00:00Just days before the state of emergency in Trinidad and Tobago is due to end next week, Deputy Commissioner of
00:06Police in charge of operations Suzette Martin has a message for the public.
00:11Our policing posture will continue to be guided by intelligence, evidence and the law. We will maintain an appropriate police
00:22presence and conduct targeted operations where necessary to address illegal firearms, gang activity and other serious criminal threats while protecting
00:35victims, witnesses and vulnerable communities.
00:38DCP Martin issued a statement the day after Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander spoke about the revocation of preventive detention
00:47orders as he delivered a statement in the House of Representatives regarding the end of the state of emergency.
00:53The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service is fully prepared to protect the public and maintain law and order as preventative
01:01detention orders are revoked and persons previously held under them are released in phases.
01:08The TTTPS has implemented the necessary operational measures, strengthened coordination among its intelligence, investigative and operational units and remains focused
01:23on preventing and disrupting serious criminal activity.
01:27Deputy Police Commissioner Martin said that the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service further wishes to make clear that the revocation
01:34of a preventive detention order or the release of a person held under such an order does not of itself
01:41provide any basis for police action against that individual, end quote.
01:46The DCP Martin further said, quote,
01:48Quote, equally, release should not be understood to mean that a matter has been brought to an end where a
01:55person remains the subject of an active investigation, the TTTPS will continue to gather evidence and pursue that investigation to
02:03its proper conclusion, whether during the state of emergency or after it has been lifted, end quote.
02:09The DCP also said that any further action will be funded on evidence and taken strictly in accordance with the
02:16law.
02:17Our officers will act professionally and proportionately with due regard for the rights of every citizen.
02:26I urge the public to remain calm and vigilant and to report criminal activity or immediate threats to public safety
02:34through the appropriate police channels.
02:37The emergency powers may change, however, our responsibility to public safety does not.
02:46The TTPS remains focused and committed to the safety and security of Trinidad and Tobago.
02:55The Homeland Security Minister told the Parliament on Friday evening that the government intends to bring a bill for special
03:01zones of operations back to Parliament as soon as possible.
03:05Julie Brown, TV6 News.
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