Joseph: Illegal gun trade being stemmed

NATIONAL SECURITY Minister Martin Joseph has disclosed that the security forces have been successful in intercepting many illegal guns and other weapons entering Trinidad and Tobago, and Crime Stoppers would receive an additional $2 million to fund its public education campaign to get illegal guns off the streets. Addressing the post-Cabinet news conference at Whitehall, Joseph said, “We have now improved our coastal surveillance. We do not manufacture guns, but even as we put a campaign in place to deal with those guns that are already on the streets and in the illegal occupiers (hands), we have measures in place to deal with the whole question about our surveillance.

“It is interesting to note the number of guns which we already started to intercept and the kinds of arrangements that are taking place with those countries which most of the guns are coming from.” He added that the additional funding for Crime Stoppers would allow them to continue their anti-gun programme for another four months. Joseph said two weeks ago Cabinet approved $900,000 to provide training and equipment for Cedros fishermen when they go out on the high seas, and he will soon meet with Moruga fishermen to see whether they require similar assistance. He said the Ministry had not submitted all of its budgetary proposals yet, but disclosed that provisions would be made for payment of salaries to police officers and the creation of the new post of deputy police commissioner (criminal intelligence).

Joseph said he was confident law enforcement agencies were doing all they could to locate kidnap victims Vijay Persad and Rodney Deosaran. The Minister also said Cabinet approved $3.8 million for the immediate implementation of the Military Led Academic Training Programme (MILAT) and Military Led Youth Programmes of Apprenticeship and Training (MYPART). Joseph said law enforcement officers were taking “geographical responsibility” in the fight against crime and issues such as jurisdiction were being addressed. He indicated that maintenance arrangements have been reached with the manufacturers of police vehicles, similar to those currently in effect for ambulances used by the Emergency Medical Services.