Police to protest proposed legislation

PORT-OF-SPAIN (CMC):

The Police Service and Welfare Association will be holding candlelight vigils as a form of protest against the proposed legislation to grant soldiers the power of arrest.

President of the Association Anand Ramesar on Wednesday told reporters that the vigil would be headed by former president of the association, Emrol Bruce.

One vigil will take place next Wednesday, starting at Brian Lara Promenade in Port of Spain from 6 p.m., and will end at the Police Administration Building on Sackville Street.

Simultaneously, there will be another vigil taking place in Tobago.

According to Ramesar, the association is renewing its call for acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams to state what is his current position as it relates to the proposed legislation.

Friday deadline

Ramesar said the association was giving Williams until Friday to respond to its requests, or "we will have to take a course of action that really demonstrates our level of confidence in him".

During a meeting between members of the association and National Security Minister Jack Warner on Tuesday to discuss the proposed legislation, Ramesar said several alternatives were provided to the minister.

Among those alternatives were the willingness of retired police officers to again join the fight against crime and the use of special reserve police officers.

Ramesar has stated that if a soldier is desirous of becoming a police officer, they should first resign their position in the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment and join the police service.