Police in the Port-of-Spain Division say they are unhappy with officers from the Belmont Police Station being assigned as sentries at President Christine Kangaloo’s Cascade home, which is unoccupied.
A source familiar with the matter said police officers have been assigned to the property since Kangaloo was sworn-in as President in March this year.
The source claimed it was not customary for police to guard the private home of a public office-holder, noting that the Defence Force or a specialised police unit like the Guard and Emergency Branch or the Special Branch should instead be used.
The source claimed two police officers were assigned as sentries to the home every four hours each day. The source described the use of police station manpower as “wasteful” and said it took time away from legitimate crime-fighting exercises.
“That’s six additional patrols that could have been done in the time that officers were there. This is simply not the role of the police, to sit there at a house and act as a security guard. There are members of the Defence Force who are very capable of doing these kinds of exercises,” the source said.
Concerns were also raised over efficiency at the Belmont station as two officers were required to be on sentry duty, leaving other officers to deal with patrols.
“This seriously affects other tasks. What happens in a situation where you have five officers on a shift and you have to send two officers out to guard a house? Then you have to keep rotating those officers every four hours.”
The source referred to the recent murder of 33-year-old Darryl Boucaud at Symond Valley Road, St Ann’s, noting that St Ann’s was part of the Belmont Police Station’s district.
On October 29, friends Brian Padmore, Brandon Forde, Chivon Clarke and Kerron Moore were gunned down while liming at the corner of Belmont Circular Road and Smart Place.
The source added that the situation was particularly disappointing, as concerns were raised over crime and how officers spent their time while on duty.
The source also claimed that the only police mobile unit in the Port-of-Spain Division was assigned to the President’s property.
‘No complaints
from officers’
Responding to Guardian Media’s questions via email on Monday, the head of the communications unit of the Office of the President, Cheryl Lala, said while the security arrangements could not be disclosed, assigning security assets was not under the purview of the President.
Lala suggested that further enquiries be directed to the police service.
Questions were sent to the TTPS’ Corporate Communications Unit seeking to confirm if this was the case on Monday but no response was received.
However, Snr Supt Ali Mohammed, who is in charge of the Port-of-Spain Division, said he visited the Belmont station up to yesterday and received no complaints from officers about being assigned to sentry duty.
Mohammed added that while the Special Branch and Guard and Emergency Branch provide transport for the President, officers from other stations could also be assigned. As such, he said a special unit comprising 14 officers was devised to be assigned to the house.
He said the mobile unit was sent for the officers to use and the President also ensured other amenities were provided.
The head of the Port-of-Spain Division said there have been no issues or complaints.
Meanwhile, TTPS Social Welfare Association (TTPSSWA) president, ASP Gideon Dickson, said he was unaware of the situation, as he did not receive any complaints from officers.
He noted that if the claims were true, it was not outside of the remit of the police to protect public officials.
“This assertion by officers is passing strange because it is a duty like any other duty to deter perpetrators from attacking high-profile dignitaries. I shudder to think our officers see this as a menial task that is not necessary,” Dickson said.
The source, in response, said while it was not a problem for police officers to protect dignitaries, they did not agree that their empty properties should be guarded.
Guardian Media visited the property on Wednesday afternoon, but was advised by one officer against photographing or taking video of the house.