Government is considering the establishment of a Commission of Enquiry into the March 23 nationwide police roadblocks which effectively shut down the country on that day, National Security Minister Carl Alfonso said yesterday.
Speaking on the matter in Parliament, Alfonso said an enquiry was among six recommendations in a report conducted into the matter.
Alfonso said the “day of total policing” as it was called “caused untold frustration, anxiety and in many cases anger” among citizens and “everyone felt the impact of the police exercise on our nation’s roads on that day.” He said an immediate investigation was launched by the police and was conducted by Assistant Commissioner of Police (North West) Vincel Edwards. Alfonso laid a copy of the report in the Parliament.
He said the CoE was recommended, “especially given the nature of the public sentiment by many who feel they were victimised by officers.”
Another recommendation was that acting Sgt Waldrop of the Special Branch, “who performed roadblock duties dressed in police uniform, be realigned for his participation in this exercise.”
Alfonso said the Special Branch was supposed “to provide support and intelligence and avoid participating in situations like these.”
He added, “Yet in this case, the officer did the exact opposite.” Alfonso said the investigator also noted that “the head of the Special Branch was not helpful. She was more concerned with her seniority over me (ACP Edwards) and refused to provide me with any information.” No report was provided by the Special Branch, the report added. Another recommendation was that acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams, who was out of the country on March 23, and three deputy commissioners issue a public apology to the nation. Then acting CoP Alleyne-Day apologised to the nation on March 23.
The other
recommendations are:
• A conference be held with First and Second Division officers to refresh their memories of the provisions of the Police Service Regulations and to reprimand them.
• Serious consideration be given to the relationship between the officer who co-hosts the television programme “Beyond The Tape” (Inspector Roger Alexander) and the Police Service.
Alfonso said Alexander’s views on the roadblocks were “not only contrary, but the exact opposite of the position taken by the (acting) Commissioner Alleyne-Daly.” Alfonso said Alexander “praised the position taken by a small group of officers on March 23, 2015.”
The investigator also recommended that officers who did not participate in the March 23 exercise be commended publicly.
Differing reasons
Alfonso told legislators that only “some officers embarked on a nationwide roadblock.” He said several officers were questioned and gave different reasons for their involvement, which included that it was part of the 2015 crime plan.
The report showed that while there were no roadblocks that day in the Central, South and South West divisions, other divisions such as East, North East, North, Port-of-Spain, West and Tobago were affected.
Alfonso said the investigator reported that officers from the Guard and Emergency Branch, CID and one officer from the Special Branch participated in the roadblocks. He said the report found that none of the First Division officers in charge of specific divisions were aware of what was taking place.
Alfonso said the report stated that “... between 4 am and 10 am on March 23, First Division officers in charge of six police divisions and Second Division officers who were in charge of six named police stations lost control of their divisions and stations to a small group of junior officers.”
He said the then acting CoP Ann Marie Alleyne-Daly and two deputy commissioners then “intervened and took control of the situation.”
Alfonso said a similar situation would never occur in the country again. In an apparent reference to the failed 1990 attempted coup by the Yasin Abu Bakr-led Jamaat al Muslimeen, Alfonso said, “As we have proven, and will boldly prove again if we must, we will not tolerate any threats to the peace, stability, liberty or well-being of the people of T&T.” More than 40 tickets were issued for fixed penalty offences and at least three people were arrested during the exercise, he said.