What is conditional approval, TTPS?

THE EDITOR: Having seen a Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) press release stating that conditional approval was granted to social activist Victor Roberts to hold a public march, I must ask, what exactly is conditional approval?

In all my years as a practising attorney I have never heard of the term "conditional approval" to be given to anyone to have a public march in our country.

For a person to stage a public march, permission must be sought from the Commissioner of Police via the Summary Offences Act Ch. 11:02.

Most notable are Sections 112-114 of the said legislation. Once permission is granted, people are given a permit to march and this permit is signed and granted by the Commissioner of Police.

In the legislation, I see nothing termed conditional approval being granted by the Commissioner of Police.

Therefore, I call on the TTPS to show where such approval is given, via the legislation, and when such approval (conditional) was ever been given to any person/persons, groups or organisations.

I would hope the TTPS has not allowed itself to be used as political pawns in carrying out the will of the political directorate when it comes to these types of marches.

One is reminded that this entire situation looks familiar to the behaviour by the Eric Williams-led government when laws were enacted and effected to suppress marches during the Black Power movement.

I refer to the passing of the Public Order Act by former attorney general Karl Hudson-Phillips, which has now been superseded by the Summary Offences Act.

To me, "conditional approval" goes against the Constitution (Sections 4, 5 and 6), which allows for freedom of assembly and also freedom of movement.

The TTPS, by that release, has painted itself into a corner and now it will have to deal with any litigation that could follow. It is clear the TTPS has bitten off more than it can chew.

Time for a substantive Commissioner of Police to be put in place and one who is free from the tentacles of this Government.

BRIAN BAIG

Attorney