Chin Lee still clueless on crime

OPPOSITION MP Gillian Lucky yesterday condemned National Security Minister Howard Chin Lee for not launching an immediate investigation into how bandits disguised as policemen robbed a Chaguanas gas station of $50,000. Addressing a post-PNM General Council news conference in San Fernando on Sunday, Chin Lee expressed “a measure of satisfaction” over the breakup of a major kidnapping ring in the country, but noted that “what is becoming obvious is that when we step down on one area of crime, criminals are looking at other areas.” 

The minister urged the population against complacency despite the present “lull in kidnappings” and gave the assurance that the police were doing all in their power to ensure that the “business of kidnapping” was over. However,  Lucky was shocked that Chin Lee could make such utterances mere hours after two gunmen dressed in police uniform robbed the 24-hour Plus Convenience Store at Medford’s Gas Station, Chaguanas.  The UNC MP said the easy access which criminals appear to have to police uniforms, weapons and information is very worrying and Chin Lee continues “to bury his head in the sand” and has yet to fully comprehend “the culture of crime.” Lucky wondered whether this means members of the Police Service were actively involved in criminal activities and claimed that what Trinidad and Tobago was now witnessing was an apparent drop in kidnappings but an increase in serious crimes such as robbery.

Reiterating her call for Chin Lee’s resignation, Lucky declared: “He remains incompetent. He has shown that he has achieved nothing.” She claimed the minister was trying to fool the population into believing that he was getting tough on crime by helicopter tours and visiting police roadblocks throughout the country. The UNC MP said the grim reality was that criminals are unafraid of the police and the Government and there was now “a criminal fiesta” in Trinidad and Tobago.