The safety and security of prison officers in Trinidad and Tobago remain a top priority for Acting Prisons Commissioner Hayden Forde. He says he looks forward to a day when officers can walk the streets freely, without fear for their lives or personal safety.
00:00Prison officers face constant threats, from targeted killings to gun attacks at their homes, with hit lists forcing them to live in fear.
00:09The Prison Officers Association has repeatedly called on governments to let officers carry firearms off-duty.
00:17On Monday, Acting Prisons Commissioner Hayden Ford said the safety of officers remains a major concern.
00:24But I would love to see that day when officers can't operate as normal citizens.
00:34Officers do not and cannot walk the streets in a regular fashion.
00:44Officers cannot go to the grocery or do their business as the regular citizen does.
00:51We need to get to that place.
00:54However, despite his concerns for the safety and security of officers, he warns that only those deemed fit and law-abiding will be authorized to carry firearms.
01:05Only, only the hard-working, upright officers will be issued with firearms.
01:16And we have collaboration with the Tranduigo Police Service, and we are treating with certain issues where that is concerned.
01:28But in terms of firearms that we have, we are going to continue to issue as far as practicable to those officers who are deserving of it, who reach a particular threshold.
01:40The prisons commissioner also addresses concerns over threats originating from within the prison walls, which contributed to the extension of the state of emergency.
01:50A few weeks ago, both the minister of Homeland Security and the police commissioner said they believed they had successfully dismantled the gang network, and the prisons commissioner agrees.
02:03Clearly, the individuals who have been removed were main players.
02:13And the environment is, it's quiet.
02:19I know there are activities that are taking place.
02:22There's no denying that.
02:23But we can see, by virtue of having that done, we have had several reductions in certain areas.
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