‘Concentration of force’

“I had a meeting with the acting Commissioner of Police (Stephen Williams) and divisional commanders of both Northern and Central Division to look at restrategising as to how we deal with the murders in those two areas, in particular, because I believe that we can use what I consider concentration of force in the right time and place to focus some attention on those two divisions with a view of reducing especially the murder rate in Trinidad and Tobago,” Dillon said.

He was speaking to reporters after delivering the feature address at the formal launch of The Right Tunes initiative at the East Port-of-Spain Regional Complex, East Dry River, Port-of-Spain. The six-month pilot initiative, a collaborative effort between legendary musician Dr Roy Cape and the Ministry of National Security, seeks to use music as a means of reducing crime, particularly among young people in the troubled community. It is hoped that the project will spread to other at-risk areas in the country.

At present, the minister said 98.1 percent of the murders are being committed in the Northern Division while 39.6 percent have been recorded for the Central Division.

He said the TT PS continues to work assiduously to reduce crime in TT . Dillon again responded to questions about the worrying issue of illegal immigrants, following Donald Trump’s elevation to the Presidency of the United States. “We have to give this new United States Government some time to see what kind of policies are being enunciated,” he said.

“As you well know, in politics, sometimes we make certain kinds of statements and until you see them being enforced then you realise they beocme part of Government policy. So, we have to wait and see what the new Government of the United States of America would enunciate in so far as policy with respect to deportees returning to Trinidad and Tobago. In any such case we have tp be prepared as a country to treat with any such eventuality.” Earlier, during his address, Dillon praised Dr Roy Cape for launching the music initiative and using his talents to uplift the quality of life of the young people in Laventille and environs. However, the minister, who regarded Cape as his close friend, issued a challenge to the music icon.

“Once you start in Laventille, it will have to spread throughout Trinidad and Tobago.

You will be openly using the Laventille area as a pilot project because the next thing I want him to do is to come to Point Fortin (Dillon’s constituency)