The opposition’s demand to impose a State of Emergency (SoE) in response to the present spike in criminal activity has drawn criticism from Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley.
Recently speaking at a United Nations Convention on Crime (UNC) conference at the La Joya Complex, Kamla Persad Bissessar, the political head of the party, supported Dr. Indira Rampersad, a political scientist, who had earlier called for a State of Emergency. She stated, “Everything else had been tried.”
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Even though the administration had already promised to meet with the opposition, Rowley said during a post-cabinet media briefing earlier today that they were not sincere about wanting to hold scheduled joint crime discussions.
T&T Prime Minister noted, “Two points came out of their (the UNC’s) crime talks- solution number one; State of Emergency, well, if that was going to be your proposal, you didn’t need no crime talks, you could have told us that long time. You could have saved us the trouble of thinking that you had something useful to say…but I have said before they have nothing useful to add.”
Rowley said that the SOE put in place by the People’s Partnership administration in 2011 was viewed as an “abject failure” of their strategy for combating crime, accusing the UNC of “trying to play politics” with their proposal.
Rowley said that this nation’s economy would have been financially siege for at least two years due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Another SOE, he claimed, would merely reverse whatever progress has been made thus far, since there are signs of recovery.
He further added, “Now that we’ve rebuilt the economy and we’re getting back on our feet, those who actually carried out the State of Emergency to fight crime are prescribing that to handcuff and mantle the local economy…with a failed approach.”
Rowley emphasized that the government must adhere to legal boundaries while reassuring that it has a duty and obligation to use state resources to address criminal activity.
“We have police service, it might not be the best in the world, it is not as successful as it should be against the criminals…but that’s what we have… that’s what we should use, that’s what the law allows. And as we do that, we expect that there are other arms of the state that will do what they have to do…and together we will bring the criminals to yield,” he stated.
He emphasized further that his government has taken all necessary steps to combat crime and will keep doing so.
Dr. Rowley urges, “But there is much more to be done…that much we can understand, but in every area the government is there.”
