New TV programme on law coming—Jack

National Security Minister Jack Warner says in early October there will be a new television programme to inform citizens about law. The programme will also encourage people to give information they have on crime. “Very soon you will see a half-an-hour programme telling you about the law and you can give information...We do not even need your name, just tell us,” he said.

Warner was speaking yesterday at a community outreach programme in John John, Laventille. Also present was acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams. His visit to Laventille yesterday followed a series of shootings in the Beverly Hills housing community which claimed the lives of four residents, among them a 48-year-old mother of eight. Defence Force officers have since been deployed to patrol communities in Laventille.

Warner told residents of Laventille to ignore people throughout the country who said there was no hope for the area. “Laventille must disregard the foolish talk that Laventille cannot be saved...It is Laventille today but it could be Chaguanas tomorrow or Rio Claro the next day if we do not understand the problems of Laventille and fix them,” he said. He also promised residents he would use all in his power to crush criminal elements in the country.

“To gang members, we say give up your arms and come back to society or else it will be a fight to the finish,” he said. Williams, who also spoke, said if the police and armed services continued to do things as they had been doing in the past, then they would be led by “madmen.” “I am not a madman. It is important for us to focus on finding new ways of addressing the situation we are confronted with,” he said.

The acting commissioner said he wanted to do everything possible for the Police Service to engage in dialogue with the community of Laventille. “How can we trigger a change in the things that are happening in Laventille?” he said. “Over the last few weeks I have been engaging in dialogue. My presence here is to start the process.”