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00:00Parents strongly cautioned, this program contains some material that is unsuitable for young children.
00:40Beyond the Tape, we'll be back after these messages.
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02:28Good evening, Trinidad and Tobago, and to our global audience, this is Beyond the Tape.
02:32I'm your host, Whitney Husbands.
02:34Now, this week, we have been a bit off routine, but the show must continue.
02:38And with that being said, we have a special guest with us this evening, no stranger to Beyond the Tape
02:43family.
02:44And, I mean, I am going to say it, he is one of my favorite officers, which I know ASP
02:49Russell might feel a bit, you know, in his feelings a bit.
02:52But I would like to welcome, of course, DCP Benjamin, who is the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Admin Support.
02:58We welcome you again.
03:00And we know you're no stranger here.
03:02Whitney, it's a privilege to be here.
03:03I'm sitting now, Mr. Russell wouldn't mind.
03:05You're one of my favorite persons as well.
03:08Yeah, but it's so good to be here.
03:09And, again, to all the listening audience, it's so good that we can once again come and talk.
03:15I think this program is really reaching a lot of people and is really sharing, you know, what we're doing
03:20in the police service.
03:21And we can also hear what the public is doing.
03:22So it's a wonderful program.
03:23Yes.
03:24Now, we see that you're extremely busy.
03:26A man boots always on the ground.
03:28And more so your focus on the schools.
03:31And we will dive in more into that because we have a lot to discuss with the school-orienting policing
03:35and what the TTPS is doing to assist with some of the issues that we are seeing face within the
03:41schools.
03:41But we're going to dive straight into it.
03:43You know how the program goes?
03:44Yes, sit there.
03:44So let's go straight into it.
03:46So according to reports here we're seeing from the Trinidad and Tobago Express, midnight, murder woman gunned down in a
03:52car in Princess Town.
03:53Gunman opened fire on a couple traveling in a vehicle in Princess Town, killing a woman and leaving a man
04:00wounded in the early hours of Wednesday.
04:04The ambush occurred shortly after midnight and claimed the life of Monifor Cari, 27, of Betham Gardens in Port of
04:12Spain.
04:13Isaiah Crookshank, a.k.a. Touchy, 30, of the Munan Avenue in Princess Town was wounded and hospitalized.
04:22The police reported the couple was driving along a roadway in a white Nissan Central heading in an easterly direction
04:32when another vehicle blocked them along the road.
04:37Two men emerged from the, two men emerged, sorry, and discharged multiple rounds to the couple's vehicle before fleeing the
04:45scene.
04:46The relatives of Crookshank ran to the scene and found Cari on the roadway and Crookshank was in the vehicle.
04:52They were conveyed to the Princess Town District Health Facility where Cari was pronounced dead.
04:57At 12.36 a.m., Crookshank sustained several gunshot injuries and transferred to the San Fernando General Hospital for further
05:05treatment.
05:07Yeah, you know, Whitney, when you hear these things, first of all, let me just say that condolences to the
05:12family.
05:13I mean, every time you hear about a murder, I mean, your heart has to really, really, you know, melt
05:19because that is not what we want to hear at all from the Toronto and Tobago Police Service.
05:24And therefore, we do send condolences to the family.
05:26Nevertheless, you know, the reality is that ever so often we are hearing and we are seeing these wholesome, you
05:35know, killings.
05:36Nevertheless, I think that even as we look at the situation, I think that if we don't have a global
05:43perspective in terms of where we are compared to where we were,
05:47I think we could miss the mark, we could think that nothing is happening.
05:51If you look at the murder toll at this time, we have, I think, 127 murders.
05:56You compare to last year, we had 135 murders.
06:01Clearly, we have at least probably 7 or 8 murders less than we had last year.
06:06But, you know, people don't, they still don't feel that, you know, black and white.
06:12And I want to be very honest, and I have always purported that there is a difference between reducing crime
06:18and reducing the fear of crime.
06:19And eventually, we need to work even more as a police service to really reduce the fear of crime.
06:25And therefore, I think that with the strategies that we have as we look into the windscreen of our future,
06:31we believe that we would be able to deal more with the fear of crime.
06:36And by that, I'm saying there are some key things that we have to look at.
06:39One, how do we treat the public?
06:41When a person comes, we need to ensure that we follow up on reports.
06:45We need to let people know that, hello, we have a caring police service that understands that, hello,
06:50when you come to the police station, that you go through trauma, and therefore you need the help,
06:56and we are here to help you.
06:57We are here to serve you.
06:58So these are things that we have to work on.
07:01And certainly, those are the things that I believe, if we add that to what we are doing,
07:06I think it is going to help the situation, and we really want to see more police officers out there,
07:10so we are really seeking to get more foot on the ground and more boots on the ground.
07:14We are also looking at, again, doing the intelligence-led policing,
07:18where we're not just going all over the place, but we are going to let the data really guide
07:22where we're going to send our police officers so that we can seek to minimize the situation.
07:26I hope you all can find a way to deal with it, because the public, I can tell you, as
07:30I say,
07:30the ground, even though you are giving the numbers and it's showing the difference in serious crimes,
07:36the public does not receive that.
07:39It's not comforting, you know, and we need to find a way that it reflects with the numbers
07:43and also dealing with the emotions of the public.
07:46And you're absolutely right, and I believe that the public doesn't even care about your stats.
07:50No, they don't.
07:50And that's it.
07:51People don't care how much you know unless they know how much you care,
07:55and we need to have a more caring police service, and therefore, that is where I believe some of the
07:59greater focus should be.
08:00We are working on our customer service and these things,
08:02and we are also seeking to ensure that we have more presence on the ground
08:05so that we can build that level of positivity and also trust in terms of knowing that your police service,
08:11we are out there, and we are out there to help you and to serve you.
08:13Now, JCP, when it comes to, as you mentioned earlier, you know, you are really dealing with a lot of
08:19young people,
08:19and we are seeing young persons, 18, 16, 17, they are committing some serious crimes,
08:28and it is disturbing to the point now where they're not even in school anymore.
08:33Yes.
08:34They are committing, they elevated themselves in the criminal realm of, you know, being in a place where they are
08:43taking lives.
08:44And I will tell you, let me just share, I had an experience many years ago when we had, you
08:50know, some interventions,
08:51and we were talking to some persons, and persons who were involved in a lot of, you know, the drugs
08:56and the crime and so on,
08:58and it was amazing the concept, the mindset of these persons.
09:02They were actually talking to each other and saying, you know, guys, you know what, we make jail,
09:06and, you know, when we make jail, the more years we make in jail, you know, people see us as
09:10the hero, you know, and so on.
09:12And it's amazing that people see, you know, because what happens is that children go and brag,
09:16hey, don't touch me, you know, my father made five years or ten years in jail, and so it becomes
09:21like a, yeah,
09:22and it's sad that that is how people see it.
09:25It's like a qualification for the streets.
09:28Exactly, and I'm saying that, you know, we have to change that kind of mindset.
09:31We need to start, I believe that the problem starts at home, and therefore, you know,
09:35sometimes we want the police to deal with it, and I'm saying no problem.
09:38Sometimes we want the school to deal with it, but I think that we need to start, again, from the
09:41home,
09:42and we need to ensure that, you know, again, it takes a village to raise a child.
09:46Everybody must contribute to ensure that crime is everybody's business,
09:49and let's seek to raise children with the right morals again.
09:52Yeah, so right now, let's take a look at what's making our SOE numbers today as the update.
09:57And today's date, May 6, 2026.
10:00Number of operations, 4,912.
10:04Number of targets prior to offenders, 1,598.
10:09Searches conducted, 2,590.
10:13Traffic operations, 2,853.
10:16Total persons arrested, 2,158.
10:20Total persons charged, 471.
10:24Firearms recovered, we're seeing a total of 140.
10:28Ammunition recovered, we're seeing a total of 3,040.
10:32Dangerous drug sees, an increase with the cannabis,
10:35and again, we're seeing cocaine, I mean, making its way up,
10:39where it's a drug of choice, DCP.
10:41Yes, and first of all, let me take the opportunity to commend the Commission of Police
10:47as well as the DCP operation, DCP Martin,
10:51who they are the ones spearheading, you know, this whole idea of the SOE
10:55and ensuring that we really seek to have persons under detention
11:00and also having these statistics.
11:03The more and more firearms we have off the streets is going to help us
11:06because we believe that the firearm is the weapon of choice,
11:09and so therefore, the more we can have the public working with us
11:12to really reduce those weapons on the streets,
11:15we believe that we can reduce the crime situation.
11:17So therefore, we really want to encourage the public to even work with us.
11:20But even in terms of the strategies, right through,
11:23we have our officers on the ground,
11:25and we are really trying to see how we can really reduce the crime situation,
11:30and what we really would like to see is more and more that the public really come on board.
11:35Everybody has a part to play, and we would want to see them come on board,
11:39and let's see how we could work together to make your community, you know, a safe community.
11:44But what would you say to persons where they're seeing the SOE is not really working in the favor
11:48that they're expected to work for the TTPS,
11:51or it's also giving you all almost like a clutch
11:53because that's the only way you all are able to deal with the crime situation?
11:57Well, again, the thing about it is that the SOE is there.
12:01It is a tool.
12:02At the end of the day, the SOE by itself does not create any great restraint on the public
12:10because it is not where we have curfews and these sort of things.
12:14Some people wonder if we really have an SOE.
12:16People forget.
12:17So at the end of the day, we are saying that the SOE is not really hindering the public in
12:21any great way.
12:23Nevertheless, it is a tool that we are using, and we can safely say that it is working.
12:28Why?
12:28Because if you're going to see something work, there must be data, and we have to go back to the
12:33stats.
12:34And I'm saying when you look at the stats, last year, we had at least 42% decline in all
12:39murders,
12:39and that 42% was at least the lowest in about more than 20 years.
12:44And now we're saying we have all murders even less than it was last year.
12:49So if that is not good, then I don't know what else could be at this stage.
12:54I mean, we are already going past the first quarter, and we are saying that we have only 127 murders.
13:00And I mean, every murder is one murder too much, so I'm not gloating about it.
13:04But nevertheless, I think that we need to be fair in assessing where we were.
13:08If we compare that to 2024 when we had the highest murder rate, we had at least 192 murders at
13:14this time.
13:15And now we have only 127.
13:17So again, the stats will clearly show, and it's not that you're using it conveniently,
13:22because we are using it just to show that, hello, it is working.
13:26And therefore, there's still more that we need to do.
13:29And I want to publicly say that, that there's more that we need to do.
13:33And the police officers, we have our officers out there.
13:36We have to continue to really hold fast and hold the strain
13:39and make sure that we give the public what they deserve right now.
13:43DCP, I just ask you, you know, brace yourself for when the cold's coming,
13:46because you know they will be coming through the flood.
13:48Right now, let's take a look at what's making today's headlines.
14:25And those were your stories making today's headlines.
14:27Just for your knowledge, we have attorney at Los Aguirre.
14:30He would have been here today, but he is on official duty in Tobago.
14:34So you will see him tomorrow, Godspell Life.
14:36We'll take that short break.
14:51Things don't always go as expected.
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16:45And welcome back, of course, for those of you who are joining us.
16:48We have DCP Benjamin here with us this evening.
16:50And we continue the conversation because we have a lot to discuss.
16:53In particular, one at your spare heading,
16:55which is the school-orienting policing.
16:58And we want to find out a little bit more what's taking place
17:00because we are seeing that, yes, changes are happening within the school,
17:04but now outside of the school,
17:05we're seeing the children, the students, they don't care anymore.
17:10Yeah, you know, more and more you recognize that the more you do interventions,
17:16you need to do even more.
17:17Yeah.
17:17And let me just say the purpose of the school-oriented policing unit
17:22was to really seek to quell the problems that existed,
17:26which is that we saw a lot of fights was happening within the schools.
17:30And I think that if you judge us on that,
17:33then I think that we have seen some success.
17:35I wouldn't say some major success,
17:37but we have seen some success in terms of a reduction
17:40in terms of the number of fights that we see within the schools.
17:44As you rightfully say, we see now the fights,
17:45they are going outside the schools.
17:48And therefore, we have to now look and see where we are seeing that.
17:52We have to look and see what are the schools that we are seeing doing these fights.
17:57And therefore, it calls for another sort of, what I would say,
18:01evidence-based approach where we would gather the data
18:03and then have our officers, some of our community policing officers,
18:08as well as some of the patrols passed by the schools
18:10to ensure that we get the students off the streets
18:13and get them to their homes as quick as possible.
18:16Nevertheless, yes, we are seeing them.
18:17I still believe that we are seeing less fights than we saw last year
18:21and even the year before.
18:22Yeah.
18:22So therefore, I think that there is a slight reduction.
18:26Nevertheless, there is no excuse.
18:27We are seeing a level of lawlessness by all young people,
18:30and we are seeing there is a zero tolerance in that.
18:32And we want to see if we can do some interventions
18:35by, again, looking and see who are the main offenders in these things
18:40and see if we can somehow try to rehabilitate them into some better attitudes.
18:45Now, my major question is, when you intervene into these set schools,
18:50because clearly it's particular schools that we're seeing
18:52who are behaving in this manner, right?
18:56What do you think may be the cause?
18:58Because it can't just be that these particular schools,
19:01they're the only ones fighting and fighting to this degree.
19:04What is causing them to be so angry in these set areas?
19:08And I'm not calling it in any school.
19:09I'm not calling it any specific school,
19:11but you all have an idea of where these schools are having these issues.
19:14Well, the truth is, I think if we just try to just use our own bit of reasoning,
19:22you recognize that sometimes these students, you know, they come from homes,
19:27and inside the homes there are some family conflicts,
19:30there are trauma that they experience.
19:33Some of them have some lack of proper parenting.
19:36We recognize even recently that quite a number of persons who we find in jail
19:42is that their father, the father figure was empty, you know,
19:46so there was no one there to really nurture them as, you know, being a father.
19:50So they come from single-parent homes and so forth.
19:53So quite a number of things could contribute to what we are seeing.
19:57Nevertheless, it does not, it's no excuse.
20:00I still think that we need to somehow seek to find the problem and see how we can solve it.
20:05This is mind-blowing to me because not every school that we speak of may have both parents in their
20:11homes
20:11because the prestige schools, I'm sure they have children who may not have their both parents at home.
20:16But situations like this is what we are talking about.
20:18Take a look at this, and this was based on a video retrieved from a social media page.
20:27Very disturbing.
20:32And it's a cheering for me that throws me off.
20:35Look at that.
20:37You know, you see not just one person, but even a group of them, you know.
20:46It's amazing.
20:47It's sad.
20:48This can't be that children who attend these schools that they consider,
20:54now in this case because of the information that's gathered because you're all going to specific schools,
20:58that this is a way that all the children who attend these schools behave like that.
21:02This can't be real.
21:04And I think that I want to even be fair, all right,
21:07because I don't believe that that might even be a true token of the majority.
21:13And always remember that when you see crime and you see these negative things,
21:18it's really the minority that do these things.
21:22And sometimes we can tend to brand the whole school.
21:24And I think that it would be unfair for us to do that.
21:27I really believe that in most of our schools we have some really wonderful students.
21:32Nevertheless, those who are bent on breaking the laws and want to do their own thing
21:37that are really creating the problem.
21:39And therefore, we need to target those persons.
21:41We need to see how we can have some intervention so that we can make those persons, you know,
21:47more beneficial in terms of students.
21:49At any point in time, have you had any interaction with students who may have been in school fights
21:53and you sat with them to find out the reason for their behavior, the reason why they are lashing out?
21:59Have you ever questioned any of those students?
22:01Well, to be quite honest, not since I've taken up this particular position.
22:07Nevertheless, I would speak to students on a regular basis and you would try to find out from them, you
22:12know,
22:12what are some of the challenges that they're facing.
22:14And what you recognize is that some of them, because of their history, you know, their family problems
22:21and different things, you recognize that these things is what is being acted out.
22:25And then different persons, because they would have gone through some sort of trauma,
22:32whenever things probably challenge them, you know, they believe that, hey, this is the way, let me fight back, and
22:40so on.
22:40But at the end of the day, it doesn't matter, it doesn't give an excuse.
22:44I think if we don't try now to deal with the problem from within,
22:50it is going to end up as these people being problems for us in the future as police service.
22:55All right, we need to take that break.
22:56And when we come back, of course, we will take your call.
22:58Remember, you can give us a call at 623-1711-extension-1996 and 1997.
23:03We have DCP Benjamin here with us.
23:05The conversations continue.
23:07We'll be back.
23:34We'll be back.
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24:51So you have big plans for the year end.
24:54A trip in July, birthday in November and fat after fat this carnival.
25:00But you know what to stop plans?
25:02A $22,500 fine.
25:07You know what else could really stop your plans?
25:10Five years imprisonment and suspension on your license for three years.
25:16Don't drink and drive.
25:36And we are back now.
25:38DCP, we were speaking about the school parenting policing.
25:41And is it not the responsibility of persons in the media like myself when it comes to getting these videos
25:49and persons sharing it?
25:52We also have a responsibility to be mindful with the things that we put out there.
25:57Because yes, we want it out there.
25:58But it's almost adding fuel to the fire when it comes to highlighting these incidents.
26:04And I think, Whitney, you're hitting the nail right on the head.
26:06I think that sometimes when you look and see what is being publicized, more and more these videos are being
26:13spread.
26:14And, you know, what it does, it gives even the perpetrators that encouragement that, hey, there's media, you know, and
26:21I, you know, hey, I tell them, don't play with me, you know.
26:23So it gives them fame.
26:24So we have to be very careful what we are really putting out there.
26:28Sometimes I think we probably need to put out more of the positive than the negative if we really want
26:32to see change.
26:33Because I think that media is such a powerful house.
26:37And therefore, what is put on the front page of papers, if you look and see, it is always the
26:42death of someone.
26:43But if we can probably change that perspective, probably we can start to see a change in living.
26:48What would you say to persons who would say that we are trying to hide the truth of what we
26:52are faced with in Trinidad and Tobago with the crime situation and the school fights and the young ones who
26:57are now entering the spaces of these criminal elements?
27:02Well, I think that we are not saying to hide it because I'm just saying we don't need to put
27:06it on the front page.
27:07You know what I'm saying?
27:08The point is on the front page because I remember talking, you know, to a person in the media and
27:13I said, how come, you know, if a police does good, you know, that gets somewhere in the middle and
27:17so on?
27:18And they say, look, that will sell.
27:20You know what I'm saying?
27:20So I'm just saying how the perspective is out there that if we put those things out there, you know,
27:25this is what a person would want to.
27:27And I mean, that's just a natural instinct.
27:29You see a person probably on the ground, you want to know what was that, you would buy that papers
27:32first, you know.
27:33But I think that we have to even be very careful because understanding that there's a responsibility.
27:39We need to see where do we really want to carry our country and where we want to carry our
27:43young people.
27:43And therefore, I'm just saying even when a video is shared to you about a young person, be very mindful
27:50whether you should share it.
27:51You know, sometimes you need to just say, hey, let it stop by me, you know, because by sharing it,
27:55it can continue the same problem right now.
27:58Correct.
27:59We have a caller on the line at this time.
28:01Caller, good evening.
28:03Hi.
28:03Good day, Ms. Husbands.
28:04Good day.
28:05Good day, too, Mr. Benjamin.
28:06Yes.
28:07Good day.
28:09My contribution today is not positive.
28:14I am, if we replay the last time Mr. Benjamin was on the program, the exact things that he is
28:24saying now, not to a hundred percent degree, is the same thing he said two or three years ago.
28:33And it hurts me because when you go to the station, at the station level, what you as the senior
28:43person says that the junior person is supposed to do is be more receptive and be more customer friendly.
28:50And when you actually go to the station, it's pure negativity and animosity that is dispelled to the clientele by
29:01the junior officers.
29:02So, I am saying, I am just giving a little piece of advice that you all really need to supervise
29:09the young ones, even though they may not be able to handle whatever problem comes along, you know.
29:16But people don't go to the police station to ask for ice cream.
29:20They go to get help.
29:22And when they get the negativity, it affects them.
29:26Thank you, and I will listen up there.
29:27Thank you so much.
29:28Just a quick correction, DCP wasn't here three years ago on the show, but he has his questions, which is
29:35very vital.
29:37Yes, and let me just say, first of all, certain times you just don't, there's absolutely nothing you could say
29:44to combat that situation.
29:46That, I think, a person's experience can really be their reality.
29:51I can tell you about persons who have said that they have gone to the station and they have seen
29:56a change in terms of how they were treated.
29:59So, there are those who have bad experiences and those who have good experiences.
30:03Nevertheless, I am saying we need to continue to work on that.
30:07And certainly, we have to understand that room wasn't building a day.
30:10When you're trying to change culture, culture is not something that could be changed overnight.
30:14So, you know, it is something that you have to understand that there is, you know, the whole change, you
30:22know, circuit that must go through.
30:24And therefore, one of the things that you have to do there is what we call conscious incompetence.
30:28That must lead to conscious incompetence, then conscious competence, then unconscious competence.
30:35Knowing that unconscious has been done.
30:37That's right.
30:38So, you need to start there.
30:39So, we are saying that we are talking about it because we recognize that this is, you know, probably an
30:44unconscious incompetence that we have.
30:46We want to get to that place where we have an unconscious competence.
30:50And therefore, it's only when we bring it to the fore, when we recognize it, that is the first phase
30:55of dealing with the situation.
30:56And after we deal with it, eventually, we're going to get to where we want to be.
31:00I hope with regards to the officers who are listening as well, this is what the persons regarding the TTPS
31:08will have to face when you all are not doing what you're trying.
31:10Well, you're supposed to.
31:11And the public, they feel in the brunt of it.
31:13We have another caller.
31:14Caller, good evening.
31:16Hi.
31:17Hello.
31:18Hello.
31:19Hello.
31:19Good evening.
31:21Good evening.
31:22Good evening to you all.
31:23And the TAPA is looking good.
31:27Thank you so much.
31:28I'm listening to you guys.
31:30And both of you all are saying you're writing.
31:34But we're not getting the right thing we've done.
31:37The school is a serious part.
31:40I think the youth and them have to understand what they are doing.
31:45It will be tilting their character.
31:48If, at some point in time, when they leave school, they don't want the character to be killed.
31:55And the police have to ensure that they get this young fellow's head.
32:00That you are depriving yourself at this age from getting a good character to the kids.
32:08You have to talk to the parents and the children.
32:11Because the children are the future.
32:13And they're trying to understand what it is.
32:16And these youth and them doing that right now.
32:18I mean, we didn't get in any way.
32:20We have to get, we have to get serious.
32:23I mean, I feel sorry for the police sometimes.
32:25Because they're really, really trying.
32:29And, um, another thing.
32:31The recruitment process.
32:34I want to make a suggestion.
32:37The CSB going in a recruitment process and do an audit and sign out if everything is happening above board.
32:44And level with the public that, look, CSB went in the recruitment process and everything is above board.
32:53There are too many friends and families of police officers who are getting in there.
32:58And they feel that because they get in on that strength, they could do what they want.
33:04I know that's a fact.
33:06So please look at the recruitment process and enjoy the sport there, DCP.
33:11I hope you win a race.
33:13You'll be surprised.
33:14Thank you, caller.
33:15Yeah, you know, um, yeah.
33:16So, um, let's just start off with the very first, um, aspect there.
33:20And certainly, um, we have to look at our children and understand that the reality is that, uh, the problem
33:27is that,
33:28yes, we need to go in.
33:30And that's why we talk about interventions.
33:31We need to go in and talk with them.
33:33It's quite important to appreciate.
33:35You don't want to start by stealing a child's character, you know what I'm saying?
33:39You arrest them, you charge them, then you spoil their life.
33:43They can change their life after that period.
33:45So many of them, because they're at that stage where their mind is very vulnerable to what they see on
33:52television,
33:52to peer pressure, different things can really cause that.
33:55But as they grow, they can change.
33:57So, therefore, we want to really be careful how we treat with our children and understand
34:02that what we want to do, especially through the school-oriented policing unit, is really
34:07trying to mentor them, really let them know, hey, the police here, we are like your big brother,
34:12and, therefore, we really want to say, hey, change our partners.
34:15If you don't do that, this is what is going to happen.
34:17So, we are doing that, and we are also having the community policing going into the schools
34:22and talking to them about their choices and also what, if they choose the wrong things,
34:28what could be, you know, the end result.
34:30So, we are working on that, and I think that's a very good point.
34:33The second point in terms of recruiting, we are really working on ensuring at all times that we are very
34:39transparent.
34:39We believe that within the police service, in order to ensure that what we are doing is fair,
34:45there must be that level of transparency, integrity, and accountability.
34:50So, even as we seek to do our recruiting process, that is one that is absolutely transparent.
34:56Whether police officers' children get in or not, they didn't get in because they are police officers' children.
35:00They would have had to do an exam like everybody else.
35:04They would have had to pass a polygraph like everybody else, and they have to do all the different things
35:08to get in.
35:09And, therefore, if a police officer child gets in, I mean, it doesn't mean that there is, you know,
35:15that something cruel or something sinister has happened.
35:18Nevertheless, we are saying right across the board, whether police officers' children or not,
35:24we are saying we need all our officers to step up and to give Trinidad and Tobigo the type of
35:29leadership
35:30and the type of security that is needed at this time.
35:33All right. We take that break. We'll be back.
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36:42Let's see you.
36:42We'll see you soon.
36:43You'll see you then.
37:00Oh, you won't be a good day.
37:02You're going to be a good day.
37:02So you should use this.
38:02Yes.
38:03And this was what the 50 and over is.
38:05The 50 and over is.
38:07I mean, I was really surprised at the speed of those guys.
38:10Yes.
38:10I was really grateful that they still allowed me to finish in front.
38:15Yes.
38:16I would say that.
38:17But, no, it was really a wonderful race.
38:19I think second was superintendent De Matos and also Mr. Homer, one of the officers.
38:38Please third.
38:39Of course.
38:40And, of course, the public also is invited.
38:41It is on this Saturday.
38:43All right.
38:44So, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service invites members of the public to its 103rd anniversary of its annual sports
38:51meeting on Saturday the 9th, which is this Saturday from 9 a.m.
38:55location is at the Police Training Academy Grounds, which you all know it as where the barracks is located.
39:01All right.
39:02At the Western Main Road, St. James, please note, public parking is available at Mandela Park.
39:08You all follow the rules.
39:10Come and have some fun.
39:11And those of you accustomed to attending the TTPS Sports Day, they know what it entails.
39:16It's a fun day, family, friends, loved ones.
39:18Even if you are supporters of the TTPS, I think you should show up.
39:21It's nice.
39:22It's great.
39:24Let me tell you.
39:24I think the number one thing for the police sports is the match pass.
39:28Yes.
39:28I mean, we have all kinds of things happening in our match pass.
39:32I mean, people who come up with ideas that is off the charts, you just want to be there for
39:38our match pass.
39:39We have nearly close to 20-something teams and so forth.
39:42It's just a wonderful time.
39:44But it's really just see another side of the police.
39:47And, you know, we are all out there for fun.
39:49We could only be one winner.
39:50Yes, yes.
39:50But nevertheless, may the best team win.
39:52But it's really a wonderful time to see the other side of policing and to see the officers coming together
39:58in this fashion, you know,
40:00where we could just really have fun and fellowship with our families and our friends.
40:04And the public is invited to come and just have a wonderful time with us.
40:07And just to be clear, just because the sports is on on Saturday, the policing does not stop, huh?
40:11Not at all.
40:12Let's make that very clear.
40:13Not at all.
40:14It's not a way of rest.
40:15Exactly.
40:16You know, all of them gathered in one space.
40:18Like, it is not going to look like that.
40:20Certainly not.
40:20You know, and I'm sure those are the young officers as well, DCP, that, you know,
40:24will have the opportunity to be in their very first TTPS sports.
40:28What you could say to them, because I've seen a lot of persons who have passed out.
40:32Yeah.
40:32And I tell you, my first sports, I was, I mean, when I passed out, I look forward because, I
40:38mean, the uniform, you know,
40:40I just wanted to just be there.
40:42I mean, it's a wonderful experience for, you know, the officers who just passed out.
40:47But I think, all in all, I think what I enjoy more so is just the fellowshipping with other officers,
40:53because there's so many.
40:54You know, close to the 70s.
40:58Would you all say batch?
40:59Yeah.
40:59Yeah.
41:00You know, you get to see them, you know, and so forth.
41:02And it's just a wonderful time just, you know, having persons from the division come together.
41:07It's a nice team work session where you're able to pull the tug of war.
41:12You're seeing, you know, you're doing a lot of fun games together.
41:15And also, you're able to see different things.
41:18You have me riding on the horse and you have your musical chairs with you.
41:22Yes, yes, yes.
41:23I mean, it's just really awesome.
41:24It goes on and on.
41:24Yeah, it's just awesome.
41:25And then you close off with a lovely parade as well.
41:27Beautiful.
41:28We have another call on the line.
41:29Caller.
41:29Good evening.
41:31Yes, please.
41:32Good evening.
41:34Good evening.
41:35Good evening.
41:36Good evening.
41:37You could go ahead.
41:38Yes, you could go ahead.
41:40Yes, please.
41:43I am looking at this program beyond the tape.
41:49Very, very, from the very inception, if I should say.
41:52And what I would like to say is that, you know, from the very inception we were told,
41:58it's a work in progress.
42:00That over the years, which is about 10, 15 years, we have been hearing that it's a work in progress,
42:07even from receiving from your official presence.
42:11Now, we know that any success of the police is welcome and is celebrated, without a doubt.
42:20But at the same time, I want to know, you know, whether we really check and reject the information
42:27that our senior officers are getting.
42:30The behavior at police stations needs so much to be desired, and I don't want to call any particular police
42:37station.
42:38But when you walk in there at times, it's who cooked what, where they went last night, man or woman,
42:45whatever it is.
42:46The conversation is not professional at all.
42:49And people will be attending to you at their counter and hear talking about what they eat and what cook
42:55and whatever it was.
42:56So I want to say that whatever reports you all are getting with regards are changed in police professionalism.
43:04And it is not manifested, sorry to say, in the police station that any visit unannounced or whatever it is,
43:12I'm not saying it should go in disguise, but any opportunity you all should get to visit some of these
43:20stations,
43:20and you of yourself will realize that what you have been told is not the truth.
43:26Now, I want to go back to this original point.
43:29But every successfully police officers, like in the case, in the central, is celebrated.
43:38But at the same time, you know, you wonder, we hear that it's coordination.
43:44Everything is coordination, everything is coordination from the minister to the rider.
43:47Here it is, you have the information about the good canary coordination.
43:53And here it can be with all the coordination in the world with the army, this and that.
43:57That that place could not have been coordinated, whether it's the street or whatever it is.
44:02So we said it may be success.
44:03But none of these two people were able to get away.
44:08I mean, if you look at the simplest of police shows, the thing, whatever,
44:13you want to know whether we're on the board so that we are more concerned about the theatrics.
44:17Yes, it's coordinated, it's uncoordinated there.
44:20But it's never really coordinated.
44:22If there was coordination, as we spoke about, on that occasion,
44:29very often these people would have been caught on.
44:33So please, congratulations, we appreciate what you are doing,
44:37but there's so much more through the coordination.
44:40That's it.
44:41All right.
44:42Thank you, Kola.
44:43Yes.
44:45Kola, thank you so very much.
44:46I think that, I mean, we cannot come here and just try to act like if everything is great.
44:54That is crazy.
44:55There is room for improvement, and I want to make it categorically clear.
45:00I want to say that there is room for great improvement.
45:05There's much more that we need to do as a police service, and I want to say that over and
45:11over again.
45:12Nevertheless, we are saying that as we continue to seek to fulfill our mission and our vision to make every
45:19place safe in Trinidad and Tobago,
45:21we are saying that we must somehow start to, again, celebrate our small wins.
45:28And therefore, we are saying that, hello, it's in the midst of that, that we are saying that when we
45:34look at the crime situation, yes,
45:36we are experiencing, even as we look now, close to nearly 32% to 33% decrease in our serious
45:44crimes.
45:45That is, I mean, I'm not asking you, I'm not pretending it is there.
45:49The facts are there.
45:50We are saying that we are seeing eight murders less than we had last year, when we had at least
45:55more than 20 years of great success.
45:58We are seeing these small wins.
46:00And all I'm just saying that we are, first of all, thanking God for those small wins.
46:04But we are seeing that there is still room for much more that we can do as a police service.
46:10How we treat the public, we must work on that.
46:12And therefore, I'm saying, as we continue to have those conversations and listen to what you're saying, we are going
46:18to work on that.
46:19And I promise you, as we continue, again, you're going to see an improvement as we go incrementally.
46:25But I'm saying, stick with us, and you're going to see it as we continue to make Toronto Bego a
46:30better place.
46:30All right, we have our final caller this time.
46:32Caller, good evening.
46:34Good evening.
46:34Good evening.
46:35It's the first time I've managed to get through to this, and I've been listening since the inception of this
46:42program.
46:43Yes.
46:43I want to ask Mr. Benjamin, is parking cars on the sidewalks an offense?
46:53Yes, it is.
46:56All right.
46:57Well, you answered it.
46:58Yes.
46:58Yes, it is.
46:59Yes, it is.
47:00Simple.
47:00Yes.
47:01Yes, it is.
47:01And I'm saying, if you are seeing that, and probably if you find that the police is not dealing with
47:06it, I am saying you need to let us know.
47:09Because that is why we have records and so on to deal with that, especially when we have persons parking
47:15on the sidewalk and obstructing persons and their gateways and so forth.
47:21We need to deal with that, and that is a problem that we are seeing now, and we are working
47:24on that.
47:25All right, DCP, we'd like to thank you so much for being here with us.
47:28I mean, we get ready for the big day that is on on Saturday, so make sure you'll be there.
47:34And I'm going to need to send a quick birthday greeting to Gabrielle Simon.
47:38She is celebrating her second birthday today, so happy birthday going out to Gabrielle Simon.
47:43Enjoy your day today.
47:45I know your parents and the entire team captain and also your daddy and mommy and all of the supporters
47:51will be there with you celebrating your birthday today.
47:55So to DCP, yes.
47:56Can I even say happy Mother's Day in advance?
47:59Oh, yes, yes.
47:59Yes, yes, yes.
47:59Because I might not be able to say it again.
48:00Yes.
48:01But to all the mothers on behalf of the Commission of Police and all the executive and second division officers,
48:06so on and so on, persons of the police, happy Mother's Day and all the best.
48:10God bless you all.
48:10Oh, we appreciate you as always.
48:12We continue doing the fabulous job that you are doing.
48:15I mean, it's not easy, but we just wish you the best.
48:18We get ready for news coming up next TNT at 7 o'clock.
48:21Be safe.
48:21Continue being a hard target.
48:23We'll be back tomorrow, same time, same place.
48:25We're out.
48:26God bless.
48:29God bless.
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