Mr CoP, thinkabout residents

THE EDITOR: Open letter to acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams.

I have been a resident of Five Rivers, Arouca, for more than 60 years. We have a lovely church building at the corner of Five Rivers Junction which, from time to time, has been the venue for military funerals.

There is heavy police presence in the area during these times and that is understandable. However, no provision is made for the residents of the village in terms of getting in and out of our homes to carry out our normal daily activities.

On February 1, there was one such funeral. As usual there were uniformed police directing traffic and trying to keep law and order.

I had a dental appointment and returned during the course of the funeral service and had great difficulty getting into my yard with my vehicle.

An officer stopped me and even though I explained that I lived on the street, gave my address and described the location of my house, he did not believe me.

I had to present my driver’s permit to show my address and still the officer had to confer with his colleague before granting me permission to drive along the street to enter my yard.

The previous time there was a military funeral I stayed at home at great inconvenience to myself.

Sir, I am asking for your intervention in this matter in terms of advising your officers how best they can serve the public in situations like this.

I cannot stay at home every time there is such an activity in Five Rivers. The residents who own vehicles need some consideration from your officers.

RUTH SAMAROO

via e-mail