VZCZCXRO7226
PP RUEHGR
DE RUEHSP #0038 0281445
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 281445Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9653
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC

UNCLAS PORT OF SPAIN 000038 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EB/TPP/IPE, INL, WHA/CAR 
JUSTICE FOR OPDAT - R LIPMAN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KIPRETRDKCRM TD
SUBJECT: TT POLICE IMPROVES IPR ENFORCEMENT, REQUESTS TASK FORCE 
 
REF: 08 Port of Spain 523 
 
¶1. SUMMARY: Following recent INL funded workshops on IPR 
enforcement, local police conducted two successful raids on brick 
and mortar stores and a series of raids on street vendors selling 
pirate DVDs.  A senior police official asked Post's assistance in 
generating support for IPR enforcement. END SUMMARY. 
 
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Raids a Success 
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¶2.  (SBU) EconOff met with Assistant Police Superintendent Peter 
Reyes to follow up on progress in the aftermath of two INL funded 
workshops on IPR enforcement (reftel). Reyes supervises officers in 
the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) Area East Port of 
Spain office. Reyes reported two successful raids on brick and 
mortar stores and a series of raids on street vendors selling pirate 
DVDs. 
 
¶3. (SBU) The TTPS completed raids on two sellers of pirated DVDs in 
downtown Port of Spain in November 2008. Arrests and seizures took 
place in DVD City inside Excellent Stores on Frederick Street and in 
V-Shoppe located in Aboutique Mall on Frederick Street. 
Additionally, the inventories of several street vendors in the 
Frederick, Charlotte, Prince and Queen Streets, Independence Square 
North, Independence Square South, and Broadway areas were 
confiscated on September 19, 2008.  According to Reyes, the raids 
were conducted using techniques learned in IPR workshops conducted 
by DOJ/OPDAT with funding from State/INL and detailed in the 
resulting enforcement handbook. 
 
¶4. (SBU) The exercise at V-Shoppe concluded with the arrest of 5 
clerks.  The clerks implicated the owners of V-Shoppe, however the 
owners were not arrested because the testimony of accused persons is 
insufficient to make an arrest, Reyes said. Nevertheless, police are 
examining store records and pursuing leads to connect the alleged 
store owners to the crime.  Approximately 10,000 DVDs, valued at 
TT$100,000 were seized.  Additionally, CD burners, flat screen 
televisions, cash registers, computers and DVD players were seized. 
 
 
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TTPS Requests a Specialized Task Force 
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¶5. (SBU) Reyes stated that although TTPS officers have the training, 
technology and capacity to implement enforcement exercises, they 
lack institutional memory. Currently, officers are rotated between 
specialized positions - including IPR enforcement.  Reyes wants to 
form a dedicated unit of police officers that will have ongoing IPR 
enforcement responsibilities.  This task force would operate within 
TTPS. 
 
------------------------------------- 
Steps to Increasing Enforcement Activity 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) Reyes acknowledged that the handbook resulting from the 
workshops had not been fully implemented.  Reyes recommended three 
steps to increase enforcement activity. First, strategically educate 
the public about the larger consequences for society when 
individuals purchase counterfeit products.  Second, provide on the 
job training for enforcement officers and increase information 
sharing among agencies to develop a system of best practices. 
Third, secure a commitment to combat the trade of counterfeit 
products from government agencies that have direct or indirect 
administrative functions with respect to enforcement.  Reyes 
welcomed USG engagement and asked Post to consider further advocacy 
such as organizing meetings of officials from the IP Office in the 
Ministry of Legal Affairs, Director of Public Prosecution, the 
business community and other relevant stakeholders to emphasize the 
dangers of counterfeit products and the importance of behavioral 
change. 
 
¶7. COMMENT:  The TTPS has a track record (albeit limited) of 
enforcing the rights of local musicians, but foreign DVDs have not 
been a priority until recently. The raids on pirate DVD vendors in 
September and November are a positive sign that senior police 
officials are taking IPR enforcement more seriously, putting to use 
th streamlined enforcement procedures enacted under ast year's 
Copyright Act Amendment as well as th techniques covered in 
INL-funded workshops. Howver, it remains to be seen if enforcement 
will besustained. Post will continue to look for opportunties to 
improve enforcement through collaboratio with public officials, 
businesses, and public sctor stakeholders. END COMMENT 
 
 
KUSNITZ