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  • 2 days ago
Contrary to a poster currently circulating on social media, the TTPS says it has no record of a planned protest outside the Besson Street Police Station on Wednesday, in support of Kaia Sealey and Joshua Samaroo, who were shot by police back in January. The police are advising members of the public against taking part in unapproved demonstrations. Rynessa Cutting has more.
Transcript
00:00According to this flyer titled, Protest Campaign, 19 Bullets, 19 Protests, Demonstration No. 8 is carded for Wednesday, 25th March
00:11at 4 p.m., this time outside the Besson Street police station in Port of Spain.
00:16However, acting ACP for the Northwest Division, Gavin Henry tells TV6 News, the TTPS has no information of such an
00:25event.
00:26I, from my personal knowledge, right, do not have any information of any application to host or hold any protest
00:38in front of Besson Street police station.
00:41I have checked with the senior superintendent, Western Division, I mean, sorry, Port of Spain Division, and also the divisional
00:51office and my clerk's office.
00:53And we have no record whatsoever of any application to hold a protest.
01:00TV6 News contacted the family of Joshua Samaru, who was fatally shot by police on January 20th.
01:07However, they indicated that they had not organized any of the events, and as such, had no knowledge of the
01:14planned protest.
01:15Calls to the other shooting victim, Kaya Sealy, went unanswered.
01:20We are conducting inquiries with an attempt to reach out to find out who are the organizers, right, or who
01:31are the persons who may have produced or are behind this plan, right?
01:37So we can address the issue in the proper manner.
01:40The TTPS is taking the opportunity to remind the members of the public that permission needs to be sought and
01:46obtained for public marches and demonstrations.
01:50Any protests will only be allowed to take place if the commissioner has granted permission.
01:58Up to this time, I can say with certainty that no such permission has been granted.
02:05And therefore, any person who seeks to engage, to participate in any protests at that station,
02:13the police will take action to prevent it or dissuade persons from taking part in that term.
02:21In any such action, in accordance with the law.
02:24The TTPS confirms that the current SOE does not prohibit protest action.
02:30However, the summary act, right, guides us as to how a protest is to be allowed, right?
02:39An application is made, an investigation is done, and a report on recommendation is submitted to the commissioner who will
02:46make the final determination.
02:47It remains that way.
02:49However, an investigation may cause us to form a particular opinion, right, which would end up in us making a
03:04recommendation in support of or against a person holding a protest.
03:12In this situation here, as far as I am aware, as far as I am aware, we have formed no
03:19particular opinion for or against it because no investigation, as far as I am aware, has been conducted.
03:26And we have not been given any instruction, right, that would prevent us or suggest to us that we shouldn't
03:35recommend or support a protest or deny a protest.
03:42The ACP tells TV6 News, checks have revealed that there are no applications for the other protests scheduled to be
03:49held outside other police stations.
03:52Renessa Cutting, TV6 News.
03:56Foblin, TV6 News.
03:57Foblin, TV6 News.
03:57Foblin, TV6 News.
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