00:00In a TTPS video narrated by Police Commissioner Alistair Guevaro marking his first 100 days in office,
00:07the top cop is not expressing any regrets about the ongoing state of emergency in Trinidad and Tobago,
00:13which does not include a curfew or any limitation on public gatherings.
00:18I still stand by that recommendation.
00:21And if given the opportunity to do it over again, I will not change a single thing.
00:27The SOE enabled preemptive intelligence-led disruption that saved lives and fractured gang command and control.
00:35Commissioner Guevaro's appointment as the new top cop took effect in June of this year.
00:39Then on the 17th of July, I received critical intelligence of an imminent plot against law enforcement,
00:48which was hatched by incarcerated gang leaders who had amalgamated themselves into a criminal syndicate
00:55and who were using various methods of communication to carry out acts of criminality,
01:01which included kidnapping, homicides, robberies, larceny of motor vehicles, and even extortion to fund their criminal enterprise.
01:10The police commissioner then recalled the advice he gave to the National Security Council, which is chaired by the prime minister.
01:16I immediately informed the National Security Council and recommended that a state of emergency be implemented
01:22to prevent those men from carrying out their intent.
01:26It was the first of many sleepless nights since taking office.
01:31And having been successful in convincing the government, I had to marshal my troops and execute a multi-agency objective,
01:39which included the urgent relocation of high-risk inmates, initiating precision intelligence operations,
01:47and moving towards protecting communities before plans could be realized.
01:52The state is facing legal action against the detention of those who were removed from the maximum security prison
01:59to temporary detention centers at two of the nation's military bases.
02:04In hindsight, and examining this SOE, the TTPS has recorded 612 charges across all divisions.
02:13436 serious crimes, including 8 murders, 35 kidnappings, 62 robberies, 180 firearms, and ammunition offenses.
02:24Arrests have thus far totaled 406 and counting, with 256 for serious crimes, 83 for minor offenses, and 67 for minor crimes.
02:36Over 150 firearms have thus far been recovered.
02:40The initial 30-day extension of the state of emergency approved by the House of Representatives
02:46via the government's majority is due to end on October 28th.
02:51Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
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