The sheer brutality and reckless nature of criminal gangs should cause them to be categorised as terrorist groups, which would then allow for a more robust security response.
This was the position of former police commissioner Gary Griffith, as he outlined suggestions during the Opposition Leader’s Anti-crime Town Hall Meeting at the Eric Williams Auditorium, La Joya Complex, St Joseph, last night.
Griffith, who served as commissioner of police from 2018 to 2021 and National Security Minister under the People’s Partnership government, was one of the panellists at the meeting.
During his opening remarks, Griffith noted that the ease of access criminals have to automatic weapons should cause the authorities to reconsider how crime is seen and addressed.
“We have certain persons—these criminal elements—who have assault weapons, automatic weapons that can fire 35 rounds in three seconds. If that is not a terrorist, I don’t know what is,” Griffith told the audience.
“I would recommend what we need to do is look at this same Anti-Terrorism Act. If we place these individuals where they belong—as terrorists, it now provides an opportunity to go after the individuals with full force to ensure they are sentenced as a capital punishment of 25 years in prison.
“It also goes after individuals who are aiding and abetting these gangs, from fellow gang members and even to certain politicians.”
Griffith also suggested that the T&T Defence Force assume a more proactive role in crime suppression.
He lamented that while the Defence Force had the manpower to effectively treat with crime, they were used only in joint police patrols with the T&T Police Service (TTPS), which he felt yielded little results.
“We have a T&T Defence Force, 5,000-strong and they stay in camp and the reason for it is because they are boxed in a situation where they don’t have the capability to come out and operate as they should. This is not a time for being cosmetic, we are under siege, we are at war.”
He suggested that the authorities use Chapter 14:01 of the Defence Force Act to bring in soldiers to treat with criminals.
Section 238(1) of the Defence Act, Chap 14:01, allows the President to call out the Volunteer Defence Force or any portion of it for actual military service with their arms and ammunition, in aid of the civil power in any case in which a riot, disturbance of the peace, or other emergency.
For her part, political scientist Dr Indira Rampersad, who was also part of the panel, called on parents to take a more active role in their children.
She noted that the current generation of teenagers (Generation Z) demonstrated undesirable traits of entitlement and warned that inadequate supervision could lead to more anti-social traits.
“I am asking the parents out there to pay attention to what your children are doing and take control. They complain to me about their children, I am not their parent. You are the parent take control!” she said.
Among the attendees were retired Snr Supt of the Central Division Kenny McIntyre and retired ACP Johnny Abraham, who also offered their suggestions on how to maximise police resources and coverage.
The meeting, which began promptly at 6 pm, attracted throngs of participants, who packed the auditorium to full capacity within minutes.
People who could not find a seat stood at the side of the auditorium, while others lined the corridor outside the hall and listened to suggestions from the speakers, who also included pathologist Hubert Daisley.