Senate President blanks crime debate

Later in the sitting, Senate President Christine Kangaloo turned down a request from Mark for the Senate to debate murders in the country as a definite matter of urgent public importance.

Dillon told senators the matters referred to by Mark took place last September. “Since that time, the TT Police Service has put several initiatives in place to complement its normal operations to deal with criminal activities,” the minister said. He explained these initiatives pay special attention to the areas in which teenage victims live, include, “enhanced mobile and foot patrols in the main shopping locations and inner city, during the days and times when there is an expectation there will be a high occupancy of teenagers within those areas.” Dillon said law enforcement agencies also, “conduct of raids of abandoned buildings in an effort to minimise the opportunity to establish hiding places for narcotics, illegal firearms and ammunition.” He identified community outreach patrols; high focus on areas where schools and youth facilities such as early childhood care and education centres are located and enhancement of initiatives like police youth clubs as other measures being taken to deal with teenage murders.