00:00In keeping with this commitment, the Tobago Division has developed and implemented a comprehensive operational and security plan designed to cover all aspects of carnival activities, from pre-carnival events, FETs, and Calypso competitions, to main day parades.
00:22The plan was formulated in collaboration with other partnering agencies, including the Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force, TEMA, the Division of Infrastructure and Quarries, and Urban Development, the Division of Tourism, Fire Service, Emergency Health Services, and other agencies.
00:48With over 20,000 participants expected, officers' state special attention would be paid to traffic management, crowd control, and intelligence-led policing, with a zero tolerance for crime.
01:02We have an extremely large amount of persons coming to the island from Trinidad. On Caribbean Airlines alone, we have approximately 23,000 persons expected to arrive for the carnival, and that doesn't include the ferry service, which we expect another similar amount of persons, or similar number of persons, to come for this festivity.
01:26For this festivity. That's saying, we expect this to be the largest of all four carnivals.
01:32Additional security forces in excess of 150 officers will arrive from Trinidad to assist with security measures in Tobago.
01:42Thus far, the activities and the celebrations have started and has been incident-free.
01:47We anticipate that this carnival will also be incident-free, because we have the support from officers from Trinidad.
01:56We have in excess of 150 officers coming from Trinidad to lend a hand in Tobago.
02:02We also have a very large contingent from the Defence Force to give us the assistance that we need.
02:08So we anticipate a safe and secure carnival.
02:11Officer Eli is warning revelers to keep their weapons at home, as numerous security checkpoints would be set up.
02:20To date, 17 firearms have been seized by Tobago police for the year.
02:26And we will be doing what is necessary to ensure, first of all, there is a minimal or zero amount of weapons allowed to enter the carnival space.
02:34But that being said, I'm saying again that there will be a zero tolerance policy for all types and categories of offences during this carnival period.
02:44So I'm urging persons to leave your weapons, leave your knives, leave your ice picks for the purpose that they were designed.
02:53Ice picks were designed to chuck ice, right?
02:55So leave them at home to chuck your ice, please.
02:57A mobile prison would also be on hand for those who disobey the law while citizens are asked to cooperate with officers.
03:07Elizabeth Williams, TV6 News.
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