Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams said yesterday he was not surprised that his officers decided to show their commitment to duty by ensuring security over the weekend at National Panorama semi-finals at the Queen's Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain.Task force officers were stationed in the North Stand, Grand Stand and the Greens yesterday, though they were certainly outnumbered by the fire officers present.One officer said he turned out because it was necessary.
"No, they haven't settled negotiations but we had to come out," he said.Officers also watched from an elevated security platform as pan players rolled the orchestras across the stage and thousands of people jostled for a space in the North Stand."The police officers in this country are committed to providing service and they have demonstrated a level of commitment that can't be compared with any other government organisation," Williams said in a telephone interview.
"When people are feting and enjoying their holidays, the police are working and ensuring safety."Asked if he had encouraged officers to turn out, Williams said he had done nothing special."It is a consistent demonstration of police officers commitment and I am not surprised that you see them at Panorama.Earlier this week, President of the Police Social and Welfare Association Anand Ramesar said officers would not be providing services for Panorama or any other events until salary negotiations were settled.
Officers also claimed they have not been paid for their services from Panorama 2014.While police officers did turn out, it seemed that numbers were lower than last year despite a larger space with more tents in the Greens section.Some groups or tent organisers brought along their own security.The Greens, designed this year to look like a steelpan was its usual cacophony of blasting speakers, shouting patrons and rhythm sections.
The noise paused intermittently, adhering to Pan Trinbago's rules, every time a steelband began its performance.The design made sections easier to locate as signs were posted at several points in the vicinity.People streamed through the entrance, only to be met with more gates and fences on the inside of the Greens, where groups like Scorch and Islandme barricaded spaces to keep their patrons separate from the outside muddy melee, caused by earlier rain.
The North Stand, packed with people, welcomed several groups who were a part of the Greens last year, who chose to jam to the sound of steelband and the occasional rhythm section.