Tobago Correspondent
A little over two months after the Tobago business community called for an emergency meeting with Commissioner of Police Erla Harewood-Christopher, they met for six hours yesterday at the Scarborough office of the T&T Chamber’s Tobago Division
The Commissioner and her team arrived in Tobago just before midday for the meeting that started around 1 pm and ended at 6 pm. It was attended by members of the T&T Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) as well as the Parent Teachers Association. Head of the Tobago police division ACP Collis Hazel was also present.
After the meeting, Harewood-Christopher would only say that the discussions were positive. However, Chairman of the Tobago Division Curtis Williams promised to give a breakdown of what was discussed in the coming days.
“It was interesting and positive. We of the chamber must say thanks to the TTPS,” he said.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Tobago Business Chamber Martin George questioned why he wasn’t invited.
“We have also made public calls for her to meet with us also. So it’s not just the question of invitation. I know Curtis Williams sent an invitation. We also made public calls,” George said.
“I know she said she was coming to Tobago but beyond that, I heard nothing further. I don’t understand how this could be so last minute and disorganised if you are coming to meet with the business persons in Tobago. I guess that is how they do things and it accounts for the founder success rate of the TTPS.
“It’s not a matter of disappointed. The fact of the matter is that you are the head of the police service and you are making these arrangements to come to Tobago. One would imagine that you would try to meet with as wide as possible with the cross sections of the business community in Tobago.
“We are the only Tobago-based registered and certified business organisation. I cannot comprehend how the commissioner could come to Tobago to have a meeting with business personnel and we have not yet seen any invitation. Probably the invitation would meet us next week.”
Williams publicly called for an emergency meeting with the commissioner in December after the island saw a record-high murder toll of 14. At that time he described the situation as terrifying, resulting in millions in losses for Tobago and said he hoped the CoP would work with the community to develop a plan specifically tailored to the unique challenges of crime on the island.
In March 2023 Tobago had one murder. For the same period this year, there have been five murders.