Opposition MP, Roodal Moonilal has called on the Joint Select Committee on National Security to summon the Commissioer of Police, Erla Harewood-Christopher at the earliest opportunity to give an account for what the police service is doing to deal with murders and gang-related murders.
“What are you doing about it? Don’t tell us what is the problem,” he said, in reference to her call for innovative solutions contained in a pre-recorded message to the media.
Moonilal also criticized the strategy to opt for a pre-recorded message rather than face-to-face interaction with the media to answer questions, especially as the murder toll surpass 300 and continues to rise.
In her pre-recorded statement, the CoP acknowledged the rise. “The murder toll reached 300 and our national consciousness was jolted as we reach this dreaded milestone. In a sense, we all share the collective disappointment that this is how violent our society has become.”
Moonilal said: “Law enforcement meets the press, meets the people, take questions. Mrs Erla, I want to tell you it is not a good thing for you to hide in a room and do these broadcasts from these locations.
“That is not for law enforcement. The image of law enforcement is to confront the criminals, not to hide from them.
“All over the world, CoPs are walking the street. They do press conferences on the steps of law-enforcement buildings, they don’t do it pre-recorded and send it out. This is not a good development and I say that with great sincerity, it is not a good development for a CoP, to hide. It is the criminal that must be hiding, not the commissioner.
He reminded the CoP that she should not be hiding from the public especially when the country has been overtaken by bandits.
“Today this country is under siege.
“Erla, don’t be in the garden hiding, hiding from the criminals. You have to come out. You have to show yourself. You have to confront these elements and don’t be scared of the media. The media is there to do their job. Let them do their job. I ask the commissioner to take matters seriously.”