The murder of Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal and other citizens has confirmed the PP administration has failed on its 2010 campaign promise to bring T&T's number one problem–crime–under control with its 120 day plan, according to PNM MP Terrence Deyalsingh.Deyalsingh spoke yesterday in Parliament in debate on a package of bills to assist the criminal justice system, including the DNA bill and others.
Deyalsingh also said Government would be unable to build any of its planned judicial centres since there was no open tendering and there was unlawful illegal procurement procedures, by passing the Central Tenders' Board. He said Legal Affairs Minister Prakash Ramadhar might have been well intentioned on the plan, but was "guilty by association." on the issue.
The package of bills debated yesterday was piloted a couple weeks ago. At a Plea Bargaining workshop last week Friday– Seetahal's last appearance–Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard queried why it was taking so long to establish a DNA database.
Seetahal was shot dead last Sunday in a professionally executed "hit" along Hamilton Holder Street, en route to her Woodbrook home.
Yesterday in Parliament, Deyalsingh invoked her memory as he tracked what he described as deterioration of the crime situation despite the PP's platform promises. He cited as example various statements by the Attorney General–in piloting legislation–including the AG's view that there were no quick fixes to the situation.He also noted the PP had had four National Security Ministers and the latest had said he didn't believe in crime plans.
Deyalsingh noted the current Minister was adviser to previous Ministers and the Prime Minister.
"They dismantled everything that was there before' they dropped the offshore patrol vessels and the Prime Minister said they would fight crime in the streets - well, blood was flowing on Hamilton Holder street last Sunday morning. how do you fight that... Hamilton Holder Street was awash with blood and the blood continues to flow," Deyalsingh said.
Noting Government had spoken of halting the tsunami of crime, he added," There was a tsunami of crime on Hamilton Holder Street that hit T&T at 12.05am last Sunday, "He said former Independent Senator Rev Daniel Teelucksingh, who spoke at Seetahal's funeral, was right when he said Seetahal's blood and her soul cries out to her murderers, why they killed her.
Citing the T&T Guardian's editorial which stated the attack on Seetahal was an attack on all citizens, he said citizens were walking on eggshells in 2010 and were still walking on eggshells now.He said he had noticed government officials had stopped going to the homes of murder victims to sympathise since the Daniel Guerra murder. He questioned the use of billon dollar settlements to murder victims.
Noting Government had resorted to offering a million dollar bounty in connection with Seetahal's murder, Deyalsingh said he wanted to know the view of former PP minister Bhoe Tewarie, who prior to Government, said T&T had all the characteristics of a failed state.