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| National Security Minister Jack Warner chats with Foreign Minister Winston Dookeran at the Military Tatoo Village in Woodford Square. Looking on is the Chinese Ambassador to T&T. Photo by Ann Dookie |
Police shot and killed Caesar on Tuesday. They say he fired on them and they returned the fire. The 23-year-old mason was pronounced dead on arrival at the Port of Spain General Hospital.
Friends and relatives said the police report was wrong. They said Caesar was not armed although police said they found a weapon on him. Residents of John John rioted to protest the killing.
Speaking with reporters at the Military Tattoo Village at Woodford Square, the minister said from the reports he has heard the police acted within the law.
"I want to say again that we have to support the police in their legitimate execution of their duty. From all reports it seems to me that there is no blame that one can put on the police as such. So I am not going to put blame now, all I am asking the media is not to try to inflame a volatile situation. That's all I am asking."
Warner also responded to statements by Opposition Leader Keith Rowley, calling them irresponsible.
"I want to say again that we have to support the police in their legitimate execution of their duty. From all reports it seems to me that there is no blame that one can put on the police as such. So I am not going to put blame now, all I am asking the media is not to try to inflame a volatile situation. That's all I am asking."
Warner also responded to statements by Opposition Leader Keith Rowley, calling them irresponsible.
Rowley called a news conference Wednesday at which he warned police to be careful when using firearms against the public. Rowley urged police not to be guided by Warner, who praised officers after they shot and killed two men recently. He suggested that Warner's action might have triggered the Laventille incident.
"So police officers...must understand that their training and the authority of their superior officers is what should be what should guide them in dealing with the public, armed or unarmed," Rowley said.
Warner dismissed Rowley and said he would support the police. He urged the public to stand behind the Police Service in the fight against crime.
Attorney General Anand Ramlogan is also supportive of the police. He said Wednesday police should not feel threatened when enforcing the law. Ramlogan said the matter the truth of what happened will be revealed following an investigation.
"So police officers...must understand that their training and the authority of their superior officers is what should be what should guide them in dealing with the public, armed or unarmed," Rowley said.
Warner dismissed Rowley and said he would support the police. He urged the public to stand behind the Police Service in the fight against crime.
Attorney General Anand Ramlogan is also supportive of the police. He said Wednesday police should not feel threatened when enforcing the law. Ramlogan said the matter the truth of what happened will be revealed following an investigation.
Ramlogan said it is not unusual for people who are involved in crime to make accusations against the police.
"I stand on the side of the police. I stand on the side of the rule of law and if those allegations are proven, swift action will be taken against those culpable and equally, if they are not proven, I would expect that the community that is affected will also come clean with the population and understand they have a social and moral responsibility to the rest of Trinidad and Tobago," the AG said.
"I stand on the side of the police. I stand on the side of the rule of law and if those allegations are proven, swift action will be taken against those culpable and equally, if they are not proven, I would expect that the community that is affected will also come clean with the population and understand they have a social and moral responsibility to the rest of Trinidad and Tobago," the AG said.
"We cannot harbour criminals in our bosoms and our homes, hide information and intelligence from the police and then criticise them for not doing a good job, and complain and wail when we lose our loved ones," he added.
"We cannot run a society and a country where the police must be scared to go into any part of this country to perform their lawful duties. If we allow that to happen then the tail will wag the dog and one section of the society will continue to blackmail and hold to ransom the rest of law-abiding, decent citizens who want a better and more safe society for us all to live in," Ramlogan declared.
Ramlogan said people who refuse to abide by the law must not be allowed to become martyrs for children to emulate.
"We cannot run a society and a country where the police must be scared to go into any part of this country to perform their lawful duties. If we allow that to happen then the tail will wag the dog and one section of the society will continue to blackmail and hold to ransom the rest of law-abiding, decent citizens who want a better and more safe society for us all to live in," Ramlogan declared.
Ramlogan said people who refuse to abide by the law must not be allowed to become martyrs for children to emulate.
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