The Chaguanas Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CCIC) believes that the authorities are playing games when it comes to the security and safety of the residents of Chaguanas.
Chamber president Richie Sookhai said in less than one year three people have been appointed as senior superintendent to head the Central Division.
Sookhai spoke with the media on Friday night following an emergency meeting of the Chaguanas Inter-agency Team of Security and Traffic Management that took place at the Chaguanas Borough Corporation at Cumberbatch Street.
Sookhai said, “Right now we are a bit anxious of what the crime level is. In Chaguanas investor confidence in the area is pretty low; we are hoping that there is a sense of stability in that position for senior superintendent. This will also put a level of confidence in the people.”
Sookhai said he hopes that the newly appointed Senior Supt Kenny McIntire will stay long enough in office to make some lasting impact.
McIntire replaced Senior Supt Floris Hodge-Griffith on November 1, 2016. Hodge-Griffith took over from Senior Supt Jason Forde on July 18, 2016. Forde replaced Johnny Abraham who was transferred to Port-of-Spain in September 2015.
Sookhai said Forde was making an impact before he went on retirement. Sookhai said he hopes that promises made in the 2016-2017 Budget to have CCTV cameras in Chaguanas would come to fruition.
McIntire’s plan
McIntire said he has several plans for dealing with crime and traffic in Chaguanas and finding an amicable solution for street vending during the Christmas Season. McIntye also said the spike in crime statistics for Central should be analysed in detail to determine why criminal activities have been gaining ground in Chaguanas.
McIntire said the Central Division has been getting more assistance to deal with criminal activity from PoS. He said while street vending was illegal, a solution may be found where vendors can retail goods from an alternate venue. McIntire said several options are on the table to deal with traffic. He said this includes the re-introduction of the wrecker, deployment of police patrols, and changing vehicular routes. Mayor Gopaul Boodhan said he wanted all stakeholders on board to deal with crime both at the level of the police and the community.