Supt Joanne James greets Local Government Minister Hazel Manning at the People’s Village, Brian Lara Promenade, yesterday. PHOTO: Marcus Gonzales

A very unusual appeal was made to a senior police officer yesterday when a deaf mute requested whether a system could be implemented whereby people like him could make reports to the police via text messages.

Timothy Fairbairn-Barsatte made the appeal when he visited the Ministry of National Security booth at the People’s Village 2009 on the Brian Lara Promenade. Fairbairn-Barsatte appealed to to Supt Joanne James and WPC Jenny Constantine by writing it on a notepad. He asked the officers if it was possible for a system to be put in place where challenged people would be able to communicate with the police via cell phones. Supt James said at present, the Police Service did not have such technology. She, however, promised that Fairbairn-Barsatte’s request would be given urgent attention.

“I would inform the commissioner of your unique request and I am certain when he meets with his executive, great consideration would be given to the request.” To the best of my knowledge, we have never had a request like this in the Police Service and we welcome it,” James responded to Fairbairn-Barsatte. When questioned further by the T&T Guardian on use of such technology, James said she was certain it could assist in reports to the police where callers request anonymity.

“I believe the use of text messaging would go a long way. But, all the advantages and disadvantages would have to be explored by the executive. Text messaging boards are used in the majority of radio and television stations in the country where listeners were able to make contributions to programmes, send requests and in some cases crimes and road traffic accidents have been reported. The way the system is developed cell phone numbers from which messages are sent are not visible on message boards.