Pass Police Bills now!

THE Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association (TTMA) urged the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) and the Opposition United National Congress (UNC) to do all in their power to ensure passage of the Police Reform Bills in Parliament. In a statement yesterday, TTMA president Anthony Hosang declared: “To deal with crime among all the urgent issues that affect citizens across the nation, we must have the conscious and concerted effort of all regardless of party affliations.

The Police Service Reform Bills, among other legislation to deal with crime, must be considered on merit and shaped by the best thinking from both the Government and the Opposition Members of Parliament.” Hosang stressed that “issues in the national interest should be debated above the parameters of party politics and the Parliament should be a forum not for conflict, but to find solutions for the benefit of all citizens.” The TTMA president also expressed the hope that 2004 “would see a more harmonious spirit in Parliament with members putting aside their affliations to party and working in the best interest of all the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.” Hosang was one of several local business leaders who held discussions with Prime Minister Patrick Manning at Whitehall in July about the levels of crime in TT.

Speaking with reporters at the Hilton Trinidad following those talks, Hosang said: “We feel that it is important that whatever initiatives the Government has to put in place, that they do it as quickly as possible. We’ve communicated this to the Prime Minister. We have communicated that the responsibility of crime, the removal and correction of crime in this country is the responsibility of the Government. The Prime Minister is very aware of that and we expect results. We have heard the talk. The Minister of National Security (then Howard Chin Lee) said it today in his presentation. The people of Trinidad and Tobago are tired of hearing talk. We are also tired of hearing talk. We expect results. We are very hopeful that we will see the desired results in as short a time as possible.”