Charles: National Security news conference – a PR exercise

Mr. Rodney Charles
Member of Parliament
Naparima

Listening to the Minister of National Security at this evening’s press conference confirmed once again why this government is out of its depth, refuses to set quantifiable performance targets, and this Minister Young is not up to the task of reducing crime or providing for the safety of citizens.

He lacks the experience, track record, crime fighting vision or qualifications for the job. In addition, he is occupied with too many ministerial responsibilities making him ineffective in this important crime reduction portfolio. He is no Gary Sobers.

It was all old talk. All empty promises. All rhetoric which we have heard ad nausea. Even as our crime detection rate remains abysmally low, high powered guns appear to be readily available to criminals, the judicial system operates at a snail’s pace, criminals operate with seeming impunity and human trafficking continues unabated.

How many times we have heard that the government will leave no stone unturned to deal with crime? Still we continue to live in fear of criminals.
How often have we heard, as the AG forcefully stated in Parliament, that they have all the information on gangs and all they need is time and the passage of legislation to activate this information? Yet gang warfare continues in broad daylight in our streets.

How often have we heard that citizens must cooperate with the police even as state witnesses are killed.

How often have we been told that a suite of legislation will deal with crime? This even as our jails are filled to capacity and this government provides contracts and therefore funding to alleged gang leaders. Our DPP office is over 50% understaffed and the Forensics Science Centre is unaccredited and operates significantly sub -optimally.

We call on this government, and this incompetent Minister of National Security to stop funding supposed gang leaders, to fully staff the Forensics Science Centre and the office of the DPP, to fill vacancies in the judiciary so that trials can be completed, to finalise all clouds hanging around the Chief Justice, to bring back community policing and to set quantifiable performance targets for all law enforcement officers.

Rodney Charles
MP for Naparima