April 8, 2020

What The TTDF Is Doing And Why Private Security Firms Were Needed

By Newsroom

The residential patrol system, announced by the Ministry of National Security (MONS) has been cancelled, after public outrage that was expressed online and in the media.  It was called off, without getting off the ground after consultation with Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley. The first meeting with the four security firms was held last Thursday and the deal was finalized, at a lower cost than when the four firms worked together to resurrect a programme that was running between  2014-2016. The four firms are Allied Security Limited, Amalgamated Security Services Limited, Innovative Security Service Technologies Limited and Protective Agencies Limited. ]“Those with voices have taken a decision to cancel this residential patrol,” National Security Minister Stuart Young said at a news conference on Wednesday morning, less than 24 hours after the Ministry issued a press release announcing the initiative which is similar to the now defunct Community Comfort Patrol (CCP) programme. (See photo above). “It was not meant to enforce regulations, or trample on rights but provide a level of safety and comfort and it is clear to us that the people feel secure and there is no need for this extra measure for extra comfort.  I am Happy the population feels secure,” the National Security Minister Stuart Young said. “In 2014 the cabinet took a decision to use certain private firms and these are the same four security firms approved in 2014 for the same neighborhoods in North, East Central and South Trinidad throughout a variety of neighborhoods. “They would have had no additional powers and would have patrolled neighborhoods like its currently done in some communities like Lange Park and Palmiste ,”   Young further  explained while noting that each patrol would have had to log in at a police station. “They would not have gone into the hot spots which would have allowed the police and the Army to focus on specific operations that need to be carried out,”   the Minister added. In responding to the questions about what the Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (TTDF) is doing  Minister Young said they have been
  • Assisting socially displaced and vulnerable persons building facilities at Riverside Plaza.
  • Prep and secure Couva Hospital and Caura -to move beds from Couva to Caura
  • Coast Guard vessel used to transport a patient from Tobago to Couva
  • The TTDF moved the cruise ship passengers who came in from Guadeloupe TTDF move people from quarantine to facilities.
  • Prep facilities at NAPA
  • Guarding military Installations
  • Doing Patrols on the border on land and sea
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