OTTO CARRINGTON
Senior Reporter
otto.carrington@cnc3.co.tt
Five days after police constable Ravindra Harrinarine was murdered, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Social and Welfare Association is lamenting the fact that no one has come forward to provide investigators with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects.
Harrinarine, who was assigned to the Traffic and Highway Patrol Branch, was shot and killed on Bassie Street in Spring Village, Valsayn, last Wednesday night.
He was also part of the escort detail for Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.
PC Harrinarine was seated in his red Subaru vehicle with a female companion when three masked gunmen emerged from a car and confronted him. The woman fled the scene but returned shortly after to find Harrinarine bleeding from gunshot wounds.
He succumbed to his injuries at the scene and the police reported that Harrinarine’s licensed pistol was missing.
In response to the incident, a $20,000 reward was offered by the association.
Speaking to Guardian Media yesterday, association president, acting ASP Gideon Dickson, expressed disappointment in the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and corporate T&T.
“Our Homicide Bureau, 555, or Crime Stoppers have not provided any information that would enable us to disburse the reward. As it stands, there is nothing for us to report,” he stated.
Dickson added, “I believe that our corporate community and governmental institutions can do better. Even our own organisation (TTPS) can do much better in addressing this situation. If we are not careful in guarding the gatekeepers, there will be no gatekeepers, leaving everyone vulnerable to criminal activities.”
Dickson emphasised the need to value those responsible for safeguarding the general public.
He claimed that if the victim were a government official, magistrate or someone of similar standing, more effort might have been made to garner support and offer a bigger reward to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The association president urged a collective effort to recognise the importance of coming forward with information, emphasising that such actions could lead to the apprehension of the perpetrators and justice for the fallen police constable.