00:00After many years of contemplation, the government is making moves to have the Municipal Police Service subsumed into the TTPS.
00:09Currently, the government of Trinidad and Tobago and the Attorney General is examining legislation based on recommendations from Municipal Police
00:18and TTPS
00:20to have Municipal Police properly incorporated as part of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
00:27So you will hear some more about that because a lot of the issues that arose out of Municipal Police
00:35came about
00:36because we didn't have proper reporting structure, proper disciplinary mechanisms and lack of accountability.
00:45But while the move is expected to strengthen oversight and administration, the Minister is reminding Municipal Officers of their core
00:53duties.
00:53The Municipal Police is not to duplicate the work of the TTPS.
01:00We must remember our core function, which is to the municipality, where we work with our chairman, our council and
01:09CEOs,
01:10where we secure the assets of the corporation, where we enforce in the community and provide that community-friendly service
01:22on behalf of the Municipal Corporation.
01:25And I have strongly advocated that Municipal Police must be empowered to do Municipal Police work.
01:37And therefore, while we continue to work alongside the TTPS and other law enforcement agencies,
01:44we must ensure that our municipality's business is taken care of.
01:50The announcement comes about two months after the murder of Municipal Officer Anoushka Eversley,
01:56during a heist at the San Fernando Municipal Police Station,
01:59in which a large quantity of guns and ammunition was stolen.
02:03Today, the Municipal Service launched its Public Information and Communications Unit,
02:08as it seeks to enhance service delivery.
02:11The Communication Unit will not just be a one-way microphone.
02:16It will be a two-way conversation.
02:19Our citizens will speak.
02:21We will listen.
02:23Our communities will raise concerns.
02:25We will respond.
02:27Our officers will share ideas.
02:30The leadership will hear them.
02:33This is how trust is built.
02:36One conversation at a time.
02:38One story at a time.
02:40One relationship at a time.
02:42As the Assistant Commissioner with Responsibility of Municipal Policing,
02:46my vision extends beyond today's launch.
02:50I see a Municipal Police Service that is recognized,
02:53not simply by its uniform, but by its character.
02:57Not simply by its authority, but by its integrity.
03:02Renasa Cutting, TV6 News.
03:08Renasa Cutting, TV6 News.
03:08Næ ding doncs.
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