UNC: Dead cops a ‘disturbing trend’

The Opposition UNC has dismissed as “bravado pronouncements” the anti-crime suggestions of Minister of National Security, Martin Joseph, made in the wake of the murder of acting Insp Edward Williams. A UNC statement yesterday hit Joseph’s remarks to a post cabinet media conference on Thursday at Whitehall. Joseph had vowed that 100 new police vehicles would be allotted solely to the country’s one-third top crime hotspots and that the Government would create a new post of Deputy Commissioner of Police responsible for Intelligence. But the UNC was not impressed. Expressing its distress over Williams’ killing, the party offered condolences to the families of the 703 persons murdered since the PNM came to office on December 24, 2003.

“Acting Insp Williams is the third policeman to be killed in the line of duty in 2004. This is a disturbing trend”. The UNC said the Minister of National Security and the Government are responsible for the safety of the citizens. “They must be held responsible and accountable”. The UNC said the Government was incapable of protecting citizens. “Despite the various crime plans and the bravado pronouncements from Minister of National Security Martin Joseph and Prime Minister Patrick Manning, the administration remains weak and superficial in its attack on crime”.

The UNC said the Government had association with criminal elements and so could hardly be part of an anti-crime solution. “We are convinced the PNM Government is not committed to solving the crime situation for reasons best known to itself. We believe that any plan to deal with crime must include an attack on discrimination, poverty and unemployment”. The UNC was disappointed with Manning’s reluctance  to meet and discuss crime with Leader of the Opposition Basdeo Panday. “Mr Manning’s apparent arrogance, in the face of failed crime plans and a collapse of his administration, is regrettable”.