Police to step up patrols around QPS following murder

The Homicide Bureau of Investigations is pursuing certain leads obtained on Thursday’s murder of Health Ministry employee Masud Prosper and additional types of police patrols will be in force around the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, where he was killed, says Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander.

Alexander gave the information in the Lower House yesterday, following queries from Opposition Whip Marvin Gonzales.

Prosper, a Health Ministry driver, was shot multiple times around 5.30 pm at the QPS. He had been sitting in a black Lancer car parked in front of the food court, where he had gone to pick up his nine-year-old son from football practice. The boy reportedly witnessed the murder of his father.

Yesterday, Gonzales asked Alexander to say what urgent measures will be taken to improve safety.

Alexander said, “The incident at the Queen’s Park Savannah is one of great concern, particularly as it occurred in a highly and heavy trafficked family space and in the presence of a child. I’ve directed an immediate operational response to sorting out this situation.

“Additional foot, mobile and intelligence-led patrols will be focused on that particular area. The Homicide Bureau of Investigations is also pursuing certain leads. They got information, intelligence and evidence that could assist the matter in going forward.”

Alexander noted that incidents also happened at the QPS in 2000, 2021 and 2023.

Gonzales also asked what steps are being taken to secure all firearms and ammunition at all police stations across the country, following reports that more guns and ammunition have been discovered missing in the case of stolen guns and the April 19 murder of Municipal Police Officer acting corporal Anuska Eversley.

It was reported that over 100 firearms and approximately 4,000 rounds of ammunition had been stolen from the San Fernando Municipal Police Station, where Eversley was murdered.

Alexander said, “Because of the security aspect of this particular question, I can say this much: the Police Service has taken into account in terms of accountability and storage of these firearms at those various locations.

“But at this time, I wouldn’t want to go any further into it because there are a lot of persons who have not yet been interviewed with respect to this matter.”

The minister said the investigation continues and so far, over 44 firearms and numerous amounts of ammunition had been recovered.

TTPS bullet tracking system coming

Following recent reports that T&T Police Service (TTPS) ammunition was found at the scene of a murder in Arouca, Gonzales also asked if an investigation has been launched by the TTPS into this matter.

Alexander said, “Yes … Since 2020 and beyond and further than that, ammunition with markings of the TTPS and other agencies have been found on crime scenes.

“However, the TTPS has initiated an investigation and at this time, I’m advised by the Commissioner of Police, there’s a project presently engaging the TTPS since 2025, to replace all existing ammunition with a marking that they will be able to identify for the purpose of tracing and accountability.”

Alexander said this exercise will be completed on May 8.

“Further, it has been anticipated there may be an historical security ‘vulnerability’ in relation to TTPS ammunition that have been on loan to Municipal Police since 2019. In response, the TTPS has implemented additional measures to strengthen the control, storage and monitoring of firearms and ammunition at the Municipal Police stations.”

Gonzales asked if Alexander was saying that it is possible that firearms and ammunition from the Municipal Police section/department are likely to be on the scene of crimes in T&T.

Alexander said, “Where I came from, we don’t speculate until information comes directly and we respond accordingly…”