Oropouche West MP slams disrespectful PNM officials
The MP for Oropouche West, Ms. Vidia Gayadeen Gopeesingh is condemning the brazen displays of disrespect towards the TTPS by PNM officials.
In a release issued on Wednesday the MP slammed San Fernando Mayor, Junia Regrello for his distasteful behaviour during Carnival Tuesday celebrations.
Subsequent to reports of high criminality throughout the city the Southern Division of the TTPS ordered that the celebrations were to be stopped. Mr. Regrello challenged the decision to shut down Carnival’s “last lap” celebrations even though the officers emphasized the difficulty they would encounter if potential threats arose.
His protestation swayed members of the public who subsequently exhibited aggressive behaviour towards the police.
Mrs. Gayadeen Gopeesingh pointed out that the officers had the authority to shut down the celebrations if they felt that they could no longer protect the citizens and Mr. Regrello should have handled the situation with the decorum that is befitting of his portfolio.
The MP stated “As leaders in this country we cannot engage in or tolerate such disrespectful behaviour, we must lead by example.” She challenged” there is obviously a correlation between the Mayor’s behaviour and the high resistance police officers are facing from citizens throughout the country.”
Mrs. Gayadeen- Gopeesingh referenced the riotous scenes that were exhibited in the nation’s capital on Monday morning theorizing “It is impossible for the police to execute their duty and receive cooperation from the citizenry if a Mayor has the gall and unmitigated temerity to scold and lambast officers as though he is the Commissioner of Police.”
The MP added “under this Rowley led PNM we have witnessed a plethora of inconsequential offences, it is as though the Prime Minister is unfazed by his cohorts behaviour,” referencing the DUI charges laid against PNM Senator Dr Lester Henry and Point Fortin Mayor Clyde Paul.
The MP concluded “When our leaders disregard the men and women who have taken an oath to uphold the law we can only expect the citizens to follow suit, there is a palpable contradiction between PNM’s pro police talk and their disrespectful walk.”
Vidia Gayadeen- Gopeesingh
Dated 21st February 2018.