Govt vows zero tolerance on civil disobedience

PRIME MINISTER Patrick Manning vowed that neither politican nor criminal will violate the laws of Trinidad and Tobago with impunity and unveiled an arsenal of weaponry to combat lawlessness in the country.

In delivering the 2003/2004 Budget in Parliament yesterday, the Prime Minister noted the arrest of UNC MPs Dr Hamza Rafeeq and Manohar Ramsaran during a protest on the Chaguanas Main Road hours earlier. Manning said, “Gove-rnment recognises that demonstrations are a legitimate expression of dissent in any democratic society. However the Government wishes to make it absolutely clear that we will not tolerate acts of civil disobedience and will enforce the laws of the country rigidly and fearlessly. Lawlessness will not be tolerated from either the criminals or from any other person including Members of Parliament who wish to disrupt the society no matter how strongly they feel about their cause,” Manning declared. He added that to this end, the Riot Squad “shall be provided with the most modern equipment as in countries around the world”. Ramsaran and Rafeeq were later released on bail.

Manning said the population now felt “terrorised” by criminal elements and “we now declare war on the criminals and shall do whatever is necessary within the law to return this nation to that state where our nation can conduct their lives in safety and security.” The Prime Minister disclosed that effective immediately, Colonel Peter Joseph has been removed as commanding officer of the TT Regiment, promoted to Brigadier-General and “mandated to form a special crime-fighting unit” whose members shall be drawn from all branches of the armed forces and the civilian population. He said the only requirement to join this “unit of professionals” is the ability to pass a polygraph test at regular intervals. Manning further revealed that Cabinet will soon be approached to increase the size of the Police Service and by year’s end, “1,000 additional police shall be on duty”.  Manning announced the formation of a Special Security Commission headed by Security Adviser to the Prime Minister, Overand Padmore and including former national security ministers Joe Theodore, John Donaldson and Herbert Atwell.

The Prime Minister vowed to take the battle to the drug traffickers “who are responsible for much of the criminal activity in the country”. “The Coast Guard will acquire two new fast patrol vessels with the capabilty of launching two fast interceptor boats and carry a helicopter with attack capabilities,” he disclosed. Manning said these vessels together with “an ultra-modern radar system” will give TT an unprecedented level of protection and will be available in two years time. He said Government will continue to upgrade Coast Guard and Army facilities and the Global Maritime Distress and Saftey System for monitoring shipping will be completed.