Dear Editor,
On Sunday, November 18, my driver Mr Neil Weithers was stopped at the Avenue of the Republic by two policemen, Mr Narine and another policeman attached to traffic Brickdam. My driver called me on the radio set and told me that he has to go to Brickdam station because of the tint on the vehicle. The tint is very light. I told him that I will meet him at Brickdam. On arriving at the station, I was standing outside the compound when I saw a car, number PJJ 104, arrive and park outside the station on the northern side of the road. There was a policeman in the car. After about three minutes, he got out. This car was heavily tinted, the policeman in the car drove off. I saw our car number HB 4727 drive in the compound. I then saw Corporal Ramnauth allow another car to tear off his tint and he was allow to go out of the compound. I then approached Mr Narine and asked him if our car will be allowed to go.
He told me that the car will be impounded and the driver will be sent away on bail.
At this stage, I told him that another car was sent away, one by Mr Narine and the other by another policeman and I think he should treat us the same way. The policeman who was in the car that was parked outside the station was Mr Narine.
Mr Narine then asked if I am the owner of the car and the driver of our car said yes. At this stage Mr Narine told me that I like to report police and all my cars are defective and he will deal with me. The corporal told him to stop telling me these things but he continued and the corporal again told him to stop. I then told him that I will not take this and I will report him. He told me that I could do what I want and he has the power, that his uniform gave him that power.
When I asked the corporal why the car with the tint that was inside the station was allowed to tear off his tint and was allowed to go I was told that the police cannot charge a person in the station for tint.
I am the person who reported the four officers who took a bribe. I thought then that I was helping the police to get rid of the corrupt police and to make the force a better one. I am now being pointed out by police who will say that I am bad. I do not have a problem if drivers at my base are charged by the police with wrongdoing, but I must be treated fairly.
Why was the car with the heavy tint allowed to go? Why was the one in the compound allowed to tear of his tint and go? Why was the driver of our car placed on $5,000 bail and the car impounded?
On November 18, I went to Brickdam station and at about 9 am I spoke to Corporal Ramnauth who instructed Corporal Ramdass to give me my car back. I was told the tint on the car must be removed and I was warned along with the driver of the car. On Thursday, November 22, I sent the driver to collect his bail money and to my surprise the driver was told that than an arrest warrant was out for him.
The driver had earlier been warned and told that he would not be charged. The tint on the car was not tested and to my mind it was very light.
I would have liked if the tint was tested so at least I would have had an idea of the percentage. Now no one knows the percentage.
This shows clearly the police had no intention of charging us but because of victimisation the driver was charged and the vehicle was impounded. I will advise anyone from now on not to report police wrongdoing because you will be victimized.
Yours faithfully,
Fizal Ali
Wings Taxi Service
Editor’s note
We are sending a copy of this letter to the Commissioner of Police (acting) Mr Henry Greene for any comments he may wish to make.
