Strict recruiting of retirees, says Chin Lee

THERE will be a strict recruiting process to ensure that no “bad elements” are among the 1000 retired police officers to be brought back into the police service as part of the new crime initiative.

National Security Minister Howard Chin Lee made the remark at the VMCOTT compound yesterday, after a near two-hour walkabout in the Laventille district, where he and a large entourage including acting Commissioner of Police, Everald Snaggs stopped on three occasions— at the Our Lady of Laventille RC, Desperadoes Panyard and Palm Ville. Chin Lee also told reporters that they have already started advertising for the positions of the 1000 retired officers.  In fact, the Minister said, he believes that most of the 1000 will come from those who have applied to become police officers who are qualified and did not make the first batch. 

The Security Minister also said that they have been getting good response from divisional Senior Superintendents for the return of retired officers. As a matter of fact, Chin Lee said, he has met and asked police association president acting Insp Christopher Holder for his opinion on the topic. “He (Holder) shared certain concerns, but we are getting their full co-operation, Chin Lee said.  He also agreed with Snaggs that crime in the country was on the decline. Saying he did not have official figures to support his claim, Chin Lee, nontheless, said he has been told that there is a reduction in the number of homicides in the Laventille area, and it was largely due to the diligence as well as the mobile patrols in the area. Before he went to Laventille, Chin Lee had addressed Army and Police officials at the VMCOTT compound, Beetham Gardens, Laventille.

Chin Lee said the Inter Agency Task Force was formed three months ago, primarily to develop methods to decrease the crime situation in the identified “hot zone” of Morvant/Laventille. The Minister said personnel from the Police and Defence Force were called to participate in the exercises that involves 24-hour patrols, snap roadblocks and the seizure of firearms and ammunition. “Since the inception of the Task Force, significant inroads have been made in making residents feel safe once again,” Chin Lee said, telling members of the Joint Police Army Patrol (JPAP) that  they are worthy of the uniforms they wear.