[UPDATED] Hinds: No major explosion of violence for Carnival 2024

National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds said apart from a stabbing and a robbery on Monday, there has been “no major explosion of violence” for Carnival 2024.

He made the comment while addressing the media at South Quay during a walkabout in Port of Spain on Carnival Tuesday with Commissioner of Police (CoP) Erla Harewood-Christopher and the other heads of the various armed forces.

The TTPS, in a media release, said the security arrangements also resulted in no major incidents at any of the major J’Ouvert celebrations on Monday.

It said celebrations in Arima, Mayaro, Port of Spain, San Fernando, Sangre Grande, Tunapuna, and Tobago took place smoothly, with a few reports of minor crimes such as common assault and assault by battery.

Hinds said, “I would like to congratulate the citizens and the carnival celebrants because the CoP has reported to me that we've had no major explosion of violence over Carnival Monday.”

“I would like to take the opportunity to thank the citizens for their peaceable and good patriotic behaviour and their enjoyment and urge them to take it easy and let the proceedings flow.”

He warned criminals that the police would be out in their numbers supported by the TT Defence Force (TTDF).

“You don't have to rob and thief…So we say to them, law enforcement is around and about ready to pounce on any such situation.”

Hinds said the walkabout was meant to signal to the public that the various arms of national security are united in their fight against crime and their efforts to keep the public safe during Carnival.

“The TTPS has come out, as it always does, in large numbers in support of the efforts of safety and security for Carnival 2024, ably supported by the TTDF, which has committed many of its personnel across TT.”

He said police and army presence was not limited to Port of Spain, adding the forces were also present at the places frequented by the public who wished to avoid the carnival festivities.

“In the celebration centres and in the places where non-celebrants go using the time of Carnival weekend to do that, the picnics and the camps and what have you.”

Hinds said he was satisfied with the security arrangements for the festivities.

“From all that I have heard, all that I've seen, thorough arrangements have been made as we have promised, by air, by land and certainly on the ground, to ensure people participating in Carnival (can do so) happily and (I am) confident that those who are sworn and paid to protect them have been and continue to do that.”

Hinds said with the arrival of 2000 visitors aboard the Jewel of the Seas cruise ship, which docked in Port of Spain on Tuesday, particular attention was also being paid to the safety of the thousands of tourists expected to enjoy the festivities.

“I am told by the Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts that all of the hotel rooms are filled to capacity. I have seen for myself the many tourists who are around and about enjoying a few moments with us in TT.”

“I am assured by the police commissioner that very acute arrangements have been put in place to ensure that from the time they leave that vessel to the moment every one of them return we have taken all possible reasonable actions to secure them at the various tourist sites and wherever they participate in Carnival in the city and otherwise. So I'm very, very happy and relieved at that.”

Carnival Gold Commander ACP Kelvern Thompson said collaboration was the key to keeping the public safe during carnival celebrations.

“We have built upon the foundation that we have established over more than 100 years of policing this. Not just in the hearts of the cities, but on the outskirts… So we have spread a wide net using all the resources (including) what we had before and what we recently acquired.”

He added, “Some of the assets are new, but in terms of the approach, the combination of resources. If you go along certain areas like Ariapita Avenue, you see a guy in a T&TEC uniform. Guess what, he is part of the plan just in case wires come down. It’s everybody contributing.”

Harewood-Christopher echoed similar comments, saying there has been “an inter-agency approach to policing the carnival.”

“We have the TTDF, we have our transit police, we have our traffic wardens, our municipal police, all in attendance. I want to thank them for their support and just ensuring the citizens are safe.”

Asked if there was any collaboration with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and if they were present in TT to assist with security arrangements for carnival celebrations, Harewood-Christopher said she could not comment.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley last week acknowledged crime is an issue in TT and said he met with FBI and CIA officials during his four-day mission to the US, and the agencies’ resources “were made available to us to deal with our own internal problems.”

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds said apart from a stabbing and a robbery on Monday, there has been no major explosion of violence for Carnival 2024.

He made the comment while addressing the media at South Quay in Port of Spain during a walkabout on Carnival Tuesday with Commissioner of Police (CoP) Erla Harewood-Christopher and other heads of the various armed forces.

Hinds said, “I would like to congratulate the citizens and the carnival celebrants, because the CoP has reported to me that we've had no major explosion of violence over Carnival Monday.”

“I would like to take the opportunity to thank the citizens for their peaceable and good patriotic behaviour and their enjoyment, and urge them to take it easy and let the proceedings flow.”

He warned criminals that the police will be out in their numbers supported by the TT Defence Force (TTDF).

“You don't have to rob and thief…So we say to them, law enforcement is around and about ready to pounce on any such situation.”