Port-of-Spain mayor Keron Valentine has added his voice to the wrecking of a vehicle in Port-of-Spain this week which sparked outrage, saying not all the time the police were known to follow protocol.
Driver Jared Edwards was captured on social media on Tuesday sitting on the bonnet of his Nissan Wingroad as the car was towed along the Beetham Highway to the impound lot in Sea Lots.
Debate had raged on social media about whether the police should have allowed the driver to sit on the car’s bonnet, with many asking if he had been injured what the consequences would have been.
Edwards had posted voice notes on WhatsApp, allegedly indicating that a female police officer sought to wreck him while he was inside the car on South Quay.
He said when he got out to argue his case the wrecker moved in and jacked up the vehicle, hence the reason he jumped on it while it was being towed.
Speaking to members of the media after the final statutory meeting for the Port-of-Spain City Corporation for the term 2013-2016 at City Hall, Port-of-Spain, yesterday Valentine described the incident as unfortunate.
“Police officers are different people and as in the unfortunate case in the video there is a certain procedure that must be followed when you are about to wreck and impound someone’s vehicle.
“We have to be correct and frank that not in all cases that process and procedure is actually followed and hence the situation that is confronting us today,” Valentine added.
He said while he had confidence in the Police Service it must also be recognised that officers were also human and subject to “err.”
The corporation, Valentine added, had not “wrecked for a while” in the city centre following which the Police Service picked up the slack.
“The corporation is responsible for wrecking in uptown Port-of-Spain, Newtown, St Clair, St James, Woodbrook and environs and we treat primarily with vehicles that are indiscriminately parked,” the mayor said.
On vending in Port-of-Spain during the upcoming Christmas season Valentine said a plan was being formulated as there was an increase in vending around the Christmas and Carnival periods.
He said there was a proposal to establish a vendors’ Christmas Mall near the Brian Lara Promenade.
Speaking about challenging periods Valentine said: “The most challenging for any councillor under the present system is bureaucracy... the time it takes to get stuff done.”
On the issue of the growing homeless population in the city, he said a head count had begun and a plan was also being implemented, including categorising homeless people.
During the meeting, councillors expressed their thanks for the opportunity to work with the communities but some. however, said they were disappointed that they were not nominated for re-election.
Alderman Reno Callender said after serving office there was little recognition given to hard work and dedication.
He also complained that he received a letter from the ministry stating the stamp and other paraphernalia belonging to the Local Government Ministry be handed back. In the letter, he said, no thanks for service was expressed.