Police promise clean Carnival

Deputy Commissioner of Police Mervyn Richardson says the police and their protective service counterparts will be out in full force for the Carnival season, in an attempt to ensure criminal activity is kept to a minimum. He said they will be operating via air, land and sea, and even camping areas, residential areas and various communities where there are no Carnival activities will be patrolled by the police.

Richardson was speaking at the weekly police press conference at Police Administration Building, Port-of-Spain, where he noted even police who were on vacation or other leave had been recalled to increase manpower. Apart from the police, the National Security Operations Centre, Air Guard, Estate Police, Municipal Police, Special Reserve Police and members of the Defence Force will be part of the Carnival operation. 

“We have done our work and we will deliver a very clean Carnival. Our officers have been recalled to duty and they are working at this time and different events have been incident-free,” Richardson said. He said their first major assignment will be tomorrow’s Fantastic Friday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, but said they intend to maintain this type of presence until Ash Wednesday, when there will also be cool-down events. 

“We will have blanket security by air, land and sea...I want to reiterate, we will not tolerate any disruptions whatsoever for the Carnival,” he said. “We have invited people into our midst and as hosts we must prepare a good place for them. All officers are engaged and we are looking forward to a clean Carnival in Port-of-Spain, Tobago, Central, South and in the East. Wherever there is Carnival, the police will be there and also other members of the security apparatus.” 

Richardson said there would be roadblocks where breathalyser tests will be given to drivers. “If you drink, don’t drive and if you must drive, do not drink,” he said.