As issues of crime and security assumed full focus at the Opposition’s Anti-Crime Town Hall Meeting on Monday night, members of the public continued to lament the spate of violent crime in their communities. They also demanded a firmer response from the authorities.
The meeting, which began promptly at 6 pm, attracted throngs of participants to the Dr Eric Williams Auditorium of the La Joya Complex, St Joseph.
As seats in the hall quickly filled, many participants stood at the sides of the auditorium, while others stood outside the hall listening to presentations on loudspeakers.
The hall has a maximum seating capacity of 250 people.
At the meeting, a panel consisting of former police commissioner Gary Griffith, political scientist Dr Indira Rampersad, forensic pathologist Dr Hubert Daisley and retired Coast Guard officer Rene Rodriguez offered their insights on crime and accepted questions from the public.
During the open floor session, businessman Robert Amar expressed frustration over what he described as a lack of transparency and enthusiasm from the authorities in tackling crime.
Referring to instances where large quantities of weapons and drugs were seized and no updates were given on the status of these items, Amar questioned whether the items were destroyed once cases were completed.
He also suggested the introduction of the death penalty as a deterrent to violent crimes.
“I want to say to the people who are here today, enforce the death penalty. Find the laws that will make sure when you find the drugs and the case is finished, they are destroyed in the presence of people,” he said.
Noting the arrest but subsequent disappearance of convicted human trafficker Anthony Michael Smith in 2023, Amar said such incidents demonstrated the weakness of the authorities in addressing crime.
Director of the Agricultural Society of T&T Donny Rogers, during his contribution to the panel, said the concern of many farmers had shifted from praedial larceny to violent home invasions, referring to the recent assault and robbery of a man at his home.
“They are afraid of being hog-tied, lit alight in front of their family, tortured and robbed and that is what happened to a farmer not so long ago,” he recalled.
Rogers said without sufficient protection from police, many farmers felt exposed to criminals.
Marlon Matura, head of the Jerningham Junction Farmers’ Association, also referred to instances where farmers in his neighbourhood were beaten and robbed of vehicles.
Matura agreed with Rogers’ call for more protection for farmers, noting that the temporary closure and recent restarting of the Praedial Larceny Squad left many farmers fearful for their safety.
“Can’t we get them (the praedial larceny squad) working alongside the police?
“Every time you call them they have no vehicle. You telling me the praedial larceny squad was shut down for nearly two years, this month they started back up and they demolished an office in Central only to send them somewhere else. We are feeding the nation and farmers are neglected,” he said.
Retired Snr Supt of the Central Division Kenny McIntyre, who also attended the meeting, lamented the spate of crime in the country. He accused the Government of not doing enough to ensure the safety of citizens.
Despite this, he felt that responsibility should be taken at an individual level to steer young people away from crime.
“We have had enough. We are the ones with the power to change that. It boils down to you the individual.
“These little criminals have entered into a society where they see there are no consequences. Start in your homes. Start with parenting,” he stressed.
Single Father’s Association of T&T president Rhondall Feeles said that crime transcended ethnic, social and gender boundaries.
He said such a powerful need to see change should unite all citizens behind the common goal of a safer society and challenged participants to look beyond superficial differences and come together for a better T&T.
