MP Charles: Is Hinds saying US intelligence false?

The absence of shame in Minister Hinds about the US assessment of TT’s crime situation in its travel advisories is expected, but still shocking to those of us that retain a semblance of honour. As Dr. Moonilal observed, Hinds appears to have a “bottomless pit of abundant ineptitude”, in which he endlessly digs.

His statement that he was “perplexed” suggests that he was lost at sea, even though our country has had this negative rating for years.

If the threat is so minimal, as he implied, would Rowley or Hinds venture without security into any of the crime prone areas named in the advisory? Would they encourage their family members to visit lonely beaches? Would they sleep soundly if their children or grandchildren ventured into hot spots without being extra vigilant?

Quoting the figure of 1 kidnapping for ransom for 2022, Minister Hinds conveniently ignored the TTPS statistic of 129 kidnappings reported between January 2021 and August 2022.

Kidnapping, Minister, is not limited to cases in which a ransom is demanded. Is he unaware that it includes the unlawful detention of a person against their will?

Is the National Security Minister so deluded to imply that persons, especially women have not been held against their wills in increased numbers as of late?

Has he forgotten the hundreds of citizens who have gone missing in recent years, never to be found?[1]

The US State Department has a responsibility to its citizens to provide a clear picture of the threats they may face here, not to sugar coat and hide facts in the interest of optics.

Unlike Hinds, the US authorities have their job to do and are doing it.

Similarly, Canada advises its citizens, “Don’t walk alone at night… If possible, avoid travel outside Port of Spain after dark… Drive with windows closed and doors locked… Gangs have followed cars leaving Trinidad’s Piarco International Airport to rob travellers at their destination…Home invasions are common and may turn violent. Be aware that police response often takes time.”[2]

Are these any different than the concerns our own citizens face daily? Or do they also perplex Hinds? He appeared equally unfazed and unconcerned, when he brazenly proclaimed that his job as Minister of National Security was NOT to make citizens feel safe.

We in the UNC are here to remind him that he is wrong.

Minister Hinds needs to be told that it is his job to ensure that our crime levels decrease. When he has done his job of reducing crime, only then, can he downplay the very realistic assessment of crime in TT by the US and other Governments.

Until such a time, he should wake up and focus the significant amounts of energy he utilises in spewing hot air, nonsense and fairytales in Parliament and on Facebook to instead get a handle on an out of control crime crisis, the likes of which our country has never experienced.