RESIDENTS and business operators in Acono Road in Maracas Valley-St Joseph, areas near the Grand Bazaar Interchange and Kelly Village in Caroni have welcomed Government’s latest crime-fighting initiative to establish 30 joint army-police posts across the country.The Express visited the communities yesterday.Most residents and business owners supported the initiative, although several said they would like more details about how the posts would operate.At Acono Road, a resident and taxi driver who identified himself as “Malcolm” questioned why officers attached to the nearby police station could not already carry out the duties of officers at the posts.
Felix Hernandez speak with the Express at his plant stall along Caroni South Bank Road, Kelly Village yesterday.
SUPPORT: John Ramlal displays his chickens while talking to the Express at his depot along the Southern Main Road, Caroni, yesterday. —Photo: ISHMAEL SALANDY
“I am not saying they are not doing anything, but if they are in the station they could come out during the day and do those same patrols,” he said.Malcolm also expressed concern that the post might stigmatise the community.“People hike from here to Maracas Bay and we have the waterfalls, which are major tourist attractions. Some people even hold wedding receptions up here. An army and police post may make visitors think this is a dangerous place, and that could hurt the community,” he suggested.A woman at Acono Junction welcomed the initiative.“It is a good thing. It might stop criminals from roaming around and hopefully cause crime to decline,” she said.One man among a group of residents liming nearby also supported the plan.“I don’t know exactly how they are going to set it up, but I like the idea. It will keep away the idle boys, provided the police do their jobs. It should also discourage people from openly selling drugs,” he said.Another resident said he wanted more information before forming a final opinion.“I hope they won’t just stay in the post all day and all night. They should come out and actually patrol,” he said.Resident Steve Villaroel agreed.“It will be a good thing. People should feel safer. Sometimes the people committing crimes aren’t even from up here, but overall I think it is a positive move,” he said.At a roundabout off the Southern Main Road in Kelly Village, chicken and duck vendor John Ramlal said the increased police presence would be welcome but suggested officers should also wear body cameras.“It would be good if the police came out, but it would be even better if they had body cameras so everybody could see who is right and who is wrong. Good citizens will feel safer, while people involved in crime will stay away. We already see that whenever police park on the Beetham, traffic flows better,” he said.Ramlal said Kelly Village had long needed a permanent police presence.“People have been shot right here. We will feel safer and more protected. The area has a bad reputation, but apart from the crime it is a nice and convenient place to live,” he said.Ornamental plant vendor Felix Hernandez also backed the proposal.“I think it is a good thing. We need it because of the crime problems, so I am not against it at all,” he said.Business operators in Bamboo shared similar views.One food vendor said regular police patrols had already helped businesses operating late.“A police post would be good because crime would be reduced. Police already patrol here almost every hour, and that works for us because we stay open until 2 a.m. In the 15 years I have been here, I thank God I have never been robbed,” he said.An employee at a pizza outlet also supported the initiative.“That is a good idea because a lot of things have been happening in Bamboo. Sometimes you call the police and they take hours to arrive, so we definitely need the posts,” she said.
