Does the right hand of the police force know what the left is doing?

Aug 09, 2015 Letters

Dear Editor,
On Thursday afternoon, I was driving north on Sugrim Singh Road (the continuation of Irving Street which kisses the army headquarters and runs parallel to Vlissengen Road). In the car with me was a person employed as one of the security details for a very senior Cabinet Minister. I saw three traffic ranks conducting random stops on Vlissengen Road in close proximity to David Street. I knew on March this year, the police force issued a policy statement that random traffic stops have been discontinued
I pulled over, approached one of the ranks and showed him a copy of the statement of the Police Commissioner. He said he cannot stop the random stops and I should take it up with his seniors. By this time the other two ranks had joined their colleagues and they listened to what I had to say. They continued to proceed to pull over drivers using the random process. I called the traffic chief, was told he was on leave and spoke to his deputy, Mr. Moore. Mr. Moore enquired of me if the police had speed guns in their hands. I told him no. He responded that they should be conducting enforcement and not random stops At that point, the ranks went onto the parapet and ceased operations. I believe the heard the conversation I had with Mr. Moore. I don’t know if they continued after I left
The same afternoon about one hour after, I was driving south on Sheriff Street when in the vicinity of the Botanic Gardens and the Chinese Embassy, I saw three traffic ranks that were engaged in random pull-overs. The next day, while exercising in the National Park, I saw two ranks on Carifesta Avenue that were conducting random stops. My question is – have the police resume the random policy. If yes, what prompted it? My opinion is that the random pull-overs are a form of harassment. Based on suspicion and/or violation of a traffic law, only then should the police ask the driver to pull over
If there is no response to this letter, I will call the Commissioner. I will cite the conversation I had with Mr. Moore. If the Commissioner insists that the random policy is still dormant, then I will intervene whenever I see random stops because citizens’ rights are being violated. I herby ask others to join in this campaign. Finally, given the unimaginable increase in vehicles on the road, traffic personnel could better serve the nation by going to headache points in the city where it takes more than fifteen minutes just to move.
Here are some of those areas. Robb and Alexander Streets after 4 pm when there is a Robb Street open market on four days of the week. It is complete madness there. Robb and Camp Streets; Orange Walk and Regent Streets; Regent Street and Cummings Street; Avenue of the Republic and Robb Street. These are just a few areas where the traffic need police regulators during the morning and afternoon rush hour
Frederick Kissoon

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