Top cop promises more police for political meetings

Noting that he was looking forward to hearing from all the political parties about their position on the issue of election violence, Williams said the Police Service (TTPS) does not condone any form of violence.

“It is not in our tradition, and it shouldn’t be in the present and in the future,” he said. The police, he said, will be present at all rallies and political meetings that they were aware off, will be tough on enforcement and will prosecute anyone found engaging in conduct that breaches the law.

The TTPS, he added, has given the Elections and Boundaries Commission its commitment to support the elections. He said the TTPS will continue to provide police presence at all rallies and meetings. “We are not changing the policing posture that we would have adopted,” he said.

Asked if United National Congress political leader and Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has raised with him what she calls statements inciting violence by Minister of Public Utilities Fitzgerald Hinds on the political hustings in Mafeking recently, Williams said, he did not know about the comments, but if Persad-Bissessar raises it with him he will deal with it.

Also asked if he had received any reports about large amounts of money spent by the previous administration in the purchase of roti for a Divali function, Williams said, “I haven’t heard any allegations about any criminal conduct. If the Prime Minister (Dr Keith Rowley) has identified any criminal conduct, I am sure he will bring it to our attention.”