Acting Police Commissioner Junior Benjamin has reassured residents of Brasso and its environs that the Police Service will work with the nearby communities to ensure the safety of all citizens.
His statement came during the reopening of the Brasso Police Station on Wednesday afternoon.
“The police are the public and the public are the police. That means we are in this together.”
The Acting Police Commissioner said the concerns and cries from citizens did not fall on deaf ears. He also thanked the former Commissioner for her role in ensuring the reopening of the station.
“It is an honour I share with my predecessor, Commissioner Christopher, who made this a priority project. With the closure of this station, there were loud cries from residents. Understandably so.”
But Acting Commissioner Benjamin urged the residents to work hand in hand with the police.
“Officers stationed here will be committed not only to enforce the law, but to engage with the residents, understand your concerns, and walking with you through solutions.”
Minister in the Ministry of National Security, Keith Scotland, said the reopening of the station was not just a ceremonial act, but a tangible commitment from the TTPS to remain responsive and accessible to the public.
“In its absence, the residents of Brasso and the surrounding rural areas found themselves vulnerable. The closure of this station was a decision that has weighed heavily on us all, including the Minister of National Security.”
Member of Parliament for Tabaquite, Anita Haynes-Alleyne, said despite some tragic incidents in the constituency in the recent past, the move to reopen the station is a welcomed one.
“There was a commitment by the TTPS to take a look at the decision as things came up. Even though the community voiced serious concerns at that time, we have always maintained a very good working relationship with the TTPS, the Gran Couva Police Station, and the Central Division as a whole.”
The Acting Commissioner said the TTPS understands the role that a police station plays in a community, noting it’s not just where suspects are interviewed and criminals charged, but where relationships are built with the community.