Row erupts over police post construction

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has accused the opposition People's National Movement (PNM) of deliberately halting the construction of a joint army-police post in Tacarigua. The Prime Minister stated that PNM representatives, through the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation (TPRC), chased away workers yesterday who were laying the foundation for the post at the Eddie Hart Grounds.

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Today the PNM wickedly sent their TPRC representatives to chase away workers constructing the Eddie Hart police post. Today the PNM showed their hatred to the citizens of Tunapuna when through their representatives at the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation stopped the construction of the new police post at Eddie Hart Grounds.

Persad-Bissessar claimed this action demonstrated the PNM's "hatred" for the citizens of Tunapuna and accused the party of doing the bidding of the "local drug mafia" by opposing a police post. She asserted that the PNM has no issue with "drug blocks" in Tunapuna but fights against efforts to enhance safety.

In response, Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles criticized the Prime Minister. She stated that construction was halted because a private contractor proceeded without the approval of the TPRC's engineer. TPRC chairman Josiah Austin confirmed that the corporation was not informed about the construction and that officials discussed the matter with the workers, who then left the site.

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The PNM sent their representatives with a member of the TPRC municipal police to threaten and chase workers who started construction. This is a most evil and vile act committed by the PNM party that has no problem with drug blocks in Tunapuna but is fighting against a police post. The PNM must stop doing the bidding of the local drug mafia and start putting citizens safety first.

The government's plan to establish 30 joint army-police posts is part of a broader national security strategy aimed at increasing the visibility of protective services and reclaiming communities from criminal elements. The initiative is intended to address long-standing calls from residents for a greater security presence and to foster closer collaboration among the country's protective services.

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No consultation with tprc