Residents welcome Police presence 24/7

Young and old alike, residents of Duncan Street, Port-of-Spain say they now feel safer having a full-time police post in their community.

When Newsday visited the area yesterday afternoon three boys who attend Nelson Street Primary School told us they all felt “safer,” and the “environment quieter” and that having the police nearby, was “better for people in case anything happens.”

However, an older gentleman who lives on Picton Road, Laventille, said “I don’t believe a police post alone would make a difference in reducing crime. We need God’s intervention, and for adults to regard each child as their own.”

A male employee of the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) who was on-site yesterday spoke of the benefits of having police in the area ‘24-7.’

“It will help our workers gain easier access to certain areas at certain times, and make it safer for them to do their work,” the HDC employee told Newsday.

One woman who lives opposite the police station, smiled when asked if the neighbourhood felt safer now.

Cher-Cher, as she identified herself, said “I feel much safer, much safer. The yard is quiet and clean 24 hours a day now. The gang members not passing on our street anymore. You could come and go at anytime without worry.”

The Duncan Street Police Post became operational yesterday, almost four months after it was declared open on October 17, 2013 by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. ..READ MORE