CoP intervenes as Sea Lots women beg for help

ACTING Commissioner of Police (CoP) Junior Benjamin stepped out from the Police Administration Building, Port of Spain, to calm a group of about 35 women from Sea Lots angrily protesting an alleged lack of police action over their complaints of being attacked by men from the nearby Beetham Highway community.

On Ash Wednesday, March 5, the women complained of a spike in attacks on residents of Pioneer Drive, Sea Lots west on the morning of Carnival Monday, March 3, that had left them afraid to come out of their community to go to work or to take their children to school for fear of being further assaulted.

They told Newsday they had suffered several stabbings on March 3, and on an ongoing basis have been chased, threatened and robbed by certain unruly young men living nearby. It is long-standing situation which flares up from time to time, residents said.

Group spokesperson Jada Morris said on March 5 they had first gone to to try to make a report and get help at Central Police Station in Port of Spain. However, they told Newsday that the police had advised them to instead make a report to the police station at Riverside Plaza, Port of Spain. They also alleged a policewoman had called the names of two men – allegedly local gang - leaders–of the area to whom the female officer suggested the women instead lodge their report.

The women instead walked to the Police Administration Building to try to highlight their plight, but a policewoman on guard told Morris she could not enter because her sandals breached the dresscode. Armed police stood by. Soon after, Benjamin emerged from the building. The women made their point to him.

He listened attentively, saying he would immediately deploy an Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) unit to Sea Lots to calm things.

"What we need to do is see how we could really work together to sort the problem, because this is not just about a one-time thing."

Morris alleged certain police officers were abusive to residents, naming one such to the acting CoP.

She alleged, "He is an abuser. He torments people. He abuses his power as a police officer. He steals from your place."

A woman in her fifties recalled to the CoP about being slapped in the face after complaining to men who were beating up her adult son on J'Ouvert morning (March 3).

Benjamin urged residents to put their complaints in writing and send it to him.

Several women complained unruly men were waiting for when they returned home to attack them by pelting bottles.

Benjamin said, "Don't worry. I have just sent the IATF and so on, so you all should be safe."

He said the senior superintendent for Port of Spain had already contacted him, towards putting things in place for the residents to feel safe.

Morris thanked Benjamin for taking the time to talk to the group.

Benjamin said, "This is what we want to do. We want to be a caring police service.

"You are important. It doesn't matter where you are and who you are. We are here for you.

"To each and every one of you, thank you for coming."

Benjamin introduced the women to Snr Supt Raymond Thom who had just arrived from the police office at Riverside Plaza. Thom invited the women to follow him to the nearby old police headquarters to discuss the matter in more depth. He said the police needed to know who the offenders were. Discussions ensued between the police and the group.

At the end, the women had calmed down considerably in anticipation of action to restore peace to their area.

One woman, speaking anonymously to Newsday, said residents were fed up of having to bury youngsters from Sea Lots. Another woman said the protest was comprised of women and a handful of children only, alluding that it was not safe for the men to come out, although not describing the situation as gang violence.

Afterwards, Newsday asked each party how the meeting had been.

Thom said, "The meeting was very cordial. We shared information. They asked that we do some intervention in the area, which we are going to try.

"But in the meantime, we have deployed some police officers in the area so we could deal with the immediate fear that they are experiencing, to make them safe to return to their residences while we co-ordinate other operations to do some work in the area."

Saying it was not an area that often had dealings with the police, he said he was surprised and pleased the residents came forward to meet and talk.

Morris told Newsday, "We are quite satisfied because we were able to speak to the CoP. We spoke to other officers who were helpful and are looking forward to seeing what is to be done about the situation.

"We had a good conversation with Mr Thom. We are just looking to see we get the help we are looking for."