Former national security minister Carl Alfonso is supportive of the call by prisons officers to be given weapons to protect themselves while off duty as he believes there are now concentrated deadly attacks being carried out against the nation’s law enforcement personnel.
Speaking briefly with reporters after the funeral service of soldier Shervaun Charleau at the Church of Assumption, Maraval yesterday, Alfonso said: “It is sad to see what is happening... that they are killing our own people, meaning law enforcement officers.”
Charleau, 39, a father of four, was shot during a robbery at Fort George, St James, on October 30 and died hours later at hospital. Stating “we have to defend that,” the former Chief of Defence Staff added: “If we have to give prisons officers weapons to take home, so be it. At least they can protect themselves. I will certainly support that.”
His comments followed on the heels of Monday’s killing of prisons superintendent David Millette. Millette was shot and killed on Monday morning as he entered his car at Second Caledonia, Morvant, to go to work. One day earlier, three other prison officers were injured during a fracas at the Golden Grove Prison, Arouca, when officials attempted to carry out an exercise to seize contraband items within the prison.
Extending condolences to Charleau’s family on his sudden demise, Alphonso admitted the situation “has gotten out of hand.” As a former serviceman himself, Alfonso said: “We, law enforcement officers and I still consider myself one, have to stamp our authority on the bad guys. We have to up the ante and do what is necessary to bring this country back to some form of normalcy.”
Claiming he was not condemning anyone, he said: “We just have to step up our operations.
“The bad guys are trying to take advantage, have been taking advantage and somebody has to put a stop to it.
“That somebody is the law enforcement fraternity. The army and police may have to so some drastic things,” Alfonso added.
Whether it would include more patrols or more aggressive action, the former minister was adamant intensified operations were needed. He said officers had to hit so-called hot spots and criminal gangs harder. Asked how he remembered Charleau, Alfonso revealed he was responsible for encouraging Charleau to join the regiment in 1999.
Referring to him as a “lovely boy” who had a special penchant for sports and other physical activities, Alphonso said he was happy to see the prisons service being transferred back under the portfolio of the Ministry of National Security. He said: “That is a good move, a very positive move and that should bring some differences.
“I am almost certain the present minister will support prisons officers being armed,” he said.
Alfonso make the comment but stressed it was done without any prior conversation with National Security Minister, retired Major General Edmund Dillon.