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  • 20 hours ago
The Homeland Security Minister has directed "an immediate operational response to" the Thursday killing of a Health Ministry employee while parked near the food court in the Queen's Park Savannah.

And in a separate matter, he offered new information about the ammunition used by the Municipal Police.

The Minister faced questions on different state security issues in Friday's sitting of the Lower House.

Juhel Browne reports.
Transcript
00:00Following the murder of an employee of the Ministry of Health at the Queen's Park, Savannah,
00:06will the minister indicate what urgent measures will be taken to improve safety?
00:12The urgent question from Opposition MP Marvin Gonzalez to Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander
00:17in the House of Representatives regarding the killing of a 49-year-old father
00:22just one day earlier at a popular food court area in the nation's capital.
00:27The incident at the Queen's Park, Savannah, is one of grave concern, Mr. Speaker,
00:33particularly as it has occurred in a highly and heavy traffic family space, Mr. Speaker,
00:43and in the presence of a child.
00:46I have directed an immediate operational response to sorting out this situation.
00:56Some details about that response were provided.
00:59Additional foot, mobile and intelligence-led patrols will be focused on that particular area.
01:11Mr. Speaker, the homicide bureau of investigation is also pursuing certain leads.
01:18They got information, intelligence and evidence that could assist the matter in going forward.
01:26Let us be clear.
01:29Incidents happened at the Savannah
01:372021 and 2023.
01:39MP Gonzalez moved on to his next urgent question,
01:43given reports that more guns and ammunition have been discovered missing in the case involving the murder of an acting
01:50corporal
01:51at the San Fernando Municipal Police Station.
01:53The police service has taken into account in terms of accountability and storage of these firearms
02:03at those various locations.
02:06And at this time, I wouldn't want to go any further into it because there are a lot of persons
02:11that have not yet been interviewed with respect to this matter.
02:14There's over 44, if I'm not mistaken, firearms, and a numerous amount of ammunition has been recovered to date as
02:24the investigation continues.
02:25And in response to another question from MP Gonzalez, it appears new details have been provided.
02:32It has been anticipated that there may be an historical security vulnerability in relation to TTPs ammunition
02:44that have been on loan to the municipal police since 2019.
02:53In response, the Chantebego Police Service has implemented additional measures to strengthen the control, storage,
03:01and monitoring of firearms and ammunition at the municipal police station.
03:10House Speaker Jack Dale Singh allowed a follow-up question.
03:14Minister, are you saying then, based on your response, that it is possible that firearms and ammunition
03:22from the municipal police section or department is likely to be on the scene of crimes in Trinidad and Tobago?
03:34Honourable Minister.
03:35Mr Speaker, where I came from, we don't speculate.
03:41Until information comes directly, we respond accordingly.
03:46MP Gonzalez's question had been about reports that TTPs ammunition was found at the scene of a murder in Aruka.
03:53The Chantebego Police Service has initiated an investigation.
03:56At this time, I'm advised by the Commissioner of Police and his team
04:00that there's a project presently engaging the TTPs since 2025 to replace all existing ammunition
04:11with a marking that they will be able to identify for the purpose of tracing and accountability.
04:21Minister Alexander told the lower house that, quote, exercise will be completed on the 8th of May this year.
04:28And, quote, Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
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