Joseph admits rise in crime

MINISTER of National Security, Martin Joseph, has three times in 24 hours admitted that crime is on the rise in Trinidad and Tobago. He first presented figures to the Senate on Tuesday showing a rise from 2004 to 2005 in certain serious offences including murder and kidnapping. He secondly mentioned the figures at yesterday’s post-Cabinet media conference. Thirdly, he faxed in figures to media houses yesterday evening. Joseph yesterday said kidnappings had risen from 51 in 2004 to 69 in 2005. Of these incidents, the number of kidnappings for ransom had risen from ten to 25. Murders had increased from 97 in 2004 to 134 in 2005.

He showed an increase in each type of murder, such as murder by domestic violence which was up from four in 2004 to 12 in 2005. Explaining how he tackled various crimes, Joseph said: “We try to mark where they are occurring and put the resources to bear.” Joseph said Government also wanted to see results on tackling crime, like everyone else, but some things take time. He said after addressing police commissioners at a recent Organisation of American States (OAS) conference, he had understood that all over the region and all over the world, the main concern was an increase in crime. “The only difference between us and the others is the whole question about reporting. I have to be careful because I don’t want to see headlines in the morning ‘Minister of National Security criticises how crime is reported’.”

Reporters asked Joseph about comments by Opposition and Independent Senators on news reports from the Miami trial of Lance Small that the Jamaat al Muslimeen is involved in trading guns and heroin. “I’m always guarded about ‘reports coming out’. This Government is intent on ensuring that no individual and/or group is above the law.” He said whatever actions that need to be taken, will be taken. Joseph warned that remarks made by Senators on Tuesday were made in a certain context, alluding to the protection from libel offered by parliamentary privilege.