Tobago Correspondent
Minister in the Ministry of National Security Keith Scotland agrees with Chief Secretary Farley Augustine that the time for talking is over and radical and decisive action on crime in Tobago must take place.
This is why Scotland plans to visit Tobago soon to monitor the island’s crime plan’s effect and strengthen its impact. He said yesterday that he had already spoken to Tobago TTPS and business chamber officials on the issue.
Although he is familiarising himself with the latest crime plan coming out the National Security Council meeting in Tobago in July, he assured Tobagonians relief and results are on the horizon—not only in Tobago but nationally.
“I want to tell Tobago that we in the Ministry of National Security, the Government, we will do all within our powers to keep Tobago safe and to address the situation that is being experienced.”
He said he intends to reach out to Augustine and Minority Leader Kelvon Morris in the coming days.
He reassured Tobago that he will use, “everything, every grain of grey matter that I have that I can bring to this issue will be brought. I have been in contact with the officers and I will do so again.”
“There is no honeymoon when I come to Tobago. It’s the same for Trinidad. I want to meet with the people as well. I will be there.”
In response to Scotland’s planned visit, Augustine told Guardian Media he will make all the necessary resources of the THA available to support the National Security apparatus in this effort.
He said, “Across the country, people are traumatised. Our way of life and our communities are under threat by a minority. Most of the people in this country are good people. A vibrant country like this doesn’t deserve to cower in a corner while audacious crime bosses rule and ruin our lives. I have therefore committed myself and the resources of the THA to ensure we support the national security apparatus in this war.”
This comes after Augustine on Tuesday demanded that Tobago police use heavy force to address the surge in gang and gun violence, which has resulted in 19 deaths on the island.
Augustine further lamented the TTPS’ inability to produce tangible results on the murder rate.
He urged police to aggressively dismantle drug operations and close businesses involved in illegal activities as a drastic, immediate and radical response.
He also called on families to report relatives engaged in crime.
He said the recent murder of Trinidad resident Victoria Guerra in Argyle, in a gang-related incident, could easily have claimed the lives of innocent children.
“I happen to be heading east and I took the opportunity to pass in to Lammy Road, where the incident occurred. I passed there an hour and a half to two hours after the incident. I saw the ground was littered with the shells.
“I saw the hopscotch box and moral box were drawn in the road and was told by parents the children were there playing when the assailants arrived and committed the act. We could have had from Tuesday’s incident dead children.”
Meanwhile, Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce Tobago chairman Curtis Williams eagerly awaits Scotland’s arrival and the immediate strengthening of the crime plan.
“We welcome that gesture and we will get our teams in a state of readiness,” Williams said.