Central Trinidad has now become an “area of darkness in light of the pending closure of the Brasso Police Station,” according to former Councilor Paras Ramoutar.
Ramoutar underlined this point at a Town Meeting held on Thursday night at the Flanagin Town Community Centre. MP for Caroni Central, Arnold Ram and MP for Tabaquite, Anita Haynes, as well as Chairman of the Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation, Henry Awong and Councillor John Lezama were present.
The MPs gave brief addresses expressing their concerns about the security risks their constituents would now face.
“The impending closure of the Brasso Police Station means that Central Trinidad has now become an area of darkness because of its closure. The area has now become an open theatre for criminals and criminal activities as there will now be no serious police presence from Chaguanas to Rio Claro, a distance of 60 miles apart,” Ramoutar told the overflowing audience.
Earlier, Senior Supt. Of Police Central Division, Kurt Simon allayed the fears of the populace saying that there will be adequate, “policing patrol to take care of any security issues facing the populace”, repeatedly reminding the people that, “all your concerns of security will be taken fully, and that police patrols would be just a phone call away”.
“This is bad policing at all costs. The closure of the Brasso Police Station and its attendant merger with Gran Couva Police Station will encourage criminals from out of town to disrupt the peace and stability and security of over 60,000 residents from such areas as Caparo, Mamoral Nos 1 &!!, Flanagin Town, Brasso Piedra, Brasso Venado, Tabaquite, Brasso among several other communities, “Ramoutar said.
Former Senior Supt of Police, Central Trinidad, Johnny Abraham called on Supt. Simon, “to revisit your decision as the populace are not happy with the realignment of the two stations in to one. The terrain to Gran Couva from Caparo is fraught with landslides, sharp corners and large potholes and this situation would deter quick response in cases of emergency.
Ramoutar urged the two MPs to discuss this situation as a matter of public importance in Parliament, as the country is now faced with, “a form of police dictatorship”. “No consultations, no discussions, no serious research, on the closure of the Brasso Police Station which has been in existence for over 100 years”.
Community activist, Michael Joseph and businessman, Vindar Maharaj joined the chorus with several other residents in calling on the Police to restrain from moving the station.
A Tabaquite resident was very determined about the closure and she was armed with copies of Hansard reports supporting the urgency of security and police surveillance in the area.