Commissioner of police denies opposition party request

PORT-OF-SPAIN (CMC):

Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs has denied a request by the main opposition People's National Movement (PNM) to hold a public meeting in the capital tomorrow to discuss the 2011-12 budget presented by the Trinidad and Tobago government earlier this week.

The commissioner's letter, dated October 11, acknowledged the party's request to hold a "public meeting", but said in accordance with regulations governing the current state of emergency, "I am unable to accede to your request to hold a public march on October 14, 2011".

Section 7(1) of the regulation states, "Except with prior permission in writing of the commissioner of police, the grant of which shall be in his discretion, no person shall hold or take part in any public march or in any public meeting."

public meeting

But Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley said he was disappointed with Gibbs' response, noting that the PNM has had a tradition dating back to 1987 of holding a public meeting following the presentation of the national budget.

"So today I want to ask the commissioner of police, is he saying that a PNM public meeting in Belmont threatens public safety and order? Or is he saying that his political masters are telling him it (the rejection) must be done?" Rowley asked.

"Any denial of our application means that the commissioner is saying that this event threatens public safety and order. And we of the PNM are saying this is absolute hogwash!" Rowley said.