Police should have been more proactive – COP (+Video)

THE CHAOS that erupted at the Victoria Park at some points during the Soca Monarch Finals, which resulted in some persons having to seek care at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH) may have been prevented had the police been more proactive.

“This is one of the low areas for us, we should have been more proactive in that regard.We should not have allowed that to happen,” Commissioner of Police, Colin John told SEARCHLIGHT yesterday, July 7.

About 12 persons were said to have been injured by projectiles and by flames created by lighting the spray from aerosol insecticides

“At the first sighting of the aerosol sprays we should have intervened and dealt with the persons so that other persons would not have been encouraged to do it as well,” the Commissioner said.

John also confirmed that the police were told that the aerosol cans used as lighters were taken into the Park by artistes and distributed to their supporters without any plan as to how they would and should be used. The subsequent usage saw many patrons scattering as they attempted to get away from the heat generated by as many as 20 flames at a time.

“So, when certain artistes were about to perform, the cans were handed out to their supporters so that the crowd would be hyped and their presentation look better,” Commissioner John said he was told.

Some persons who also attended the Soca Monarch semi-finals held one week earlier at the Solidarity in Motion car park said a similar environment prevailed there, prompting them to ask why members of the police force who were present appeared not to do anything to bring the situation under control. The Commissioner however said he was present at the semi-finals at the car park and he did not observe a similar situation there.

But a usually reliable police source expressed to SEARCHLIGHT his embarrassment first at what transpired at the car park, and then at the Victoria Park, describing it as “a dark day in the operational integrity and life of the Royal St.Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force.”

“The videos that I have seen raised many questions as to the level of policing we must undertake at these events, the personnel deployed, and who is in charge,” the police officer stated.

“This calls for a total overhaul of our operational policy for events like these, for if there were lessons to be learnt heading into Victoria Park, then it was the community soca shows.”

One of the issues now making the rounds within the ranks of the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force is said to be the role of the officers of senior rank at the Soca shows who should have provided guidance.

He said that according to the reports received, “junior police officers asked the NCOs what to do with the aerosol cans and throwing of missiles and were told ‘What we can do?’ in response.”

He added that one junior officer who was detailed at the Victoria Park told him that the NCOs told them not to interfere with the crowd when they began pulling and pushing at the security barricade.

When asked, the Commissioner said any non-interference by the police did not happen because of instruction from the high command of the RSVGPF.

But he made it clear that he could not deny that such responses had been given to junior officers when they asked officers of higher rank how to proceed.

“It could be true, and it may not be true,” Commissioner John said, adding that there are different levels of competence and performance among police officers.

“There are persons who are sergeants, corporals and inspectors who may not act according to their calling. It could be true, and it may not be true,” he said.

But he reiterated that no order of non-interference had come from the high command.

“It is not something that the hierarchy endorsed, instructed or promoted.”

The other police officer with whom SEARCHLIGHT

spoke, who asked not to be identified as he had not been authorized to speak to the media, said some responsibility for the breakdown should also be placed at the feet of the Carnival Development Corporation (CDC), as there was a lapse in the securing of entrances at the venue in the hours before the show started.

“CDC did not have their security personnel stationed at the main entrance for a long period of time before the police arrived,” he stated. “As a result, persons were free to come and go as they pleased, and who knows what was brought into the venue.”

He added that there cannot and should not be a relaxing of security protocols at any time, whether it is by private security officers, or the police. In fact, according to the police source, “there should be a well established security plan to be followed by both parties, and a total collaboration so everyone would feel safe.”

He indicated that members of the public, including visitors have spoken to him and the feedback is not good.

“We messed up and there can be no other way to put it. The Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force must and can do better, and we do not have to resort to certain measures to establish our authority.We should have taken the initiative, something which is taught at training.”