Several knives, ice picks, scissors, glass bottles and improvised weapons were believed to have been abandoned by “troublemakers” entering downtown Port-of-Spain, police said as several roadblocks and checkpoints were established on the outskirts of the city early yesterday morning.
The checks were part of a heightened security presence, where the TTPS, the Port-of-Spain City Police, Canine Unit, the Transit Police and the Defence Force collaborated to “filter out,” weapons and other illicit items.
Speaking with Guardian Media, head of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Snr Supt Winston Maharaj, said the efforts to weed out criminals began before they could even reach the city’s boundaries, with random road checks and “stop and search” exercises on the Beetham stretch of the Priority Bus Route (PBR).
Pedestrians walking into the city from nearby communities were not spared as they were also subjected to search exercises as police set up various checkpoints along Besson Street and the Lighthouse opposite City Gate.
Maharaj, who visited both checkpoints early yesterday, said that several weapons were found and seized by police on duty, by people who abandoned them as a “last ditch attempt” to avoid arrest.
He said the earliest operations began around 1 am, estimating that 1,000 people would have passed through the transport hub by 4 am alone.
“We are searching persons disembarking the maxi taxis, and making their way into the city centres.
“In the most part the citizens have been supportive and cooperating with us, we have every intention of making this J’Ouvert a safe and memorable one.”
Commenting on the turnout of police officers, Maharaj admitted that while there were some “latecomers,” there had been no major resource challenges affecting manpower and efficiencies, as teams of officers were rotated.
“There has been a slow but steady turnout in terms of the turnout of officers for the CID. We have a second shift coming in at 8 am this morning (Monday morning), continuing until the end of J’Ouvert and once this location has been settled, they will be re-deployed further west into Ariapita Avenue to augment the strength of officers there.
“There are a few latecomers, as expected, but so far so good.”
When asked about the security arrangements for Port-of-Spain’s J’Ouvert celebrations after the Old Mas King and Queen competition in South Quay, Port-of-Spain, Mayor Alderman Chinua Alleyne commented on the heavy police presence, noting that safety was a major aspect of a successful Carnival experience.
“It’s important for us to make sure that we don’t only produce a Carnival experience that is safe and secure, but that people feel safe and secure as well.
“So I would like to thank all the members of the City Police Service, the TTPS and the TT Defence Force that have committed themselves to what we’re doing in downtown Port-of-Spain is a safe experience and something we can continue to be proud of.
“So I am most certainly pleased,” he said.