A resident of Sangre Grande complained that traffic police officers were not exercising their discretion in issuing tickets in the eastern town and were rather hiding and lying in wait to pounce on suspected errant motorists.
Anthea Brizan told the audience at a stakeholders meeting at the Sangre Grande Civic Centre that police officers were not accepting any excuses from drivers and there was limited parking areas in the main shopping areas.
She said police officers issued a ticket to her brother because he stopped on the Eastern Main Road to drop off their mother who could not walk properly.
Brizan said instead of assisting the woman, the police reprimanded and charged her brother.
“Some of the police officers hiding and when you stop, they will say ah ketch you. Police are trained and must act as responsible to members of the public,” she added.
Brizan said police officers often stop drivers for a broken windscreen, no identification lights and without asking any questions or accepting any reasons, drivers were charged.
She called for police officers to be more reasonable with members of the public.
“It is simple, give the offenders a warning and if they are caught again with the same issue then a ticket should be issued to the driver,” she suggested.
Brizan also complained about the hours she had to spend trapped in road during roadblocks during beach outings.
This could be addressed quite easily, she said, as police should be stationed at parties and at beaches so they could monitor those that who were drinking alcohol excessively and deal with them right on spot.
Toco/Sangre Grande MP, Glenda Jennings-Smith, who is the Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, and a former senior police officer, in response advised Brizan to attend the Police Town meetings and voice her concerns.
Tanya Thomas said she was not in favour of construction of a port at Toco.
Toco would become more commercialised and would lost its essence, she said.
“The natural habitat will be destroyed. Toco has a lot to do with eco-tourism. What about our turtles, which nest not too far from where the port is earmarked to be built. There will be an influx of people coming to live in Toco,” she added.
She also believes the private and quiet lives that people live will be affected by the criminal elements.
She called for a committee to be set up before any construction began.
Jennings-Smith said a decision was already taken on the development of the port and ferry service in Toco and was expected to be completed within a five-year period.
She said she was happy when a member of the audience reported that a feasibility study and plans were in place to continue with the extension of the Valencia by-pass, which is causing a bottle neck traffic and pile-up from Turure to Sangre Grande.