PM: No state of emergency talkPrime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says Government has not discussed the possibility of implementing another state of emergency, even in the face of mounting public pressure for action to arrest the runaway crime situation.
Instead, the Prime Minister said there would be an increased in law-enforcement presence nationwide. Addressing questions from reporters at the opening of Nedco’s tenth branch office at Bhupsingh Street, Penal, she said: “We have not had discussions with respect to a state of emergency and therefore at this time there is no opinion on that matter.
“What we are doing, as I have said before, is we are increasing the patrols, police/army patrols throughout the country, more roadblocks and more mobile patrols, more foot patrols and increased visibility, of course to lock down, as it were, the streets of T&T.”
She said Government was moving towards fast-tracking legislation to make guns and ammunition possession non-bailable offences, as well as possession of certain quantities of drugs.
The Prime Minister also called for the social-sector ministries “to work together to help stem the rising tide of violence.” She declined to comment on National Security Minister Jack Warner’s performance.
She said: “At the level of the National Security Council we continue to review the work being done by the security services, the protective services and that is where we are at the moment.”
She added that she had asked Warner to present a report on the Flying Squad issue and “I await that report before I have anything further to say.” Persad-Bissessar dismissed calls by former attorney general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj for her to resign.
She said: “I am not surprised at all. I think from 2010 he has been calling for my resignation...so I am not surprised at all. “We continue to do our best to stay focused on the issues. As I have always said, there is always room for improvement in many areas and we will continue to work in the best interest of our citizens.
The Prime Minister said her Government was “gravely concerned with the upsurge in violent crime we are witnessing in this country and indeed in the Caribbean region.” She described as a “horrific tragedy,” the deaths of Haydee Paul and her daughters Ruthie and Shakira on Sunday in Sea Lots.
“All we can say, on our nation’s roads we need to be far more careful and I am advised that an investigation will be taken into the circumstances surrounding the matter,” she added.
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2013-02- ... gency-talk
