“THE only weapon we have are our voices. And that is the weapon that they are afraid of the most.”These were the words of Alyssa Phillip moments before she was arrested yesterday near the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions along Richmond Street, Port of Spain, during a protest by relatives and friends of Kaia Sealy who are demanding answers as to why she is facing charges in connection with the death of her common-law husband, Joshua Samaroo, during a police-involved shooting in January.
Hauled away: A police officer carries Alyssa Phillip, organiser of the Kaia Sealy/Joshua Samaroo demonstration, towards a police vehicle after she was arrested during yesterday’s protest on Sackville Street, Port of Spain. —Photo: JERMAINE CRUICKSHANK
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Phillip and two other people were detained yesterday during the protest.The other individual detained was identified as blogger and influencer Jason De Silva.Phillip’s mother, Camille Caresquero, was also placed in a police vehicle with her daughter; however, police did not confirm if she had been detained or if she had voluntarily gone with her daughter.“This is not the end of the fight!” Phillip shouted as she entered the police vehicle.Up to last night, police sources could not confirm if any charges had been laid against any of them.They were detained at the Central Police Station.Just before 4 p.m., the group of protesters began gathering, despite a public statement by the T&T Police Service (TTPS) on Tuesday against gathering outside of the office of the DPP.De Silva was warned by police officers about his conduct. However, he continued to speak to the officers, questioning if their actions were democratic and fair.He was again warned.After an exchange, De Silva attempted to walk away, continued saying the police were “weaponising the State against citizens”.He was followed by a team of officers, including ACP Garvin Henry and Snr Supt Baird, who attempted to arrest him.De Silva dropped to his knees, raised his hands and began repeating “hands up, don’t shoot!” until he was eventually arrested and removed from the scene.
