By Alicia Chamely
TRINIDAD and Tobago officially has a new Commissioner of Police, and he is calling on all officers to become heroes again.
Allister Guevarro was officially appointed COP, at a ceremony held on Tuesday at the Police Barracks, St. James.
His appointment was unanimously passed at the 2nd Sitting of the 13th Parliament on June 13, at the Red House, Port of Spain.
Unlike previous appointment ceremonies held for former commissioners, Guevarro’s official appointment was celebrated with a full police parade featuring all four divisions, the K-9 unit, the mounted branch and the police band.
Speaking before handing over to his successor, Junior Benjamin said, “Acting as Commissioner of Police has been one of the greatest honours in my entire life. In fact, I would say it was a dream come true.”
Discussing his time as acting CoP and the challenges he faced, Benjamin said, “It wasn’t easy, but it was worth it.”
He expressed his gratitude to the public and members of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) before officially handing over to Guevarro.
The new Commissioner was given his instruments of appointment by Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander.
Guevarro, at the start of his address, called on the audience to give a round of applause for Benjamin, saying, “I would like to ask Mr Benjamin to stand. I want to recognise that Mr Benjamin answered that clarion call when the TTPS was placed in its darkest hour and we must recognise the brilliant leadership he held and led the good ship TTPS through troubled water.”
He said he decided not to read his prepared speech after reading an article published in the Trinidad Guardian Newspaper titled “Dad Joins TTPS to be a roll model for his son.”
The new Commissioner said, “The significance of this newspaper article, and getting me to desist from reading my prepared speech, it that it is time the Police Service and the officers who are members of this esteemed body, return to being role models of society. It’s about time to return to being superheroes.”
Guevarro said the second reason he chose not to read his prepared speech was seeing the young officers marching past in the parade.
He said, about the young officers, “I saw youthful exuberance in them and when I saw the youthful exuberance it came to mind that we all have choices to make.”
Guevarro, addressing the young officers in the crowd, said, “There is one thing I want to tell them, there is one thing nobody can take from you. They can take your life, take your car, they can rob you, but they cannot take your integrity. You have to give it to them.”
He went on to discuss the five important life choices he made that have contributed to his being selected as Commissioner of Police. These choices included his decision to become a police officer, his decision to work as hard as he could to eventually become Commissioner, his decision to join the Special Branch, and his decision to never partake in cannabis smoking.
Guevarro said he would be meeting his executive next week and after that meeting, he will address the media and the public on his plans.
He ended his address, “This is not a moment for Allister Guevarro, this is a moment for the TTPS. And I want to say here today, we want all hands-on board!”
Addressing the media after the ceremony had ended, he said his first priority under his command was returning “legitimacy” to the TTPS.
He said he planned on doing so but gaining the confidence of the public, so they can begin trusting the police again.
