The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service is challenging residents of Arima to play a greater role in reclaiming their community, as concerns grow over crime and other social issues. This as senior officers engaged residents and community leaders in the area.
Taking the conversation directly to residents and community leaders in Arima, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service heard concerns about crime, public safety and other challenges affecting the community.
Senior Superintendent Avalon Frank acknowledged that residents have noticed a change in Arima, prompting questions about how the community reached this point.
“A lot of persons spoke about the changing tide, how Arima used to be, how it felt safe. But I want to ask a question, why? Is it because good men stood by and do nothing when all the chaos was reigning? Or the criminals just take over? I don’t believe criminals just take over a place. I believe good men stand by and do nothing.”
He also pointed to the influence of culture, particularly on young people, as another challenge in the fight against crime.
“That is what the culture has become, we have accepted a set of foreign culture and other things now it’s part of our culture. This is what we have to battle with. First before we fight crime we have to fight culture and it makes the fight twice as hard but we are not giving up.”
While acknowledging concerns about the effectiveness of policing, he said efforts are being made to address them, with changes already being seen in Arima and the wider Northern North Division.
“I feel the hurt of the community a lot, I know sometimes some people complain about the ineffectiveness, right and I am addressing it, head on and I am seeing some changes, a lot of changes especially in Arima and the Northern North and I employ you if you go there and you don’t get service, 6862000. I think everybody has the number by now.”
The TTPS says the engagement is part of its continued efforts to work with communities and address their concerns, with the goal of restoring a greater sense of safety in Arima.