Deputy Police Commissioner Gilbert Reyes yesterday expressed confidence that today’s J’Ouvert celebrations will be crime free. Reyes, the Gold Commander of this year’s police anti-crime initiatives for Carnival celebrations, spoke during a telephone interview, saying all anti-crime operations had been fully activated. “All police officers have been placed on full alert to detect and also to prevent crimes because as information comes to us we would be acting on it,” he said. “Officers at the command centre have also been vigilantly keeping watch and we are confident this year’s Carnival would be safer than last year,” Reyes said. He said the strength of the Police Service would be supplemented by soldiers conducting round-the-clock patrols. “The Mounted Branch will also play an important role on Carnival Monday (today) and Tuesday as officers will be all over Port-of-Spain and environs,” Reyes said.

He also said that sniffer dogs would be deployed at the various ports of entry and exists especially to intercept illegal narcotics. According to Reyes, from midnight yesterday until Carnival Tuesday, a heavy police and army presence would be visible throughout Port-of-Spain. J’Ouvert celebrations are expected to kick of at 4 am under the watchful eyes of dozens of uniformed and plain-clothes officers who would be among the various bands. A heavy police presence would also be maintained at the entrances leading to City Gate and along the highways. He said vehicles entering Port-of-Spain would also be searched at random. Scanners would also be used to ensure people do not enter Port-of-Spain with weapons.

Orange vendors wanting to keep knives in their possession were advised to peel and cut the fruit at home, otherwise face charges of possession of weapons. Reyes said there would also be frequent searches of women’s bags as investigators have observed a number of women concealing weapons in their handbags for their boyfriends. Police also issued a special appeal for parents to keep an extra eye on their children. They said in the event of children getting lost, a booth would be set up at downtown Port-of-Spain catering for that specifically. At a recent press briefing, acting Police Commissioner James Philbert called on the public to assist the police in ensuring that Carnival 2010 was the safest ever. “We would not only ensure the safety of revellers, but also ensure the safety of people’s homes while they are out,” Philbert promised.