Teachers scared of students, say police

TEACHERS are running scared of students, Ann Mari Grant, public relations officer of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) said yesterday.

Grant was speaking to 15 retirees, two of whom were women, in the office of Sr Supt Gilbert Reyes at the Port-of-Spain Criminal Investigations Depart-ment (CID). Retired Sgt Ernest Perez had raised questions on the school system, saying that teachers weren't prepared to take any blame for any untoward happenings at school. But Grant told the retirees that they could never imagine what teachers have to go through in schools. "Teachers are scared and they have said this at a town meeting," Grant said.

She said that condoms and change of underwear are found in the bookbags of several 11 and ten-year-old students who are sexually active. Grant continued that parents are aware of this and encourage it because the children can bring back money. She added that when the parents are spoken to, teachers are often verbally abused. In response to another question from Perez that there are rogue cops in the service, Grant also said "this is the real world.". Perez had expressed the view that certain police officers are encouraging crime in the country. He was highly critical of officers who use their cars for hire and those who allow PH drivers to ply for hire. "They should not be on the road," Perez said.

Reyes told the retired cops that when they observe officers behaving in an inappropriate manner, they should make a report and the necessary action would be taken since more often than not there is insufficient evidence to prosecute them.Cops came in for further bashing from the retirees, when one of them stated categorically that there are certain officers who don't know where Duke Street is, and that some of them complain that there are no vehicles when the crime had occurred within walking distance of the police station.

Another one added that he saw a policeman on Sunday speeding down Charlotte Street with both his hands off the motorbike handle. One of the retired female officers also expressed concern about female officers who wear their handcuffs at the back of their bodies. "This is quite dangerous. Anybody can take the handcuffs and do anything to them," she said, suggesting that the handcuffs be placed in their pockets. There were also concerns about traffic officers who are seen with a big book in one hand, while trying to direct traffic with the other.