Stakeholders blast Venezuelan women for TTPS idea

Anglican priest Reverend Eric Thompson’s call to recruit Venezuelan women into the police service is coming under heavy fire from former police commissioner Gary Griffith and former Police Service Commission (PolSC) member Martin George.

Speaking at the St Thomas Anglican Church, Chaguanas, on Thursday during an interfaith service for women in the TTPS, Thompson suggested recruiting Venezuelan women into TTPS to help deal with the growing migrant population in T&T.

“Striking a balance may mean the recruitment from Venezuela into the police service. Before we know it, we will have a migrant population from Venezuela that will be hard to infiltrate.

“Maybe it is time to review our laws, to review the Police Service Act to include in our recruiting strategies, women of Spanish speaking to bridge the cultural gap and to give you a fighting chance in this dark world that will become darker in the years to come,” Thompson told the gathering.

Commenting on this yesterday, Griffith said the idea is far-fetched, adding that before this is considered, qualified citizens must first be included in the police service.

“This is as logical as stating that the US should start hiring Mexicans to be part of their law enforcement as police officers because many Mexicans get through the border,” Griffith said.

He added that during his term as commissioner from 2018 to 2021, he was bombarded with thousands of applications from qualified citizens wanting to join the TTPS, which he said is one of the most noble of professions.

“Because we have an influx of persons who we may deem as illegal immigrants, they’re saying let’s hire people from that same country to deal with the problem. That is not how that is dealt with,” Griffith said.

George rubbished the idea, noting it seemed to imply that every officer from constable to commissioner should now have their own deputy.

“If one will simply look at the record, it is clear that they (Venezuelan women) have already infiltrated the TTPS by the droves for years now, by the willing accompaniment of male police officers. They have already infiltrated their homes, their private residences, in their private dealings, in hotel rooms all over. It’s really an absurdity to make any such calls now, they are well integrated in the police service, of course for private reasons and not for any public purpose.”

Also contacted yesterday, Minister in the Ministry of National Security Keith Scotland said the matter would need Government support if it were to become a reality.

However, he said having had little information on the statement made by Thompson, he was not willing to comment further.

“That is not a one-person decision, that must be a government policy and until such time that it is discussed, I prefer not to comment any further.”

But Venezuelan activist Andreina Briceno Ventura-Brown says the suggestion is not novel, as there are successful practices in the USA and other countries where legal immigrants join local police services. She said proper preparation is key to addressing new challenges while safeguarding the nation.

“It’s a compelling idea to consider recruiting Venezuelan women into the police force to help address crime, as this could significantly improve the reporting process for abuse and other crimes within the migrant community, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs effectively met.

“However, it’s important to recognise that such initiatives should not be limited to just one population,” Briceno Ventura-Brown.

Ventura-Brown said while bridging cultural and language barriers in the country, the TTPS must also undergo comprehensive training in local laws and best practices to administer justice fairly and consistently.

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