Senior Political Reporter
The TTPS’ Gang Intelligence Units have been mandated to investigate all reports of criminal elements demanding “protection money” - extortion- from Kelly Village business owners. They would also probe elements engaging in home invasions of their targets, according to National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds.
Hinds confirmed this during yesterday’s sitting of Parliament as he responded to questions from Opposition MP Dr Rishad Seecheran about reports of “protection money” being demanded from business owners, by criminal elements in Kelly Village. Seecharan questioned the measures to address this situation.
Hinds said, “The TTPS has taken note of recent reports of criminal elements ‘demanding monies by menace’ from business owners, more commonly called extortion. This is a serious criminal offence
“In this regard, the TTPS in collaboration with the T&T Defence Force, has developed a multipronged approach model, to address the issue. This model allows for several covert and overt initiatives, which are aimed at investigating, supressing and eradicating this type of offence. In the pursuit of their selfish and nefarious goals, the criminals have been engaged in home invasions of their targets and victims.”
Hinds said the TTPS Gang Intelligence Units are mandated to investigate all reports of these activities. “Even in instances where reports are not made, but intelligence suggests the existence of the offence. The police are mandated to pursue them.
“The TTPS is very aware of and understands the trauma experienced by victims in such matters. As such, the TTPS continues to encourage members of the public, to report all such encounters to the police.”
To Seecheran’s further questions on the success in dealing with the issue, Hinds said, “Yes! Of course! The police are always out there fighting these criminals, getting hold of some, charging them, putting them before the court. It’s an ongoing thing and it’s not new, it may be new to you as an MP, but it’s been around for many, many years in this country and the world. I might say and the TTPS are pulsating with energy, constantly out there fighting them and will continue to do so.”
As to when TTPS will have this issue under control in Kelly Village, Hinds said, “Well as far as I’m concerned the police are always working to bring these matters udner control. The police deal with them in the manner I’ve described when reports come or when intelligence suggest these things even if there’s no report. It’s work in progress, my friend.”
Meanwhile, regarding the Couva South MP Rudranath Indarsingh’s query on the mechanical failure of the hydraulic platform/ sky lift, during a fire fighting operation on Observatory Street, Port-of-Spain, in January this year, Hinds confirmed there was indeed an issue.
Hinds said an investigation was launched on January 19 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in collaboration with the T&T Fire Service.
“It was determined that there was a mechanical failure of the hydraulic platform/skylift. The final report was completed and submitted on February 26, 2024,” Hinds added.
Pressed by Indarsingh, Hinds admitted from the reports available to him, it appeared as though there may have been some “human element” leading to the failure of the lift.
‘No data compromised in NIB cyberattack’
Following a cyberattack at NIBTT on December 26 last year, Finance Minister Colm Imbert said Hitachi Systems Security Incorporation, along with its partner, Cyber Certainty for Global Juggernaut of Human Betterment (CYPFER), provided a forensic incident response consulting, following the cyber-attack.
He said the service included but was not limited to determining if any Personal Identification Information, Personal Data or Confidential/Proprietary Information was accessed in an unauthorised manner and if the same was exfiltrated.
Imbert added, “The investigation was completed and Hitachi reported that the critical systems that contained personal data, were not impacted by the attack and there is no evidence of data exfiltration from the NIBTT. As such, NIBTT’s personal data maintains its integrity.”