Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal is describing Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s statement on the country’s crime situation, as “vague and pointless”.
The Prime Minister issued a release today in which he assured the public that the Government, and the wider national security apparatus, are doing all they can to ensure that criminals are captured and brought to justice.
Dr Rowley also urged citizens to avoid the temptation of illegally arming themselves against criminals, warning that they may be providing those criminals with the weapons to destroy them and other potential victims.
However, in a media release in response to the PM’s statement, Dr Moonilal—who is the Opposition’s Shadow Minister of National Security—condemned what he felt were “trite declarations”.
“In his latest banal public statement, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley conceded that the people of Trinidad and Tobago have been left to fend for themselves against rampaging criminals. Rowley offered our tortured nation no new anti-crime initiatives or hope of a safer 2024, but instead, presented warmed-off remarks and trite declarations. His statement was pointless, obscure and vague, typically without a plan of action to tame the deteriorating national security circumstances,” he stated.
The Opposition MP added that, “in his seasonal merriment, the Prime Minister appeared to have merely devoted minimal time to the ongoing spree of violent crimes across the country.”
Dr Moonilal said: “On reading his statement, I felt that no one had brought him chaser!”
He pointed out that there remains little presence of the Police Service and Defence Force on public streets, malls and other public places. He also argued that there appeared to be no “meaningful efforts to curtail fierce gang wars.”
According to Dr Moonilal, “there is an even more critical need for high-tech monitoring of unmarked police vehicles outfitted with blue lights and sirens… Stiff penalties should be imposed for failure to account for the whereabouts of those vehicles and for any unauthorized installation of these security devices on any vehicle.”
He also chastised the PM for remarks directed to the ordinary citizen.
“Rowley’s statement calls for public support in crime-fighting but there are no procedures and safeguards to protect those who put their lives at risk in speaking up. Also disturbing is the increasing use of the National Security Council (NSC) as a law enforcement agency, when it is a Sub-Committee of Cabinet, just like the Finance and General Purposes Committee,” Dr Moonilal said.
He stated: “To this date, it was easier to get Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro and Guyanese President Dr Irfaan Ali around a table, than Dr Keith Rowley in Trinidad and Tobago to discuss crime with the Opposition!”
The Oropouche East MP accused the Prime Minister of using the NSC as a State organisation similar to the Police Service.
“Generally, (Dr) Rowley has still not formulated a workable anti-crime plan to challenge the band of lawless operatives, stall the flow of guns and drugs, and speed up the criminal justice system,” he said.
He added: “He is merely cementing his image as a disastrous leader while criminals claim innocent lives every day and have placed the entire nation under siege.”