Some 280 military grade weapons - the kind used by soldiers and military people in combat - have been recovered so far this year, says National Security Ministry Fitzgerald Hinds.
Hinds spoke about it at the PNM's Malabar meeting last night.
Among those present was former UNC Arima Central councillor Sheldon "Fish" Garcia, who recently resigned from the party. Also present was former UNC Warrenville councillor Samuel Sankar, whohad previously resigned from the UNC. Garcia has consented to be a PNM nominee for Arima Central.
D'Abadie O'Meara MP Lisa Morris-Julien said, "Even 'Fish' know when it's time to swim home ..."
Hinds added, "For the Local Government election, we have to beat them (UNC) back! And 'Fish' done start already!"
PNM Senator Laurel Lezama Lee Sing also claimed PNM senators and Minister Brian Manning were witness recently, where an Opposition Senator "was standing on her tip toes, shouting and carrying on! Face flushed, desecrating the chamber..!"
Hinds noted the crime challenge and the public health danger of losing two to five people daily, as well as shootings, woundings, home invasions, illegal quarrying, businessmen "suffering extortion and men demanding what they worked hard for."
Hinds, who said murders stood at 242 at May 31, said he'd been asking the TTPS for information on causes. He noted altercations contributed to this.
Giving 2022 statistics, he detailed: altercations leading to death (52), domestic violence (33), revenge killings (79), robberies into fatalities (52), gang related (244).
Statistics for 2023 are: altercations to May 31 (20), domestic violence (6), gang related (114), revenge killings (21), robberies (21), drug related (31), unknown (29).
He said firearms accounted for 87 per cent of murders. He noted that the 280 military grade weapons recovered were capable of carrying 5.56mm and 7.62mm ammunition. Hinds said weapons carrying 5.56mm and 7.62 ammunition are "very much available around the place." He said authorities seized 105 assault weapons "the other day."
Hinds alluded to a "wild card Police Commissioner as he was then," who made 7.62 mm weapons and ammunition available to citizens.
Hinds, who noted gangs are trying to recruit youngsters as young as nine years, also slammed the UNC as "working hard to protect wrong-doers."
Youth Development Minister Foster Cummings spoke earlier of upcoming legislation for the National Youth Development Agency, which will deal with all youth programmes, and detailed strides being made with programmes in sectors from agriculture to mechanics. He also noted a youth development centre run by MIC for Malabar, conversion of Beach Camp to a service complex for training programmes and the Chaguaramas Convention Centre to a youth development centre.