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West: PCA probe on ‘total policing’ still incomplete

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The probe into the March 23 day of “total policing” by the Police Complaints Authority (PCA), which was expected to be completed by the end of last year, is still not finished. Contacted yesterday, however, PCA director David West was unwilling to put a time frame as to when it would now be completed.

On that day last year, the entire nation came to a standstill for close to six hours as police, from all divisions, simultaneously conducted massive roadblock and stop-and-search exercises throughout T&T. Yesterday, West, who said the matter was ongoing, added, “We are waiting for information to come back. 

“So when we receive that information we can analyse it and see where we need to go again. And of course sometimes people don’t respond in a timely fashion.”

Asked whether the PCA was awaiting information from the Police Service, West said this was among other entities. But he maintained information from the service was forthcoming.

“As you get information other questions arise...you have to ask follow-up questions. But the probe is progressing well. I am satisfied how it is progressing. It is a comprehensive report that we will do,” West said.

On whether there have been any stumbling blocks in the compilation of the report, West said he preferred not to use that term but would rather say that further questions had to be asked.

“We had to ask those further questions because we did not get a complete answer so we had to go back and get clarification on the answers,” West said.

Acknowledging that the entire country was sorely affected by the event and was therefore demanding answers, West said this was the exact reason why he was taking his time with the report.

“Look...you either want something done properly or you want something done halfway. I like to do things properly. 

“We are doing a proper investigation. I can’t rush it, so when it is finished there would be questions about the report and when it is finished I am hoping that all questions would be answered.”

A Joint Select Committee, chaired by former Independent Senator Dr Rolph Balgobin, was held in Parliament last year on the day of “total policing” and a report was submitted to the Senate.

In its report, the committee had expressed the view that the Police Service Social and Welfare Association appeared to have a role to play in the events of March 23 and that role was masked by staged activities, such as walkouts of formal meetings, designed to give the impression that whatever was done subsequently did not have the association’s sanction.

The committee had also noted that acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams had said further action on the matter would be pursued after the PCA had completed its investigation and presented a report.


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