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00:00This program contains some material that is unsuitable for young children.
00:30Beyond the Tape
00:40We'll be back after these messages.
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03:45Welcome to Beyond the Tape. I'm your host Mark Bassan. Welcome to our viewers across Trinidad and Tobago.
04:01Our international viewers and of course our brothers and sisters in the eyes of Grenada.
04:07It's Thursday and guess who's keeping us company for the next hour?
04:11None other than acting ASP Ishmael Pitt of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service. Welcome.
04:16Thank you, Mark. Good evening to you. Good evening to Trinidad and Tobago. Always a pleasure being here.
04:22How has things been? You know, we've been in a couple of busy days.
04:26We have had a rise in homicides in the last couple of days.
04:31We had the concerning gun violence as it relates to children, you know, really highlighted.
04:41We looked at that nine-year-old boy who was shot in Maloney when gunmen came to the home
04:46and his father ran into the house, shot his father on the foot.
04:51And in so doing, of course, the child might have been in proximity of that incident.
04:56He was shot in his heel.
04:58Yeah. So, yes, we have had over the last couple of days or so some incidents of concern.
05:05And, you know, for that reason we have been strategic in terms of our response.
05:11Based on our investigations thus far, we are very confident that we will be able to bring persons to account
05:17regarding those incidents that you spoke of.
05:20Additionally, it's always about prevention.
05:23And, you know, in that regard there are certain things that was brought to our attention
05:29regarding how we are able now to ensure that those situations don't spiral into, you know, incidents of a much deeper nature.
05:41So, regarding gang violence and gun violence which goes hand in hand,
05:46it is very important as law enforcement that we are able to stymie the progress of these type of incidents to stem the issue of reprisal and retaliation and things of that nature.
05:57So, we have been doing our homework and we are very, very confident that we will be able to minimize the impact of these incidents.
06:05In the first instance, being able to bring persons to account and, secondly, ensuring that it doesn't spill over into other serious issues.
06:12Yes, certainly. And, you know, as you said, it's always concerning, especially when it involves a child, you know, becoming a victim of crime.
06:20Whether they are hurt, whether they are killed, it's equally disturbing to the public.
06:26Of course. Well, children and women, you know, they are viewed a particular way.
06:30There's a level of innocence attached to children and women.
06:33And, you know, for that reason, there's an extra sense of care that is attached to, you know, the guardianship of individuals within that bracket.
06:41And, you know, it's always troubling when we have to deal with incidents of violence against children and against women.
06:50Not to say that if it happens against men that, you know, we take it any less seriously.
06:54Yeah.
06:55But, you know, from a cultural and a traditional lens regarding women and children, you know, it's sacred.
07:01And for that reason, you know, there's an additional level of passion, you know, inherently speaking, that is attached to our approaches.
07:09Yeah. All right. Thanks so much for that, Acting ASP Pitt.
07:13Yeah.
07:14And, of course, one of the big stories for the day, of course, deals with a release sent out, at least on the criminal front, of police making a seizure of $1.8 million in cash at a home in Maraval.
07:30The exercise was conducted between the hours of 4 and 8 a.m. yesterday morning by officers of the Western Maraval Criminal Investigations Department with the assistance of Western Police Station, the Western Division Task Force, the Western Division Gang and Intelligence Unit, the Interagency Task Force, and the Canaan Unit.
07:50Apparently, they went to a home looking for a particular suspect, and when they got there during their search, they discovered $1.8 million and $837 in Bajan currency.
08:05And they also found four police patches and a pair of black tactical pants were also seized. ASP Pitt, the suspect's mother who was in the home, who was at the housery at the time of the exercise, was also taken into custody.
08:20Yes.
08:21Well, we know when you look at incidents of crime, gang-related, illegal issues, it usually is because of a particular type of motivation.
08:35The issue of cash, you cannot escape from it.
08:38Fortunately, the law has provided for us as law enforcement officers the opportunity to dig deeper into the source of funds regarding fines of this nature.
08:49So it doesn't mean to say to cast as persons in the first instance as to how the person would have obtained it.
08:57Nonetheless, I'm certain that those officers, when they're based on intelligence, and for that reason now, there's a particular process,
09:04when you take it into consideration, the Proceeds of Crime Act, that they will undertake in order to determine the source of that fund.
09:11Well, as I said, the first release ended in that aspect of seeing that the FIB, Financial Investigation Bureau, was contacted and the cash was seized under the, in accordance with the Proceeds of Crime Act.
09:23That is correct.
09:24Well, they will obviously do the necessary investigation, trace to see where these ones have originated.
09:31Yes.
09:32If it's in fact legitimate or not, they will determine such.
09:36And as I said, we have to let the investigation take its course.
09:41Of course.
09:42So, you know, we often like to hear about the seizure of firearms.
09:47We often like to hear about the seizure of narcotics, ammunition, and, you know, all these items that generally they speak for themselves.
09:57When you look at cash, however, we look at the opportunity that cash provides.
10:04With cash, an individual or group of persons now have a certain amount of power.
10:09They have power now to obtain certain things.
10:12They have power now to influence certain things.
10:14They have power to influence persons.
10:16And it puts the group of persons in a position now where they are much more difficult to treat with.
10:23So, it is important as a law enforcement organization that we are able now to treat with cash in a particular way.
10:30And as I said before, it is very, very forward thinking and fortunate that we have legislation that has provided the opportunity for us in order to go in that same direction.
10:40Yes, certainly.
10:41All right.
10:42Moving on, of course, you know, we always talk about the seriousness of home invasions in this country as it continues.
10:50And no doubt, a family was confronted by armed men on Tuesday morning in the Claxton Bay area.
10:58An elderly couple was beaten and robbed.
11:01They were having breakfast, apparently, just after 7.30 a.m.
11:05And when these three assailants entered their homes, one armed with a gun, and proceeded to assault the male victim.
11:18He was beaten about the body.
11:19They ransacked the house.
11:21And they took approximately $30,000 in jewelry, $7,600 in local and foreign currency, as well as two pairs of Jordan stickers worth more than U.S. $400.
11:35And they later escaped the suspects have been described as slim built men.
11:39One of light complexion wearing a black hoodie and joggers.
11:42Another wearing a white jersey and black short pants.
11:45And a third dressed in black hoodie and short pants.
11:48So, if you have any information concerning these individuals who might have been responsible for this act, we ask you to call the nearest police station.
11:58In this case, St. Margaret's police station.
12:00Or 800TIPS or 999.
12:04Yes, Pippet.
12:05Yes.
12:06And, you know, we continue to encourage the neighborhood type of approach in terms of being your brother's keeper.
12:13You know, we often use the term mako.
12:16And it has a certain connotation attached to it.
12:20But a mako is a very important person in the neighborhood.
12:23They are able to see things.
12:25They may see things at times that we may not want them to see out of the whole issue of privacy and what have you.
12:32But it is important that our neighbors look out for each other.
12:36And for that reason, when we utilize technology in terms of WhatsApp groups and that type of neighborhood activity and communication,
12:45it is forward thinking from the perspective of you can provide information real time.
12:51Right.
12:52So that in the event that you observe something looking strange, something untoward, you can pass on that information so that we can have what we call a quick response.
13:01So, again, it is of paramount importance that we have that type of neighborhood approach regarding the safety and security of persons within communities.
13:10All right.
13:11Thanks so much.
13:12Okay.
13:13So we were able to identify the murder victim that was shot and killed at Eastside Plaza yesterday afternoon.
13:21He has identified as 34-year-old Quando Gilliam of La Perita Avenue in Dago Martin.
13:31Of course, if you recall, around 3.40 yesterday, police received a call.
13:37A gunman shot him while he was at his workplace.
13:40He is a cleaner of that area.
13:42And they responded and found Mr. Gilliam lying on the floor apparently with several gunshot wounds.
13:52He was later declared dead by a district medical officer.
13:58Yeah.
13:59And I implore anyone with information because, I mean, this isn't a very busy place, commercial place.
14:05There are shops there.
14:06There are people walking on the street, walking through that plaza every day.
14:11And at that hour, school children even, schoolers done walking through passing, going home, and others were leaving work and so on.
14:20Yes.
14:21It might sound cliche, but I'm certain no stone would be left unturned in terms of bringing persons to account for this incident.
14:29You are talking about in the city of Port of Spain.
14:32Yes.
14:33And as you said, Port of Spain is a busy area.
14:36And, you know, it's very important that we are able to demonstrate that there's consequence for action.
14:41And even more so, if that action is carried out in a particular place that has a significant amount of the population present.
14:50So, as I said before, no stone would be left unturned.
14:55All right.
14:56So, it's day 91 of the state of emergency.
15:00We want to quickly take you through those figures.
15:03Number of operations, 6,529.
15:07Target priority offenders, 2,293.
15:10Sages conducted, 42,695.
15:13Traffic operations, 4,351.
15:16Total persons arrested, 2,923.
15:19Traffic offenses detected, 25,675.
15:23Arms recovered in total, 179.
15:26Radarized and pistols, 82.
15:28Ammunition recovered thus far, 2,142 rounds of ammunition.
15:34We had a rise in the 9mm of 1130 rounds.
15:37And on the 0.380, we had 57 rounds.
15:40Dangerous drugs seized, 487,827.98 grams of cannabis.
15:48The rise there, and of course, the rest speaks for themselves.
15:52Yeah.
15:53Indeed.
15:54And the statistics reminds us, Mark, that we must lord the efforts of the men and women
16:03of the Toronto Baker Police Service.
16:05We have been continuously beating the ground.
16:10This is our second state of emergency.
16:12We have passed through Carnival.
16:14There has been several leave restrictions in order to bring us to our position of stability.
16:19Yes, over the past couple of days, we have had some incidents.
16:22But if you are to compare where we are at today, regarding the same period last year,
16:27you're going to recognize the significance in terms of the homicide change.
16:31Yes.
16:32For that reason, it is very, very important that we pay recognition to the efforts on the ground.
16:40It is in no small way that officers go out there and exhibit that type of dedication and devotion
16:48in order to achieve the kind of results that we are seeing now.
16:51It took a lot.
16:52It takes a lot.
16:53And we continue to give.
16:55And all we are asking in return that the members of the public provide us to that level of partnership,
17:01that level of information so that we can transfer it into intelligence
17:05and subsequent evidence so that we can bring persons before the court.
17:08We always speak about prevention first.
17:11And we are seeing that preventative action in terms of target hardening,
17:15be it yourself as an individual, in terms of your home, in terms of your vehicle, your property in general,
17:22is the first port of call.
17:24Outside of that, we are going to seek what you will call the factors that contribute towards solving of matters,
17:33the solvability factors in order to bring persons before the court.
17:37All right.
17:38Let's take a quick look now at our headlines.
17:40All right.
17:41I'd like to say to the covenants.
17:45...
17:47Friends,神, Sonic.
17:50If you have any questions, please ask us to show me today.
17:51And I should say, let's take a quick look now.
17:53I'll go now.
18:00We'll get 20 questions.
18:02All right.
18:03All right.
18:04All right.
18:05Vamos.
18:06When we are at those сейчас that makes them two years,
18:08and I'll keep them even reading very quickly.
18:09All right.
18:10So those are some of the headlines over the last 24 hours.
18:12We're going to take a short break.
18:14And when we get back, we'll take your calls and have much more.
18:17Stay with us.
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21:20Welcome back to Beyond the Table.
21:21I'm your host, Mark Pisan.
21:22And, of course, joined today by acting ASP Ishmael Pitt of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
21:26And I think we have our first call on the line.
21:29Caller, good evening.
21:29And welcome to be on the table.
21:31Good evening.
21:32Good evening, Mr. Mahatma.
21:33And good evening, sir.
21:35ASP Pitt.
21:36Mark, a first question to you.
21:40I believe you have to do a piece on the alleged Trinidadians that were allegedly killed in the boat operation that the Americans are targeting.
21:53I would like to know, as a citizen of Trinidad, when that gentleman left Trinidad and Tobago to go to Venezuela or Colombia for three months, was his passport stopped?
22:05Mr. Mahatma, Mr. Pitt, to you now, two questions.
22:09One on your, if you are still in the race for the presidency of the Welfare Association, and I am asking you, if you happen to basically win that election, if you will do like the new Tuta president, go back and renegotiate your 4 percent.
22:33Because I think you have policemen under real stress with that.
22:38The second issue is, as a learned ASP, and I know you have been conversing all the news items, recently our attorney general said he has put the ACID under his arm.
22:53And I said that the judgment against three police officers in the Barbados, Thomas, is you, that he will be investigating it.
23:06I want to know how the second division will be helping in that investigation.
23:14So, basically, discipline arrest officers if they are found wanted, and how will you assist the attorney general to expedite that investigation?
23:28Because, you know, this is the fourth investigation.
23:31The first one, Betola, that's when Amanda, she was arrested.
23:35The second one, Betola, you don't know where he is.
23:41There is one with the commissioner of police, which he just started.
23:45But I think the new attorney general is proactive.
23:49He said he is a law-abiding attorney general.
23:54The final arbiter in this investigation, this judgment that the judge made, is the final say.
24:04All the evidence is there.
24:06He said an investigation, an abduction is tantamount to kidnapping, and we have some serious laws there.
24:13Again, have a nice evening.
24:15Thank you, sir.
24:17Go ahead.
24:18You're not going first.
24:19I'll have to let you go first.
24:21Well, the first question the caller asks is if I am still contesting the post for president of the police association and caller.
24:31The straight answer to that is yes.
24:33The follow-up question was whether we will do as Tuta did in terms of going back to the negotiating table
24:40in order to look at the 6% within the context of the 10% that is on the table at this particular point in time for that period in question or in review.
24:54So the straight answer is yes.
24:56The straight answer is that on just the day a media release was sent out from the association office,
25:03in that regard, letting our members be aware that considering the pronouncements that were made in the budget regarding the 10%,
25:15that our association will be engaging the CPO regarding the 6% and whatever back pay is to come as a result of that for our membership.
25:25Yes, so he went on to speak about the ACIB and the investigation that would be coming out of the attorney general's office.
25:37Well, the ACIB is the anti-corruption borough, and, you know,
25:43they have been treated with investigations of this nature from time immemorial.
25:48They have the necessary skill set in terms and the competency in terms of treating with this sensitive type of issue.
25:59And regarding the support that they will be getting from the second division,
26:05the ACIB and any other department is largely made up of second division officers,
26:11obviously under the supervision of first division officers.
26:15But generally speaking, we have an extreme amount of competent officers within our departments,
26:23and more so they have been fit for purpose in terms of not having necessarily square pegs in wrong holes
26:29so that we ensure that we get the best type of investigators in order to carry about a particular type of activity.
26:36In terms of looking into that crystal ball and seeing exactly where this investigation might lead,
26:43and I'm saying this, and it is very important that I say this,
26:47you know, that is something that as a responsible organization we would not do.
26:51We would not preempt a particular outcome because that in itself could, you know, lend to some sense of bias.
26:59Yes.
27:00In terms of how other investigation may have ended, you know, we are guided by evidence,
27:06and, you know, we don't rely solely on our own judgment or on our own competence, on our own capacity.
27:16We also have extensive dialogue with the Director of Public Prosecution,
27:21who usually supports our investigations in terms of what next,
27:26in terms of opening up that pool and that brainstorming type of activity that goes along with investigations,
27:35so that even if, given our best, that we are able to probably not consider something when it reaches the DPP office.
27:44You know, all these issues are ventilated, and, you know, it is placed on the table
27:48so that the officers will be redirected in order to treat with whatever evidence is outstanding.
27:53So we are confident that we are capable of treating with this or whatever investigation that comes our way in a professional manner.
28:01Yeah, and just for the caller, I did write this story today, and it was also on TV6 last night,
28:09and I can tell you, based on a very general way, there are people that leave via the airport,
28:15and they tend to come back into the country by boat, or vice versa.
28:20I mean, speaking to the persons, or relatives, rather, he's a fisherman, so perhaps he left via boat.
28:29They did not make that quite clear to me, but I believe he would have left the jurisdiction,
28:35possibly by boat, and was trying to return by boat from Columbia.
28:39But I will get some more clarity on that.
28:42I think we have another caller on the line.
28:43Caller, good evening and welcome to be on the table.
28:46Yeah.
28:47Go ahead.
28:50Yes.
28:50I find it very strange that the police cannot keep the capital city safe.
28:59If you shouldn't feel anywhere safe, you should feel safe in the capital city.
29:05And bandits and people are killing people.
29:08This is not a word of incident.
29:11This thing has been happening over and over and over,
29:14and the police seems not to be able.
29:17How has a citizen who made her feel safe in any other part of Canada and Tobago
29:23when the other characters even locked down the capital city?
29:27Yeah?
29:28In this day and age of technology?
29:31Yeah?
29:31That is a very, very serious indictment against the police service, as far as I'm concerned.
29:38That bandits come and kill people and run off, and there was much other saw since about
29:43for the past five years when people come and kill people in the capital city.
29:48And the other have failed miserably to really lock down the capital city.
29:53I listen up here.
29:55Yeah.
29:55Thanks a lot, Caller.
29:56Well, thank you very much, Caller, and thank you for your constructive criticism.
30:02It is laced with passion and, you know, rightfully so.
30:06What I can tell you, though, is that we have had a significant amount of success
30:10in terms of being able to secure our capital city.
30:14Yes, there will be pockets of incidents, and for that reason, given the police presence,
30:20we have been able to manage it.
30:22Yes, there have been some homicides, but I dare say that even in some of the most developed
30:29countries in the world, there have been issues in their capital city.
30:34So we are not insulated in terms of our ability to manage situations and persons' ability to
30:45carry out certain things within what you would call the capital city.
30:49So, you know, I am humbly suggesting that at times we balance it.
30:56And I'm not saying that to take away from what you are saying, Caller.
31:00You are on point in that, you know, regarding the population that is present within any capital city,
31:08it is critical that any law enforcement agency has that type of focus that is able to provide
31:14that level of security that would make persons feel safe.
31:17And, you know, you have businesses and what have you being able to conduct themselves in a free and safe manner.
31:26Notwithstanding that, we cannot bury our heads in the sand and just take away that, you know,
31:32there may not be incidents.
31:34So there have been incidents.
31:35But when we compare in terms of our ability to manage, I should say that we have been doing a good job.
31:41But there is always room for improvement.
31:44And we continue to sit with our stakeholders and other agencies in order to determine the best way forward
31:52and the best way to provide that level of safety and security for our capital city.
31:56So we are not alone in that regard.
31:57However, we are saying that, yes, there is room for improvement.
32:02All right.
32:02Thanks a lot.
32:03We're going to take a quick break.
32:04And when we get back, we'll have more.
32:05Stay with us.
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35:01Welcome back to Be On The Tape.
35:15I'm your host, Mark Bussan, of course, joined today by Acton ASP Pitt of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
35:21And just before we go to this feature with the Commissioner of Police, the last caller, you know, police cannot be everywhere.
35:27And the second thing is that I recall that a couple weeks ago I was outside the building when the police responded with such a liquidity to robbery in progress across at a bar there where one suspect was shot and two others held.
35:44So, when you're criticizing the police, you also see a lot of Trinidadians or the public tends to only focus on the negative.
35:52But there are times when the police would have responded quickly to incidents here, a wrong port of Spain, and we have seen it.
36:00Sometimes it doesn't even make the news, to be honest.
36:02Yes.
36:03Because nobody's hurt, but they respond quickly and the suspects are held.
36:08Yes.
36:08And they're taken into custody, whether it be shoplifting or robbery of some sort.
36:12You're absolutely correct.
36:13We have to be a little fair when it comes to that.
36:16I'm not trying to defend, but we have to balance the good with the bad.
36:19Yes.
36:19And I know you believe in balanced journalism.
36:22Yes.
36:22All right.
36:23So, we want to take you to a video with Commissioner of Police Alistair Gouverneur in the Tobago Division, or Tobago rather.
36:32His visit there on October 15th.
36:33Let's take a look.
36:34The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Alistair Gouverneur, paid an official visit to the Tobago Division on Friday, October 10th, 2025.
36:56Upon his arrival on the island, the Commissioner's first engagement was a live appearance on Tobago Channel 5's morning program, Rise and Shine, hosted by Derek Brotherby Braffitt and Jermaine Juby Cox.
37:10Commissioner of Police, Alistair Gouverneur, and we will get into who this gentleman is, of course, his journey, and all that we need to know about this very Fort Wright.
37:21That's how I refer to him, the Fort Wright guy who is now in charge of the police service.
37:25He also appealed to the citizens to support the police in its crime-fighting initiatives.
37:30I would tell Tobago today, I would like you all not only just to trust, but to partner with the TTPS and coming on board, as we like to say, get on board with the TTPS so we can work with you to help protect you.
37:45His next stop was another media engagement, Tobago Updates morning show, hosted by Mr. Dana Comby and Mr. Akinlabi Holder.
37:55During this interview, the Commissioner fielded several questions on national security matters, providing updates on the ongoing state of emergency, the school-oriented policing program, and other crime prevention initiatives across both islands.
38:10Pay attention to what your children put in their bags to go to school.
38:13So, the school-oriented policing, we're finding narcotics, we're finding knives.
38:18These are the things that we don't want in our schools.
38:21So, parents, I urge you, check your children's school bags.
38:23The Commissioner, accompanied by Assistant Commissioner of Police Oswain Sobero, Senior Superintendent Earl Eli, and other senior officers, then paid a courtesy visit to Minority Leader Mr. Kelvin Morris.
38:39Mr. Morris commended the TTPS for its continued efforts to maintain law and order on the island, while noting significant areas where increased attention was needed.
38:49He also raised concerns about the sustainability of the heightened policing efforts once the state of emergency concludes, and emphasized that every citizen must see themselves as a stakeholder in the fight against crime.
39:05Commissioner Guevaro assured the minority leader that the areas identified would receive the necessary attention.
39:12He also gave his commitment that the amplified police presence would continue.
39:16The Commissioner expressed his satisfaction with the performance of the Tobago Division's executive, and reaffirmed his support for the officers serving on the island.
39:27The next engagement was a courtesy visit to the Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly, the Honorable Farley Augustine, and the THA Chief Administrator, Ms. Denise Toby-Kwashi.
39:41Discussions centered on enhancing security on the island.
39:44Chief Secretary Augustine, Chief Secretary Augustine, commended the Commissioner on his first 100 days in office, as well as the efforts of the Tobago Division's leadership in maintaining safety and order.
39:55He expressed a willingness to collaborate closely with the TTPS to ensure officers are adequately resourced and pledged continued support for law enforcement initiatives.
40:06Commissioner Guevaro also met with members of the Tobago Chamber of Commerce, who expressed appreciation for the TTPS management of crime on the island and signaled interest in a closer working relationship with the service.
40:21They outlined several concerns and requested the Commissioner's assistance in addressing them.
40:26Commissioner Guevaro assured them that their issues would be looked into and resolved.
40:31Following his series of meetings, the Commissioner visited and inspected several police stations across the division.
40:39His first stop was the Scarborough Police Station, where he toured the facilities, interacted with staff, and hosted an engaging discussion, inviting officers to share their concerns.
40:49He commended their dedication, delivered a motivational address, and encouraged them to maintain professionalism and strive for excellence in their duties.
40:58Subsequent visits were made to the Mariah, Shervin, and Crown Point Police Stations.
41:04At each stop, Commissioner Guevaro met with officers, toured the facilities, and identified areas for improvement.
41:12The final stop at Crown Point Police Station concluded a productive day on the island.
41:19There, the Commissioner delivered a closing pep talk, thanked the officers for their service to the nation,
41:25and urged them to continue upholding the values of their oath of office.
41:44As the day drew to a close, Commissioner Guevaro and his team returned to Trinidad,
41:49reaffirming their ongoing commitment to enhancing policing operations and strengthening public safety across both islands.
41:58Yes, Pippet, first of all, I don't know how he did that, but he literally toured Tobago in a day.
42:21There was so much packed into that schedule, and it's really heartening that the Commissioner,
42:26in his first official visit to Tobago could get to reach all these persons and have a conversation with them.
42:33And that really adds up to you, Commissioner, by, you know, going across there
42:37and meeting all these different officers, office holders, as it may be, discussing the security on the island.
42:44And we've seen a really marked increase in terms of, you know, crime detections there.
42:53And the homicides that exploded, I believe, sometime late last year.
42:57And that has been really strangled since then.
43:01We have Senior Superintendent Eli and, of course, ASP Subbero.
43:06ASP Subbero.
43:06ASP Subbero, sorry.
43:07And, you know, your thoughts.
43:10Well, you couldn't say it better.
43:13You know, it's about time management.
43:15It's about strategy.
43:17And the Commissioner was able to capture everything, you know, within a particular period.
43:23And have all those visits, stakeholders, officers alike.
43:27It is very important, you know, that leadership is able to demonstrate their availability to meet with persons on the ground
43:37and persons who are responsible for divisions within the Chantobago Police Service.
43:42And the Commissioner has demonstrated that he's very, very good at that.
43:46And, you know, for that reason, it has increased the level of motivation on the ground.
43:50And, you know, once motivation increases, productivity increases.
43:54You have said it.
43:54Tobago, sometime last year, was experiencing an upsurge in violent crimes, including murders.
44:02And, you know, with certain changes, managerial approaches, policing approaches, stakeholders' involvement,
44:12they were able to bring things to a sense of normalcy.
44:15And it's not a case of the Commissioner only visiting Tobago if things are dark.
44:20But he's also visiting Tobago when things are, you know, at an acceptable level
44:26to demonstrate that he appreciates the level of commitment, dedication, and devotion
44:31that is being exhibited by the officers within the Tobago direction.
44:34And I imagine the dynamics might be a little bit different in Tobago than Trinidad.
44:39But, you know, Senior Superintendent Eli and ECP Sabera,
44:42if you all have some secrets to help the officers in Trinidad and Tobago
44:46to, you know, stymie this gang violence and this gun violence, please share it.
44:52We appreciate it.
44:53All right?
44:54We'll take a short break and we'll get back with more.
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48:09Welcome back to Beyond the Tape. I'm your host, Mark Wilson, of course, joined today by acting ASP Ishmael Pitta of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
48:18We want to remind you of the numbers to call 623-1711, extensions 1996 and 1997.
48:26But before that, of course, we wanted to share this video that we got on social media.
48:32Yesterday appears a man climbed this tower in the Point Lisas estate.
48:38We don't know what's his state of mind. I saw it in a group and a lot of people were remarking.
48:45He looked rather distressed. I am hoping that I know he had to climb up there ASP Pitta.
48:52And I'm hoping that somebody got him down safely because he doesn't look to be in the best of mind.
49:02You know, just looking at his body language.
49:07Well, one would assume that anyone taking that chance to climb that type of height, you know, everything may not be totally okay.
49:17Yeah.
49:17So, I think that...
49:19And those are high-tension wires there.
49:21That is correct. So, it's a dangerous, dangerous undertaking.
49:23Extremely dangerous.
49:26We are hopeful, because I didn't hear anything further.
49:29Yes.
49:30Hopeful that the fire services and all those persons who would have been called to that location would have come and rescued this distressed individual.
49:40And hopefully, you know, or talk him down to come down from that structure where things, I mean, you have to be physically sure to climb.
49:53That's quite a height, ASP Pitta. Quite a height.
49:56Physically strong is one thing.
49:58Yeah.
49:58But your state of mind.
50:00Yeah.
50:01Mark, I mean, I am not any fan of heights, especially when you are actually being faced with your mortality.
50:11So, you can imagine the mindset of someone who can climb to that extent.
50:17Yeah.
50:17And he appears, I know you are saying he appears distressed and what have you, but to me, he appears quite comfortable at the top, you know, and that is even more concerning.
50:28I don't know if I could do that either.
50:30I mean, that is even more concerning.
50:32I'm moderating heights sometimes.
50:34It depends.
50:35But sometimes, you know, when you, you know, you go on high buildings and you, I don't know if you have ever been to Toronto.
50:41I lived there and I went up on the tower.
50:43There's this huge glass floor.
50:45Yeah.
50:46It's thick and you could walk and you could look all the way down.
50:49And how you felt comfortable doing that?
50:50I was good, I was good.
50:52There are a lot of people around.
50:53Because you know the glass thick.
50:54Yeah.
50:55Yes, yes, yes.
50:56But on the outdoors, I mean, on a balcony, that is like you're virtually hanging on for their life there.
51:02Of course.
51:03With crisscross beams.
51:04Of course.
51:05Your foot are crossed because, and you slip and that's it.
51:08You're gone.
51:09You know, so in that regard, we want to urge members of the public, please desist from, you know,
51:15on that type of activity.
51:18Please do not let, I hope this is an isolated incident and we don't see other persons attempting or partaking in this type of activity.
51:27It is extremely dangerous.
51:28Because we know for a fact that each individual in China and Tobago, there's someone who's looking out for them.
51:34There's a loved one, notwithstanding their circumstance.
51:37There's someone out there who cares about you.
51:40And if it is you believe that you need help, you can reach out for help.
51:44But don't take those type of chances with your life, please.
51:48Agreed.
51:49Agreed.
51:49All right.
51:50We have a call on the line.
51:51Caller, good evening, and welcome to be on the tape.
51:53Pleasant good evening, my honor.
51:55Pleasant good evening, Mr. Bassan.
51:58And pleasant good evening to the inspector, Mr. Pitt.
52:01Yes, sir.
52:02Good evening.
52:03Yes, sir.
52:03Yes, sir.
52:04One concern I just want to raise is I know it's not in your remit.
52:10But I am very much concerned about the murder of persons in the waters, the international waters that surround Chilean and Tobago and Rodriguez and Venezuela,
52:21which has now touched on our own country with our own citizens losing their lives.
52:26And I just want to say that murder is murder.
52:31If someone is committing an offense, whether it be job trafficking or whatever, they need to be arrested and go before a court of justice.
52:39They are not arbitrarily executed.
52:43Those are my comments.
52:45Yeah.
52:45Thanks so much, Caller.
52:46Yeah.
52:47Well, we know it's an issue that a lot of persons are commenting on.
52:54There are persons who are pro.
52:55There are persons who are against.
52:58You know, it's something that I believe our leadership is managing.
53:01And they have the remit to manage it.
53:03And, you know, we have to trust that they make the correct decisions in terms of going forward and have the appropriate dialogue.
53:12Then there are things that if we are practical, you know, sometimes we have to accept that it's out of our control.
53:18Yeah.
53:18And I know that the Prime Minister actually has a meeting going on right now with CARICOM leaders virtually.
53:24And I suspect that is part of the conversation being had right now.
53:29So, we are hopeful that we will find out more about that in the coming hours, what that meeting was about, what it entailed, and what is the decision or stance on the latest developments.
53:40Yeah.
53:40All right.
53:41We have another caller.
53:42And I'm calling you the last for the afternoon.
53:45You're there?
53:45Good evening, gentlemen.
53:47Good evening, good evening, ma'am.
53:49No, this is not a ma'am, this is a gentleman.
53:52Oh, sorry, sir.
53:53I humbly apologize.
53:54I have a voice, ma'am.
53:55Yeah, sorry.
53:56I said, I raised this with you before I'm going to raise it again.
54:00I raised this with you before I raised it based on numbers.
54:03And I asked you, how many vehicles were ticketed for more music in any given year?
54:11And I don't think there was any year where it is technically beautiful.
54:15It must be worked for two and a half years, I think.
54:17It was like 200 and something.
54:19I have told you about the issue.
54:21The issue of it, in general, seems to be taking the flight from me, it's a person.
54:28There are three other people.
54:29And I want to tell you why I am saying that.
54:31So, I live in a minute, and I'm also on the road every day, and I speak to people.
54:38These cars were just because that's them aiming outside on the rear door, on the black house,
54:44and all these things.
54:45They are becoming more, and more, and more.
54:47And they are up and down on the road every day, every hour, when you rush out.
54:54And police have a subject, ignore them.
54:56It seems that the police still don't understand how disturbing these people are.
55:02They don't seem to understand how disturbing these people are.
55:05But the people don't care about the noise of these people.
55:08from these people all over the day and night.
55:10They can send the police.
55:12This doesn't take any investigation.
55:14It doesn't take any surveillance.
55:17The car that I get in everybody's face.
55:19And police continue to do a poor job dealing with it.
55:25And I think outside that we all do a better job.
55:28And I thank you.
55:29If you can help out in any way for this in a more,
55:35in a more visible way.
55:39Yes.
55:40Thanks a lot, Kola.
55:41Yes, you have a minute.
55:43Yeah, well, quickly.
55:44And Kola is correct.
55:45He raised this issue, I think it was sometime last year, earlier this year.
55:49And he did ask for me to provide statistics.
55:52I did provide statistics.
55:54The statistics in itself, it's suggested that police officers are very much involved
55:59in ticketing persons who are guilty of playing music beyond a certain level.
56:04while driving their motor vehicles.
56:06And even water stand cells.
56:08So what you are asking for is that we become more robust where this particular violation is concerned.
56:16And Kola, your concerns will not be falling on their fare.
56:19We will definitely pass on the information to ensure that these quality of life issues.
56:23Because yes, someone is being impacted.
56:25Members of the community are being impacted.
56:27And on that note, quickly Mark, we know that this is Diwali weekend.
56:31We want persons to be reasonable.
56:33We want persons to be understanding.
56:35Where it comes to the bursting of bamboo and fireworks.
56:39Yes.
56:40On the issue of fireworks, we want persons to obey the law.
56:44Please consider the elderly.
56:46Consider children.
56:47Consider pets.
56:48Please have a safe and wonderful Diwali weekend.
56:52Yes, Diwali.
56:53Thanks so much for the last hour.
56:55All right.
56:56Remember, we run tonight at 11.
56:58Repeat tomorrow at 11 o'clock.
57:00The TV6 News is up next and we will see you back here tomorrow at 6.
57:03Have a great one.
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