Paul: Security will not disappear after Carnival

Paul, National Security Minister Martin Joseph, Port-of-Spain Mayor Murchison Brown and TT Defence Force Chief of Staff, Brigadier Ancil Antoine, all said yesterday that the security measures implemented in Port-of-Spain for Carnival 2006 have contributed to one of the best carnivals in the city’s history.

Speaking with journalists at South Quay yesterday, Paul said reinforcements were sent to the Central Division in the wake of murders, stabbings and shootings which marred Jouvert celebrations in Chaguanas.

The commissioner said the last thing the police wanted to do was stop Carnival celebrations, saying that security resources have been deployed to ensure that this does not happen. Asked if security had been stepped up in Port-of-Spain after Monday’s events in Chaguanas, Paul said all the necessary human and physical resources were in place and "so far all over seems to be quite quiet, and quite calm."

Contacted yesterday, Joseph told Newsday he was "a bit disappointed" about what occurred in Chaguanas, but declined to comment further on the matter. Asked whether he was satisfied with how the levels of security instituted for Carnival 2006 celebrations were working, the minister replied, "from the reports I have received, so far, things seem to be okay." Joseph visited South Quay yesterday morning during a whirlwind tour of the main Carnival venues in Port-of-Spain to check on security at those venues.

Paul said the security forces will remain on high alert to ensure that the remainder of the Carnival festivities are incident-free and that there will be "Carnival until midnight." Asked if the heavy police-army presence visible throughout TT during the Carnival season would vanish once the celebrations were over, Paul replied, "After Carnival, we hope to continue to deliver, but one must understand that policing of the Carnival and policing generally, there is a difference. That is obvious."

Brown was pleased with the levels of security in Port-of-Spain for Carnival 2006. "Absolutely no problems at all. Security is at the max and we feel very safe and secure," he said. Asked if he thought Carnival 2006 had surpassed its predecessors, Brown replied, "Every year, we look back and try to improve on the previous year. This is not to say that the past years were not very good."

Antoine congratulated the police for doing an excellent job in maintaining law and order throughout TT for Carnival 2006. "The police have done a fantastic job and we (Defence Force) are out there in support of them," he said.

Antoine said he anticipated no major problems for the remainder of the festivities.