Senior political reporter
National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds yesterday delivered heartfelt apologies to the people of T&T and those who have suffered from the crime onslaught and assured that Government will continue “to fight like hell” to protect the public from criminal elements.
“We want the criminals to know—we are getting stronger and we’re getting better. And we are coming to get you!” Hinds added during his contribution to yesterday’s 2024 Budget debate in Parliament.
Hinds said the Budget—in which National Security received $6.912 billion—was a people’s budget and a crime-fighting approach made simple. He said Government thrusts on the problem demonstrates its cohesive and coherent public health approach to citizens’ safety and security.
Detailing causes of T&T’s crime, Hinds said the whole of Government and society approach is part of the management of seven threats the ministry recognises T&T is confronted with: narco-trafficking, small arms and light weapons trafficking, irregular migration (human trafficking), terrorism, cyber attacks, climate change and global health pandemics.
“Most of these threats manifest themselves in transnational organised crime. They’re expansive, well-organised and well-oiled. They kill, destroy, extort, bribe and threaten even public officials in order to have their way,” Hinds said.
He said threats are predominantly coming from outside of T&T.
“Most narcotics passing through here come from South America. We’re also seeing an increase in synthetic drugs—ecstasy, ketamine, fentanyl and hybrid marijuana from North American and other places.”
He said the small arms/light weapons problem is predominantly from the US and people trafficked to T&T are usually from South America.
“Human trafficking is real—we’re addressing that. The one known terrorist plot we had in 2018 had links outside of T&T,” he added.
Citing the threats and information that there are about 32,000 firearms around, Hinds said the same transnational organised criminal networks “that do guns” also do human trafficking and drugs”.
Hinds continued, “I want to apologise to the people of T&T, those who have lost dear ones, those who are traumatised by some of our citizens—and perhaps others—in home invasions, in rapes, in incest. That woman who was dragged on Charlotte Street a few days ago pained all of our hearts,” he said.
“I, on behalf of those of us who behave in those ways, who choose crime in some cases as a business model: I apologise to the rest of us and give you the assurance that as National Security Minister—the lead in National Security—we’ll continue to put up the walls and fences and fight like hell to protect you from that!”
To fight the problem, Hinds said Government has a security framework of simultaneous local, bilateral and multilateral engagement.
He detailed plans for 2024, gave updates on issues and condemned certain Opposition anti-crime proposals and former police commissioner Gary Griffith.
Hinds said during the upcoming year, the ministry intends further focus on border security through implementation of various land, air and sea measures.
“The ministry completed a Border Security Policy (2023) which is now ready for Cabinet consideration. It’s hoped this would be part of a broader border management system that seeks to find harmonious balance between trade and interdiction on our ports, through increased use of surveillance and inspection technologies,” he added.
Caricom arrest warrant treaty, CCTV being settled
On other measures, he said legislation is being drafted for the Forensic Science Centre to test for precursor chemicals. He said the recent trend of a methamphetamine factory highlights need for this, since some of the things found had not yet been manufactured into the drug. Legislation is being prepared on precursor chemicals.
With strengthened T&T-Caricom-US collaboration on small arms trafficking and intelligence sharing, Hinds said, “We’re gaining insight into the tracing of the origin of firearms—who manufactured it, distributed it and the purchaser.”
The ministry is also collaborating with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for donation of additional metal detectors in 2024.
“Illegal weapons are hidden in the strangest places, some are even buried,” he explained,
Hinds said the T&T and Barbados’ Attorneys General drafted model law on the Caricom Arrest Warrant Treaty and are on the “cusp” of settling that issue, which will help find fugitives.
Government also intends “returning terrorist fighters from conflict zones” and children, or others who weren’t fighters, he said. The Nizam Mohammed team is assisting Project Nightingale on this.
Under the Returnees’ Bill, an assessment centre will assess returnees.
CCTV cameras will also be further enhanced. Installation is ongoing and five Port-of Spain areas will have them by weekend and from October 16, installation at the rate of 75 per area will be done across T&T.