The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service started the week on a spiritual and uplifting note, hosting its Annual Interfaith Service at the Queen’s Hall Auditorium on Monday.
The theme for this year’s service was Attitude of Gratitude – a message endorsed by Deputy Commissioner of Police Junior Benjamin.
“I want you to help me here, please. I don’t know if you could just turn to the person next to you and just say, ‘Thanks for coming.’ Just say, ‘Thanks for coming.’ Yeah, it doesn’t matter. We’re just glad that you’re here. We’re glad that you’re here. Thank you so much for being here.”
DCP Benjamin reminded officers of the importance of gratitude.
“It was said of a soldier that was captured for over two weeks or so, and he was just, you know, they thought he was dead. They found him after a while, and they asked the question, ‘How did you survive?’ And he said three things that surprised everyone. He said, first of all, it was not my training nor my equipment that made me survive. He said, ‘One, I’ve learned that every single day I thank God for life.’ The second thing is that every day at the end of the day, I thank God I made it through that day.”
During the proceedings, a representative of the Muslim faith, Imam Asim Abdullah, stated that the police have been sent as a gift from God to ensure that society is safe.
Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro reinforced this view, sharing a personal childhood memory that highlighted the vital role of police in the community.
“I was about five or six years old, my neighbour was killed in a homicide and the very first cry I heard come out from the neighbours was, ‘Oh God, call the police. Oh God, call the police.’ So you see where the police stand in alignment with societal norms? After they look to God, they now look to the police. So they look to you.”
The event brought together officers and religious leaders from several denominations, all offering prayers and words of encouragement for the nation’s law enforcement officers.