Minister calls for unity between citizens, cops

Minister of National Security Senator Martin Joseph yesterday called on all citizens to close ranks and unite behind the banner of crime eradication. He issued the call during his address at the passing out parade for 253 recruits at the Police Training College in St James. The Minister said the level of cooperation must move beyond egos, party interests and all other factors, which can stymie the national plan for crime reduction. “When one looks at the reality of the crime statistics, one sees that for the period January to June 2003, total serious crimes stood at 7,890. For the corresponding period of 2004 the figure stands at 8,131, an increase of 3.5 percent,” the Minister revealed.

He added, that for the period January to June 2003 the number of kidnappings for ransom was 130, as compared with 80 for the same period of 2004. “This,” he said, “represents a drop of 38 percent.” The Minister pointed out that as the anti-crime struggle intensified, the imperative to band together as a nation became more urgent.