Armed escort at Palm Sunday...

The police presence was evident in St Augustine, Arouca, Arima, Sangre Grande and several areas in the west. Crowds taking part in Palm Sunday service at Mount St Benedict were escorted by police who at the time were on an exercise in the area.

Last year, several parishioners attending Palm Sunday service at the Mount, complained of their vehicles being broken into and also being mugged by bandits while en route to mass.

Police in Tunapuna confirmed that several churches in Northern Trinidad were also accorded police protection during their street processions yesterday morning.

The special arrangements were made after parishioners expressed concern to the policemen in their respective areas, over the crime situation.

Head of Northern Division Snr Supt Gopiechand Ganga instructed police officers to provide an escort for parishioners where possible and to ensure also that the traffic situation was kept under control especially given the fact that street processions were held in the Division.

ACP (Mobile) Nazamul Hosein who is also responsible for Port-of-Spain, Western and North-Eastern Divisions, said if requests were made for police escorts, the necessary arrangement would be made.

At Mt St Benedict, over 500 people attended Palm Sunday service and the police were present to ensure the worshippers’ safety.

Abbot John Pereira, of Mt St Benedict, said no one at the Mount made a request for police escorts or patrols, but added if this service was provided yesterday, he was grateful to the officers.

He added that no Palm Sunday Procession took place yesterday for several reasons, but he did not elaborate on these reasons when asked.

Yesterday’s sermon at the Mount focused on several issues including the death of many innocent people. The murder of young Sean Luke was also mentioned and parishioners were advised that while they had a right to feel outraged over Luke’s death, they had no such right to ostracise people.

Abbot Pereira said that on Good Friday, a large procession will take place starting around 4 am, with a “Way of the Cross” procession at the corner of St Johns Road in St Augustine right up to the church on the Mount.

Morning prayer will begin at 6 am. Two mounted branch police officers have already given a commitment to provide an escort while dressed as Roman soldiers. Newsday learnt that other officers will provide escort for what is expected to be a large turnout of parishioners.

Last week, volunteers from the police and army had to come to the aid of some churches in providing palms for Palm Sunday services. The regular church people who would normally trek into the forest, were not willing to do so through fear of being shot by trap guns or held up by bandits and marijuana cultivators. Despite the efforts of the army personnel, there was still a shortage of palms at several parishes yesterday.

The parish priest in Diego Martin told the congregation that because of this shortage, each person was being allowed only one piece of palm.

Usually, persons were allowed as much blessed palms as they want, which was then fashioned into crosses and other religious emblems to be kept inside homes, cars and offices.