Tuesday February 9th, 2010
- Last update:14 hours 53 min ago
Tourism minister:
Mounted police to patrol Tobago beaches
Published: 7 Aug 2009
Tourism Minister Joseph Ross at
yesterday's post-cabinet news conference.
Photo: Jennifer Watson.
Government plans to introduce more security measures in the sister isle of Tobago following the attack on British couple Peter Greene, 65, and his wife Murium, 59. Government has also planned for the couple’s family members to visit them. The couple was attacked around 2.30 pm on Saturday at their house in Bacolet,Tobago. Tourism Minister Joseph Ross made the announcement at yesterday’s post-Cabinet news conference.
Ross said arrangements have been made for family members of the victims to visit them. “We have also been making arrangements for the relatives to be brought back to Trinidad so that they can stay with the Greenes. We are arranging counselling services for them when they are here so that we would reduce the impact that this kind of incident would have on them,” Ross said. He said he visited the couple on Sunday. “We have faith that our law enforcement agencies will use the full force of the law to apprehend those persons who perpetrated this crime and those perpetrators are brought to justice as soon as possible,” Ross said.
He said also, security on the sister isle had been beefed up and more measures in the long-run are expected to be introduced. “For instance they (THA) have established joint police and army patrols, special patrols by the Defence Force at guest houses and hotels. That was one of the immediate measures put in place. The re-deployment of personnel at Crown Point has been done and there has been the establishment of two hotlines in Tobago to deal with emergencies. Ongoing discussions have started with the police, hoteliers and security firms regarding improving security arrangements and accommodation at guest houses,” he said.
Ross also said measures have been put in place to protect the Tobago seaside. “There has been the introduction of horse patrols on Tobago beaches, the introduction of the canine unit and the installation of the advanced passenger system,” Ross said. He said there were other measures being considered such as the establishment of a police unit to deal specifically with tourism. Another measure now being considered was the establishment of a police marine unit and the increase of maritime and land enforcement officers on the isle.
Impact on Tourism
The attack on the Greenes would have an impact on the Tourism sector in Tobago Ross said. “We expect that it would have an impact. What we are trying to do is to ensure that we have adequate security. Systems are in place to give the visitors the assurances that the possibility of these people committing these crimes and getting away will be reduced significantly,” Ross said. Asked if the Government planned to do further marketing of Tobago, he said marketing will be continued.
“We will continue to do our marketing as we have been doing in the UK and in other parts of Europe. It’s now left to the Tourism Development Company and the THA to come up with their marketing strategies,” Ross said. Commenting on the travel advisories from the UK and Australia which changed since this incident occurred, Ross said Government had noted them. “Government has noted with concern the travel advisory updates from the United Kingdom and Australia,” Ross said.
Are the Locals lives Less
Are the Locals lives Less important than the Tourists?
Why are we not viewing this problem in its entirety?
Does this mean that as long as the Tourists are safe its ok to kill one another? will some one explain ? Whats happening man''''''
Ramsaran I agree with your
Ramsaran I agree with your comment, I also notice that it was flagged - can't understand why.
His comments were probably
His comments were probably "flogged", not flagged. You know that we Trinis cyar spell too good.
eurotrini. I guess
eurotrini. I guess ramsaran's comment was flagged because the content was not so good. He (or she) did not think before writing that stuff.
ramsaran You are not getting
ramsaran You are not getting the point here!!! Major attacks on foreign tourists ( as opposed to Trini visitors) are happening too often now in Tobago. These tourists have been elderly folks visiting Tobago for a holiday. We are not getting too many report of locals meeting the same fate as these tourists. Tobago relies on tourism as you must well know and when Tobago is put on the international scene as a very dangerous destination then this will of course disturb the economic situation in the sister isle. Things have become so bad in Tobago that now perhaps, hopefully, there will be more police presence to protect locals and non locals from these killers and robbers, in other words, we shall all benefit. No use getting bitter about this. Better to say some prayers for these two elderly victims. PEACE. J. Maharaj
Another useless
Another useless cronnie,thanks ross,i feel really safe now.i would recommend tobago as the destination of a lifetime,might be a short one.but hey,crime is everywhere ....sometimes they even dig out you eye..not true?
The Greenes should file a
The Greenes should file a lawsuit against the government of T&T for lack of protection. And the citizens should join in the suit also. After all we have the constitution on our side. Has Manning met publically or secretly with the Greenes yet? Why not? He thinks it is bad publicity or what?
A classic case of closing
A classic case of closing the barn doors afters the horse have bolted !!
another media outlet reports the tourism minister as saying all is not lost!...I would just like to correct him and say that it has been lost for sometime now...he needs to take his head out of the sand and see the mess that the pnm has created by allowing crime to fester the way it did...PNM you all have failed the peoples of TnT miserably ( there are not enough words to describe how I feel )
you all should collectively hang your heads in shame ,you all are a disgrace as a gov't by allowing this hideous crime to take place.. you all are nothing but a waste of time..come next election pnm out the door!
did anybody see pictures of dictator manning house ? it is nicer than the White House...that fool manning needs to get out...I for one am sick and tired of his idiotic rants...he is as stupid as he is ugly as he is a moron as he is a pathetic poor excuse of a prime minister who I have no respect for...he just does not deserve it !
MOUNTED POLICE FOR TOBAGO
MOUNTED POLICE FOR TOBAGO BEACHES
Or Hor, so now we gonna get mounted police for Tobago beaches. Would that really help? Seeing as how the murder and mayhem is being committed against people in their houses, how is it going to help if the mounted police is on the beaches. So we concentrate on the beaches and the tourists and to hell with the rest of the country. Good thinking, now we know why the country is in the state it's it. NOT A BRAIN AMONG THEM!!!
I endorse these comments,
I endorse these comments, the issue is far more than safety on Tobago's beaches, to focus on beaches undermines, devalues and is downright condescending to the hard working, law abiding and concerned citizens and residents of Trinidad and Tobago with respect to the whole issue of crime and personal safety. What is needed is demonstrable leadership from government and within the senior levels of the police force, a commitment to resources, professional police training (this includes community policing, an internal whistle blowing police to address issues of police bribery), neighbourhood watch programs and a societal commitment to law and order, respect for persons and for private property. The basic and simple things that parents imparted to our elected government officials and to the senior members of the police force. And inspite of all this I'm afraid that power corrupts, and all together now: Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Change "ain't goanna come". Wake up Mr. Police, please another robbery is taking place a mile down the road. What do you mean no one there. No one there, no car, no jeep, no policeman, no policewoman!
Socrates
AH DAMM VEX. EVERY DAY I
AH DAMM VEX. EVERY DAY I READ THE NEWSPAPER AND LOOK AT THE COMMENTS , EVERYONE ONLY HAVE NEGATIVE THINGS TO SAY ANYTHING THE GOVT DOES IS WRONG , GIVE MEANINGFUL SUGGESTIONS CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM , IF YOU ARE NOT PART OF THE SOLUTION YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM. TRINIDAD IS NOT PNM UNC COP WE ARE THE GOV,WE DISRESPECT THE GOV WE DISRESPECT OURSELVES. DO NOT CONDEMN MR ROSS I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH HIM HE IS ON OF THE MOST PLEASANT , RELIABLE ,TRUSTWORTHY AND CARING INDIVIDUALS GIVE HIM YOUR SUGGESTIONS, COUNTLESS NUMBER OF FAMILIES DEPEND ON TOURISM FOR THEIR SURVIVAL RICH ,POOR ,BLACK, WHITE ,CHINESE ,,INDIAN SYRIAN DOUGLA AND THE LIST GOES ON. DON'T MAKE A MOCKERY OF THE POLICE ASSIST THEM DO YOU THINK IT IS EASY BEING A POLICE, YOU NEVER TALK ABOUT THE GOOD POLICE AND THE GOOD THINGS THEY DO. AH GETTING VEX MORE VEX NOW , I HAVE TO TAKE MY KIDS TO SCHOOL .TRINI LET US PRAY.
Patrol needed in the streets
Patrol needed in the streets and homes, not on the beaches. The only crime that takes place on the beach in Tobago beaches is probably someone taking a lil smoke. When the oil and gas gone through tourism will be the life blood of Tobago. Barbados, Bahamas, Belize,Jamaica; even the might USA uderstand the economic value of tourism. So, yes, protect our locals, but ensure that your tourists are doubly safe.
ajfyzabadbutlertown
we can all give suggestions
we can all give suggestions or meaningful dialogue that can be very useful , but the problem is that pnm in their ignorant ways does not want any input into anything...I guess they feel that if the idea does not come from them then it's no good , when last did they have any good ideas or think things through before being implemented...easy answer....NEVER !!
The police service leaves very much to be desired and is in need of a much needed make over...starting from the top...most are ignorant to the needs and are not sensitive to the peoples needs they are not dedicated in serving their country....so much needs to be done in a short space of time...
Well said MARCUSjjj. Most of
Well said MARCUSjjj. Most of these people love to talk down but few offer meaningful suggestions. Time to change the way you look at things people.
Well as I was reading the
Well as I was reading the comments I stumbled on patddictator comments ....that says it all..!!!..I could have died laughing ..as to the person who shouted about constructive comments ..why should we come up with solutions.???..that is why Manning and the others get to live in the lap of luxury and drive around in bulletproof cars and enjoy personal bodyguards and eat and drink the best and travel in chartered planes...so they can put their brains to work...should the citizens do their work also??
MR WRAMSARAN DID YOU GIVE A
MR WRAMSARAN DID YOU GIVE A SECOND THOUGHT TO THE COMMENT YOU MADE , YOU WILL NOT OFFER A SUGGESTION BECAUSE SOMEONE LIVES IN LUXURY, YOU HAVE NOTHING MEANINGFUL TO OFFER. ANYWAY GOING ON WITH THIS COMMENT WOULD MEAN NOTHING TO YOU. "TEK WHAT YOU GET"
Why mounted police? Would
Why mounted police? Would the horses not create a mess of the beaches and ares people are supposed to walk on? Are the police going to follow with a pooper-scooper to clean up after them? Why not foot patrols? or bike patrols? In fact, why not bike patrols over the entire island which is so small one could cover it in no time. No jeeps, cars, or vans for police to patrol in? No money? Trinidad and Tobago and no money/ Do we even have a police commissioner who know a thing about policing? Why do we even care? The entire crime situation in Trinidad and Tobago is very demoralising and dehumanising!
let me say something good
let me say something good about the police. when they have a function, their whites are really really white, all starched and crisp. they are also very industrious, managing side businesses in gun rentals, used car parts, or quarrying, without the overheads.
"Systems are in place to give the visitors the assurances that the possibility of these people committing these crimes and getting away will be reduced significantly"
are you kidding me?
why not systems to prevent crimes from happening?
it seems the government has totally given up on the concept of a safe tt. they are concentrating on apprehending and prosecuting.