By ROXANNE STAPLETON-WHYMS Friday, February 1 2008

THE SAME effort invested by the authorities to keep citizens and visitors safe from criminals at Carnival, should be provided throughout the year and become the norm.

Greater Tunapuna Chamber of Industry and Commerce president Peter Kanhai shared this view with Newsday yesterday.

Kanhai said there is no doubt that the more visible police and army presence over the last few Carnival seasons made a dent in criminal activity. “Most of the events for this season have been relatively safe and incident free and they have given the assurance that the police will be out in full force, so there is hope that events will proceed well,” Kanhai added. President of the Downtown Owners and Merchants Association Gregory Aboud said security issues are among the more serious threats to Carnival.

“We have seen glimpses of improvement in the security arrangements thus far. Promises have been made about security for Carnival in the days ahead and we hope that they are kept since the vitality of our Carnival celebration rests on peace and safety,” Aboud said. He noted that like other aspects of our way of life, Carnival is being threatened by a new tendency to disregard traditions.

Karen de Montbrun, head of the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association, agreed the more people see a police and army presence, is the safer they will feel.

“It serves as a deterrent to crime,” she added.