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00:00Caution, this program contains some material that is unsuitable for young children.
00:30Beyond the Tape, we'll be back after these messages.
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03:35Welcome to Beyond the Tape. I'm your host, Mark Bassand.
03:38Welcome to our viewers across Trinidad and Tobago.
03:41Of course, our international viewers and our brothers and sisters
03:44in the isles of Grenada.
03:46So, it's Friday, and of course, it's the end of the work week.
03:50Everybody trying to get home, everybody going out a little line.
03:54But of course, excuse me, today with us is Deputy Commissioner of Operations,
04:00Mr. Junior Benjamin. Welcome.
04:02It's been a while since I've seen you.
04:04Yes, Marlon, it's good to be here.
04:06And to each and everyone, it's...
04:07Thank you, me and Mark.
04:08I'm a... Oh, what?
04:09That's fine.
04:10I apologize.
04:11Oh, my goodness. I apologize greatly, Mark.
04:14I really apologize. Sorry.
04:16You know, but let me just say it's a privilege to be here.
04:19And I really miss being here, you know, but I must say I'm really, really glad
04:24to see what is happening even with the police service
04:27and to share this moment with you here today and to all of you as well.
04:31Well, Sidney, you're a very key person when it comes to the state of emergency
04:35and you're in charge of operations.
04:36So I guess during this period, your job has just maybe tripled what it usually is
04:43during a normal time in the police service because you have so many things
04:48happening simultaneously across Trinidad and Tobago, so many different operations,
04:53so many different things you have to oversee, especially in terms of these kinds
04:57of operations, some sensitive, some, you know, you know, the public might be aware
05:02of, et cetera, traffic exercises, and so on.
05:06So if you just want to give us an overview, how has that job been for you?
05:10I mean, you were the former commissioner of police for a while.
05:13You were in that state of emergency as the commissioner of police.
05:17Then you came back, you're DCP, and now we're back in the second state of emergency.
05:22Yes, and I will tell you, I think coming back in the position, first of all,
05:29I think you come back better because you understand exactly what it is to really sit
05:34in that seat as a, you know, acting commissioner of police has been a wonderful experience.
05:40And I'm now able to even be even more effective and efficient in terms of my operation now,
05:46even as DCP operations, understanding the type of DCP that is needed in order to give
05:52the commissioner, you know, that support so that, you know, again, it's all about Team TTPS
05:59and understanding that you need your operations to really be on par and, you know,
06:06working, hitting the ground just as the commissioner is doing presently so that we can get the job done.
06:11So right now, yes, as you rightfully say, we have a lot of operations going.
06:16We have both overt, covert operations.
06:19We have, I like to call it surgical operations taking place.
06:22But all these operations is geared towards ensuring that we have a safer and better trainer in Tobago.
06:27And we will continue to ensure that as we continue to give the quality service
06:32and the level of operations that at the end, we must see it being translated in a reduction in crime
06:40and more so a reduction in the fear of crime, which is to me most important.
06:44I want to ask you, you know, in this state of emergency as the DCP for operations,
06:51and it might be a difficult question or maybe it might be a difficult question for you to answer,
06:57but can you tell us in your own words, what are some of the significant or major challenges
07:03the TTPS has faced during this period of time conducting these rigorous operations
07:09nearly on a daily or by daily basis or whatever it might be, every two days, three days?
07:17Well, again, once you are doing something of this nature, you recognize it, first of all,
07:22affects the human resource because it gives a toll on the body and you have your officers and, again,
07:31the human body after a while can at least become very fatigued.
07:36So you have that challenge that you have.
07:39I must say that the officers in the midst of that have shown a great sense of resilience.
07:42And when we understand that as police officers, we are called, you know, not just to protect and save,
07:51but especially in times like these, we need to go beyond the call.
07:54I must say I want to commend the officers at this time in terms of what I'm seeing in terms of the operations.
08:00The officers are going out there and, I mean, they are literally pushing themselves beyond.
08:05And therefore, I really want to commend them.
08:06I'm really proud, I stand here being a very proud deputy commissioner of police in terms of really seeing what the officers have accomplished during the SOE.
08:16And apart from that, you also have the situation where people might not really understand all that is happening.
08:21So it's important for you to communicate and to really ensure that the public is working with you to ensure that this SOE is not just one that is just called,
08:31but is one that must be meaningful as well so that we accomplish the goal that we intend.
08:36Now, yesterday on the program, yes, we spoke a little bit about these police shootings that have occurred over the last couple of months.
08:45We have, I believe, at least in the last count, 48 police killings for the year.
08:50And I know that at times it takes a toll also on these officers who are confronted, who are part of these operations,
08:58where in some cases they have to protect themselves, and in so doing, you know, they are also mentally, psychologically, spiritually, physically, even affected.
09:11And how is that, how is that the TTPS being able to use that support, have a support system ready for those officers,
09:19especially when situations like this arise?
09:22I know that the public will cry out on one side, and I get that, and I understand that, and I'm not trying to take any side.
09:28But there's also the other side of it, where police officers, and by extension, other law enforcement personnel,
09:35are at times really faced with real danger with armed persons shooting firearms at them and so on, shooting.
09:42And the onus is on them to deal with it in a particular manner.
09:46Of course, you don't always get the public opinion saying that the police was right.
09:52Yeah, and I think that that point is so valid, Mark, as you rightly say.
09:58You know, one of the things that we have to appreciate is that from the last SOE, we had over, I think, well over 5,000 to 6,000 operations.
10:08Already in this SOE, we have over 1,600 operations.
10:14Just try to put them together.
10:15That's over 7,000 or more operations that you would have seen taking place within the year thus far.
10:22That in itself will show you that the police, we are outside there facing the crime situation.
10:27What you're also seeing is a lot of brazenness by the criminal elements, going into bars, shooting, and doing that kind of stuff.
10:34So, therefore, when these persons come out, I tell people it's either two things.
10:38It's either kill or be killed.
10:40And, therefore, when they come with that mentality and you come against the police, we have a no-nonsense approach.
10:46We are saying to the criminals, do not engage the police officers.
10:50They are trained individuals.
10:52And, therefore, if you engage us, we are going to use the relevant force to ensure that we deal with persons in accordance with the use of force policy.
11:01So, therefore, it's clear to me that, you know, the persons that we are dealing with right now are persons who can be very brazen.
11:11And the police, we are dealing with this situation very decisively.
11:15We are ensuring at the end of the day that there's a level of integrity and transparency in the way in which we deal with it.
11:21So, therefore, we have the necessary investigations taking place so that there's the level of accountability that must go with it.
11:28So, so far, I think from what I've seen so far in the reports, that our officers are acting within the use of force policy.
11:35And, therefore, we are saying to the criminal element, be aware that we are not going to back down.
11:42Our officers are not going to back down.
11:43Do not challenge us, you know, and let's allow the rule of law to be what we follow in Tuna and Tobago.
11:49Right. Well, on that note, we're going to take a look at this video with Commissioner of Police Alistair Guevara yesterday at the Chagones Chamber of Commerce addressing pretty much the same topic that we have been speaking about over the last few minutes.
12:04Let's take a look.
12:04There is no public debate about police-involved shootings and the public debate about some people calling it extrajudicial killings.
12:22I want to assure the public here today that the TTPS has always, and shall continue under my watch, be able to independently investigate its own,
12:39and if wrongdoing is found, prosecute those who are found to be doing wrong.
12:43We are also ably assisted by the Police Complaints Authority, which is an independent oversight body,
12:53and we welcome any cooperation with that entity.
13:00But I must tell you, if you look at social media today,
13:05and there are numerous video clips of those criminal elements entering bars and people's homes,
13:12and the first thing you see in their hands is a gun, and they start shooting immediately,
13:18there's a clip from penal over the weekend.
13:20They run in the bar shooting.
13:23So I am unsure why certain elements within the public would believe that when they see the police,
13:30that they would do anything differently.
13:32They engage the police just as fast as they would engage the members of the public,
13:39and they know that the persons they are going to attack in the bars are unarmed, you know,
13:44and they still come in shooting.
13:46So if you know that the police officer is armed, you know what they are going to do.
13:50As the city police vehicle, they whip out their guns.
13:53So I want to reassure the public that the TTPS stands committed to protecting you from these elements.
14:01And I want to place again on the record those persons who are hell-bent on creating havoc in our beloved society.
14:15Put down the gun.
14:18Hand it over.
14:20Some of your colleagues in crime have already called police stations
14:25and told police officers where to find these weapons.
14:30Take heed and do not be the last in line.
14:35Hand in the weapons,
14:37and we shall continue to live and prosper in a society that we all can feel safe in.
14:44Take heed, the words of the commissioner there.
14:49And I think what the commissioner alluded to there is a significant idea that, you know,
14:56we have spoken for a long time, DCP Benjamin, about a gun amnesty in Trinidad and Tobago.
15:03And of course, on many fronts, people said that it will not work, right?
15:09So this idea of at least calling the police and saying there's guns in a particular area
15:16might be a way of, I guess, replacing the gun amnesty by saying we want to give up our guns,
15:26but we want the police to find them.
15:28So we make a call and we say we have 10 guns in a particular location.
15:32And you go there and you find the guns.
15:33At least that is a start.
15:35And we are saying that anything that will help us to get the guns off the streets,
15:41we are appreciative.
15:43And we already, we have instances where persons would have done that.
15:49Persons would have called and said where we could find weapons.
15:54And if you look, we recognize that we have firearms that are found and we have those that are seized.
16:01And therefore, those that we have found many times, you know, when we look through those that are found against those that are seized,
16:13we recognize that it's probably even very close.
16:16And many times those that we were able to find, sometimes it comes from a call, you know,
16:23that we got and therefore we work on the intelligence and we were able to get those firearms.
16:29And we just want to encourage persons to assist us as well as the public as well.
16:34Well, we certainly hope that all those who want to turn away from that life of being a bad boy
16:42and contoting and robbing and shooting persons will obviously adhere to the call of the commissioner
16:48to put down these guns, put it in an area where the police can come and pick them up,
16:53at least if you have thoughts of transforming your life.
16:57All right, so we've been talking about road safety.
17:01We continue to talk about road safety.
17:02DCP Benjamin on the nation's roadways every single day.
17:06And we have two RTAs to show you captured on video over the last 48 hours.
17:12They're acting as a buffer even.
17:32Luckily, there was no oncoming traffic in the opposite direction,
17:36which would have made this accident even worse.
17:38This was today, earlier today.
17:42Yes, and it's so important that we be very careful as we drive on the nation's road.
17:48You know, be very careful in terms of the speed.
17:51Be very careful in terms of how you're dealing, in terms of the weather conditions.
17:56Different things could, you know, cause these accidents.
18:00But certainly, as you say, we're thankful that, again, no person was probably hurt, I mean, outside of that in terms of another vehicle or pedestrian.
18:10Yes.
18:11So, you know, again, we really find these things happening too often.
18:18And therefore, we really would like to tell the public to please be very careful as you drive on the nation's road.
18:26All right.
18:26And some good news.
18:28Remember, there was a young man shot and killed in the Tobago area on, I believe, on July 29th.
18:35I think we have another accident to show, sorry.
18:40Yes.
18:40We also have this accident here, also in the Arangwes area.
18:47You know, and the car seems to be really in a wreck to DCP, Benjamin.
18:53Yes.
18:54Wet roadways.
18:56The road looks to be wet.
18:57That's right.
18:58So, the weather condition should determine how we drive.
19:03And we're asking our, you know, public to be very, very mindful that as you traverse the streets, as you walk, as you drive, please be very mindful that it's not just about you.
19:18It's about the other person and also about the persons in the vehicle.
19:22So, let's be very, very mindful in terms of how, you know, what we do.
19:26I think we could really reduce the fatals within, you know, the accidents that we are seeing.
19:33But I think that we must be more mindful in terms of how we drive.
19:37Certainly.
19:38All right.
19:39So, getting back to the young man who was killed, Trevon Walker, who was shot and killed on July 29th.
19:47Apparently, we understand that Davrick Rogers of Moriah was yesterday charged with the mother of the 22-year-old man.
19:56And, of course, he was the fourth murder victim recorded in Tobago for the year.
20:02And I remember his father making an impassioned plea to the police, to anyone with information, to come forward to catch the killer of his son.
20:14Seen here, of course, captured by TV6 News, Elizabeth Williams, a couple days ago.
20:20And, you know, again, I want to, first of all, thank the public as well as the Tobago division.
20:29Tobago division is really one of our flagship divisions in terms of the way in which we are able to stymie the murders.
20:38We had four murders compared to 19.
20:43And when you just do this in the math, it shows that there's certainly Tobago is doing something right in terms of that.
20:50And what we recognize is that from the four murders, my understanding is that all four has been solved.
20:55Right.
20:56Yes, and so that in itself is a remarkable feat by the Tobago division.
21:00And I really want to commend, you know, ACP Sobero and also Senior Soop Eli and the team of officers in the Tobago division,
21:08the Homicide and all the others that are really ensuring that Tobago is, once again, a much beautiful space
21:15so that persons could feel free to go in the Tobago aisles and really feel comfortable knowing that the police is out there doing their job.
21:22So I commend each of them at this time.
21:24Yes, definitely.
21:25All right, let's take a look at our state of emergency figures.
21:29It's day 22.
21:32Number of operations, 1,606.
21:35Target priority offenders, 722.
21:38Searches conducted, 9,979.
21:41Traffic operations, 969.
21:43Total persons arrested, thus far, 669.
21:49Traffic offenses detected, 5,275.
21:53Firearms recovered, 34 pistols, 18 revolvers, 9 shotguns, 7 rifles, and 2 air rifles.
22:01Ammunition recovered, 485 rungs of 9mm, 66 rungs of 12 gauge, 21 rungs of .380,
22:10170 rungs of 5.56, 63 rungs of .38, 27 rungs of .40, 7 rungs of .357, 21 rungs of .45,
22:23and 30 rungs of 7.62 millimeters.
22:26Dangerous drugs, thus far, 70,470.75 grams of marijuana.
22:32And last but not least, 226.21 grams of cocaine.
22:36A lot of work there.
22:38Yeah, I think I should try to interview you.
22:41Doesn't that look like an organization that is working?
22:44But nevertheless, yeah.
22:46Yeah, Mark.
22:48I think that the police service, you know, even under Commissioner, continue to, you know, hit the ground running and ensuring that we're really seeking to make Trinidad and Tobago a safer place.
23:01I think that what we really want to see, it's not just about the stats.
23:05We really want to see that we can, once again, ensure that, one, people could walk the streets once again free.
23:14And, you know, they must feel confident that, look, you know, the streets are safe again.
23:19We want to ensure that businesses could operate without having the trauma of being, you know, having this extortion behind them or wondering if somebody would come to extort some money from them.
23:30We want to ensure, once again, that there is that peace and tranquility that comes with Trinidad and Tobago.
23:38And we are working hard to make sure that happens.
23:40And, therefore, we want these citizens to work with us to make that a reality.
23:44Everything starts with a small step.
23:46And I think when you look even at our murder figures, we have 233 murders against 370.
23:53That is a 37% decrease in murders.
23:58And that in itself speaks volume, you know what I'm saying?
24:02When you compare to other countries, I think just about some last month, Jamaica was saying that they had 36%.
24:10We are now at 37%.
24:11This is the highest ever in terms of toll when we look that we've seen.
24:15And certainly it means that the police service is continuing to expand its ability to really, you know, hold back the crime situation.
24:28And in the midst of, yes, we are having murders, we are saying we are not comfortable.
24:33We are still not satisfied.
24:34It is one murder too much.
24:36Every murder is one murder too much.
24:37So, we are going to try our very best to stymie it.
24:40But certainly when we compare it to last year, I think that the Triantobago Police Service, we are doing a good job.
24:46And we will continue to do that as we keep our eyes on the prize, which is to ensure that this year that we make Triantobago a much safer nation for all.
24:56Thanks a lot, GCP Benjamin.
24:58All right.
24:59We are going to take a quick look now at our headlines.
25:16Short and sweet.
25:17Those were our headlines over the last 24 hours.
25:19We are going to take a short break and we will be back.
25:21Stay with us.
25:22Good day, Triantobago.
25:24And I am here to invite you all to come on down to Queen's Park Savannah on Saturday, August the 9th.
25:31Mark that day, Saturday, August the 9th at the Queen's Park Savannah.
25:37Worship, Word and Warfare.
25:39999-Dial-Jesus.
25:42On August the 9th, we will be dialing Jesus.
25:45A call to Jesus made by the Triantobago Police Service Prayer Forum, along with other entities in the National Security, Triantobago Defense Force, Triantobago Fire Services, the Triantobago Prison Services.
25:58Together with all of the churches in Trinidad and Tobago.
26:01And we invite you to the public.
26:03Come on down with us as we give praise and glory unto our Lord and Savior as we make that call to Jesus.
26:09We are not afraid to call on the name of Jesus.
26:11And are we inviting you, the churches, all of the churches and all of the public of Triantobago to come on down on that day.
26:18And let's give God's honor and praise.
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28:36Welcome back to Beyond the Tape.
28:50I'm your host, Mark Bassan, joined today by DCP for Operations, Junior Benjamin.
28:56I almost said doctor.
28:57Hey.
28:58That's good, man.
28:58That's good.
29:00You know, it just kind of has a ring to it sometimes.
29:04All right.
29:06All right.
29:07So I know that, you know, you're a coordinator of operations for the state of emergency and beyond.
29:13And we want to take you to the Port of Spain Division where they had an anti-crime operation on August 5th.
29:20Let's go.
29:34Good night to the general public.
29:46The Port of Spain Division and the traffic and hyper patrol branch conducted a joint operation in the Port of Spain Division, in particular the Beatham Highway.
29:58This operation was aimed at targeted repeat offenders, priority offenders, errand drivers, and overall, we aimed at bringing a reduction to criminal activity and also bringing a reduction to the fear of crime.
30:19This is one of many operations that will be taking place in the Port of Spain Division and on the Beatham Highway as we continue during the SOE to bring significant reduction to the fear of crime in the city of Port of Spain and Environs.
30:36We are asking the general public if you have any information, you know, if you see something, say something, as we continue to target persons who are hell-bent to be involved in criminal activity.
30:51We thank you very much in advance for the information that will be coming to us.
30:57As soon as the information comes to us, we will action it and we're going to ensure that we use every resources that we have possible in bringing these criminal persons who are involved in criminal activity to be charged and to be brought before the court.
31:12We thank you very much for your continued support and may God bless you all.
31:21So, that was a small exercise in the Port of Spain area,
31:5149 persons issued a fixed penalty notices and we saw what appeared to be marijuana, one person arrested for the possession of marijuana.
32:02We saw those handcuffs being placed on that individual.
32:05Seems to be quite a quantity outside of the decriminalized limit.
32:10Yes, and what you will see happening throughout all divisions is that there are a lot of operations taking place
32:17and this is what we are encouraging our officers and our divisions to do.
32:22However, there is something especially that we are doing very special in our divisions right now.
32:27It's called Operation Summer Slam and that is where we are, again, working with our divisional commanders
32:33and we are actually coming, showing that show of force as we seek to, at least, you know, deal with the criminal elements within the division.
32:43So, we have done that and since we have started, thus far, I'll just tell you, we would have done at least 67 operations.
32:50Right.
32:50Under Summer Slam, we would have arrested at least 143 persons.
32:57We would have had at least four firearms found and 69 assorted ammunition also seized during that period
33:07and we would have conducted at least 133 searches within that time.
33:12And what we are hoping to do is to continue, this will be going throughout the rest of the August
33:18and we are hoping that as we continue to do that, that we push back the criminal elements
33:25because we are always plagued with these persons who want to at least, you know, seek to disrupt the peace, you know,
33:34and tranquility of the safety of citizens and we are saying enough is enough.
33:40It is time for us to push back. The commissioner has given, this is an initiative of the commissioner of police
33:44and I want to tell you that we are running with it from the operational standpoint
33:48and we are going to seek to make a dent in the crime situation.
33:52Operation Summer Slam, there should have been called Operation Summer Slammer.
33:56Some of them have to end up in the jail.
33:59All right, we're going to take a short break and we'll be back. Stay with us.
34:03Trinidad and Tobago, it's time to shift the spiritual climate of our nation.
34:07I'm inviting you to the Police Prayer Forum Worship, Word and Warfare event this Saturday, 9th August, 2025.
34:16Together, we will praise, purify, prevail and proclaim, come and be part of the divine move of God.
34:25One voice, one heart, one nation transformed by the power of Jesus.
34:31See you there.
34:31Wow, we will indeed enter his gates with thanksgiving in our hearts and enter his courts with praise.
34:40Praise God.
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36:50At the Express, we set the standards, giving you the facts, analysis, investigations, revelations, and opinions that safeguard democracy and hold leaders to account.
37:03Since 1967, we've brought you the most important stories at the most crucial times in our history,
37:11braving the front lines to give you all the information you need as citizens.
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37:29The Express.
37:30Integrity and fearless journalism.
37:33Welcome back to Beyond the Tape.
37:49I'm your host, Mark Bessand, joined today by DCP Junior Benjamin.
37:54All right, DCP Benjamin.
37:56Yes, sir.
37:56Voice of the people in Shogonis.
37:59Let's go.
37:59Mm-hmm.
38:03So we're presently in our state of emergency.
38:18You feel safer?
38:19Yes.
38:19In certain zones, yes.
38:21The state of emergency is necessary because things tend to get out of hand in certain zones.
38:40You see a reduction in crime since the state of emergency has been implemented?
38:44In certain areas, yes, because there's less liming, less alcohol drinking, and a little more safer.
38:51You think a curfew will help with the state of emergency?
38:55I don't see a curfew in place right now for that.
38:58I don't think it's necessary for the while.
39:00Because things tend to quiet down a little.
39:02Right.
39:03Any thoughts on your wrong legislation?
39:06You support it?
39:06Yeah, because when the ban on the end of their place, they have no mercy for you.
39:13They have no understanding.
39:15You can't reason for them.
39:16Yeah.
39:16And we, when we defend ourselves, we have a reason for the law.
39:19So you will support no bill for somebody with an illegal firearm for 180 days?
39:24Seeing what you just said.
39:26It all depends.
39:27If you put a number of track record, or if it's the first time.
39:31Right.
39:31But anyway, if you take an illegal firearm, it's an illegal firearm.
39:34Exactly.
39:35Have you ever been a victim of a scam?
39:38Probably credit card.
39:39Like, the bank calling you until your car has been hacking.
39:44Right.
39:44But otherwise...
39:46Right.
39:47What advice do you have for people that get entrapped by scams?
39:53Always be on your alert.
39:56Be aware of your surroundings.
39:58And keep on checking on your bank's thesis.
40:01Right.
40:01Good advice.
40:04Voice of the people in Chagones, DCB Benjamin.
40:11Man, let me commend you.
40:13Let me commend you.
40:14Some wonderful questions there.
40:16And it's good.
40:18It's good.
40:18It's good to hear what the public has to say.
40:20Of course.
40:20And I feel, you know, very happy in my spirit to know that persons are saying that they're
40:28feeling safer today.
40:30You know, last year, that was not the sentiment.
40:33And therefore, you know, when you hear that, at least it probably tells you that you're doing
40:38something right as a police service.
40:40And I think that we want to see and to hear more persons saying that they feel safer.
40:46And, you know, when you can also identify why you're feeling safer, that you're seeing
40:50less person's alignment and so on.
40:52I think that we're probably doing things right.
40:55And very and truly, I think that the police officers, we are really working hard to make
40:59our streets safer.
41:00We want to ensure that persons can feel safer walking the streets, driving on the nation's
41:05roads, and, you know, make Trinidad de Bego, once again, a beautiful place that we know
41:10it should be.
41:11Yeah, certainly.
41:12And, you know, everybody has some very intelligent answers we got when we were down in Chagones,
41:18notwithstanding in other areas as well.
41:20And I think, as you said, the public's perception, the public's opinion, the public's suggestions
41:26are extremely important when you are doing this work called policing, because some of your
41:33best steps come from the public.
41:35Yes, certainly.
41:36And I think the voice of the public is so important.
41:39I think many times if we try to do policing without listening to the voice of the people,
41:45we can miss so very much.
41:46So we really appreciate hearing what the public has to say.
41:49That's why we have town meetings.
41:50That's why we have, you know, our community meetings in terms of our community council and
41:57so forth, because we want the interaction with the public.
42:01And that is so critical if we are going to really build that police legitimacy as an
42:07organization, so that, you know, one person said police legitimacy is where the people
42:12want you to police them.
42:13And that is what we really want to see as our end state as a police service.
42:18I have a question for you.
42:19You, he doubles by chance?
42:22Yes.
42:22Yes.
42:23I have a suggestion.
42:25You should go down to Chagones and look for that gentleman.
42:27I'm going to look for him.
42:28I'm going to look for him.
42:30Yeah.
42:31Because, you know, you know, it's some, you know, that some people, they just sell and
42:35they're very, you know, very humble.
42:38Yes.
42:39And they don't have to do a lot of advertising like other persons.
42:42And when you go there, you're extremely, extremely surprised.
42:46And he was very cordial.
42:48He seemed to know what he was speaking about.
42:50And, you know, there's so many perspectives that you get from persons that you don't
42:55even see until you go out there in a larger public domain and you interact with these
43:01persons from all walks of life.
43:04Yes.
43:04And I think that we need to always be lifelong learners and understand that it doesn't
43:09matter where the lesson comes from.
43:11You can learn from a child.
43:12You can learn from nearly everyone that you take the time to listen to.
43:18So I think that the attitude will determine your attitude.
43:22And for me, I think that is one of the key things that has made me, you know, who I am
43:27today because I took time and I listened to everyone that comes into my path that I believe,
43:33you know, can make an impartation into my life.
43:36Yes, certainly.
43:37All right.
43:38We're going to go to a short break and we'll be back with your calls.
43:41Stay with us.
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44:56What's up, Polly?
44:57Polly goes after that one.
44:58Doesn't get a good connection.
45:00The military and the dismissal.
45:02When it rains, it pours.
45:04These are gentlemen.
45:05It's very hard to keep it in, but try out from the process.
45:09This is a dangerous sight.
45:12There it is.
45:13Oh!
45:16And that's a champion shot.
45:19Out!
45:20Oh, it's a wonderful catch.
45:22That is outrageous.
45:23The Express continues to lead the way every Tuesday with the most critically acclaimed
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46:04every Tuesday.
46:05Welcome back to Beyond the Tape.
46:19I'm your host, Mark Bassan, joined today by DCP, Junior Benjamin of the Trinidad and Tobago
46:25Police Service and the Head of Operations.
46:28And I know we were talking about doubles before, and I know you're probably craving the doubles
46:34by now, but I'm sure you'll find your way down to Shagunas at some point to consume those
46:40doubles.
46:41Well, I tell you right now, I tell you, I'm trying to hold it together because I'm trying
46:45to keep my uniform intact, but I will give that person a check sitting here.
46:49All right, let's see what this caller has to say.
46:52Caller, good evening.
46:55Good evening, caller.
46:56You're live on Beyond the Tape.
46:58Hello, good evening.
46:59You're speaking of the German and, um, um, yesterday, um, the Minister of National Security
47:10of Homeland Security indicated, um, in one of the Tom Horne meetings referenced the Sanya
47:16Drums.
47:17He indicated that, um, there are some situations where persons go to the bank and subsequent to
47:26making withdrawals, they are robbed, right, which is more or less a losing term, maybe
47:32potentially the bank colluding with your standards.
47:35And what are your views or your thoughts on that statement?
47:39Thanks a lot.
47:40Caller.
47:40Yeah.
47:40This is Benjamin.
47:42Well, I think that, um, when we looked at the, the facts, you know, and even the number
47:49of robberies that we see taking place, um, from persons who either went to the bank, they
47:56would have, um, you know, probably withdraw or withdrew, um, certain amount of cash.
48:02And by the time either they meet outside or even you recognize that we have persons following
48:08them, um, unless there is not a connection from inside.
48:12How do they know, you know, um, these things, because these persons, uh, seem to have large
48:18cash on them.
48:19There seem to be, I think if, if you just try to just look at the facts, you can mix it in
48:26inferences.
48:27And I think, um, even when we, we, we examine these inferences, we recognize that there, there,
48:34there is based on that hypothesis, some truth to the fact that from the inside, there has
48:39to be some level of collusion and therefore the TTPS will be, uh, again, we'll be looking
48:46at all the different angles to every offense and to every crime to see that we get to the
48:52bottom of it.
48:53And once, once we could find persons, um, colluding or even, um, conspiring to commit
48:58an offense, we will deal with them with the full brunt of the law.
49:02Well, not in any way to obviously contradict what you're saying, but I remember doing a piece
49:05about this, I think last year, uh, where I was privy to a police report about, uh, how
49:11these criminals were operating targeting persons leaving the bank or going on their way to the
49:15bank.
49:16And, uh, the, the senior officers said to me that, uh, you know, that has been banded about
49:20a lot, but honestly, it has not been really where they're seeing this, this connection rather,
49:27but, but because, you know, tellers are not allowed to have their phones by the, by their
49:32wicked. So it's, it's, it's impossible virtually, but they, they spoke about how these people
49:38are so coordinated and observing people doing surveillance for quite a while. And then they
49:43have people that sit in the bank, observe you going to do withdrawals or going to do business
49:49evaporator time. And they have people that are connected. When you go outside and somebody
49:53will say you've left the bank and there's another car waiting later down the road to obviously
49:59intercept and deal with, uh, getting the money and so on. So, I mean, it'd be very tough to
50:06Yeah. Well, and that's why I say it's a hypothesis.
50:08Yes, of course.
50:09And, um, yeah, the hypothesis could be true, or it doesn't have to be, I guess it's based
50:14on what it, um, what it is proving. But at the end of the day, um, we recognize that there
50:20has to be somebody inside bank, whether it is, it is, um, a teller or whether it is a person
50:26who is there spying to see, but there, it has to start from inside the bank, you know,
50:31and that really shows, uh, or at least, um, there is something with that and the person's
50:37being, uh, at least robbed on the outside. So there's a connection somewhere and, uh, our
50:43aim is to try to get to the bottom of it and we, uh, slowly get in there. But I, I think
50:48in some cases we have already even had some, uh, success in that direction.
50:53Most certainly. All right. I think we have another caller on the line. Caller, good evening.
50:57You're live and beyond the tape. Go ahead.
50:59Mm-hmm.
51:01All right. So caller, just leave your number with, uh, the producer Jackie and, uh, DCP Benjamin
51:07will give you a call after the program if you say it's very urgent. All right. So speaker,
51:14it's the time for prayer and worship tomorrow. And, uh, I know you're a part of that at the
51:21Queen's Park Savannah. It starts, I believe at nine. That's right. And, uh, it is called 999.
51:27Yes, uh, 999. And why we call it 999. Again, that, that's the number you call for any emergency.
51:34I'm saying that there is a need for a spiritual emergency for Trinidad Tobago. We recognize that,
51:40um, even, um, from the police, uh, police, uh, police, uh, police, uh, police, uh, police, uh, police, uh, police, uh, police, uh, police, uh, police.
51:46And, um, we, there is, you know, a group that we call the police prayer forum. It was started some years ago when, uh, I think one of the commissioners, they asked for, uh, national day of prayer.
52:10And, um, we started to just, you know, um, couple of us meet together to pray for the police service.
52:17And since then, every Thursday, uh, from five to six, we would just meet and pray for our police service commissioners and even the nation on the whole.
52:27And more and more, we find ourselves at this time, really, um, rallying and working with our pastors and the churches and other denominations just to come together in this time of what we call
52:39what we call worship, you know, uh, word and warfare and warfare here, we talking about prayer.
52:45And we believe that that is important because, you know, there's a scripture that says, if my people that are called by my name should humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven, forgive their sins and heal their lands.
52:59And I'm confident that, uh, we can try to fight crime.
53:03And even though we might reduce crime, it might not, it might not heal the land.
53:08We can educate children that might not heal the land.
53:11But the one thing that, you know, the scripture says is that as we pray, God would be able to help us heal the land.
53:17And that's what we want.
53:18And that's what we want.
53:19We want to see the change, not just in terms of the numbers, but we want to see the hearts of men change.
53:25And we believe that as we come together, uh, and the churches come together as the people of God come together, it doesn't matter what religion we invite in the all of Trinidad to be good.
53:36Come on down, let us pray for a nation and let us see a spiritual awakening in this land.
53:41All right, DCP, thanks so much for that.
53:43And we have a last caller.
53:45Caller, good evening, quickly.
53:46Good evening, sir.
53:47Good evening, gentlemen.
53:48Good evening, sir.
53:49I'm calling on behalf of my police officers this evening.
53:52I feel we need to open, um, to have a citizen's complaint authority.
53:58And why I'm saying that, look at the good work these officers are doing, eh?
54:03And they're constantly under attack.
54:06Number one, the police officer that gave out the 1,400 tickets.
54:10I praise him.
54:11The amount of life this officer must be saved.
54:15The amount of guns in the process of giving out those tickets and stopping, um, roadblocks and so on.
54:22Right?
54:23It doesn't come just so.
54:24And it also shows the level of lawlessness in the country.
54:29Most important, I have to buy three dash cabins for my vehicle because why?
54:35I mean, some craziness every day in the road.
54:37So I just want to make sure that I have a sufficient proof.
54:40You know?
54:41So thank you, officers.
54:42Continue to do all your work.
54:44If you have to give out 2,000 tickets, give it out.
54:47Because what's the level of accidents on our roadway?
54:51You know?
54:52Thank God that, you know, a lot of us get away.
54:56I get away.
54:57Watch me sometimes.
54:58I can become a fear every single day now.
55:01So keep up the good work and thank you very much and have a pleasant evening.
55:05God bless.
55:07Thank you so very much.
55:08And, um, I want to probably start off by just, again, appreciating our Commissioner of
55:13Police in terms of his ability to see the need to award officers on a regular basis so
55:20it acts as a motivation.
55:22Even the officer that, you know, gave out the tickets and even all the others who participated
55:28in different ways to ensure safety and security, you know, of our nation.
55:33Um, it is a wonderful thing that is really catching a fire and motivating our officers.
55:38And we really want to encourage our officers to continue.
55:41I would like, you know, even as was said, I wish that we could have a day where, you know,
55:46officers in uniform, police officers, fire officers, you know, defense force officers,
55:52you know, we might just stop and appreciate them.
55:55I like the way the Americans, they do it, you know, they just salute those persons.
55:59And it's always good just to stop and just say thanks, you know, we appreciate the work
56:02you're doing.
56:03And, um, I, I just, you know, would like to see that being done.
56:06But again, even when they don't do it, you know, we, we have a mission to accomplish.
56:11And I want to stop and just tell the officers, again, thanks for, you know, just being police officers
56:17on the beat, because what you do matters.
56:20Yeah, certainly.
56:21And the caller would have alluded to that, um, you know, these officers work hard.
56:26They do things to try and make the country safer.
56:29And for those lawbreakers, whether you be major or minimal in terms of traffic offenses,
56:34you're still breaking the law.
56:36And, you know, some people complain about getting a ticket because they went five kilometers
56:42over the speed limit, or they might have a broken taillight.
56:46They've been given a warning.
56:47And then the next time they stop them and they say, no taillight has been fixed,
56:51driving without insurance, driving without a DP, a driver's permit.
56:55Come on.
56:56Yeah.
56:57And I will tell you, I remember the first ticket I, I, I, I gave, the man begged,
57:01yes, and I said, you know, I'm giving tickets a day and, you know, and by the time I started
57:06to write the ticket, I, I just was writing the, you know, just basic things.
57:10And I say, you're so wicked, you know, you're wicked by, you know, self-crime and, you know,
57:14this kind of thing.
57:15But, you know, you get these things, it's part of the job.
57:17Yes.
57:18But, you know, at the end of the day, you know, um, sometimes it's necessary that you
57:21have the tough luck, but we get the job.
57:23Yes, indeed.
57:24DCP Benjamin, we want to thank you so much for sharing this Friday afternoon with us.
57:28Of course, remember, repeat tonight at 11.30, no rerun tomorrow.
57:33Of course, I'm going to urge you guys, please, please be safe on the nation's roadways.
57:37Enjoy your weekend to the fullest.
57:39The TV6 News is up next and we'll see you back here at 6 on Monday.
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