The new minister in the Ministry of National Security and Port of Spain South MP attorney Keith Scotland says he visited his constituents in Sea Lots on July 27, to assure them he will be there to support them after the police killing of Jonathan Wharwood on July 23.

Scotland's visit to the community came hours after he was appointed to the Cabinet by the Prime Minister to deal with the specific portfolio of police matters.

In a telephone interview, he said the main purpose of his visit was to assure the residents their MP was there for them and to encourage the residents to allow the investigation time to take place.

He said none of the residents mentioned the idea of protesting over the police killing.

Scotland said that the family’s attorney, Richard Clarke-Wills, was present to ensure there was fairness in their discussions.

Asked if he felt any conflict of interest being a minister in the Ministry of National Security with responsibility for the police and the MP for a constituency in which there was a police killing, he said commiserating with his constituents was part of his job.

“That is the nature of the lay of the land and that is what I must do in circumstances where I remain MP for Port of Spain South, which includes Sea Lots. It was never an option not to be there for them.

[caption id="attachment_1098951" align="alignnone" width="656"] PC Shakala Charles -[/caption]

“I took no sides. And the officer who was shot, once his family is amenable, I would visit him at some point in time.”

Wharwood was shot around 1 am on July 23, after police raided a compound with several apartments on Production Drive, Sea Lots, as part of an investigation into the earlier shooting of police officer Shakala Charles on St Paul Street, East Dry River, Port of Spain.

Charles, an officer assigned to the Guard and Emergency Branch, was on patrol in East Port of Spain around 8.30 pm on July 22 when he responded to a shooting at St Paul Street. He was shot by gunmen while in the front seat of a patrol vehicle. Another man, Keron George, of East Dry River, was also wounded in the attack and both men were taken to the Port of Spain General Hospital where they are being treated.

Police said they received information that a suspect involved in the shooting was at a house on Production Drive.

Wharwood, 39, was shot during the raid after police claimed he chopped an officer on his helmet.

In an earlier interview, neighbours gave a different account of the shooting incident.

They claimed police stormed the compound and questioned several people, including Wharwood. They said police officers took Wharwood back to his room and minutes later they head four gunshots.

"They were asking him, "about the St Paul Street shooting) but he don't know because he would have been asleep at the time. He cooked for everybody on the block and went to take a rest.

"While they asking him...That wasn't enough and they bring him out of the room, carry him back in and then...

"The policeman turned and said, 'Man down, man