Defence Force probes crime-fighting ‘excesses’

THE Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF) has launched an investigation into possible “excesses” by its personnel during joint police-military operations over the last year.

This was disclosed by TTDF Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Ancil Antoine, during a news conference at the Ministry of National Security’s Abercromby Street headquarters yesterday. Antoine said the military’s assistance to the civilian authorities in 2003, on land and at sea, resulted in the seizure of illegal arms and drugs and the arrest of foreigners who were illegally fishing in local waters. However the TTDF Chief of Staff stated: “Involvement in all these activities was not without its drawbacks. Unfortunately, there were reports of some of our personnel being involved in possible excesses. These we are presently investigating in a thorough manner.”

Antoine also announced that the next training cycle for the Civilian Conservation Corps will start on January 19 “in the existing eight regions” and will involve the training of 900 persons, while the Military Led Academic Training (MILAT) and Military Led Youth Programme of Apprenticeship and Reorientation Training will start in the first half of this year. He said the joint police-army Inter-Agency Task Force (ITF) continues to address crime within the Laventille/Morvant area and alongside ITF patrols are several community relations measures “geared to win the hearts and minds of people in the area.” 

On the newly-formed Special Anti-Crime Unit, Antoine said: “In accordance with Section Five of the Defence Act Chapter 14:01, a military unit will be created and assigned for duty to work in conjunction with the members of the Police Service under the ambit of the Unit. It will operate using established rules of engagement authorised by the Chief of Defence Staff and the Commissioner of Police, to preserve the rule of law and uphold the Constitution and Laws of our Republic.”