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02:32Yes, and a very special good evening, Trinidad and Tobago.
02:49Marlon Hopkins says, always welcome to Beyond the Tape.
02:52Yes, so I hope that you're having a good day.
02:55And let me tell you, we do have a very, very special guest on our program this evening.
03:01The gentleman has only been in office for 17 days now, yet he has taken up the opportunity to come and co-host with me this evening.
03:13And for that, thank you very much for the support, sir, and thank you very much for coming.
03:17We do have in-house this evening the police commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. Alistair Wevaro.
03:24Commissioner, thank you very much for coming.
03:26And a pleasant good day to you, Marlon, and all your viewership.
03:31Just a slight correction.
03:33Yes.
03:3317 days, it's actually 10.
03:3610 days.
03:37Yes, because you would have taken up the reins of the police service, I believe, on the 17th.
03:42And the 17th.
03:43Yeah, and today is the 27th.
03:45Equal to our URB.
03:47You hear what the commissioner said?
03:49Equal to our URB.
03:51Yeah?
03:51So some may say, Mr. Commissioner, that here's what.
03:55The commissioner is still in the honeymoon phase of your position as police commissioner.
04:03But you are taking over, or you have taken over, the TTPS at a very critical time in this country's history.
04:10I don't have to remind you, Mr. Commissioner, that we are just coming off two years of very, very high murders in Trinidad and Tobago.
04:18Home invasions, robberies, break-ins.
04:21I mean, the list goes on and on and on and on.
04:25Also, during the run-up to the general election, the prime minister would have also put on the table that she believes that the crime situation could be addressed in about six months' time.
04:36And I put all of that on the table in the context to ask you, Mr. Commissioner, what's your plan as it relates to crime in Trinidad and Tobago, and what's your vision, and how do you intend to achieve it?
04:48All right.
04:48Let me start with the last question first.
04:51Yes.
04:51What is the vision?
04:52My vision is the exact vision that the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service has, to make every place in Trinidad and Tobago safe.
05:00How do I intend to accomplish that vision?
05:02I would like to partner with the public, improve police legitimacy, and let us get the public involved in our policing effort.
05:11They are all stakeholders in the TTPS, and similarly to having stakeholder interests in a company.
05:19You would want to see that company do well.
05:21So, personally for me, if I buy shares in a company, I would want to make sure that that company does the best that it can, so I could get ROI, my return on my investment.
05:31You understand?
05:32So, interestingly, you also mentioned the prime minister making a statement about six months getting crime down.
05:39What I can say is that the police service, under my leadership, will make every effort to fulfill that mandate that the prime minister has set.
05:47Now, we all know it's a difficult task, and as the elephant in the room, and a large elephant, we intend to take it one bite at a time.
05:55Yes.
05:55And just to correct you again, there's no honeymoon period.
05:59Had to come in and hit the ground running.
06:01So, you would have seen certain things going on in the media.
06:05You would have seen certain actions and strategies that have already begun to roll out.
06:10What I can say is that most of the strategies that are actually in play at this point in time are not visible to the public.
06:18And those are the ones that we would want to keep quiet, because should we advertise those strategies, it will be disingenuous to the police.
06:26Yeah.
06:27I want to get back to the point that you would have made about people participation, because it's not the first time that we have heard someone speak about it.
06:36It's not the first time we have heard a police commissioner speak about it, about that people participation.
06:41Of course, the police service has had the campaign, if you see something, say something.
06:48So, it is not a new concept.
06:51And I say that to say this, because while it would have worked, I suspect, somewhat, but I think that the results that the TTPS and the country would have wanted, they never really got it.
07:07That people participation.
07:08Well, there could be many different reasons for that.
07:14Any organization that has to deal with customer service, we would have good customer service and we would have bad customer service.
07:21What we must take from the bad customer service is that data and we must analyze where we went wrong and offer training to our officers so that they'll be able to interact in a more effective way with the members of the public to gain that trust for us.
07:36So, for instance, let me just make one point.
07:37Today, I received a message from the Minister of Homeland Security telling me about a particular individual who reached out to him to indicate to him that last night his son was a victim of robbery in the St. James District.
07:55And he heaped glowing praises on a constable named Myers.
07:59Now, I don't know Mr. Myers personally, but I wish to point that out that those are the interactions that would make the TTPS great again.
08:07All right.
08:08That level of feedback.
08:09Let's deal with the issue of resources now, because I suspect because of your plans and what you want to achieve, they would require resources.
08:21But this has been a country where sometimes you still call the police station.
08:27They don't have a vehicle.
08:30In some cases, the police officers don't have stationary.
08:33In some cases, they don't have receipts.
08:36In some cases, they do have these bulletproof vests that have already expired.
08:42So there are a number of niggling problems still facing police officers on a daily basis.
08:49I don't have to tell you about morale, too.
08:51Some police officers feel that they are already overworked.
08:55So how do you, in an attempt to achieve what you have described to us here this evening, in light of all of these problems and challenges, how do you plan to overcome them?
09:08So, in short, I would like to amalgamate particular resources in the TTPS so we could have more efficient use.
09:17I wouldn't want to go too much into the strategy behind it, but I can say that it's something that we are going to look at, we're going to monitor it, we're going to evaluate it, and we're going to tweak it as it becomes necessary.
09:28You mentioned morale in the police service.
09:30So, I came here for the purpose of making a particular announcement this evening.
09:36And it's a huge announcement, and it has two sides to that coin.
09:41The first arm of it is in keeping with policy direction that the government would have advocated during its election time, and it is something that I felt that the TTPS can utilize to build on public trust, firearms issues in the country.
10:03Yes.
10:03So, I want to make a pronouncement this evening here on that.
10:07I took the decision today to call for all of the firearm users license applications for 2025 that have not yet expired past six months.
10:20So, if you have an application, and it is not going past the six months, I will entertain that application for a decision.
10:30I'm not saying whether or not, nay or nay, for a decision.
10:33The reason why I'm using, and I would like the public to understand, that six-month barrier is that one of the, or several of the criteria for getting a firearm users license, one of them is a certificate of character.
10:46And that is only valid for six months.
10:49So, having an invalid certificate of character, we can't go forward.
10:53We have medical certificates, psychometric evaluations, and also letters from your spouses.
10:58So, a lot can change in half a year.
11:00So, we need to get that updated.
11:01So, me calling for all of the firearm applications for the first six months of this year would keep within that remit and that policy directive that I gave today to have those dealt with quickly.
11:12What I'm advising the public is that all the applications, which would have had items of requirements that would have been older than six months, to kindly put yourself in order to have them updated as soon as possible.
11:28So, what I will do, I will have the firearm permit section, send these applications back out to the divisions for to be updated, and then they would return to me for the purpose of a decision on whether it should be granted or not.
11:45All right?
11:45The second part of that, I can't be arming the members of the public and not treated my own officers.
11:51So, I want to talk to my officers this evening and say to you, you have not been left behind.
11:58Yesterday, I would have visited the armory and I would have called for an audit of all the idle and serviceable pistols.
12:04And it is my intention to institute an off-duty firearm policy where I will be arming all of my frontline tactical and operational officers so that they, in the past, you treated a criminal and he would often tell you, you have to sign off yours.
12:21Well, let me tell you, my officers have to sign off their guns again.
12:25All right?
12:26Yes.
12:26So, those are the two aspects of firearms that I want to treat with here today and tell you that we are moving forward to making sure that Trinidad not only feels safer, but they are safer.
12:37Yeah.
12:38But how long is, do you estimate that this entire process should take?
12:43Of course, yes, you need to assess each candidate.
12:46Yes.
12:47Is there a deadline by which time you would like to do that?
12:50I cannot put a deadline on this because we have 55,000 applications that we have to treat with.
12:55All right?
12:56So, I cannot realistically give you a deadline.
12:58Well, what I can say is that when those files go back out into the divisions and they are updated and they return, I shall treat with them as they come in.
13:05Yeah.
13:05And you can say it's a condemnation of the police service in the past that when people make their applications, they are not contacted in a timely manner.
13:24And again, sometimes people complain, well, I haven't received any word from the police service in a year, two years, five years, 10 years, 15 years.
13:33I suspect that this, what you are telling us here this evening.
13:40So, how soon can applicants expect some word from the TTPS?
13:47Okay.
13:48So, what I can tell you, I love the word you used, criticism.
13:51Yes.
13:51And I want to add another word to that, constructive criticism.
13:54And that is what I would view that as, constructive criticism.
13:57I spent the last 10 days working until 10 p.m. in the night, treating with all the files that we had.
14:05So, those that I already have on my desk, I would have treated with.
14:08All right?
14:08I would have actually signed files today to deal with pepper spray applications.
14:11So, these are things that the public need to be aware of.
14:15And I, no stranger to dealing with matters in a frontal manner, will come to the public via the fourth and fifth estates to inform them and update them as to the strategies as they are ruled out.
14:29So, this is one of the strategies, and this is what is being ruled out now.
14:33Yeah.
14:34But, have you, or have your executive or the TTPS, however you want to put it, because of the plans that you have announced here, is there going to be a review of the procedures as it relates to, or the criteria as it relates to persons getting FULs?
14:59Because, if you have spoken about a number of 55,000, right?
15:05And you have not said, well, everybody is going to get that, eh?
15:08I have not said that.
15:08Right?
15:09You have said, well, a decision is going to be taken.
15:11A decision is going to be made.
15:12But you do have the, you still have a situation where you may now have in Trinidad and Tobago thousands of new FUL users.
15:23What about the process?
15:24Is it going to be the same process?
15:26Is there, is it going to be a reviewed process, a more rigid process?
15:30At this point in time, I think that the firearm process is one that is adequate for the system that we have.
15:39Going forward, we will monitor, as I said, those files as they go out and come back to see how we can tweak the process.
15:46And perhaps input different scenarios so that we can get a faster flow of the files in and out.
15:54But at this time, for the purposes that we need, the process is great.
15:58I think, and it has been a statement, this is a statement I would have made some time ago, but I think that there has to be, and I don't know if you'll agree with me, but I think that there has to be a standard message.
16:13One, coming from the TTPS, and two, coming from firearm dealers, because it would seem to me that everyone has a different story when it comes to what an FUL holder should do and not do.
16:27And I think that sometimes it's really up to the interpretation of the firearm dealer as to what this FUL holder should be told.
16:43Are you aware of something like that?
16:46So what I can say is that interpretation, just as the law, would fall in whomsoever listens and reads and interprets their own interpretation.
16:55So a statement I may make may be interpreted differently by a lot of different people.
17:00So the firearm dealers, I shall not comment on that.
17:04What I can comment on is that the people who are responsible or the organization that is responsible for the issue of firearm users' licenses is the TTPS.
17:15And if anyone out there in the public wants information, expert information, about how to go about acquiring a firearm user's license, they need to come to the police.
17:27Now, I can't say about the firearm dealers, but I can say, come to the police and you will get the information, because we are the ones who have to do the investigation.
17:35We are the ones who have to issue the permits, so we will know what you need to get to bring to us.
17:39All right, so I have heard different stories, and I saw in the past, some of my predecessors would have had to put out releases about persons and firearm consultants and consultancy fees and all these things.
17:58The TTPS does not charge a firearm consultancy fee.
18:00So you can call, we have information on our website, that what are the requirements for a firearm.
18:07So you don't need to pay for to get information that is free.
18:10Yeah, but you know, Mr. Commissioner, I just have about one minute before we go to our break.
18:14You, because of what you have told us this evening, you do have, you may have a situation where persons may want to call the firearms unit to get more information.
18:26What is your advice to them?
18:28All right.
18:28Because they may be a little excited.
18:30They may be a little excited.
18:31They may be.
18:32And I would want them to be.
18:33So what I can say, the information is readily available on the TTPS website with regards to all the firearm requirements, all the requirements to get a firearm user's license.
18:45Yes.
18:45You don't need to call the firearm permits unit to get that information.
18:50All right.
18:50However, in anticipation, we shall put out a media release with all the requirements that are necessary so that the public will have that.
18:58So they don't need to be searching for it.
19:01Yes.
19:02All right, Mr. Commissioner.
19:03All right.
19:03So co-hosting with me today on the program is Police Commissioner Alistair Guevaro making a number of critical and important statements here this evening.
19:14We are going to have a very short break, everybody.
19:16We're coming back.
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22:15All right, everybody, so co-hosting with me this evening is Police Commissioner Alistair Guevaro.
22:23But here's one. Before we return to Mr. Guevaro, let's take in some headlines.
22:27Thank you so much for your broadcasts.
24:55Is that a concern for you at all?
24:58All right.
24:58So, yes, that is part of the broader strategy to look at methods in which we could get those weapons tested faster
25:05and then return to the holder, as long as the investigation has reached a stage where we can make a decision
25:13as to whether the FUL holder was negligent or committed an unlawful act using that weapon.
25:21So once it was a clear case of not going down that road, the weapon can be returned.
25:27Yeah.
25:27Another thing, Jackie, I know we have something for our viewers, but I want to ask this question
25:33because I know that other groups of persons will now ask, but what about me, Mr. Commissioner?
25:40So you mentioned the persons who have their applications inside for the past six months.
25:46You have made provisions for police officers.
25:49But from time immemorial, prison officers have been calling for a nod from the police commissioner's office
25:58when it comes to firearms.
26:01And we know, and the last statistics were, that approximately over the years,
26:07over 30-something prison officers would have been killed, in some cases in the line of duty,
26:12if you want to put it that way.
26:14Are there any provisions for prison officers?
26:17Yes, there's always been provisions of prison officers, just like anyone else who would make their applications.
26:22And because of the unique nature of their circumstance, it will be dealt with in an expeditious manner.
26:29So under my watch, it will continue in that way.
26:32Actually, today I would have dealt with a couple applications of that nature.
26:35Yes.
26:36All right, Mr. Commissioner.
26:37Well, from what I understand, we do have a call.
26:40Caller, good evening.
26:42Yes, good evening.
26:43Yes.
26:44Good evening, Marlon and Commissioner.
26:46Good evening, sir.
26:47I just wanted to find out something concerning pending application.
26:51If I have a pending application, could I start to go and renew my documentation and drop it to the firearm division,
26:59or do I have to wait until my file reached back to the district station?
27:04All right, so I would urge you to wait until that file gets to your district and you are given that call or the police visit you at home to get your documents in order.
27:17What would happen if you leave and go and do it now?
27:20If it takes two months to get to you, that means your documents would have already been stale dated by two months by the time it gets into the hands of the police.
27:27All right, so let me put this on the table now because there are people who are looking at you right now, Mr. Commissioner,
27:38and are saying, well, we would have made an application five years ago, ten years ago.
27:43What about them?
27:44They need to be updated.
27:46Yes.
27:46Those requirements, especially the certificate of character, because situations change.
27:53Your letter of recommendation from your spouse, psychometric evaluation, medical tests, all of these things are affected over time.
28:02So even those persons with five and ten years, we will get to you and we will have those documents updated so that I can get that file in front of me and make a decision.
28:12Yeah. Talking about the certificate of good character, you know that we have had a number of problems concerning that.
28:19Sometimes there's equipment, sometimes the equipment break down, sometimes they don't have ink, a number of things.
28:26Mr. Commissioner, I don't have to tell you, I see you're smiling.
28:30Receipts, again, how do you plan to address all of these?
28:34And they may be very small problems, but they do affect the operations of police stations on a daily basis.
28:39Yes, indeed. And that is part of the day-to-day running of any, and I would like to say the TTPS as a business, of running of any business.
28:47But what I would like to point out is that we have gone away from using the old ink tabs where practicable.
28:54So there are some stations in the remote areas that still use them, but we have the digital fingerprinting system now up.
29:00So it's a faster process.
29:02Yes. Jackie, all right, let's go to a very short break, everybody. We're coming back.
29:07We're coming back.
29:37We're coming back.
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31:29All right, everybody.
31:44So, welcome back.
31:45So, if you have now joined us, you have missed a large part of the program, but the Police
31:49Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. Alistair Guevaro, he's co-hosting with me today.
31:54He has already made some major announcements on the program today.
31:58But, officer, I want to speak about – Jackie, I have something for you to do first before
32:03I move on.
32:05All right.
32:05So, here's what, Mr. Commissioner, I want to speak a little bit about the pepper spray.
32:09And apparently, there's a concern that the permit which is used is just a piece of paper.
32:14Is there any decision by you or any sort of thought by you to look at this and maybe make it into a card?
32:26And I'm sure I can also ask that question concerning the FULs, too, because I know that the book is not very durable.
32:34Yes, it is not.
32:35Yes, so what I can say, based on statistics that the TTPS has, we have issued so far 225 pepper spray permits to date.
32:47And we have approximately 800 – cannot confirm, but around 800 – pending applications.
32:54Before I came here, I actually would have signed a couple applications for persons who wish to import for resale.
33:02All right.
33:03Okay.
33:03So, that is already in train.
33:05So, the pepper spray is something that is available to the public.
33:09You just need to make your application and get it in train.
33:11With regards to the cards.
33:12Yes.
33:14We would like to have both the pepper spray and the current FUL cards revisited into a card with more security features.
33:24So, it is one where something similar to those license stickers that appear,
33:29where you can scan a code and determine if this is a bona fide card and what are the particulars of the holder or the owner of this card.
33:40So, we would like to put some security features in it, 21st century business.
33:44All right.
33:44So, it's on the table for consideration.
33:47Yes, yes.
33:47We want to use technology.
33:49All right.
33:49So, it's like a QR code.
33:50You scan and you can get that information out from the card, exactly,
33:53who's supposed to be the holder of this card and all the information, photograph and everything.
33:56And, of course, people are going to ask again, Mr. Commissioner, is there a deadline for these things?
34:01No.
34:01Remember, as I said, it's a large elephant and we could only eat one bite at a time.
34:08Can't eat the whole elephant, Marlon.
34:10Can't.
34:12We'll become...
34:13Some people could eat two elephants.
34:16Thank you very much, Mr. Commissioner.
34:18Let's take a call.
34:19Good evening, caller.
34:21Hello?
34:21Yes.
34:22Yes, sir.
34:23Good evening.
34:24Good evening, sir.
34:26Can I speak to the Commissioner, please?
34:28Are you speaking with him?
34:29How are you, sir?
34:31Good, good, good.
34:32I have a question.
34:34I applied twice for firearm license.
34:38Never got no response.
34:39The last time was three years ago.
34:42Okay.
34:42And if I have to do it again, you know, like, what guarantee do I have, I've got a response?
34:51Or do I have to do it again?
34:54No.
34:55That's it for the question, sir?
34:57Yes, sir.
34:58All right.
34:58Thank you, sir.
34:59So what I can reassure you, there will be no need for you to go and redo your application.
35:03Once that application is already inside, all the applications that are over six months old,
35:09we will be sending them back out for updating.
35:12And then there will be no need for you to go and go through the entire process again.
35:16So we are trying to see if we can treat with this in an efficient and effective manner.
35:21All right.
35:21Let's take another call.
35:23Good evening, caller.
35:25I've said good evening to Remnant, gentleman.
35:27Yes.
35:28Good evening, sir.
35:28I want to ask, Mr. Commissioner, I want to ask, no, let me.
35:35Go ahead, sir.
35:36Go ahead.
35:37I understand that you came in to this system 25 years ago.
35:44Sir, so hold on, hold on, hold on.
35:46I don't know that the commissioner is hearing your question.
35:49Is it possible that you can change your position a little bit and speak a little louder?
35:54That would be done.
35:54Go ahead.
35:55Go ahead.
35:56Is there any better now?
35:57Go ahead.
35:59Any better now?
35:59Go ahead, sir.
36:00Go ahead.
36:01Right.
36:02Mr. Commissioner, I understand some more information that you came into the system somewhere around 27 years ago.
36:10He came into the system 27 years ago, that's what you're saying?
36:17Did you work more with the Prime Minister Detail or the President Detail?
36:23Okay, good.
36:25Okay.
36:25So, I realize that there's a lot of confusion about my career in the TTPS.
36:31Yes.
36:31I want to assure you that I have never worked in the protective security details of any Prime Minister or President current or past.
36:42All right.
36:43So, that was an ill-gotten fallacy that came into someone's mind and they decided to put it out into the public space.
36:50So, I would have spent the majority of my career doing COVID operations.
36:58And I'm certain that out there in the public right now, a couple people may be looking at this face and saying, wait, boy, that man really catch me.
37:06But it is what it is.
37:07I did it for the sake of the security of our nation and I'm here standing here before you today and said, I will do it again if given the opportunity.
37:16But because my face is now exposed, I wouldn't be able to.
37:19But we leave it like that.
37:21You need to grow a beard and a mustache, Mr. Commissioner.
37:24One question.
37:25What about persons who were investigated within the last year and files are waiting for provisional permits?
37:30What happens to them?
37:31As long as the file contains expired documents, it must be sent back out.
37:40I cannot in good conscience approve any application that is over six months old and the CFC, the letter from your wife or husband, the medical certificate and the psychometric test is something that is archaic and outdated.
37:55So I need to get something within that six-month period for me to legitimately grant or deny that permit.
38:03All right.
38:04Let's take another call.
38:05Good evening, caller.
38:06Good afternoon, Marlon.
38:07Good afternoon, Mr. Commissioner.
38:09Good afternoon, sir.
38:10How are you?
38:11I okay.
38:12I have a simple question for the commissioner.
38:14The box stops by the commissioner.
38:16Mr. Commissioner, during the state of emergency, if I call and say Marlon have a gun under your pillow, you could go and collect it.
38:25Now, if I call and tell the officer Marlon have a gun under your pillow, I see it here.
38:31The officer has to get a search warrant and can't get it in 24 hours, sometimes longer than 24 hours to go and take that gun from Marlon.
38:38I believe you, the man, to stop that.
38:40If you get put, put another information, Marlon have a gun, you must be able to go in Marlon's house and get that gun legally.
38:48Thank you, sir.
38:48Have a blessed evening.
38:50Mr. Man, don't call my name with no gun in no house.
38:52So, caller, if you have any information that Marlon has a gun under his pillow, call me after.
38:57We will treat you that.
38:58But what I can say, the system of warrants has evolved and changed, and some people may find it being a little more tedious, a little more lengthy.
39:08But we are working with the judiciary and stakeholders to ensure that the new Ajepa comes on stream and that we are able to better access warrants in a more timely manner.
39:19So, as soon as those items are ironed out and rolled out, the members of the public will begin to feel the effects of that.
39:25All right, everybody, co-hosting with me this evening is Police Commissioner Alistair Wevaru.
39:31We are going to a very short break.
39:32We're coming back.
39:36Good day, everyone.
39:37I am Senior Superintendent of Police Michael Deer.
39:40I am Sajina Kadir Atalia.
39:42Today, I wish to remind you of the Committee of Justice Clinton, a collaborative initiative endorsed by the Commissioner of Police and the Executive of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
39:53The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service Community Justice Clinic is a partner initiative between the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and volunteer attorneys who provide confidential and free legal advice as it relates to private and civil matters, including matrimonial grievances, domestic violence, divorce, custody, access, maintenance, land, estate, and any non-criminal matters.
40:17This initiative commenced in October 2021 and has been consistently serving members of the public the last Saturday of every month between the hours of 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
40:29This Saturday, the 28th of June, 2025, we will be at the Maitawa Community Center located at Pitiburg San Juan and also at the Masiru Village Council Community Center located in Mova.
40:42Any member of the public can attend either of these two locations. No registration is required. You can contact 480-1421 for further information.
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43:58All right, everybody
44:12So welcome back
44:13Of course, co-hosting with me is Police Commissioner Alistair Guevara
44:17Mr. Commissioner, people are saying they like what they see
44:19You know, you're going to have to come here and co-host with us
44:21And more often
44:22Ooh
44:23I don't want to steal anybody's thunder
44:25Let's take another call, please
44:28Good evening, caller
44:30Hi, good afternoon, Marlon
44:31Good afternoon, Commissioner of Police
44:33Good afternoon, ma'am
44:34And how are you this evening?
44:35Not too good at all
44:36Because I called
44:38And it's been a long while
44:39I'm trying to get him to get this information
44:41But I'm glad I get you
44:43Three years
44:44Three years now
44:45My son died
44:47It was a double murder
44:48He had two bullet wounds
44:50Hold on
44:51He had two bullet wounds
44:53And it's forensic
44:54But for nothing
44:57We could get to find out
44:58If the bullets had been found
45:01In the house
45:01And the one
45:02At the only person
45:03If it comes from his gun
45:05And it's three years
45:06Though we waited for the answer
45:08What do I do?
45:11Okay, so ma'am
45:12First of all
45:12Let me offer my condolences
45:14And that of the TTPS
45:15To you and your family
45:16Having gone through such a horrendous ordeal
45:19If I get this correctly
45:21You're saying that there were two bullets
45:24My son, okay
45:25What has happened is that
45:27It seems to us that he was sitting
45:29And the person put the gun
45:31To his face
45:32And like removed the face
45:33And it went through between the mouth
45:35And nose
45:36And come to a part of the mouth
45:37Okay
45:38They believe that he went
45:40We knew he went outside
45:41He got up
45:42And he went outside to his car
45:44And he put up the bullets
45:45That he had
45:46And all we know is that
45:49The other person got shot
45:50And he
45:51He
45:52They said
45:53That a neighbor
45:54Who fished his seed
45:56He put just kick out
45:58And he got a gun in his lap
46:00But he has two wounds
46:03One on the front
46:04One to the side
46:05All right, ma'am
46:06So wait, wait
46:07What is the question
46:08That you're asking the commissioner
46:09Why does it take it so long
46:12To try to get a response
46:13Did it come from my son's gun
46:15Who killed my son
46:17If he kill himself
46:18Or if he kill somebody
46:19Or if I want his
46:20A little
46:20This was how many years ago, ma'am
46:24Three years ago
46:25In April
46:2716th of April
46:28In what district?
46:30That's for my site three
46:32What police station
46:34Is responsible for your area?
46:37Shewornas
46:37Ma'am
46:38Edinburgh
46:38Okay
46:39So, ma'am
46:40Sorry you had to relive
46:41This horrendous experience
46:43In your life
46:44At this point in time
46:45What I can tell
46:46What I gather from you
46:47You said your son
46:48You wanted to find out
46:49If the bullets
46:50That killed him
46:51Came from his gun
46:52Yeah, well
46:54Where it came from
46:55Because they decided to test
46:57To see
46:58If it is his own
46:59Because
46:59A few days after
47:01They sign
47:02To see bullets
47:03In a container
47:04With sugar
47:04Okay
47:05So, alright
47:06What I can tell you
47:07If you could leave
47:08A number
47:08And a name
47:09I don't wish
47:11That you would give
47:12Your identifying
47:13Information over the air
47:15Yes
47:16And we
47:17I will personally
47:18Contact you after the show
47:19And get some more
47:20Information from you
47:21Yeah
47:21Alright
47:22Okay, thank you very much
47:23Ma'am
47:24Commissioner
47:25I want to ask you
47:27I want to ask you a little bit
47:28About gangs
47:29Because gangs
47:30Gangs have been
47:30A major problem
47:32For us in Trinidad
47:33And Tobago
47:33And the statistics
47:34Will tell all of us
47:35That when it comes to murders
47:38Most of the murders
47:39Are gang related
47:40Yes
47:40How is the TTPS
47:43Under your leadership
47:44Sir
47:45Going to address
47:46A situation
47:46Such as that
47:47Alright
47:47So we already have
47:48Currently
47:49Some strategies
47:50In play
47:50Yeah
47:51Which I do not wish
47:52To divulge
47:53Owing to the fact
47:54That they are
47:55Sensitive in nature
47:56We are
47:57We have cooperation
47:59From regional
48:00As well
48:01As international partners
48:02In the fight against crime
48:04Yeah
48:04And I would just
48:05Urge members of the public
48:07Let our treatments
48:08Be put into play
48:10And then we can see
48:11The effects coming
48:12Alright
48:13How are you all
48:15The TTPS
48:16Again
48:17Dealing with
48:19I know that the
48:20During the election
48:22Campaign
48:23And also
48:24After the election
48:25You had the prime minister
48:26Saying
48:27Well here is what
48:27It was an election promise
48:30And we are going to
48:31Pursue
48:32Stand your ground
48:33Legislation
48:34Has the TTPS
48:36Already been preparing
48:38For that
48:39I know that the
48:40That this government
48:43Also plans to
48:44Put more
48:46Weapons
48:47Guns
48:48Into the hands
48:49Of citizens
48:50How is the TTPS
48:52Preparing
48:52Preparing for that
48:53So I love the fact
48:54That you said
48:54That we are preparing
48:56To put more guns
48:56Into the hands
48:57Of citizens
48:57Because what are you
48:58Going to stand
48:59Your ground with
48:59Right
49:00A tree canal
49:01I expect that
49:02So what I would like
49:04To say is that
49:05The Trinidad and Tobago
49:06Police Service
49:07Is above anything else
49:08A law enforcement agency
49:11We do not create law
49:13We enforce the law
49:14So if the government's
49:16Policy is to institute
49:17Stand your ground
49:18Legislation
49:19The TTPS would be there
49:21To enforce that law
49:22What I can say
49:23Is that at present
49:24They already have
49:26Provisions for self-defense
49:29Written into the law
49:30So I would see that
49:33We can already stand our ground
49:35In certain circumstances
49:36But the stand the ground
49:38Legislation may be more specific
49:39So let's wait and see
49:41What plays out in the parliament
49:43As regards to this law
49:44And then we can make
49:45A better pronouncement
49:46But we will be there
49:47To enforce the law
49:48That is passed by parliament
49:49Alright
49:50Here's what
49:52Jackie
49:53Do we have to go
49:53To a break right now
49:54Alright
49:56Is there any housekeeping
49:58That we can do
49:59In the meantime
50:00Alright
50:01Well here's what
50:03Commissioner
50:04Is there anything else
50:06That you would like
50:06To place on the table
50:07This evening
50:08Before we go to a break
50:09Alright
50:09So
50:10Regards to the firearm
50:11Cards that you would have
50:13Asked about
50:13So
50:14We would need to have
50:15Some amendment
50:17To the firearm act
50:18To bring that
50:19To be a lawful
50:20Item that you can carry
50:22So
50:23That is one of the
50:24The items of
50:25Of
50:26Where we may need to
50:27Have some stakeholder
50:28Engagement
50:29With the policy makers
50:31To have that passed
50:32In parliament
50:32Yeah
50:32Alright
50:33Another issue
50:35That has been
50:35Of great importance
50:37And of concern
50:38To
50:39Citizens
50:40Is the issue
50:41Of home invasion
50:43Is there anything
50:45In particular
50:46That the
50:46TDPS is looking
50:48At
50:49In order to address
50:50Such incidents
50:51Okay
50:52So we have already
50:53Instituted
50:53A unit
50:55Particularly
50:55To treat
50:56With home invasions
50:57What we would like
50:58To urge members
50:59Of the public
50:59Do not become
51:00An easy target
51:01When you are inside
51:03Lock your doors
51:04If you are
51:05So minded
51:06Put security cameras
51:08And stuff in place
51:09So that if somebody
51:09Comes to your door
51:10You will actually see
51:11Who is outside
51:11Before you decide
51:12To open the door
51:13And
51:14You know
51:15Make yourself
51:15A hard target
51:16Right
51:17Especially when you
51:18Are in the sanctity
51:19Of your home
51:19Yeah
51:20Alright everybody
51:21We are speaking
51:22With police commissioner
51:24Alistair Guevara
51:25Of course he is
51:25Co-hosting the program
51:26With me today
51:27We are going to
51:28A very short break
51:28We are coming back
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53:31All right everybody
53:58So welcome back
53:59Of course
54:00Police Commissioner
54:01Police Commissioner
54:01Alistair Guevaro
54:02He's co-hosting
54:03The program with me
54:04We just have about
54:05Three or four minutes
54:06Again but I must
54:07Ask Mr. Commissioner
54:08Because this has been
54:09A hot topic issue
54:11A hot news issue
54:12Over the past few days
54:14And it is really
54:15At the executive level
54:16Of the police service
54:18Now I know that
54:19An investigation
54:20Has been launched
54:21An internal investigation
54:23Concerning
54:24DCP Martin
54:26And of course
54:28A few days ago
54:28You would have
54:29Told reporters
54:30Well here's what
54:30The PCA
54:32You expect
54:32Some sort of
54:33Statement from the PCA
54:34Has that statement
54:36Come as yet
54:37Okay so it's not
54:38From the PCA
54:39Police Service Commission
54:39I apologize
54:40No I haven't seen
54:41Any statement out
54:42In the public
54:43From the police
54:43Service Commission
54:44Regarding the issue
54:45And since this is
54:46A matter under investigation
54:47I would not like
54:48To comment on it
54:49Of course
54:49But what about
54:50People who may feel
54:52Because it's not
54:53The first time
54:53That we have seen
54:54Something like this
54:55Maybe over the
54:56Year or so
54:57Who may have
54:59A concern about
55:00Trust and confidence
55:02At the executive level
55:03Of the police service
55:05How do you respond
55:05To that
55:06That is the reason
55:07Why I decided
55:07We need to treat this
55:09With a certain amount
55:10Of transparency
55:11So that the TTPS
55:12Could be held
55:13Accountable for its
55:14Actions in this matter
55:15So we brought it
55:16To the public
55:17As soon as it came
55:18To the knowledge
55:19Of the TTPS
55:20So nobody can say
55:22That we were hiding
55:22Anything
55:23Yeah
55:23Mr. Commissioner
55:24We have about
55:25Two or three minutes
55:26Again
55:27I'm sure that you
55:28Would want to
55:29Say something
55:30To members of the
55:31Public
55:32To allay their affairs
55:33Because as you know
55:34I don't have to tell you
55:36That this population
55:37Has been traumatized
55:39Over the years
55:39As it relates to crime
55:41And in some cases
55:42People felt
55:42That there is no hope
55:44Yeah
55:45There is hope
55:46Alright
55:47There is hope
55:47The TTPS
55:48Is a strong organization
55:50We have a foundation
55:52That I should say
55:53Is unshakable
55:55No matter what
55:56Comes our way
55:56We would
55:57Go past
55:58And we would
55:59Forge on
56:00With regards to
56:02Crime
56:02We decided
56:04To look at crime
56:05From a holistic
56:05Point of view
56:06And under my tenure
56:08I would want to
56:09Utilize technology
56:10To assist in crime fighting
56:12So don't want to
56:14Go into too much
56:15With these strategies
56:16You'd have also seen
56:18I have taken
56:19Note of certain
56:22Things into the
56:23Public space
56:24School violence
56:25I would have made
56:26A pronouncement on that
56:27Of course
56:27And I would have
56:28Followed up by
56:29Action
56:30With the pronouncement
56:31So I'm again urging
56:32The parents out there
56:34No one
56:35Wants to send
56:36Their child
56:37To school
56:38An institute
56:39Of learning
56:40And then get
56:40A phone call
56:41Come to the hospital
56:42Your child has
56:43A broken collarbone
56:44Bruised ribs
56:45And several
56:46Lacerations
56:46Kindly
56:48Control your children
56:50And if you can't
56:50Control them
56:51We will
56:52Confine them
56:53However
56:54Before we reach
56:56To confining them
56:57There are certain
56:58Treatments
56:59There are certain
56:59Organizations
57:00And there are
57:01Programs in place
57:03That we could
57:03Utilize
57:04To help you
57:05To make your children
57:07Into more productive
57:08Members of society
57:09So I don't have
57:11Much time
57:12I could come here
57:13And sit and talk
57:14To you for two
57:14Or three hours
57:15Which would be
57:15Nice
57:16But as you said
57:17We're reaching
57:17To the wrapping up stage
57:18You'd have seen
57:19The airport
57:19Roll out another project
57:21Whenever we go
57:22To international airports
57:23And you step off
57:24Miami
57:25New York
57:25You see
57:27First thing
57:27Is a police vehicle
57:28We walk through
57:29The airports
57:29And we see dogs
57:30Sniffing
57:30And we would say
57:31Nothing
57:31That we have
57:33Implemented here
57:34But again
57:35We have persons
57:36Who are for
57:37And against the idea
57:38But the people
57:38I suspect
57:39Who are against
57:40The idea
57:40Are persons
57:41Who want to
57:42Utilize the airport
57:42To commit acts
57:43Of criminality
57:44That shall not
57:46Be done under my watch
57:47Alright
57:47So we have
57:48Taken steps
57:49To protect
57:51The safe space
57:52Of the airport
57:52Because when
57:53Incidents of that
57:55Nature happen
57:56In that international
57:57Aviation gateway
57:59What you can see
58:00Happening is that
58:00A bad reputation
58:01Now comes to turn that
58:02Mr. Commissioner
58:03Thank you very much
58:04For coming
58:04This evening
58:06We are highly
58:07Appreciative of that
58:08Thank you very much
58:09For your support
58:09Of Beyond the Tape
58:10And Mr. Commissioner
58:11We wish you all the best
58:12And hope to see you
58:13Right back here
58:14Again soon
58:15You too
58:16Bye everybody
58:18Have a good weekend
58:19Mark returns next week
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