Senior Political Reporter
Parliament’s Joint Select Committee on National Security must be summoned to address the rampant murder rate and failures of various security systems, UNC deputy leader Roodal Moonilal said yesterday.
He commented ahead of the UNC’s first anti-crime conference tonight in St Joseph, to be followed by another in south Trinidad.
UNC deputy leader David Lee said the anti-crime gathering is “highly anticipated and the response has been very positive from the man in the street.”
The Opposition said in a release that its anti-crime town hall meeting will foster a platform where people can “unite, share their concerns and collaboratively devise viable inclusive solutions to the crime epidemic.”
In the first week of 2024, there were 15 murders.
UNC political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar promised last November to have the forum, after proposed anti-crime talks with the Government didn’t come off.
In November, the proposed convenor of the talks, Attorney General Reginald Armour, wrote to Persad-Bissessar seeking her team’s names. She declined to supply names, saying it was proper protocol to await a reply from Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to her October 14 letter in which she had raised several issues. She said Rowley didn’t reply.
A release from the Opposition’s Leader’s Office stated that speakers at tonight’s meeting will include pathologist Professor Dr Hubert Daisley, Dr Indira Rampersad, NTA leader and former police Commissioner Gary Griffith and Renee-Enriquez Rodriguez.
After their presentations, the floor will be opened for comments and suggestions from the public.
“These will be compiled to develop a comprehensive plan to fight crime. We firmly believe a united effort is necessary to address the challenges we face, and the general citizenry’s participation in these talks would significantly contribute to and enhance the collective wisdom necessary in crime fighting,” the UNC release added.
The Opposition has repeatedly called for stand your ground laws to allow law-abiding people access to guns and stronger laws on home invasions.
Moonilal said the crime talks are “timely and most welcomed.”
He added, “The Leader of the Opposition has taken the lead to engage the national community to hear their pleas and respond with policy and programme. The Prime Minister has become tone-deaf and blind to the cries of the people and appears numb to the daily trauma of citizens.
“Minister Hinds has quit while he is behind and has been advised to stop speaking to avoid further embarrassment. We look forward to the full rounds of crime consultations. The JSC on National Security must be summoned to address the rampant murder rate and collapse of the electronic monitoring system, failure to obtain scanners and the slow progress of the TTPS under this Rowley administration.”
He added, “All members of the public are invited to tonight’s anti-crime forum. I imagine members of all political parties should be interested in this major discussion by experts in the field.”