You are here
Light plane in police Carnival security plans
Published:
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
The controversial light aircraft contracted by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service was the main feature at yesterday’s Carnival anti-crime operations. As the reign of the Merry Monarch kicked off with J’Ouvert celebrations, which began promptly at 4 am, a heavy contingent of uniformed and plainclothes police officers flooded Port-of-Spain ensuring law and order was preserved. The plane will also be used today by the police to ensure criminals are kept at bay and masqueraders and revellers feel secure as it patrols the skies.
In confirming the use of the plane yesterday, Deputy Police Commissioner in charge of operations Jack Ewatski maintained that the primary aim of the aircraft would be to lend ground support to officers conducting other exercises, including raids, random spot checks and roadblocks. “The plane will be used as part of our air support to ground operations,” Ewatski explained. He assured the public that the plane will not be used for any clandestine operations.
Ewatski, who maintained that police service was not on a mission to engage in “covert surveillance,” added: “This is not about covert surveillance. This is about supporting our ground operations, so we are not going to use those assets to spy and do anything in a covert manner. Quite the contrary.”
Last month, PNM MP Donna Cox accused Ewatski of “fraternising” with directors of the T&T Air Support Company Limited, the newly established company contracted by the police service to provide the plane for three months at a cost of $902,772. The contracting of the aircraft sparked controversy, with National Security Minister John Sandy claiming he was not informed that the contract had been awarded. Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs and Ewatski have since submitted reports on the plane contract to Sandy, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and the Police Service Commission.
Asked whether he was pleased with the anti-crime measures for Carnival 2012 so far, Ewatski said he is still monitoring the situation. Two helicopters which were part of the Special Anti Crime Unit of Trinidad and Tobago (SAUTT) also play a key role in Carnival crime initiatives.
Apart from conducting regular patrols over all parts of the country, the helicopters are being used to identify suspicious activites on the ground.
Disclaimer
User comments posted on this website are the sole views and opinions of the comment writer and are not representative of Guardian Media Limited or its staff. Guardian Media Limited accepts no liability and will not be held accountable for user comments.
Please help us keep out site clean from inappropriate comments by using the flag option.
Guardian Media Limited reserves the right to remove, to edit or to censor any comments. Any content which is considered unsuitable, unlawful or offensive, includes personal details, advertises or promotes products, services or websites or repeats previous comments will be removed.
Before posting, please refer to the Comunity Standards, Terms and conditions and Privacy Policy
