Joseph in plea for UNC support on crime bills

Addressing the Senate in the wake of the brutal killing of Ashmead Baksh, National Security Minister Martin Joseph made a most tactful appeal to the Opposition to support the Government in the legislative fight against crime. “This Government continues to take steps to ensure that all the necessary resources are provided to our security agencies in order to curb the alarming incidence of criminal activities,” Joseph said in a statement to Parliament yesterday. But stressing that everyone had a part to play in the quest for improved public safety, he appealed to the entire citizenship “and particularly those in a position of influence to take this responsibility seriously so that together we can restore to our country a sense of enduring peace and security.” Despite the high drama playing out in the courts involving major political figures, there was no picong in the Senate yesterday for UNC senators.

On the contrary, there was an air of solemnity as the Parliament expressed its condolences to the Baksh family over the “untimely and brutal” death of 30-year-old Ashmead Baksh, son of MP Nizam Baksh. Joseph said he had told N Baksh that all the required resources would have been mobilised to return his son home safely. “Unfortunately, notwithstanding all the efforts of the security agencies, he was murdered within hours of his abduction being reported to the police,” he said. The Minister said the Commissioner of Police assured him that he would be providing as much information as was prudent to the general public at this delicate stage of the investigations. Joseph said that while he understood the desire of the public for information about the case, this desire had to be balanced with the more important imperative of not compromising or prejudicing the investigation “so that in the final analysis, everything would be done to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.” Independent Senator Eastlyn McKenzie, speaking on behalf of the Independent bench, expressed condolences to her very good friend of 32 years, Nizam Baksh, and to Sadiq Baksh.

She said he hoped the concern of parliamentarians would bring “some solace” to the family, though she knew from experience that only time healed. “Let us as a nation rally together to do what we can to minimise these acts of cruelty in this country,” he said. Minority Leader Wade Mark said he hoped that Government took this matter as a wake-up call. Noting that Ashmead was “murdered, butchered, slaughtered and executed,” he stated that when the son of a Member of Parliament is murdered, every single member has to be worried. “If criminals can snatch your son or your daughter and murder them... they can do it to any Member of Parliament, whether they be Government, Opposition or Independent,” he stated. He said he hoped Government would find the necessary resources to equip the Police Service and provide it with the wherewithal to halt the slide the country was in. He praised the role of the villagers whose direct intervention led to two of the criminals being handed over to the police. “We look forward to an end to this madness that is taking place and we hope that the Government, which has the responsibility to protect and safeguard the property, limb and life of every individual, will take appropriate measures to ensure the peace, safety and security of all persons,” Mark said. Senate President, Dr Linda Baboolal, also extended her personal condolences.