POLICE officers will now be present at virtual Carnival events to ensure that there is no breach of Covid-19 protocols.
In a press release on Thursday, the TTPS stated that Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith made the decision after meeting with the executive of the Trinidad and Tobago Promoters’ Association (TTPA) earlier that day.
The meeting was held at the Police Administration Building, Port-of-Spain following issues raised about the Sekon Sunday virtual event which was held at Queen’s Hall over the weekend.
Griffith said that the TTPS was exercising an element of “flexibility,” and will be working very closely with the TTPA to ensure compliance of the Public Health Ordinance.
While virtual events were welcomed, there “must be a degree of control and no breaches of the Public Health Ordinance,” Griffith said.
President of the TTPA Jerome Precilla agreed with Commissioner Griffith and said that the association intended to advise its membership to adhere to protocols and guidelines implemented by the Government.
Griffith indicated that once informed of the association’s virtual events, there will be an active police presence to monitor the proceedings and to ensure compliance of the Public Health Regulations. Griffith said the presence of police officers at any event will act as a greater deterrent to law-breaking than security guards. Also present at the meeting were Deputy Commissioner of Police (Ag) Joanne Archie, Head – Legal Unit of the TTPS Christian Chandler, advocate of the TTPA, Paige De Leon and treasurer of the TTPA Derek Douragh.
