Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs has turned down a request from the opposition People's National Movement (PNM) to hold a public political meeting at Piggott Corner on Friday.
Piggot Corner is a well-established PNM meeting point. Since 1987 the party has held a public meeting there on the Friday following the presentation of the national budget.
However the country is under and State of Emergency this year, which has changed things.
Gibbs told the PNM hiss decision is based on regulations that give him the exclusive authority to determine whether a public meeting can be held.
Regulation 7 (1) of the Emergency Powers Regulations states: "Except with prior permission in writing of the Commissioner of Police, the grant of which shall be in his discretion, no person shall hold or take part in any public march or in any public meeting."
Opposition leader Dr Keith Rowley told local media Tuesday while the State of Emergency regulations prevent the gathering of people in meetings, it does not say meetings cannot take place.
"It makes provision for the Commissioner of Police to grant permission for such meetings. But he must do so on the basis of whether such a meeting is a threat to public order and safety," Rowley said.
"So today I want to ask the Commissioner of Police—is he saying that a PNM public meeting in Belmont threatens public safety and order?" Rowley asked.
"Any denial of our application means that the Commissioner is saying that this event threatens public safety and order. And we of the PNM are saying this is absolute hogwash!" Rowley said.
"A PNM meeting in Belmont on a tradition of 20-odd years in no way threatens public safety and order in Trinidad and Tobago. And this is just the police obstructing legitimate political activity, by a premier political party whose 55 years in this country has been nothing but responsible in conducting public business," Rowley added.
"This is an unwarranted obstruction of legitimate political activity permissible under the State of Emergency and the CoP would not be able to convince anybody that a PNM meeting at Piggott Corner, something which people have looked forward to every year after every budget, that that threatens public safety and order. He must tell me how, in what form, way and manner," Rowley insisted.
He said the PNM would continue to apply for permission to hold meetings, noting that another one is planned for Arima next week.
Piggot Corner is a well-established PNM meeting point. Since 1987 the party has held a public meeting there on the Friday following the presentation of the national budget.
However the country is under and State of Emergency this year, which has changed things.
Gibbs told the PNM hiss decision is based on regulations that give him the exclusive authority to determine whether a public meeting can be held.
Regulation 7 (1) of the Emergency Powers Regulations states: "Except with prior permission in writing of the Commissioner of Police, the grant of which shall be in his discretion, no person shall hold or take part in any public march or in any public meeting."
Opposition leader Dr Keith Rowley told local media Tuesday while the State of Emergency regulations prevent the gathering of people in meetings, it does not say meetings cannot take place.
"It makes provision for the Commissioner of Police to grant permission for such meetings. But he must do so on the basis of whether such a meeting is a threat to public order and safety," Rowley said.
"So today I want to ask the Commissioner of Police—is he saying that a PNM public meeting in Belmont threatens public safety and order?" Rowley asked.
"Any denial of our application means that the Commissioner is saying that this event threatens public safety and order. And we of the PNM are saying this is absolute hogwash!" Rowley said.
"A PNM meeting in Belmont on a tradition of 20-odd years in no way threatens public safety and order in Trinidad and Tobago. And this is just the police obstructing legitimate political activity, by a premier political party whose 55 years in this country has been nothing but responsible in conducting public business," Rowley added.
"This is an unwarranted obstruction of legitimate political activity permissible under the State of Emergency and the CoP would not be able to convince anybody that a PNM meeting at Piggott Corner, something which people have looked forward to every year after every budget, that that threatens public safety and order. He must tell me how, in what form, way and manner," Rowley insisted.
He said the PNM would continue to apply for permission to hold meetings, noting that another one is planned for Arima next week.
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