T&T police issue warning regarding drones during carnival
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — Trinidad and Tobago police have warned that they will not tolerate any drones flying over the capital during the two-day carnival celebrations adding that they had already taken action against an un-named foreign news outlet.
“Port-of-Spain is a no fly zone. Any drone spotted would be taken down. I did take down one last night (Sunday night). When Phase Two was coming on, a foreign press did put up a drone but it was taken down,” said head of the Port-of-Spain police division, Floris Hodge-Griffith.
“These zones are a danger because it is a big open space and a drone can injure people. Anybody who wants to use a drone has to get permission from the Civil Aviation Authority,” she added.
The police official said that police and soldiers would be out in full force during the two-day celebrations to ensure the safety of nationals and visitors alike.
“Carnival should be one of our safest. We are ready for Carnival 2017. People should take note of where the taxi stands are, the routes and the roads that are closed,” Hodge-Griffith said, adding that it was important that people pay proper attention to the relocation of taxi stands so as to ensure they returned home safely.
“We have staff for Carnival and we have staff for regular duty so that people should have no fear because people would be looking at people’s homes. We have police patrolling camp sites also,” Hodge-Griffith said.
Deputy Police Commissioner Deodath Dulalchan who is Gold Commander in charge of Operations for Carnival, also ensured that there would be a high visibility of uniformed police officers around Carnival and non-Carnival events, as well as plain-clothed policemen and women.
The celebrations end on Tuesday with the traditional street jump up and police said they were also seeking the support of band leaders and music truck drivers in ensuring a safe Carnival.
“So we are asking, we are here ready to facilitate Carnival but what we don’t want to do, we don’t want people to operate those vehicles contrary to the restrictions given which can pose a health hazard and a safety hazard to themselves as well as masquerades,” Dulalchan said.
