CoP waiting on Tobago report

Deputy Police Commissi-oner Trevor Paul said yesterday that he is still awaiting a report on the decision by the police in Tobago to release two Barbadian fishermen.

Paul told Newsday that he expects the report soon. Last Wednesday, Director of Public Prosecutions, Geoffrey Henderson, sent a memo to Commissioner Everald Snaggs in an effort to find out who gave instructions to the police not to proceed with the case. Commissioner Snaggs sent the memo to his Deputy Commissioner Trevor Paul to handle the matter. Snr Supt Benjamin Watson, the officer who is investigating the matter, is expected to submit his report by Friday.

On Monday, Director of Public Prosecutions Geoffrey Henderson confirmed that a letter was sent to Snaggs on the release of the Bajan fishermen. On February 7, 47-year-old Joseph Mason and 61-year-old Samuel Firebrace were held by the Coast Guard and later charged with fishing illegally in Trinidad and Tobago waters. Last Monday, Cpl John Morrison, a prosecutor at the Scarborough Magistrates’ Court, told Magistrate Joan Gill that the police had decided not to offer any evidence in the matter and the two fishermen were allowed to leave the courtroom free men. The fishermen departed Tobago on Monday with the fish they caught which included 13 king fish, 11 dolphins and over 3,000 pounds of flying fish.