If given the opportunity, government could use the Ant-Gang law to “lock-up” Opposition politicians and other people, claiming they are gang members.
So said Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal.
Speaking at the UNC virtual Monday night meeting, Moonilal said “We cannot give PNM this authority. Gary Griffith’s term will end, who will be the next Commissioner to implement this draconian law? What prevents a PNM CoP from locking up Opposition politicians, religious leaders and social activists as gang members or aiding and supporting a gang.”
“In recent times PNM used the Parliament to overthrow the constitution by giving the PNM controlled Parliament committees a power to disqualify an Opposition member from the service of the House because they say he conflicted. With no recourse of the full Parliament or the court.”
“They accused us of having links to gangs when one PNM MP and one PNM MP alone invited a reputed gang leader to have drinks at the President house.”
Moonilal said the UNC produced police statistics that showed the law wasn’t very effective.
“So why is the Opposition being castigated for not supporting this? Even the government admitted the legislation needed reviewing. We call for a fundamental review of the Anti-Gang legislation to find out why it’s not working as effectively as it should.”
He said “Business community members out in full force condemning Opposition. Ask any of them if they have data on the workings of the law.”
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