Moonilal: Stuart Young’s “instructing” law enforcement officials is further evidence of political interference

Junior Minister Stuart Young

The revelation by Minister of National Security Stuart Young that he issued instructions to law enforcement officials has again raised fears about political meddling in independent investigations.

They concerns come against the on-going dark suspicions that the Rowley regime is determined to persecute political opponents.

Mr. Young stated at last Thursday’s post-Cabinet that he “immediately instructed the heads of our national security apparatus to do whatever they could do” to solve the crime in which television news anchor Khamal Georges was a victim.

The declaration is further evidence of political interference in the operations of law enforcement agencies.

The Minister does not have the legal authority to instruct law enforcement and to meddle in any investigations.

His blatant and worrying intrusion follows repeated threats in recent months by top Government officials to hound and harass nationals who are politically opposed to the Rowley regime.

Such statements have been made both in Parliament and on PNM political platforms.

The fact that the latest utterance has come from the politically aggressive Minister of National Security is even more alarming.

In addition, it proves, yet again, that Mr. Young does not appreciate the bounds of his ministerial duties.

Three months ago, he accused senior attorneys of facilitating gang leaders.

He provided no evidence and refused to withdraw the offensive remark, when confronted by eminent attorneys.

Of note is that while Mr. Young is flouting his legal authority, the Government’s much-vaunted National Crime Prevention Programme has collapsed within days of its high-cost launch.

Only a handful of participants attended the inaugural outreach meeting.

This is a further indication that the national community has no faith in the failed Rowley regime to confront and solve the scourge of crime.

Trinidad and Tobago is heading for a historic number of homicides in 2018 while the Government that is engaging only in political posturing and shambolic public relations.