Govt examining measures to halt kidnapping

While Government is prepared to examine as a remedy to kidnapping, the freezing of the assets of victims of kidnapping and their families, such a proposal needs the support of the Opposition in Parliament. Prime Minister Patrick Manning stated this, in response to a comment that in countries where such a law had been passed, there was a drastic reduction in kidnapping because kidnappers knew from up front that there was no financial benefit to be gained from kidnapping someone.

Manning said Government was prepared to examine such remedies to the escalating problem of kidnapping. But, he noted, that to freeze the assets of an individual violated Sections 4 and 5 of the Constitution and therefore required a special majority, “So we come up against another brick wall” he stated. Manning said the PNM “deeply regretted” that the Government’s no bail for kidnappers proposal was not accepted. The Prime Minister disagreed with the statement that the police were not having success in finding the kidnappers. Saying that there was a difference between information and evidence, Manning stated that the police had a lot of information, but couldn’t convert it into evidence.

On the issue of the Police Commissio-ner, Manning stressed that government was examining the options for the selection of a new Police Commissioner. Stressing that Government would operate within the confines of the law, Manning pointed out that   there were “serious constraints” in choosing someone from outside of the Police Service. Public Administration Minister Dr Lenny Saith stressed that it was the Police Service Commission which made the recommendation and which appointed a Commissioner — not the Government. What the Prime Minister had the right to say was that he had no objection to, or that he was not happy with, the recommendation of the PSC, the minister stated. He added that if the Prime Minister was not happy, the Government could not  say who it wanted. Rather the PSC had to come up with a new recommendation, Saith said, Manning added that there was one other possibility: “The Police Service if it so wishes can engage in a discussion with the Prime Minister to see what the Government’s thinking  on the matter might be... But it is entirely within the discretion of the Police Service Commis-sion, and not at the instance of the Prime Minister,” he said.

Manning pointed out that that the vacancy for the position of Police Commissioner did not exist until September when the  term of office of the substantive Police Commissioner ends. “We have an acting Commissioner. Mr Snaggs, who I anticipate will do a very good job,” he said.