With increasing crime, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is calling on the Opposition to shorten the time-frame to deal with the death penalty legislation. Persad-Bissessar indicated this to reporters at the Hyatt yesterday after a CPA Parliamentary workshop. Asked about crime and increasing murders, she said Opposition Leader Keith Rowley had asked for time on the legislation "taking us way down to April". This was to take the initiative to various PNM forums for discussion, she noted. Due to the urgency of the situation Persad-Bissessar said she doesn't believe the parties should wait until April.
"Each day that we wait is a further life that is snuffed out," she added. Persad Bissessar said she hoped to debate the bill, place it before a Joint Parliamentary committee and take it to various stake holders and then it could be taken to the various PNM forums. Yesterday, Rowley said he was awaiting word from Government on the next step since last week's meeting on the issue where the PNM presented its position.
Rowley said the PNM wanted to consult at various levels before taking action and wanted to see the legislation before taking a position on it. The PNM also wants the legislation to be discussed in-house.
On another issue Persad-Bissessar said she had noted Rowley's comments in the CPA seminar on MPs' work and their salaries. Rowley had said MPs carry a heavy workload. He'd added that his cell phone rang every time he went to the bathroom.
He said MPs should ideally be full time. But he said Opposition MPs had to work to earn a living also. He said he was lucky his wife is a professional. He also noted the number of Parliamentary teams MPs have to split their time among also. Persad-Bissessar said the UNC had once submitted views on salaries. Saying the salary issue was "something to be considered," Persad-Bissessar said, "All Parliamentarians, I agree, work very hard."
Persad-Bissessar said proposals for constitutional reform- including a two term limit and fixed dates for elections-had been formulated for Cabinet. A Trinidadian, Shem Baldeosingh, has been seconded from the CPA to work with her office from this month on the legislation for this. Persad-Bissessar said the CCTV and GPS systems would roll in from month-end with GPS technology in vehicles.
Government is seeking a meeting with businessmen to discuss networking CCTV systems with the State's. She also said Government had notified the British BEA company of its rejection of the offshore patrol vessels and the company will now have to say if it will go to court on the matter or not. She said the report on the disbanding and restructuring of the Special Anti Crime unit is still before Cabinet.