Don’t stop with Tobago, Erla

DCP Junior Benjamin’s view that the T&T Police Service has crime under control at a September 6 news conference, shocked many and raised serious questions about whether the service had lost touch with the views of the ground.

Almost two weeks later, it’s clear the TTPS hierarchy wishes to continue pushing the narrative that things are not as bad as the public perceives them to be, as, on Monday, Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher suggested the police have been making steady gains in combatting serious crime.

When it comes to some aspects of crime, this may very well be so, but as the TTPS leadership ought to know, public perception of the crime situation is primarily hinged on the rate of homicides.

Needless to say, that is where the TTPS scores lowest at the moment, which makes its attempts to project itself as winning this crime fight as nothing short of futile excuses to cover up a bad wound.

Where homicides are concerned, Tobago takes on a bigger spotlight given that the island, which had long appeared to be immune from the scourge of serious crimes that occur in Trinidad, has seen an exponential rise from what was a record 13 murders in all of 2023, to a disastrous 22 within the ninth month of this year.

Naturally, the focus has been placed on the ability of police in Tobago to crack down on the crime situation.

The commissioner’s attempt to manage this crisis took several forms, from announcing the transfer of officers from Trinidad to Tobago to reduce the impact of familiarity between residents and Tobago-born officers, to visiting the island herself with recently-appointed Minister in the Ministry of National Security, Keith Scotland, to get a better feel of the situation on the ground.

The National Security Council also met in Tobago during the last two months.

Despite this, the murder rate continued to rise before the decision was taken to replace Tobago Division heads, ACP Collis Hazel and Snr Supt Rodhill Kirk, with Trinidad-based officers, acting ACP Oswain Subero and Snr Supt Earl Elie.

Without any word from the TTPS on the reasons for the change at this time, citizens can only deduce that those at the helm lost faith in Tobago’s two most senior officers to make a serious impact anytime soon.

It’s been some time since we have seen the TTPS hierarchy take action at such a high level, and coming so soon after Minister Scotland was given the TTPS as his brief, he might very well be the one credited for this decision.

For all its worth, the TTPS has sent a powerful message that it is prepared to make top-level changes based on the performances of its leaders.

The question now is whether or not Ministers Fitzgerald Hinds and Scotland, as well as Commissioner Harewood-Christopher, are willing to make other major changes in Trinidad, after assessing the performances of heads of divisions in relation to homicides and other serious crimes.

If the narrative continues to be that things are getting better, contrary to public perception, then we’d expect little by way of strategic administrative changes.

The message would only be that while there was an urgent need for a change in the police leadership of Tobago, those leading the crime fight in Trinidad have things fully under control.

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