00:06It was supposed to be a walk for peace.
00:09Instead, it turned into a quick to and through for a handful of East Port of Spain and Environs residents
00:16who had heeded the call to gather on Piccadilly Street to march in support of unity and an end to
00:23gun violence.
00:24As police officers, welcome the initiative for peace amongst all factions.
00:30It is something that we are supportive of.
00:32However, as I said, there are ways to go about getting approval to do what you want to do.
00:39And you found that if they had applied and it approved that a lot of police would have been out
00:45here
00:45ensuring that everything goes up in a peaceful and democratic manner.
00:50But because all the persons were advised about the correct way to go about doing it and that was not
00:56done,
00:56then we have to come out to ensure the safety and security of everyone in general and that is the
01:03reason for the strength.
01:04So who have an opinion that this is an overkill?
01:08Well, they entitled it to the opinion, but we are doing our own work.
01:11With a few persons still coming out, however, a directive to disperse quickly turned into a physical altercation
01:18between officers and one woman, resulting in her arrest.
01:46Unfortunately, it is how social and political activist Fouad Aboubaka sees the premature
01:52conclusion of the event.
01:54And as I saw young people coming from St. Paul Street, you know, coming up and I saw people
02:01coming across some Nelson Street and other places as well to meet together.
02:07That is the spirit of what this effort is supposed to be about.
02:23He laments that the police opted to shut down the event, calling it a missed opportunity.
02:29I am someone who has always advocated for police reform and for us to just lift our standards of
02:38service in general. A lot of issues in our society can be diffused without force.
02:47It is counterproductive sometimes to be so heavy and so forceful with your people.
02:59Meantime, a member of Peace Foundation TT explains that the work was conceptualized following the
03:06two fatal shootings which claimed the lives of young innocent children.
03:10The two incident that occurred is with the children who passed away, right?
03:17And, you know, since the different community, you know, see that what was going on, you know,
03:22they decided to, you know, to come together for betterment for the different communities
03:27and to stop all the violence and stuff. You know, you have a lot of sharpness,
03:32what's going on, you know, with the different numbers and stopping the different numbers,
03:35you know, they decided to come together, you know, for betterment, for united, you know, for unity.
03:43You know, that's what I did place at peace.
03:46The organizers had hoped the event would have drawn large crowds.
03:50However, they said the heavy police and army presence was a major deterrent.
03:55Well, to tell you, you know, they have a lot of officers right now, and what they're saying is that,
04:02you know, it's still under SOE, you know, and they could get whole.
04:06So I feel it's just how the officers and enemies are wrong, that people in common are wrong as yes.
04:13Renasa Cutting, TV6 News.
04:17I'm sorry.
04:18I'm sorry.
04:19I'm sorry.
04:19That's how the officers and enemies are wrong.
04:20I'm sorry.
04:20I'm sorry.
Comments