A
alexk
Guest
With 700 police officers keeping watch over Point Fortin Borough Day festivities this weekend, South Western Division police reported that apart from seven drunk driving offences, four minor road accidents and minor fights, the celebration was incident free up to yesterday.
Unlike previous years, Borough Day festivities had no reports of vehicular theft, no stabbings, woundings or shootings, no burglaries, no break-ins and no murders. Police kept patrols throughout the Borough from Friday into yesterday, preventing revellers from carrying around any guns, ammunition and weapons. The crowds were estimated to be over 12,000 people.
During an interview yesterday, National Security Minister Edmund Dillon confirmed that yesterday’s J’Ouvert celebration was incident free.
“Revellers enjoyed an important time here in Point Fortin. This is a town of culture, sports and happiness. I can assure you the celebrations here are safe and secure and people are just having a good time,” Dillon said.
He added, “At this time a number of people from all over the world journey to the Point Fortin to partake in the Borough celebrations. You see people return to Point Fortin who no longer come for Carnival, but they are here in Point Fortin.”
Point Fortin Mayor Abdon Mason also boasted about the growth of the celebrations, saying it is now being referred to as a second Carnival.
Speaking to reporters at J’Ouvert celebrations, where hundreds of revellers from over 20 different bands paraded through the streets of the borough, Mason said, “We are enjoying the J’Ouvert this year, where we welcome home back our diaspora from the wider population of Trinidad, North America and the rest of the world.
“This is the best time to meet with and greet persons you have not seen in a long while.”