Tobago crime has been reduced by 39 per cent, including tourist-related crime, says Carl Francis permanent secretary in the Ministry of National Security. He announced this at yesterday's launch of a CCTV base at Scarborough. Francis said Tobago had 69 CCTV cameras which were increased to 187 after requests. They are located on highways, ports, seaports, roads and places of interest, all determined by police.
But the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) will determine where more CCTV cameras will be placed, including tourist locations. He said the National Operations Centre will also be involved in the CCTV initiative, including surveillance and video camera feed, and this would allow real-time monitoring which could prevent minor issues escalating.
Francis said other assistance for Tobago includes weekly visits by the Inter-Agency Task Force, search-and-rescue missions, maritime patrols, hot-spot surveillance and targeting persons of interest, plus a permanent base on the island for the army and Coast Guard. A Coast Guard base at Charlotteville will also strengthen border and maritime security.
London thanks Gary
THA chief secretary Orville London commended the various agencies for bringing crime down from its previous, less than acceptable levels, and repeatedly commended National Security Minister Gary Griffith for his responsiveness. London challenged all to do better than the 2013 statistics.
Tobago's mantra is now "Clean, Green, Serene and Safe," he said, and a secure environment was important for economic and marketing. The CCTV launch would build confidence and locals and visitors alike could feel safe, he said, calling on Tobagonians to recognise their responsibility to aid the effort. "Let's mind each other's business with respect to crime. Every phone can be a weapon against crime if we use it well. Let's talk when we see suspicious things happening in communities," he urged.
London said Tobagonians must not allow criminals to feel comfortable. Griffith said Tobago now has a quarter of the CCTV cameras in T&T. Government was also examining the security risks in ferry travel, he said.