Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says there is no need for a curfew.
This came as she issued a statement addressing both the murder of a municipal police officer and the discovery of over 50 bodies at the Cumuto Cemetary.
Regarding the officer’s murder, she said it was not an attack on the TTPS or national state security services, but instead, an “internal betrayal” perpetrated against the Municipal Police Service.
62 guns and over 4,000 rounds of ammunition were stolen in that incident in San Fernando.
Regarding the bodies in Cumuto she said they were unclaimed bodies being disposed of improperly and not victims of homicide.
Her full statement is as follows:
I have been advised that the incident which occurred earlier today at the San Fernando City Corporation Municipal Police station on Kings Wharf was not an external attack on the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) or the National State security services.
It was an internal betrayal perpetrated against the Trinidad and Tobago Municipal Police Service (TTMPS) attached to the San Fernando City Corporation. It should be noted that The TTPS is a distinct entity from the TTMPS. TTPS officers were not involved in the incident. The Ministry of Homeland Security and the TTPS will provide full support to TTMPS, San Fernando Mayor Robert Parris and the San Fernando City Corporation to investigate and bring this matter to closure and recover the stolen items.
Secondly, I have also been advised that the corpses discovered at the Cumuto Cemetery were actually unclaimed bodies that were being improperly disposed off and NOT victims of Homicide. This matter will also be resolved in the coming days.
There is NO need for any curfew. Law enforcement continues to make progress to subdue our over two decades old crime crisis. Law abiding citizens are encouraged to go about their lawful business as usual.
I thank Commissioner of Police (CoP)
Guevarro and his TTPS officers for responding swiftly to the incidents at the San Fernando City Corporation Municipal Police Station and the Cumuto Cemetery.
