Senior Political Reporter
Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher has received low marks from various stakeholders after she was questioned by Parliament ‘s Joint Select Committee on National Security on Wednesday.
On Wednesday the CoP and her executive team appeared before the Parliament’s National Security oversight team to speak about the anti-crime strategies implemented and being implemented to address criminal activity.
Commenting on Harewood’s-Christopher’s revelations during the session yesterday, United National Congress deputy leader Roodal Moonilal, who was on the JSC panel, said, “The meeting was a rude awakening—it was startling that not a single target set by the TTPS to reduce violence and criminality was achieved in 2023.
“The effect is a runaway crime spree! Just (yesterday) in my constituency, a husband and wife who sell doubles for a living were the victims of a brutal home invasion, assault, robbery and shooting.
“The TTPS can do much better but not under the political directorate of Keith Rowley and Fitzgerald Hinds. They offer no leadership, vision and drive. On top of the PM’s disastrous leadership is the woeful performance of the TTPS that publicly admitted to having failed to meet all 11 set targets for 2023 by way of reducing crime and lawlessness. Rowley’s calamitous leadership and the poor results announced by the Commissioner leave citizens even more vulnerable against brazen, powerfully armed criminals.”
Supermarket Association of T&T (SATT) president Rajiv Diptee said he was disappointed at the CoP’s presentation.
“Our sector would like to have seen clear concise leadership and comments from the Commissioner. Therefore, it leaves a lot to be desired based on what we’re seeking. We’d like to see the very real criminal threat treated with the gravity the situation requires.
“There’s a clear and present threat of home invasions and armed robberies, including incidents in the last year of culprits wearing police uniforms. There’s a lot of clamouring in the industry—retail and supply—for a clear policy on Firearms Users Licences, especially on how TTPS is going after gangs and threats.”
Greater San Fernando Chamber of Commerce (GFCC) president Kiran Singh said they were expecting more from the CoP at the session.
“We thought we’d have heard something more positive at the JSC meeting. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. The Commissioner has to send a stronger message on plans for 2024 based on the results and TTPS’ performance in recent years,” Singh said.
“We expect with her experience at TTPS’ helm, she should have better strategic planning processes, setting tasks, what’s expected of officers and using Defence Force resources. The public anticipates results. T&T’s threatened by criminal elements which are in the minority to the public. Something must be done.”
UNC MP Dinesh Rambally was also unhappy with what the CoP delivered to the JSC.
“I’m extremely disappointed by the CoP’s performance at the JSC. This isn’t the first time that she’s displayed a lack of leadership, which T&T needs and deserves. She was woefully unprepared to answer straightforward, reasonable questions and she therefore continues to fail to inspire trust by way of her leadership.
“It gives me no pleasure to say gross incompetence appears to be the latest strain of virus to be contracted by the Commissioner, having spread from National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds, the Prime Minister, and the rest of the PNM Government. T&T’s suffering from a lack of leadership on the critical issue of national security.”
Meanwhile, former UNC MP Vasant Bharath expressed concern on crime—and Carnival—especially, saying, “After the Government’s handpicked CoP has admitted to missing every single target for detection and reduction of murders, violent crimes and firearms retrieval with the laughable excuse that the targets were ‘exaggerated’.”
Citing the T&T Guardian’s report on Carnival bandleaders lamenting the negative impact of crime on operations and customers, Bharath said, “This sums up the state of governance in T&T. Their comments should be cause for great concern to the Government, as Carnival, touted as the greatest show on earth, is a significant earner of much needed Forex. It’s shocking Tourism Minister Randall Mitchell asked what ‘evidence’ bands used to support their argument.”
He added, “Mr Minister, maybe you’re unaware the murder count (yesterday) was 43? ... Deadly home invasions are rising. Criminals are brazenly operating against a terrified population. Countries have issued advisories on T&T’s crime. Still unconvinced?”