The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) expanded its service to commuters yesterday as the travelling public experienced disruptions in the morning during the second day of the maxi-taxi operators’ “rest and reflection” action.Transport arrangements were again coor­di­nated at City Gate, Port of Spain, with the ad­­ded participation of the Public Transport Ser­vice Corporation (PTSC), Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service, Office of Disaster Prepa­redness and Management (ODPM), and Trinidad and Tobago De­fence Force (TTDF), along with other State agencies.In total, 15 buses were made available for commuters—ten more than were available on Monday.Assistant Commissioner of Police Brian Soo­deen said the TTPS deployed five 25-seater buses, supported by two 15-seater buses from the Fire Service, one 25-seater vehicle from the ODPM, and additional support from the Defence Force, which provided four 25-seater vehicles and three 15-seater maxi-taxis.Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro reiterated that the initiative was implemented with a focus on public safety.“The reason, first and foremost, for embarking upon this collaborative effort with PTSC was public safety,” he said.Guevarro also rejec­ted suggestions that the operation amounted to strike-breaking activity, saying the response was intended to assist members of the public who had been left without transportation.“I’m most surprised that anyone could actually look at such an endeavour as being scab labour,” he said. “This is the TTPS and other law enforcement agencies reaching out in its capa­city to treat with a problem that has arisen.”He said transporta­tion capacity had increased as additional agencies came on board, and he thanked the various arms for their assistance.“It has actually increased somewhat because we now have other departments that have come on board...you can actually see an almost 200% increase in the transportation capacity.”Asked about security concerns raised by members of the maxi-taxi association, Guevarro again appealed to members of the public to work with the police and give information on criminal activities, as the TTPS could not be expected to be present in every vehicle.“The TTPS and law enforcement cannot be omnipresent. We cannot place a police officer in every single maxi-taxi,” Guevarro said.He said officers observed orderly behavi­our from commuters on Monday and noted that members of the public cooperated with police personnel while boarding vehicles.“One of the things I noticed personally yes­ter­day, there was no disorderly behaviour by any members of the public,” he said.He acknowledged that a number of maxi-­taxis returned to work.“We are seeing them plying their trade along the Bus Route at this point in time,” he said.No publicity stunt ► sub-head ◄Lt Col (Ret’d) Patrick Gomez, general mana­ger, PTSC, also said vehicles were dispatched according to commuter requirements.“This is not a publi­city stunt.... We are dis­patching (buses to routes) based on the demand that we have....So we would have addressed and sent buses based on (assessment and demand). Everyone wants to be a priority and I understand that. But we have to dispatch based on where we are seeing the demand requirements,” he said.“We are merging trips. We are dispatching based on demand that we have,” he said, noting that routes were combined where capa­city allowed.He said the initiative began after the Commissioner contacted him for assistance.“The initiative really came from the Commis­sioner, who would have contacted me and reques­ted to assist,” Gomez said.Gomez said members of the public responded positively to the expan­ded service on Tuesday.While present to support the actions of the Commissioner of Police, Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Eli Zakour said he would not comment on details of a meeting held with the maxi-taxi association on Monday but confirmed that State agencies were working together to ensure commuters were transported safely.“I am here today with the Commissioner, the members of the Police Service, the Fire Service, the Defence Force, the ODPM, the management and staff of PTSC to ensure that citizens get home safely,” he said.Zakour noted that Monday’s meeting with the maxi-taxi association was cordial, and he had noticed yesterday that some drivers had opted to come out to work the various routes.“I’ve noticed that some of the memberships of some of the routes would have deci­ded to come back out, when some haven’t. Well, that’s their personal decision. I can’t say if it stemmed from the meeting,” he said.He said Government would monitor turnout before determining the next steps.Zakour also reitera­ted a checkered-band system for maxi-taxi regulation had been previously outlined in Parliament.