I'm no political stooge

Kristy Ramnarine kramnarine@trinidadexpress.com

Police Commissioner Trevor Paul is assuring people that they can exercise their constitutional right to vote without fear.

He is also categorically denying claims that he is being used as a "political stooge".

He made the comment yesterday, in response to United National Congress Senator Wade Mark's allegation that the ruling People's National Movement plans to use 'rogue' members of the security forces to intimidate people in the upcoming election.

In a statement yesterday, Paul said: "It has been noted with some degree of concern that Mr Mark claims the UNC Alliance has received information that the People's National Movement plans to use rogue elements in the Police Service, Defence Force and Coast Guard as muscle to harass members of the public in marginal constituencies for the upcoming general elections.

"On the contrary, the Commissioner of Police wishes to advise the public that he intends to use all police officers to protect citizens of Trinidad and Tobago while they exercise their constitutional right to vote. This safety measure applies not only to marginal constituencies, but all 41 constituencies."

Paul also urged Mark and other politicians to refrain from making "irresponsible and inflammatory statements to the media, and by extension the general population in the absence of credible evidence".

"Mr Mark's statements appear to have been designed to create fear in the minds of the voting public and in doing so he has brought the Police Service into disrepute," the statement said.

"However, the Commissioner of Police reiterates that all efforts will be made to protect citizens in all constituencies."

Paul said he is also willing to meet Mark "to determine how best the information he claims to have can be used in furtherance of a police investigation into the scathing allegations made against the Police Service".

Trevor "Rock d Boat" Paul ha to think dat all ah we real dotish yes.

This is the first Comm. of Police I know that went to a fockin PNM cottage meeting to address the gathering in Maraval.

This is the fockin CoP that tell his understudy Dennis Graham doh rock the fockin boat, he will resign jus now.

This is the fockin CoP that has presided over the fockin highest ever rate of crime and banditry in the fockin history of T&T. (Well doh talk bout solving anything with dem.)

This is the CoP that didnt want to investigate Larry "Fock You" Achong for cussing the sweet lil Indian beti dong South.

This CoP could only act when the fockin public up in his asshole and only to harass Indian people. Like he fraid niggas too.