect as we speak.
12:01All right, we're going to take a look now at our headlines.
12:34So those are some of the headlines within the last 24 hours.
12:42And, you know, it's, it's, it's rather disappointing to see, you know, when we talk about scams and so on.
12:46So, uh, two, uh, female officers, uh, allegedly arrested for conspiracy to defraud granted bail, you know, after promising persons, uh, what the term HCC house by, by way of paying us it in sum of money.
13:02And I know that is not a good reflection on the TGPS, obviously.
13:06Yeah, it's never a pleasing situation when we have to treat with circumstances of this nature involving our very own officers.
13:15Uh, we have been able to demonstrate to, uh, that we are able to police ourselves.
13:20And, um, you know, it's a bittersweet thing in that, uh, we place persons before the court.
13:27And in that, we also expose the fact that we are not without, uh, issues.
13:33So, it's not limited to us, though, um, internationally, um, law enforcement agencies struggle in terms of ensuring that their officers are up to the standard regarding integrity ethics as the case may be.
13:49Um, this is not to cast aspersions on the innocence and, or the guilt of the, um, individuals involved, but, um, it does demonstrate that no one is above the law.
13:58Yeah, certainly.
13:59And, you know, as you said that, you know, it's, it's very important that, uh, we not cast aspersions on the whole, uh, TGPS.
14:06Yeah.
14:07You know, a couple people, as you said, there are always some bad apples.
14:10Yeah.
14:10And, you know, there's this consensus.
14:11I remember a caller, one of a caller, I think, yesterday, the day before, and he spoke about most of the police officers in the TGPS.
14:18I'm not trying to defend anybody, but I think, um, the, the, these, these nefarious elements are obviously in the minority, but, of course, when they make mistakes, it reflects an entire TGPS.
14:33Yeah.
14:33Well, we see it in, in, in all disciplines.
14:36Yes, of course.
14:37We see it in the law fraternity, uh, politicians, doctors.
14:42Um, I think the thing with law enforcement is that people will look at the fact that we are responsible for,
14:48uh, holding persons to account.
14:50And, uh, with that type of responsibility, you expect a certain type of behavior.
14:56And you trust that the persons conducting this type of, uh, responsibility will also ensure that they do it in a particular way,
15:07and they manage themselves in a particular way.
15:09And, and when that, that trust is, is broken, you know, it's, it's difficult to accept.
15:13Uh, so we can always understand when members of the public will view it in a particular light.
15:19We also have our, our views internally.
15:22Um, but it, it, it's never a pleasing thing.
15:26It's never a nice thing to have to investigate your own, arrest your own.
15:30But given the oath that we have undertaken, um, if we have to, we will continue to do it.
15:35Yeah, and I know that there's another incident that, uh, that's happened recently as well,
15:39where some officers are also being looked into, uh, in particular an incident involving an alleged kidnapping, of course.
15:46Uh, then we wait to see how that unfolds, uh, in the coming days as well.
15:51Yes.
15:52All right.
15:52We're going to take a short break, and we'll be back.
15:55Stay with us.
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17:50Welcome back to Beyond the J.P.
18:05I'm your host, Mark Bussan.
18:06Joined to you by ISP Ishmael Pitt of the Northern Division.
18:10And, of course, we showed you a video about a week ago from the Arima area involving a cutlass-wielding attacker,
18:22which appeared to be at a bar, striking several persons with the flat side of that cutlass,
18:27or as we see in local parlance, plannersing them.
18:31And, obviously, the police is still seeking your help in identifying this person who attacked at least three or four persons,
18:42striking this individual across his face, having to scamper.
18:47And then we had two others, the female and another guy at the top of the screen.
18:54And they're crossing the street and trying to vacate the premises after this attack.
19:00And I know, ASP Pitt, you all are working feverishly to try and find this person.
19:04Yeah, we need to get this person immediately, if not before.
19:09He went on a rampage.
19:11It could have been much worse than it ended up.
19:14We don't know what was the motive for him doing that.
19:18And it's very, very troubling at this point in time.
19:21We don't know if this person needs help.
19:23We really can't say.
19:25So, it is important that we get hold of him so that we can conduct our investigations
19:30and determine exactly what transpired here and what was the reason for it.
19:35And it's clear to me from this particular video that, you know,
19:39everybody became very fearful, scattered.
19:43And there's also the added component that there's vehicular traffic on the roads
19:46and people are trying to cross.
19:48And that guy in the black there, you know, God forbid that vehicle was coming down.
19:52Yeah, he could have been struck.
19:53He might have been struck.
19:54That's right.
19:54And this other guy as well in the black who's running here too.
19:57There's a vehicle just pulling out behind there as well.
20:00And if you decided to just, you know, change direction.
20:04Yeah, he could have been struck.
20:05And go across, try to run across the road because you're trying to flee from this attacker.
20:09As you said, it might have been much worse.
20:10But we are seeing his face plain as day here, like the attack.
20:15And we are hopeful with the public's assistance that you will contact the Arima Police Station
20:23and give any information about this individual, where he lives, his name, where he hangs out,
20:32anything that will help the police in trying to apprehend them as soon as possible.
20:36Yeah, and if you observe the persons who are being attacked, they look very, very confused.
20:43They were.
20:43Yeah, so they have themselves trying to ascertain, well, why?
20:47What is causing this?
20:49And that is why some of them at some point in time, you observe that they stood still.
20:54They stood there ground, not expecting that they may have been attacked.
20:57Yeah, so they think that is why, at least this gentleman.
21:01Exactly.
21:01Sorry, the blue hand strike.
21:03He was, he saw the attack, he ran from the table.
21:07Maybe he thought that the actual target was first and foremost the female.
21:12Yeah.
21:12Who obviously, but then he ignores her and he's walking around striking anybody.
21:17That's right.
21:18That he could lay his hands on.
21:20Yeah, yeah.
21:21So it's very, very troubling.
21:22And as I said before, we need to get this person as soon as possible.
21:27As soon as possible.
21:28So please, we are urging the public to reach out to the ARIMA police station or any other police station
21:33or the 800 tips or even crime stoppers with any information to bring this person to the attention of the police
21:42and, of course, be apprehended by the police and be questioned about this very vicious and violent act.
21:49Yes, indeed.
21:49Mark, we have been asking a question.
21:53Yeah, yeah, you go ahead.
21:54In terms of school violence.
21:56Now, we know in our times school violence existed.
22:01You will always have fights and persons will deal with conflict in a particular way.
22:05The argument now is that there appears to be more.
22:08And some would say it's more apparent because of the fact that persons can use technology and they can film
22:16and we can see exactly what it is taking place, whereas back in the day, it didn't have that.
22:21However, what we may all agree upon is that the disrespect for adults and authority is much more apparent.
22:33It's much more evident than it was in our time.
22:37In fact, some may argue it didn't exist in our time because from the moment an adult intervened,
22:43from the moment a police officer intervened or any person in authority,
22:48they found that persons would have retreated or, you know, stopped whatever they were doing and moved on.
22:54But now you are seeing that even with this type of intervention, children are still behaving a particular way.
23:03I don't know why it is, but as you said, with the advent of social media, cell phones and all these things coming into play,
23:14I don't know if it's to show you bigger and badder than somebody else, you know, and filming this attack while others egg you on.
23:22It's really disappointing that you're going to school to learn and to learn, of course, you know, discipline
23:28and all those other things, good things that we all would have gone through the school system to learn.
23:35And, you know, it's very disheartening that every other day we would see something play out on social media.
23:42We had the latest in the Coover school there.
23:46The mother, you know, very distraught by the attack on her daughter.
23:50She was actually standing by the netigate because she'd always told her child not to come outside and wait until.
23:57Right?
23:58And she had to seek medical attention.
23:59And she wants, of course, these persons to be brought to justice.
24:03To justice, yeah.
24:04But what do you think is that in terms of the consequence?
24:07Because largely we have been utilizing what some may deem the softer approach.
24:14And understandably so.
24:16It's children that we are treating with.
24:18And we would expect that in the first instance we use what we may deem as progressive discipline.
24:23However, we are seeing that clearly the issue still exists.
24:32And I think it's for that reason that the Prime Minister may have called out and asked for a much more robust approach.
24:38So that, you know, that deterrence in itself can be recognized.
24:42When persons observe that the consequence in itself is as such that, you know, it would deter them from wanting to carry out these particular acts.
24:51But it's never a comforting scene when you recognize that children who are supposed to be behaving a particular way,
24:59And even so, even if they end up in some situation of conflict and adults intervene, you would expect that as children, they behave as children.
25:08But we are not seeing that.
25:09We are seeing children now behaving as how the common man on the street will behave.
25:17And I'm saying the common man.
25:18The common man who is involved in a circumstance that is triggered by the gang activity,
25:25triggered by social media influence, triggered by what they are observing.
25:29on these movies that are prone to violence.
25:33So, you know, we need to take a deeper look at the influence that can be contributing to the behavior that we are seeing.
25:42And I want to ask you something, yes, Pippet.
25:45When you go to court, in most instances, and especially in cases like murder,
25:52the magistrate or the judge speaks about a premeditated act.
25:57Yes.
25:57Now, if you have students having a brawl or you had a particular tiff with somebody before,
26:05and then you all sit together and say, we are going to attack him after school.
26:09Yeah.
26:09That's a premeditation of the act.
26:11Yes.
26:11So, if you can do that, then, and you have enough sense to plan something like that,
26:19then, like adults, you also have to be liable for your actions.
26:24Of course.
26:26That's just my view.
26:27Of course.
26:27Of course.
26:27You know, if you want to be an adult or claim to be an adult at the age of 14 or 15 and want to do things that, you know, that are against the law,
26:39you have to feel the footprint of the law, even as a teenager.
26:44Of course.
26:45And, again, we believe that some persons are taking things for granted.
26:50Some children are taking things for granted.
26:52In the sense that there are a lot of things that existed before that doesn't exist now regarding discipline.
27:01And probably the consequence is not as immediate as it should be in order to get the type of effect that we are looking for.
27:08So, we need to do some type of research to understand.
27:14From our lens, it seems to be a global circumstance when you look at international countries and what have you.
27:21They are also experiencing the same thing.
27:25And, largely, we have more or less patterned their approach in terms of how we treated our children.
27:30From even within the walls of the home, the walls of the school, and even the walls of the court.
27:40And, clearly, we still have an issue.
27:43So, we need to do something in terms of research.
27:46And, the research should be geared to our circumstance because sometimes we may import certain ideas.
27:51We may import certain approaches.
27:54And, it probably just might be the best fit.
27:56Well, you and I know in our days, you did something wrong in school.
27:59You get a cut tail, right?
28:01You know, we don't have that kind of flexibility anymore.
28:05And, if the neighbor sees you doing something wrong, there's permission by your parents to also give you a good cut tail.
28:13Of course.
28:14And, you know, that thing, of course, has evolved now because then it becomes something more now of a resistance that if you hit my child, I'm coming in school for you.
28:24Yes, yes.
28:25So, that is how the society has changed.
28:28Yeah.
28:28Rather than looking, you know, like, you know, in the village, a child has something wrong and he's cautioned or he gets a little slap or something.
28:37Yeah.
28:37You can't do that now in these days.
28:39That's right.
28:40So, we have grown to accept the adage, it takes a neighborhood to grow a child.
28:45Yes.
28:46And that's in the real sense because what you might not observe, your neighbor might observe, you know, the coach might observe, even the young adults in the community might observe.
28:58And they were more or less encouraged previously to take action.
29:04And there was a common understanding where that was concerned.
29:08But you are correct.
29:10Now, persons are afraid to have that type of intervention for fear that they may be the target of a parent who doesn't support that.
29:20And which places us in a worse situation.
29:23Yes.
29:24So, well said.
29:26All right.
29:26We're going to take a short break and we'll be back with your calls.
29:29Stay with us.
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31:47Welcome to Beyond the Tape. I'm your host, Mark Bassan, joined today by ASP Ishmael,
32:06part of the Northern Division.
32:08And we always tell you that persons who are caught on camera and we show your activities nefarious
32:15in any way, they will be at some point held.
32:20ASP Pitts.
32:21Yes, so we want to thank members of the public.
32:24We were able to show something on this program regarding this man who believed that what persons had belonged to him.
32:31And he went to different station districts from Eastern Division through Northern North Division to North Central Division,
32:40kind of these acts, this level of entitlement.
32:44Fortunately, he was held.
32:46He went before the court.
32:48And he didn't waste the court time.
32:52Right.
32:53Right?
32:53He did not waste the court time.
32:55And justice was served.
32:59He was given four years for a robbery that took place in the Rio Claro District,
33:04two years for something that occurred in the Arima District,
33:07and 14 months for another incident that occurred in the Aruka District.
33:11So, hats off to the investigators, hats off to the persons who contributed to his arrest
33:17and was able to be part of this man receiving justice in a timely manner.
33:25So, this matter here that we just saw, he's yet to be charged for that particular matter.
33:31He was dealt with that.
33:33All those matters.
33:34Right.
33:35This is one of the matters.
33:35That is correct.
33:37That is correct.
33:37This occurred in Arima.
33:39So, right.
33:39So, crime doesn't pay.
33:40Clearly, it doesn't pay.
33:42I don't know if you think that, you know, with the advent of technology, it works for and against you, no?
33:46It works for and against you.
33:48Because, in this case, it works against him because you can clearly see his face there.
33:53And, of course, when I went to Arima, a tax driver was telling us about this same gentleman
33:58who apparently, a couple weeks ago, had robbed a shopkeeper as well.
34:03And the shopkeeper did go on social media and indicate, you know, he had shown some video angles of the guy as well.
34:08Yes.
34:09About that particular incident.
34:10And then we started to hear there was a pattern emerging.
34:13Yeah.
34:14And along your district and along the East West Corridor.
34:16That is correct.
34:17In reference to this person.
34:18So, it's certainly very good news that, you know, with the public's assistance, as you say, ASP Pitt,
34:26their job as the civilians is equally important to assist the police in doing what they need to do.
34:33In fact, I'll go further.
34:34I'll say it's of paramount importance.
34:36Yes.
34:36Because they are the ones who actually experience whatever the situation offered.
34:42And we are coming in now as an external force, if you would call it that, or an external agent to, you know,
34:51determine what was reported, have a full understanding based on the account of the victim,
34:56and be able now to place this in a position where he could withstand judicial scrutiny.
35:00In the absence of persons contributing to this, cooperating, then, you know, it would fall down.
35:07It usually falls down.
35:09The advent of technology, though, it has made it a lot easier for us.
35:13And we would always laud persons who continue to have their places with CCTV cameras.
35:21We encourage that.
35:22As you said, technology continues to work for us.
35:25Yes, it works against us at times.
35:26But the benefits are really, really tremendous once utilized correctly.
35:30As I said, I think that is the direction of the TTPS, being able to make the country safer and secure.
35:40The advent of technology is an extremely important tool in ensuring the safety of persons.
35:46And as you said, when you have these cameras in specific locations, even if it's not on a private property,
35:53but mounted on a street light, or a street pole, and a particular car was involved in a particular incident.
36:00Yes.
36:00And you see that car traverse a certain roadway, and as it goes down, it is captured by a camera or cameras
36:10that can assist the police in the investigation.
36:13Okay, this car with false number plates, three assailants, was seen fleeing a house.
36:18The house probably did not have any cameras.
36:21Maybe the house next door did.
36:22Or rather, you know, 100 meters down the road, there were two cameras mounted on various electricity poles.
36:29And that is the kind of assistance technology renders to help the police solve crime.
36:34You are absolutely correct.
36:35And for that matter, we know that we have shown other videos identifying incidents where persons would have broken the law,
36:43more so from the perspective of stealing.
36:45And we trust that in a short period of time, we will be able to account to the public as to how those matters ended up.
36:51You know, as you talk about stealing, I know you showed up.
36:55Okay, I think we have a caller.
36:57I'll hold that thought.
36:58Caller, good evening.
37:01Hello.
37:01Good evening, caller.
37:02You're live and beyond the tape.
37:03Go ahead.
37:04Good evening.
37:05I would just like to make a comment, right?
37:07What can the police, both the police and the media do to make the public be more comfortable with reporting a crime?
37:20Because, you know, sometimes I'm not true in shape to either the police or the media,
37:24but sometimes the media tends to show things that are unnecessary for the public.
37:29As far as I'm concerned, in the public eye.
37:31I remember a time there was a case where the police were, they found out a guy who was shot in the forest,
37:39and they said, okay, the guy who reported the police who didn't exercise in the area,
37:43and this car, they called the particular car, the caller.
37:47The driver came and told them there was a guy who was shot in the forest, and the police abandoned the exercise on the road,
37:54and went and assist the guy and helped him to the hospital and whatever.
37:57You know, so if I am as a normal citizen, I wouldn't feel comfortable, you know, reporting certain things because that person see my face,
38:10the person know me, and then the media would paint everything, would give all the full details about what I report.
38:17So, that's just my concern, I don't know what could be done about it, because, sure, there is a small list,
38:26and if it is that, if it is that, if it is that, if it is that, if I come and I see my neighbor not working anyway,
38:32and he come home with a particular car, I should feel safe to say, well, hey, I call in your station and say,
38:38check this out, but I don't want my name called, you know, so that is just my contribution.
38:45I don't know what could be done, but thank you very much.
38:49Excellent, excellent, excellent.
38:50I'll let you take the police side first.
38:53Right, so he's speaking about the aspect of confidentiality,
38:57and, you know, not exposing the victim or the person making the report to harm because of what is placed in the public domain.
39:10Well, I can tell you from a policing perspective, we have done a lot.
39:15We have 999-800-TIPS-555, which are all anonymous means by which you can make a report.
39:25And especially when we look at the 555 issue, it so far has been beyond reproach.
39:37There has been no breach at all where persons channel information via those means.
39:44Regarding the 999, we also have a similar circumstance.
39:49The issue there is that you may engage a police officer or the person who is at the dispatcher,
39:57and that person, because of the fact that they fall within the parameters of the police service,
40:02whoever is making the report may not be that comfortable,
40:04so you also have that other means in terms of making the report.
40:07If we are looking at it from the perspective of sometimes of gender,
40:10and we spoke ad nauseum regarding the fact that men can also be victims of certain crime types,
40:19domestic violence.
40:20And we can't ignore the fact that in the past, persons may have gone to police stations,
40:25and because you are a man, you may have had a particular type of reception
40:30that may not have been the most professional.
40:32So the levels of training, one, and the fact that we have introduced an entire department
40:39that has been sensitized and specifically trained to facilitate reports of that nature.
40:45Now, this is apart from the average police officer now having that understanding
40:50that notwithstanding someone's gender or notwithstanding someone's sexual orientation,
40:57that they ought to be treated in a particular way,
40:59so that that comfort level regarding that person walking into a station
41:04and not feeling, you know, alienated or feeling less of a person
41:10or some sense of humiliation, it does not exist.
41:13So what we see are members of the public, what we see are citizens of Trinidad and Tobago,
41:18who we see are customers and persons who are entitled to come and make reports.
41:22We have gone even further than that regarding when we make our releases in the public domain,
41:28and oftentimes you would observe that we would not mention certain names.
41:32So you would have the story, but you may not have the names.
41:36So sometimes when names are released, it's because we are quite comfortable
41:39that those names are, you know, capable of being released at that point in time.
41:43Now, we know Mark, and I'm glad that he placed the media into the domain,
41:47because the media is very, very robust, and they will call and they will knock,
41:51and they would want to know, and they want to know, and they want to know.
41:55And sometimes because we are not providing the information,
41:58there is some level of suspicion that can be attached to it.
42:01But I can assure you that the information that is being withheld at that point in time
42:09usually is in the interest of ensuring that the victim's security is preserved.
42:16Well, I want to say on behalf of the media,
42:17the word I want to use here is responsibility.
42:23Ah, excellent.
42:24Responsible reporting.
42:25And many times a lot of journalists are privy to the entire police report.
42:30It is shared with us.
42:32But now you have to extract the information that you think is pertinent
42:35without compromising the safety of those persons or person.
42:41You can tell a story at times, but it's rather sensitive,
42:46because you can put someone's life in danger.
42:49And I know that all too well, reporting hundreds of stories over the last several years,
42:54and I expect that my colleagues will also exercise that type of responsibility,
43:01because that is what you gain your credibility on,
43:06your trust with other police officers who will willingly speak to you,
43:09and they say, hey, this information is just for your knowledge.
43:13I know you might just want to know their name,
43:16but I ask you not to publish a name,
43:18because this person has been a victim of crime,
43:21or they have witnessed the crime,
43:23and you don't want to put them in any uncomfortable position.
43:27So for all the young journalists out there,
43:30please, I ask you to be extremely responsible,
43:33along with the other tenets of objectivity, truth, fairness, and accuracy.
43:38All right, we're going to take a short break, and we'll be back.
43:41Stay with us.
43:51Bye.
44:06Bye.
44:07Bye.
44:08Bye.
44:09Bye.
44:09Bye.
44:09Bye.
46:10Colleagues was here on Tuesday, and we did speak about that law retreat day on the Saturday, I think it was the 31st.
46:19And I know you would have passed through, and I just wanted you to kind of give us your take and how was it, the feeling of speaking to these residents, persons in this area?
46:30Yeah.
46:30Yeah, well, unfortunately, I did not pass you because I had another engagement.
46:36However, I can tell you from the feedback of the officers who were there and even members of the community who I have a good rapport with, I am able to say that, you know, it was a tremendous success.
46:48It was well-received from the community standpoint, and from a policing standpoint, we were able to achieve the objective that was set out in the first instance.
46:56Because we trust that something like this is going to have a residual effect.
47:00That doesn't mean to say that we are not going to have events like this planned for the not-too-distant future, and we intend to have it widespread throughout the entirety of Northern Division.
47:12Now, I'm speaking towards that regarding Northern Division, but I can tell you throughout the Toronto and Bago Police Service, it's no secret that these community policing engagements are what we may call a tremendous tool regarding how we are able to build back that level of trust and confidence in the Toronto and Bago Police Service.
47:32Yeah, and it's important that, you know, residents in various areas attend these community policing events to get a sense of the things that they need addressed, offer ideas to you guys, how to fix certain problems in the community outside of the violent crimes.
47:51But there are other things that are happening, and ASB Jones spoke about, you know, the need for homework centers.
47:57I think with, you know, a lot of children, you know, not having that guidance, maybe single parents having to work, and these children go at home, and they're having difficulty in a particular subject, math, English, literature, English language, etc.
48:13And I think it's important to have centers like that across Trinidad and Tobago that these young students could go and seek help if they have difficulty in a particular subject or subjects.
48:25And feel reassured in themselves that there's somebody there to help if their parents are not available at a particular day or time.
48:33Indeed, definitely. And our youth clubs have been doing a tremendous job in terms of filling that void regarding parenting.
48:41And it doesn't mean to say that they're absent parents, and it's for that reason that they place their children into the youth club.
48:47We would encourage all parents to have their children participate in the youth club program.
48:53We have so many success stories regarding children who are part of the program and who were part of the program previously,
49:01and they are now what we will call on the trajectory to be the type of citizen that the country is seeking.
49:08In terms of, you mentioned how important it is to have the police intervention in situations like this to get that feedback from the community.
49:18And what happens, Mark, is that we look at it from an external standpoint and sometimes through the strict lens of policing.
49:28And those persons in the community who live there, who interact, who have a working and a living understanding as to the environment,
49:36they are in a better position to tell us how to fix the problem.
49:39So if there is a disconnect, we might be utilizing approaches that may not be as effective.
49:47So the rapport and that continuous level of communication is of paramount importance so that we can, you mentioned those centers,
49:56and it might be other social issues that if dealt with, you know, we can see the type of progress that we would want to see in some of those communities.
50:05Well, we certainly remain optimistic that, you know, initiatives like this and others will obviously augur well for the future of the youths
50:15and other persons in these at-risk communities.
50:17Yeah.
50:18All right, we're going to take a short break and hopefully we'll get a call or two when we get back.
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52:22Welcome back to Beyond the Tape.
52:38I'm your host, Mark Bassan, joined today by ASP Ishmael Pitt of the Northern Division.
52:43And I know you wanted to share some good news.
52:45I hear you're joining a band.
52:47Is that true?
52:47Well, I think all police officers are in some way or the other attached to the band.
52:56You know, we are so proud of these officers who are able now to go out there and they are the showpiece for Chiantobago Police Service.
53:03And I dare say that we have the best band in Chiantobago when it comes to the protective services.
53:09Now, I know out there are members of the Defense Force, members of the Prison Service and the Fire Service who are looking on and saying,
53:16what madness is this man saying?
53:18But we stand by that.
53:22Yes, our band is the best band in Chiantobago.
53:25And it's for that reason that we are continuously invited into the communities in order to create that level of serenity.
53:33Yeah, that level of peace.
53:36So, come on, the 28th of June, Jade Park 500 community, you will be treated to the TTPS band live.
53:47So, this is at Edinburgh 500, Chaguanas, from 4 p.m.
53:51And, Mark, listen to me.
53:53I am telling you that you should also be in attendance and you will be able to experience firsthand what it is I'm speaking about.
53:59Added attractions in terms of safety, security, and law enforcement.
54:05Boots on display from 3 o'clock.
54:08So, you are getting a tremendous package.
54:11What an evening to spend.
54:12It sounds good.
54:13And I imagine they will play different genres of music.
54:16Indeed.
54:16For all walks of life.
54:18Yes.
54:19And for all ages.
54:20Yes.
54:21And I'm going to put you on the spot here and ask you, you know, if you had a choice to join that band,
54:28what would you say you would like to do?
54:32I would have been the director.
54:34Ah.
54:35Yeah.
54:35Yeah.
54:36It looks like the easiest job.
54:37It's probably the most difficult.
54:39The most difficult job.
54:39Looks can be deceiving.
54:40Of course.
54:42You know, because.
54:43So, it might look like that.
54:44Listening to all these different instruments being played.
54:47Yes.
54:47Keeping them in harmony.
54:48Yes.
54:49It's a very difficult job because you have to have a tree in the air as well.
54:53Yeah.
54:53Indeed.
54:54So, you know if somebody is going off cue, stop them, you.
54:56But the band is still playing, eh?
54:58Yeah.
54:59Yeah.
54:59It reminds me as we were having a short discussion during the break about, you know,
55:04going to look at the orchestra in the Austria of Vienna.
55:08And looking at those composers, how they coordinate and have violeness, drop their tune and then somebody speeds up.
55:15Yes.
55:15Yes.
55:16Yes.
55:16Yes.
55:16Yes.
55:16Yes.
55:16It's very fascinating.
55:18Yes.
55:18Yes.
55:18The director looks extremely animated.
55:20Yeah.
55:21Yeah.
55:21Yeah.
55:21And it's as though he or she's having a lot of fun.
55:23Um, but in a sense, you know, it's a tremendous undertaking and you know, if they go off, then
55:29the band could go off as well.
55:30So, you, you know, you made a very valid point that I, I want to endorse, I'm sorry,
55:35but I have to endorse what ASP Pitt is saying because I remember this band went to New York
55:41and the officer, you know, who has made a full recovery and we thank God for that.
55:47Uh, and they performed magnificently in New York City last year.
55:52Of course.
55:52Of course.
55:53Yes.
55:53And, um, it was well received and I think I, I, I read on social media, uh, how impressed
56:00Yeah.
56:00persons who heard the band.
56:02Were.
56:03Yeah.
56:03Were.
56:03Yeah.
56:04With the performance level of the band.
56:07Yes.
56:08Which was A-class.
56:09I, I am not surprised.
56:10You, you, someone as though you are, you are surprised.
56:12Um, it, it, it tells us, Mark, that the world wants the policeman to be present, all right?
56:19And I am not surprised as, um, I've seen, I've heard, uh, the, the, the type of, uh, music
56:25that comes out of those instruments.
56:27Uh, I was asking one of the officers the other day, you know, if it is that, um, there,
56:32there's this special sort of, apart from being able to play the music, um, but now it's something
56:38additional, being able to play the music and also match in time, you know, that level of
56:42synergy.
56:42And oftentimes they would play, like, for a retreat and so on.
56:45They would have these soca songs, you know, they're doing the little jig, you know.
56:48So, they have made it, um, our thing, as much as we have inherited a lot from our colonial
56:54past.
56:54They have turned it into our thing, and that in itself is tremendous.
56:58And certainly, you know, I, I saw the police band in action, and as you talk about marching,
57:02and at the, the, the, you just concluded sports there a couple weeks ago.
57:05Yes.
57:05Yes.
57:06Yes.
57:06Where the acting commissioner was in full force, blowing past everybody.
57:10Yes.
57:11And there were some interesting routines, of course, but nevertheless, I know that the
57:14police band, you know, uh, don't forget, uh, 4 p.m. June 28th, Edinburgh 500.
57:23Uh, Shabona scored there and listen to some great music.
57:26All right.
57:26Remember, rerun tonight at 11.30.
57:29Another rerun tomorrow at 11 o'clock.
57:33The TV6 News is up next, and we'll be back here tomorrow at 6.
57:36Stay with us.
57:36We'll be back here tomorrow at 11 o'clock.
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57:43We'll be back here tomorrow at 11 o'clock.
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57:47We'll be back here tomorrow at 11 o'clock.
57:48We'll be back here tomorrow at 11 o'clock.
57:49We'll be back here tomorrow at 11 o'clock.
57:50We'll be back here tomorrow at 11 o'clock.
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