Point Chamber backs crime war

THE Point Fortin Chamber of Industry and Commerce expressed support for upcoming initiatives to assist police in the war on crime and pledged its support to all “the organs of Government responsible for law enforcement.” In a statement yesterday, the Chamber said it was updated by Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) James Philbert and Assistant Commissioner (Community Polic-ing) Winston Cooper at its monthly general meeting on Tuesday. 

The Chamber said while the statistics presented by the lawmen “showed an alarming increase in major crimes such as murder, kidnapping and burglary,” all was not lost and there is no need for undue alarm. “On the upside, both speakers were able to present glimpses of new initiatives in community support for police activity in crime prevention and the forthcoming introduction of high-tech equipment for DNA testing and Global Position Satellite Mapping to aid in crime detection and surveillance of illegal activity around the shores of Trinidad and Tobago,” the Chamber stated.

In an exclusive Newsday interview in July, National Security Minister Howard Chin Lee disclosed that TT had signed a US$945,000 agreement with the United States to upgrade the country’s coastal radar system and purchase two fast interceptors for the Coast Guard. Chin Lee said the radar system the PNM found in December 2001 was “primordial” and the proposed system will be similar to one used by the Israeli military to track the activities of arms smugglers in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The Minister also spoke of plans to improve the capabilities of the Coast Guard’s Air Wing. The Chamber pledged to do all within its power to support the war on crime, “particularly in its area of geographical area of commercial activity.”