Come January 2019, Minister of National Security Stuart Young plans to take new legislation before Parliament seeking an increase in the maximum sentences, fines and penalties for committing criminal acts against law enforcement officers.
He made the announcement during a joint media conference at the National Security Ministry in Port-of-Spain yesterday.
Young called an emergency meeting with Chief of Defence Staff Hayden Pritchard, Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith, acting Commissioner of Prisons Dane Clarke and Prisons Officers Association president Ceron Richards following Tuesday night’s killing of acting Superintendent of Prisons Wayne Jackson.
Jackson, who had over 30 years of service, was ambushed by two gunmen shortly after pulling up in the driveway at his Malabar home, which is near the Larry Gomes Stadium at about 6.30 pm.
“We will increase the severity of sentences for any criminal element who decides to take on, to hurt, to injure and in a worst-case scenario, to kill anyone of our law enforcement officers,” Young said.
Young also said they are going to increase the penalties and sentences for any law enforcement officer who is found to be or engages in the trafficking of any illegal drugs, ammunition and other crimes.
“In other words, you cannot have it both ways,” Young said.
In extending condolences to the T&T Prison Service, Jackson’s family and friends, Young also took the opportunity to announce his decision to form a united Inter-Agency Task Force made up of all law enforcement agencies to deal with the criminal elements.
“You touch one...you touch all of us and we are not going to accept criminal elements targeting any of our law enforcement officers,” he said.
“We have renewed, rejuvenated and with more energetic efforts and as one movement we have assured the Prison Service that all agencies are all going to stand at each other’s side and work along with the Prison Service.”
Young also said the nation’s CCTV camera services will soon be upgraded and, noting the ministry is already in receipt of bids and tenders which are now being evaluated. He said a similar plan was proposed by the Prison Service for the provision of a certain amount of individual coverage for prison officers.
“When we are evaluating the packages we will look at a possible integration of that type of plan for the prison officers. We intend to utilise as much technology as possible because it has evolved.”
In an immediate response, Richards welcomed the incoming legislation and decisions so far but added that the association will be “cautiously optimistic.”
“This murder has rocked the service in many ways that are unimaginable. The mood in the prisons service is at the lowest threshold. It is very important that prison officers are in the type of frame of mind and have the confidence that the State is doing its best and exploring all of its efforts to treat with their serious issues and concerns,” Richards said.
“This Government was the first to sit with the Prisons Officers’ Association to develop laws to be implemented in the Parliamentary space. Last year the Ministry of National Security and the Office of the Attorney General formed a committee to look at the existing laws and draft new laws and that was done...those are the two drafts that will go before the Parliament.”
The advancement of technology will also include the upgrading of the jammers and grabbers equipment in the prisons, he said.
With respect to prisons officers being given personal firearms, Griffith assured it was being addressed on a risk assessment basis.