Appearing Police Commissioner Junior Benjamin says the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) has “no further data” in regards to the alleged menace to US amenities past what’s already public, and there’s no native intelligence suggesting trigger for alarm.
“Precisely what you’ve seen is what has been given to us. We’ve no further data in any respect,” Benjamin instructed Newsday. “It’s simply that we’re taking that additional precaution as a result of we wish to guarantee security and safety on an entire.”
On October 18, the US Embassy issued a social media advisory urging Americans to keep away from US authorities amenities in Trinidad and Tobago by the Divali weekend, citing a “heightened state of alert.”
Benjamin burdened that whereas police have stepped up safety checks — together with at TT Electrical energy Fee and Water and Sewerage Authority websites — there’s “no proof or something to say that we’re seeing something uncommon throughout the TT house.”
Finance Minister Dave Tancoo, in the meantime, condemned social media rumors claiming an imminent “safety alert” on the Central Financial institution and alleged evacuations of prime officers. He referred to as such claims “pretend information” and accused sure “information sources” of making an attempt to incite panic.
“There are specific ‘information sources,’ and I say that deliberately, which can be in search of to create mass hysteria and panic,” Tancoo stated. He added that any US army motion towards Venezuela wouldn’t be pre-announced, particularly not by social media.
Present U.S. Journey Advisory for Trinidad and Tobago
The US at the moment maintains a Level 3 travel advisory for Trinidad and Tobago, urging vacationers to “rethink journey” on account of crime. The advisory warns of excessive ranges of violent crime, together with armed theft, kidnapping, and sexual assault, significantly in sure city areas.
Whereas the U.S. Embassy’s October 18 alert urged residents to keep away from U.S. authorities amenities throughout the Divali weekend on account of a “heightened state of alert,” it did not change the general journey advisory stage. Officers emphasised that the advisory stays primarily linked to ongoing security issues quite than any particular or verified new menace.
