PORT-OF-SPAIN (Trinidad Express):
SIXTEEN VIDEO surveillance cameras are now operating on Charlotte Street, Port-of-Spain, in a move to make the area safer.
The Downtown Owners and Merchants' Association laun-ched the video surveillance and recording system at the Council Chamber, Port-of-Spain City Corporation Wednesday.
The video surveillance cameras were supplied and installed by McEnearney Business Machines (MBM), a subsidiary of the ANSA McAl Group.
MBM, along with TYCO USA, contributed $200,000 to the venture.
DOMA and a few other businesses contributed $150,000 in equipment.
DOMA President Gregory Aboud said at the launch that this initiative was a continuation of a pilot project started by DOMA in 2001.
"The technology that was installed then ... forms the underpinning of the new system," Aboud said.
Aboud added that the venture is expected to impact crime and lawlessness by "reintroducing consequence" to Trinidadian society.
"The single most crucial contributor to crime has been our failure rate in making arrests and getting convictions," he said. "Video surveillance can change that."
Aboud also said that the public had an important role to play in the success of the system.
