There is no truth to safe houses being prepared for the Prime Minister and the Attorney General following a heightened security advisory by the US Embassy. The confirmation comes from Acting Commissioner of Police Junior Benjamin. Alicia Boucher has the details.
00:00The advisory issued by the United States Embassy on Saturday urges U.S. citizens to stay away from all U.S. facilities in Trinidad and Tobago over the Diwali holiday weekend.
00:10The embassy said it was due to a heightened state of alert, further cautioning U.S. citizens to pay close attention to their surroundings and to monitor reputable media sources.
00:19It didn't say what the nature of the threat was.
00:21Following that, allegations that safe houses were being prepared for the Prime Minister and the Attorney General surfaced on social media.
00:29TV6 News reached out to acting top cop junior Benjamin concerning the developments.
00:35In relation to the news out there about the safe houses and so forth, let me just say there's absolutely no truth to that.
00:43From the investigation done and the information receiving me, there's absolutely no truth to those stories.
00:50So we want to ask citizens to be very careful what you're saying out there and even the information that you receive.
00:59For credible information, he points to the corporate communications of both the TTPS and the government.
01:05As for the nature of what has spawned the heightened state of security from the side of the TTPS.
01:10Is this an issue related to what is happening with the U.S. and Venezuela or is this strictly a local internal issue?
01:18Well, I would want to say at this point in time, I would not want to go into any further information in relation to the issue itself.
01:26Benjamin says based on the intelligence the Homeland Security Ministry received by way of the advisory and also given the state of emergency,
01:34there was a meeting with Minister Roger Alexander and subsequently with police officers.
01:38I can tell you at this point in time that the Chiantiligo Police Service, we are on heightened alert,
01:44especially with our operational and tactical units to ensure safety and security of all our citizens,
01:50as well as also all foreign nationals that are here as well, because we want to ensure safety and security for all.
01:58The acting top cop says they have also met with municipal corporations and so far everything has been normal.
02:04We don't see a need for any panic, but nevertheless, as the police service,
02:09it is important for us to have a proactive approach in this situation.
02:13And therefore, we have ensured that our officers are on the alert and we are going to, again,
02:19be visiting, doing regular patrols, ensuring safety and security around our borders and everything.
02:25You know, all persons thus far and all the areas thus far that must be secured are secured at this time.
02:31And safety and security is our priority, at least over the long weekend.
02:36While there is no advisory in effect for Trinidad and Tobago nationals,
02:40the TDPS is asking the public to cooperate with law enforcement over the long weekend.
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