Spanish-speaking police to help with Living Water lines

Officers who are fluent in Spanish will be on hand to assist their colleagues in communicating with any migrants who come to collect food hampers outside the Living Water Community (LWC) on Friday.

Speaking with Newsday, senior police in Port of Spain confirmed that additional officers were being called out to prevent any unrest as the community distributes hampers to those in need.

LWC founder Rhonda Maingot said earlier this week, however, "We don’t have Venezuelans in the line outside the centre, this line is for Trinis.

“There may be one or two (migrants) but the consistency of the line has been almost entirely Trinidadians."

Police also said barriers will be put in place to help keep order and ensure a smooth collection process.

"From midnight they'll start lining up. We are told they (Living Water) will be using a number system so after the first thousand people are given supplies, the others may have to find one of the other parishes to go to.

"We will be having additional officers as well as barriers to ensure there is some order."

Last Friday almost 1,000 people stood in line, some from 10.30 pm the previous night, outside the LWC on Frederick Street to collect hampers.

Despite efforts by police to control the crowd, the numbers increased and there was no social distancing. Police eventually stopped the hamper distribution at around 8.30 am.