Senior Reporter
kay-marie.fletcher@guardian.co.tt
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is calling Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s call for police officers to “return fire with full force” a call for vigilantism.
Responding to her forceful advice to law enforcement officers, Rowley yesterday said he was both saddened and bothered, as he believed Persad-Bissessar was trying to score political points.
During the UNC’s Monday night forum in Couva to launch the Star slate for the June 15 internal elections, Persad-Bissessar told officers that when faced with danger, they have the right to defend themselves.
“If criminals point a gun at you, shoot at you or attack you, return fire with full force, defend yourselves, do not be hesitant. Being hesitant can cost you your life... If you point a gun at or attack a police officer to endanger his or her life, the police have a right to defend themselves with lethal force,” Persad-Bissessar said.
“There are hundreds of murders, we can never get any eyewitnesses. As soon as there is a police-involved shooting, everyone is a witness against the police,” she added.
Yesterday, however, Rowley said Persad-Bissessar’s statement was unnecessary, as he assured that police officers already know they have the full support of the country when it comes to protecting themselves.
Instead, he described the comments as a call for “vigilantism on the part of police officers”.
Responding to questions following the launch of Precision Cyber Technologies and Digital Solutions at the Brix Hotel, Port-of-Spain, Rowley said Persad-Bissessar used the opportunity to try to score political points.
“When I heard the Opposition Leader saying that and behaving like that, what bothers me is that that person was a former prime minister. It is not somebody trying to get into office. This is somebody who functioned as Prime Minister and also carries with great pride the title senior counsel and must know that this is not how you do things like that,” Rowley said.
“Because the question that you ask immediately, what exactly was she responding to? Who in this country, high or low, near or far, has said or taken a position that policemen aren’t allowed to protect themselves if they’re confronted by the must-love-a-gun? That is already in place. It’s in daily use every day. All the trainees that come out of the barracks this is part of their training...”
He added, “But you can’t call for that kind of vigilantism on the part of police officers because you also need, as they get that power to be able to protect themselves, that there is a certain amount of protection from abuse. But that statement by the political leader of the UNC did there, is trying to pander... That is more political than security. That’s politics and not security and I’m just a little saddened that my parliamentary colleague could see that opportunity and handle it that way.”
Rowley said there is not a police officer in this country who does not know the procedure to be followed if they are threatened by persons with guns, adding Persad-Bissessar’s comments were irresponsible.
“There is no need for that. What that can do is to get a wrong approach or a wrong behaviour. Because one of the problems that we’re facing right now is ensuring that our police officers or security officers are, in fact, functioning where guards are guarding the guards and guarding us.
“We don’t want rogue behaviour. And that kind of politicising of their job, giving that kind of expression to the dangers that they face, cannot really be a good thing and there was no issue requiring that response from the Opposition Leader. The only issue that she was responding to is trying to score political points and that is not a good thing in situation of security.”
On Tuesday, Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher also said the T&T Police Service (TTPS) has a clear mandate in such matters.
“In the performance of our duties, we are guided by a ‘Use of Force Policy’ which clearly states that ‘a police officer must seek to protect the safety and security of himself/and others in the performance of his official duty. And while we understand that an officer’s decision to use force is sometimes made under ‘difficult, unpredictable and unique circumstances’, when such force is used, it must be necessary, legal and appropriate,” she said.
National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds also called Persad-Bissessar’s comments “dangerous and reckless” advice.
Despite the backlash, Persad-Bissessar has not retracted her statements.