MP Lee – “The People of Pointe a Pierre are under attack, they need more Police Patrol Immediately”

UNC Chairman David Lee

As Member of Parliament for Pointe a Pierre I am forced to ask myself each day; “How can three, not one but three Ministers of National Security be so incompetent and lack the fortitude as well as human will to resolve the crime crisis facing our nation? How can a government sit idly by while hundreds of citizens are being subjected to harm and injustice?” With each report of criminal activity I grow increasingly pained, angered and perturbed by the absence of any proactive steps to bring relief to our citizens. However it pains me even more when my own constituents are routinely falling victim to criminal elements.

Given the brutal and severe attacks on an individual who resides in my constituency; Kemba Olufemi at Tropical Plaza yesterday I am calling on the Minister of National Security as well as the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) to take urgent and immediate action by instituting more Police patrols, public surveillance mechanisms as well as setting up strategic mobile Police posts within various parts of the constituency.

Citizens have become so traumatised by crime that some witnessed yesterday’s attacks but were not compelled to assist Kemba as they were also afraid of becoming possible victims themselves.

Enough is enough as the people of my constituency have been under constant attack and threat from the rogue criminal element which has been plaguing the communities of Marabella, Claxton Bay, Macualay, St. Magarets, Pranz and Phoenix Park in the past two years. However in the past twelve months this unabated wave of crime has spurned out of control causing grave hindrances, injustice and tragedy to the people of Pointe a Pierre. In the past months the number of unlawful home entries have increased, robberies in villages and in the urban centres of the constituency have intensified while there has been a significant increase in the brutal attacks on the lives of citizens in this once easy going and peaceful community.

Besides the horrific loss of life and talent due to crime in my constituency the Business Community has also taken a significant blow in already tough economic times. Firms are being made to reduce their hours of operations, hire additional security personnel from decreasing profits, some have been robbed on numerous occasions while many have recorded a notable drop in clientele due to security concerns.

Pointe a Pierre can be described as the energy capital of Trinidad and Tobago and therefore it is disastrous to think that this nation’s major revenue earning industry is situated in a “crime bed”. We must deal with this notion forthwith. In September 2016 I was able to meet with the Minister of National Security with other Central MPs to discuss the issue of crime. Since then nothing has been done and the situation is now “out of hand”. It is time the Police are given the resources to be able to constantly monitor, patrol and even base within certain communities to restore law and order.

We cannot continue to lose this war on crime as we run the risk of losing our very unique way of life.