00:00The Prime Minister was addressing the Trinidad and Tobago Police Services Diwali celebration on Thursday night
00:05where she said she took seriously the responsibility of ensuring officers received fair treatment for their service.
00:13As your Prime Minister, I take that responsibility very seriously.
00:17And maybe we could not give you everything that you wanted.
00:20We are certainly trying the best that we can in the circumstances that we are.
00:24My government, as you may know, has provided $458 million for police overtime this fiscal year
00:33to support the payment of properly authorized claims.
00:37The Prime Minister also pledged that her administration would not abandon the police service
00:42and would continue to support officers in their efforts to protect the country.
00:46Today, in the spirit of Diwali, I pledge that my government will never abandon the police service
00:52and its sacred duty to defend our nation against evildoers and criminals.
00:57As you stand between our citizens and danger, I will stand with you
01:02so that goodness prevails and the light continues to shine across our nation.
01:08Passard-Bissessa also praised the TTPS for achieving a reduction in serious crime,
01:13saying more than 490 lives had been spared since her government took office in April 2025.
01:20She thanked Commissioner of Police Alistair Guevara and his officers for helping to restore peace to communities.
01:27On behalf of the people of Trinidad and Tobago, my own behalf, and on behalf of the government,
01:32I want to say, Commissioner, to you and to your officers, thank you, thank you, thank you for your service.
01:39Your hard work is helping restore peace to our communities.
01:45Since my government took office in April 2025, more than 490 lives have been spared.
01:53She described Guevara as the best Commissioner of Police that she had worked with.
01:58The Prime Minister also urged officers to maintain their integrity,
02:02saying those who refused bribes, treated vulnerable people fairly,
02:06and resisted pressure to engage in wrongdoing, upheld the oath that they had taken.
02:11She said their conduct gave citizens reason to trust the police uniform.
02:17Passard-Bissessa also acknowledged the sacrifices of officers who died in the line of duty,
02:22and the families who continued to feel their absence.
02:26She ended by assuring the officers that the government would stand with them
02:31as long as they continued to perform their duties.
02:34Alexander Broussall, TV6 News.
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