00:00Unlike Wednesday's demonstration, the protests ended without any arrests or confrontations
00:05despite a heavy police presence and restrictions on access to sections of the surrounding area.
00:10Just before 3 p.m., police officers erected barriers blocking vehicular and pedestrian
00:16access from Long Circular Road into Barbados Road. Members of the public and media personnel
00:21were instructed to remain away from certain areas, while access was only granted to residents
00:27of Federation Park. Among the protesters were activist Alicia Phillip and her mother Camille
00:32Carrasquero, who had been released from police custody on their own bail on Thursday night
00:37following their arrests on Wednesday. Police units from several divisions, including the
00:42Mounted Branch, the Guard and Emergency Branch, and the Port of Spain Task Force, were deployed
00:48to the area, while senior officers, including DCP Suzette Martin and ACP Richard Smith, were
00:55seen directing operations on the ground. As demonstrators gathered, many placed tape over
01:01their mouths in what organizers described as a symbol of silenced voices. Some wrote messages
01:07on the tape, while others displayed messages on their clothing calling for justice.
01:13Alicia Phillip arrived shortly after 4 p.m., wearing a face mask covered with a duct tape bearing
01:19the words, cops say shh. Participants then assembled along one side of the pavement on Long Circular
01:26Road before engaging in prayer and a period of silence. Organizers said the 19 minutes of silence
01:33represented the 19 bullets they allege were fired at Joshua Samaru.
01:46During the demonstration, protesters held their hands in the air and some even knelt along the pavement
01:53as the period of silence continued. Following the observance, Phillip led another prayer in which she
02:00called for healing, accountability, and an end to violence.
02:06Lord, our nation is bleeding, and we need your help. Hear our cries. Lord, help the people to know
02:14that our voices matter. And not just our voices, but our actions. Because when we cannot speak,
02:23when we are not allowed to speak, when we are prohibited from speaking, our actions.
02:29Philip also prayed for both the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service as well as the government,
02:35asking that democracy be upheld and violence rejected. Despite the concerns raised by demonstrators,
02:43the protests remained peaceful and dispersed shortly after 5 p.m. without any incident,
02:50arrests, or reports of disorder. Alexander Brouswell, TV6 News.
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