T&T Police Service Social and Welfare Association (TTPSSWA) President, ASP Gideon Dickson is in support of the TTPS’s decision to restrict vacation leave for all officers at this time.
In a memo Wednesday to all heads of Divisions, Branches and Sections of the TTPS, acting Deputy Commissioner of Police, Administration and Operational Support, Ramnarine Samaroo wrote, “Due to the exigencies of the service, all applications for vacation leave exceeding 14 days or requiring permission to proceed out of the country will be restricted until further notice.”
Samaroo stated: “This measure has become necessary to facilitate current anti-crime initiatives where additional manpower is required to stymie the onslaught of criminal activities.”
In response, Dickson agreed the all-hands-on-deck approach was necessary for the authorities, “To do a push back on what is taking place.”
However, Dickson acknowledged that the directive would cause some inconvenience for both officers and their families.
“The reality of the situation is one where there was a need for us to do something different at this point in time and utilise the resources we have to be able to drive the criminal elements back,” he said.
Dickson added that crime cannot continue to move in the direction we are seeing it, “especially where the homicides are concerned.”