PM confident of end to crime wave

Speaking at the PNM’s Family Day in Tacarigua on Sunday, the Prime Minister said the crime situation in Trinidad and Tobago was of a temporary nature, and the structures Government have put in place to deal with it would take time to work. Manning dismissed suggestions that his administration was unable to deal with crime in TT and promised the population that "you will soon see a decline in crime."

Manning’s remarks have been criticised by the Opposition UNC and some members of the business community, with the latter saying they were waiting to see if the anti-crime initiatives proposed by the Prime Minister would work.

Among the initiatives recently announced by Manning are the full operationalisation of a coastal radar network by July (the Israeli-purchased system is already partially operational), the acquisition of three offshore patrol vessels and other hi-tech naval vessels from Israel for the Coast Guard, the establishment of an elite helicopter squadron (Manning said two of the squadron’s four gunships have already been purchased at a cost of US$6.1 million, and the gunships will come as part of a turnkey arrangement with the suppliers, meaning trained pilots and crews for the gunships who will simultaneously operate them and train national security personnel to use them), reintroduction of corporal punishment in the penal system, and a social intervention "carrot and stick" programme that will target persons involved in a life of crime.

Top National Security Ministry officials said the Prime Minister’s statements were in reality an expression of confidence and optimism that the law enforcement agencies would win the war against crime in TT, and are exerting best efforts in that direction. TT Chamber of Industry and Commerce president, Christian Mouttet, told Newsday that Manning’s choice of words may not have been appropriate, but said the Prime Minister appeared to be expressing his optimism that the authorities would get a grip on the crime situation in the country.

Commenting on a May 9 meeting between National Security Minister Martin Joseph and business persons about the status of ongoing anti-crime initiatives and others in the pipeline, Mouttet said the business community is confident that once many of the longer-term initiatives are properly implemented, they would help in reducing crime in TT.

However, he reiterated the business community’s position taken at a May 5 news conference, at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel at Invaders Bay, that effective steps must be taken by the authorities to reduce crime in the short-term and the business community would use all legal means at its disposal to pressure the authorities if they fail to make any significant headway in the war against crime.

Mouttet said business leaders have been meeting on a regular basis since May 5 to analyse the country’s crime situation and would take whatever action they believe to be necessary, if they believe the authorities are failing to address the crime situation in the country.