Anna-Lisa Paul
Senior Reporter
anna-lisa.paul@guardian.co.tt
Vowing to ensure their latest vehicle acquisitions will not be allowed to fall into rack and ruin as in the past, acting Commissioner of Police (CoP), Junior Benjamin has assured a comprehensive system for the maintenance and upkeep of 67 new RAV 4 vehicles for the T&T Police Service (TTPS) will be implemented.
Extending this assurance yesterday during a handing over ceremony at the Police Academy, St James, during which time the 52 marked and 15 unmarked police vehicles were driven across the parade square, he said, “At least every division will have at least three new vehicles.”
Confirming Tobago will also share in the latest bag of goodies acquired by the TTPS at a cost of just under $23 million, Benjamin said some of the vehicles would be assigned to the Emergency Response Patrol (ERP) Unit to help in the response time to crime.”
Pressed to say how they intended to ensure this latest fleet purchased through Toyota, did not end up in one of the many “graveyards” currently housing derelict police vehicles, he explained, “From the very get-go, we would ensure that there is a file on each vehicle and there is going to be, at least, proper inventory where we would be able to look at these vehicles, know exactly when they are due for servicing and ensure that the service is done.”
Referring to past incidents where a lack of funds had prevented the TTPS from completing scheduled maintenance and upgrade works within the required periods, Benjamin said, “We are going to put the necessary things in place to ensure that those things will not be a problem today.”
He added, “We are going to work with our Finance Department to ensure that certain things are in place so there will be timely maintenance of these vehicles.”
Asked if the TTPS has considered refurbishing some of the derelict police vehicles abandoned at several sites in both islands, he said this was an option currently on the table.
“That is part of the new OPR system which caters for that,” he said.
He claimed the Office of Procurement Regulation (OPR) was now dealing with the disposal of these derelict vehicles.
The RAV 4’s were the preferred choice by the TTPS, given the terrain and topography of both islands.
Revealing yesterday’s acquisition and ceremony was the materialisation of an exercise that had began back in 2024, Benjamin said they would be engaging in discussions with Toyota to ensure servicing and maintenance was done in a timely manner.
The additional vehicles are expected to enhance law enforcement capabilities, improve emergency response times, and heighten police visibility across the country.
The acting top cop said such tools were necessary in modern policing as, “In today’s rapidly evolving environment, law enforcement must be mobile, responsive, and equipped with the right resources.”
Benjamin said the fleet was an “investment” by the authorities, “Not just in infrastructure, but in trust and readiness, and service delivery.”
Looking on proudly as he surveyed the 26 marked police vehicles gleaming in the evening sun, Homeland Security Minister, Roger Alexander, urged the CoP to put the vehicles to work immediately.
“I want when we leave here, almost immediately, these vehicles must go out into the streets and perform their role and function with the police officers present,” he advised.
He acknowledged the call by the public for a heightened police presence on the nation’s streets and reminded officers of their obligation to fulfil the responsibilities of their job.
He urged, “You can drive all day and all night, but without enforcement, you are just another vehicle on the road, and we don’t want that.”
Two weeks ago, Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Eli Zakour toured the Vehicle Maintenance Company of T&T facility at Beetham Gardens , to get a first-hand look at its operations.
Alexander said it was now up to Zakour to see how soon he could compile a report to be handed to Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar, which will determine the way forward for the state agency.