Misleading public on ‘anti-crime’ bills

THE EDITOR: The PNM has started on a crooked note by being devious with the three Police Bills in their public relations campaign. The PNM refers to the bills as “anti-crime legislation.” They are not. The bills are to reform the Police Service and cannot be described as anti-crime legislation. On this point the PNM is guilty of misleading the population. If therefore, the PNM has resorted to manipulating the minds of citizens, then it can be reasonably assumed that it has something to hide. And they do. The PNM wants to hide the fact that they are using these Bills to grab full control of the police.

That is borne out by the fact that these bills will do nothing to deal with crime, because the bills are purporting to give to the Police Commissioner powers which he already has. It is clear to me, that you do not need further legislation, particularly legislation that does not provide constitutional guarantees against abuses, to deal with crime. For example, you do not need legislation to construct police stations, or provide vehicles to make the police mobile, or bullet-proof vests to protect the police, or recruit better policemen. There are so many things that could be done to equip the police to fight crime even without these Police Reform Bills.

I am left to conclude that the PNM is using the passage of these Bills to cover their incompetence and inability to deal with crime. How, in God’s name can the PNM get away with the foolishness of blaming the UNC for their impotence in solving crime. Get off that man, and do what you have been elected to do — make the country safe from criminals. If I am to advise my MP, it would be that he hold back his support for the Bills. Indeed, I am informing my MP, Honourable Franklyn Khan, not to support these three Bills because they are poised to undermine my democratic rights in this country. My MP, Mr Khan must not support the Bills.

HORACE WILSON
Poole