Govt will make tough decisions

The Prime Minister gave this undertaking in the Vision 2030 document which was laid in the House of Representatives last Friday by Planning and Development Minister Camille Robinson- Regis. Rowley said, “We recognise that, as a nation, we face several challenges.”

He noted that some of these challenges are triggered by global events “beyond our control, with consequential ripple effects at the national level.”

Against this background, he said, “As citizens, we must all appreciate that circumstances which we now face require sacrifice and managed adjustment in our living standards, for a period of time, until our economy is successfully stabilised.”

Rowley said Government is committed “to those of our citizens who are unable to cope effectively with the more difficult circumstances.” He said measures have been put in place “to cushion the landing of the vulnerable groups in society, who would be most challenged by the downturn in economic activity.”

In giving the assurance that the Government “is clear about what needs to be done,” Rowley said Vision 2030 contains a detailed, comprehensive, wide-ranging and broad-based suite of detailed policy initiatives and measures developed to place the country on the road to recovery and stability.

Promising that the Government will have frequent community and sectoral conversations on the many areas of national interest outlined in Vision 2030, the Prime Minister said his administration’s approach to governance will be evidence-driven while paying attention to the need for compassion, sensitivity, environmental responsibility and respect for the rights of all citizens in matters of state.Vision 2030 lists “solving and preventing crime” among the key challenges facing TT.

Specifically, the document notes that the country has been plagued by “unacceptably high rates of serious crimes, particularly murders,” for the last 20 years.

Most murders are classified as being related to gang violence connected to the movement of drugs and the associated acquisition of guns.

The document further notes the inadequate policing response to deal with crime and the rapid growth in the private security industry, as well as citizens and businesses attempting to protect their lives and property.

It says the criminal justice system has not adjusted to the challenge of rising crime, with resource inadequacies afflicting the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Forensic Science Centre, the system of preliminary inquiries, the number of judges assigned to the criminal bench, and overcrowding in the prison system.