The Rum Posse met for its end of week lime by Alfred who takes every opportunity to highlight his “Tobagonianess” in his menu and this time was no different. On the menu was Tobago flying fish; Tobago barracuda; curried crab and dumplings; dasheen; sweet potatoes; eddoes; cassava; yam; callaloo; salt fish; fried plantains; and coconut bake. The bar offerings could be considered a drinker’s delight with all they were accustomed to.
The topic of discussion was based on a back page article in last Sunday’s Express that referred to a 30% reduction in reported robberies over a four-month period – January to April, 2026 when compared to the corresponding period in 2025. The TTPS official statistics show 423 robbery reported offences between January and April 2026, when compared to 605 for the same period in 2025. The decline was also broad-based, occurring in eight of the nine Police Divisions, with the Northern Division recording 98 offences this year compared to 163 in the previous year. Interestingly, however, is that of the 423 reported robberies this year, only 76 were detected, a detection rate of approximately 18%.
The Posse members believed that the TTPS press release on reported robberies was a publicity stunt which did little to lessen public anxiety. As far as the Posse members were concerned, to say instead that there was a 70% distrust in the TTPS would be an understatement.
Present at Alfred’s were: Big Bottom Beverly and her younger sister, Shirley; Anand and his wife, Rihanna; Barman; Balkie; Ramesh; Roshan; and Sunil.
Alfred: Welcome to my home and to all things Tobago as usual. And why I am particularly glad is because as we speak, Tobago Carnival in full swing.
Big Bottom Beverly: Alfie, since we cyah be in Tobago for dey Carnival, I know you, Tobago go come to we; and that include Tobago Carnival. So let me formally thank you for having us at your home today and it’s best we jump in de talk one time.
Anand: I want to know what allyuh have to say about the TTPS release which said that there was about a 30% decrease in reported robberies from January to April 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. De T&T police for real? You feel is an attempt to justify the billion dollars overtime they get? Or to win friends and influence people? I don’t feel that any right-thinking citizen believe dem police stats. In fact, 70% of persons surveyed said they do not trust de police.
Barman: I hope people realise that the statistics refer to “reported robberies”. It must be have even more that not reported. How we go know? People done have it to say that when you report a robbery in any police station, de officer in the charge room does question you as if you is de thief. Making you feel like you bothering dem. Anybody who get rob now does count dey blessings that they alive and leave dem bandits to God.
Rihanna: That is so true. Even when the police take the report, promising to visit the crime scene, it does be three plus weeks before dat happen, if you lucky.
Ramesh: Why should people report any robbery when they already know that police eh ketching nobody. Check out the detection rate of dem same reported robberies. Of the 423 reported robberies, they actually boasting about how they detect 76. A whole 18%! That is anything to boast about? Almost every day you seeing some robbery or the other on social media. And don’t talk about when customers leave the bank. The one time they hold some youths is de woman who get rob and beat up outside Adam’s in Maraval de other day. That was probably the exception.
Sunil: Ramesh, and what even worse than incompetence on de part of the police, is the fear and terror of citizens. People afraid to go in de police stations because half the time you eh know if de officer writing down your name and address in the station diary is not the same one tipping off de bandits outside de police station! When Anand say 70% of the population doh trust de police, he being generous. People ‘fraid that if they give a statement against ah bandit, before they even reach back home, de bandit done know everything about them. Dey name, where dey living and even de colour of dey house curtains. How one is supposed to report a robbery when by reporting it, you putting yuh whole family life in jeopardy?
Roshan: And where that distrust for police come from? It eh just drop out de sky! Look at how much police officers getting lock up and put before de court every other week! Look at how much ah dem currently incarcerated up in Frederick Street and Arouca waiting on trial for kidnapping, extortion, robbery, and running racket. Every time you open de papers or look at social media, is ah next batch of police officers on suspension or behind bars. Who is police and who is thief? When de man wearing de badge and de gun is de same man sitting down in a prison cell next to de bandit, how in heavens name de Commissioner expect John Public to walk into a station with confidence?
Balkie: Under all ah dat, you leaving out de biggest eye-pass in de whole thing! Is the wicked abuse of power from the rogue police officers who still out on de road in uniform! If an officer have a personal beef with you; if you talk back to them when they mash yuh corn, dey quick to trump up charges, rough you up, throw you in ah nasty cell, especially if is ah long weekend, and seize yuh property without no proper warrant. They walking round like dey is a law unto deyself!
Big Bottom Beverly: Preach, Balkie! And what does happen after dem rogue police finish buss people head and lock dem up wrongfully! The aggrieved citizen have to hire a good lawyer, carry the matter straight to the High Court for wrongful arrest, malicious prosecution, and assault and battery, and win millions in damages! And who paying that bill? Is de rogue policeman paying it out ah he own pocket? Not at all! Is de State that have to foot the bill and that really means you, me and every taxpaying citizen in this country. And we paying twice to boot. First, we paying dey big salary and billion-dollar overtime; then we dipping back in de Treasury to pay court compensation for dey wickedness and abuse of power! Not a cent coming out from dey gratuity or pension, and nobody getting fire! Nobody getting disciplined or demoted.
Shirley: That is the real robbery right dey, Bev, and dat one everybody understand. Dat is robbery with V! And dat doh even need to be reported!
Alfred: Listen, before allyuh blood pressure rise any higher over de Police Service and dey fake robbery stats, leh we put some real licks on mih curried crab and dumpling and wash it down with a cold drink and let de police fake robbery stats take care of itself!
Until next week.
