Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has condemned the brazen shooting at the Besson Street Police Station, describing it as a “most unfortunate and most regrettable” incident. Persad-Bissessar spoke to members of the media on the attack after hosting a breakfast meeting with stakeholders on trade and investment in T&T at the Marriott Hotel, Manhattan, yesterday.
“It is cause for concern but the law enforcement agencies were able to bring it under control with minimum damage,” Persad-Bissessar said of the attack, which police believe was in retaliation over the killings of three men at Desperlie Crescent, Laventille, on Thursday night. “Regrettably, whatever damage that took place...again it is most regrettable that there are persons who are so brazen to try to take the law into their own hands.
“At the moment I do not believe it was confirmed how the persons were killed...whether killed by security forces or by others in the region. It is regrettable and it is something we do not condone. “It is something that you would be against...that you would try to take the law into your own hands to try to attack that police station,” she said. She was also in high praise of the Police Service for quickly restoring law and order in the community.
“I commend the officers who were there...that they did not go on a wild shootout in the wild west and were able to contain the matter. I have been advised that calm is restored and the situation is being monitored,” Persad-Bissessar said. She said she was in constant communication with National Security Minister Gary Griffith and had fully endorsed his statements on the matter.
The various law enforcement agencies, the Prime Minister added, would remain on alert and would continue to monitor the situation. Law-abiding citizens, Persad-Bissessar said, have also welcomed the stance taken by the Government to join with world leaders to fight terrorism. On Wednesday, US President Barack Obama, in addressing the UN Security Council in New York, declared war on the terrorist group Isis, which he described as a “network of death.”
“I believe citizens would welcome the stance we have taken and that has been my feedback thus far. Based on our own instinct and our own research, it is the right decision. “We will have to wait to see if there are any ill consequences, but I think we’ll only stand to benefit from the stance we have taken and will continue to take...we will fight terrorists wherever they are, we will continue to fight criminals wherever they are,” the PM said.
On whether the security forces should remain on high alert in case of any repercussion for Skeete’s killing, Persad-Bissessar said she believed they were always on alert.