Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar said it is simply atrocious that after a three-day cabinet retreat, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley chose to keep Fitzgerald Hinds as the Minister of National Security.
In a statement on Thursday, following the PM’s post-cabinet media briefing, Persad-Bissessar called on Rowley to put citizens’ lives first and select a competent person to helm the national security apparatus.
She said: “His refusal to replace Fitzgerald Hinds with someone competent has now gone past dictatorial arrogance to total disregard of our citizens’ opinions and fears.”
“Keith Rowley continues to ignore the terror citizens are facing due to the crime crisis. He has once again ignored the cries of the population to remove Fitzgerald Hinds as National Security Minister,” she added.
The UNC leader added: “While Keith Rowley admits that crime is totally out of control, he refuses to act in the best interest of the population. Saying the society is violent, does not absolve the Rowley Government of their responsibility in controlling violent crime and murders.”
She said Rowley must be reminded that the only stability that exists under this Minister is a stable rise in the murder rate and violent crime.
“Once again, we are reminded how little Rowley cares for the opinions of the people of our nation.
I call on Keith Rowley to listen to the business community, civil society, the man on the street and all other stakeholders, to put the lives of citizens first and select a competent person to lead our National Security apparatus.”