By Sue-Ann Wayow
ACTING Police Commissioner McDonald Jacob is assuring the Hindu community that the police will be maintaining law and order as celebrations take place this long weekend.
In a media release on Sunday, Jacob said, “Happy Divali to the Hindu community and to Trinidad and Tobago. The community spirit and togetherness exhibited during Divali is the embodiment of what is good about our cosmopolitan country. Yet in this season of light, some are still bent on pursuing darkness, however, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) is ready and prepared to maintain law and order.”
He said that after two years of somewhat muted Divali celebrations, the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions was symbolic and holds great meaning and significance.
The Acting CoP said that the TTPS would be ready with their “police lights” and will be highly visible, as Divisional Commanders have been tasked to heighten patrols, which act as a deterrent to criminal activity.
Jacob said, “While it is impossible to be everywhere all the time, we have been using the Active Direct Patrol Grid System, which has been quite successful in apprehending suspects and the seizure of narcotics and illegal firearms. This weekend we have applied our intelligence data to guide specific strategies which are being implemented to mitigate criminal activity throughout the country”.
He appealed to citizens to choose the “pathway of light” but for those who don’t, the TTPS will extend the full arm of the law and use all of its lawful authority to ensure light prevails over darkness.
Throughout the weekend, the public can expect increased foot and mobile patrols, traffic, speeding and Driving Under the Influence (DUI) exercises throughout the police divisions. Officers are on the ground and have been conducting several anti-crime exercises from since Friday and other exercises will continue throughout the weekend, the TTPS stated.
