[U[DATED] Tobago cops to visit blocks to tackle 'turf war'

A SENIOR police officer has said gangs in Tobago are fighting for turf.

Acting police inspector Kathlyn Sterling said the situation is causing reprisals in certain communities

Sterling's comments came three days after a drive-by shooting took place in Speyside.

“So we have persons fighting for turf, we have persons retaliating against one-another. We have random shootings taking place. But the police is out there and we are acting on intelligence,.” she said on the Tobago Updates morning show on May 6.

Sterling said although the police have been patrolling hotspots with a view to ridding communities of guns, stakeholders must also be willing to come forward with information.

"The persons know who have the firearms out there; the police alone cannot police Tobago. We need all of the stakeholders. Give us information so we know where the guns are so that we can get them off the street.”

Sterling raised the issue of gang activity while providing updates on several incidents which occurred last week and over the weekend.

She said an autopsy is to be done on Shellon Walters-Joseph, 32, of Mt Marie, whose body was found over a precipice in Saw Mill Trace, Mt St George, on May 4.

“We are still awaiting the autopsy to determine the cause of the death for that person,” she said.

Regarding the shooting at the Nine’s Bar in Speyside on May 3, in which six people were wounded and hospitalised, Sterling said, “We have some good news there. Four of the people were discharged but two are still receiving treatment.”

She said an individual is still at hospital following a shooting at Turtle Beach last week. Thieves also made off with a quantity of cash from the Royal Castle fast food outlet, Scarborough, but no one was injured, Sterling added.

The senior officer said Tobago was again experiencing an upsurge in crime.

“The officers had a challenging week but we are working feverishly. Investigations are taking place and hopefully we will have some detection of these offences.”Asked whether the police had suspects in any of the incidents, Sterling said, “I wouldn’t want to say because the matters are under investigation. So we would not want to put that in the open space as yet. But there are leads and we are working feverishly on those leads to solve these crimes.”

Sterling also said the Tobago Division is rethinking its strategy to engage members of the public.

She said the police town meetings, which were held recently in two communities, did not attract large turnouts.

“As community meetings, you go out there and you invite persons, but we not getting the numbers that we actually need. So we have to rethink our strategy and go to the people instead of them coming to us.

“We have to go on the blocks because that is where all of the young people are, because they not coming to the community centres. Our intention is to go to these people and have conversations with them.”

But she said officers have been conducting walkabouts and interfacing with residents in their respective police districts.

This story was originally published with the title "Tobago police rethinking strategy to engage public" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

THE police Tobago division is rethinking its strategy to engage members of the public.

Ag Insp Kathlyn Sterling said the police town meetings, which were held recently in two communities, did not attract large turnouts.

On the Tobago Updates morning show on May 6, Sterling said, “As community meetings, you go out there and you invite persons, but we not getting the numbers that we actually need. So we have to rethink our strategy and go to the people instead of them coming to us.

“We have to go on the blocks because that is where all of the young people are, because they not coming to the community centres. Our intention is to go to these people and have conversations with them.”

But she said officers have been conducting walkabouts and interfacing with residents in their respective police districts.

Sterling alluded to the plan while providing updates on several incidents which occurred last week and over the weekend.

She said an autopsy is to be done on Shellon Walters-Joseph, 32, of Mt Marie, whose body was found over a precipice in Saw Mill Trace, Mt St George, on May 4.

“We are still awaiting the autopsy to determine the cause of the death for that person,” she said.

Regarding the shooting at the Nine’s Bar in Speyside on May 3, in which six people were wounded and hospitalised, Sterling said, “We have some good news there. Four of the people were discharged but two are still receiving treatment.”

She said an individual is still at hospital after last week's shooting at Turtle Beach. Thieves also made off with a quantity of cash from the Royal Castle fast food outlet, Scarborough, but no one was injured.