Opposition Member of Parliament for Naparima Rodney Charles is questioning the mechanisms being employed by Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds in treating with crime in this country.
In a statement on Tuesday, Mr Charles pointed out that only eleven days into the New Year, there have been 12 murders.
MP Charles said since the appointment of Mr Hinds as National Security Minister, murders, kidnappings, fraud, general larceny, wounding and shootings have seen an increase, according to data from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
Mr Charles is calling for an account of innovative, results oriented and effective crime fighting policies to be enacted by Minister Hinds.
The statement read in full:
Eleven days into the new year, and with 12 murders more than a similar period last year, we are already seeing a continuation of the murder spree which closed 2021.
Since the appointment of Hinds as National Security Minister, murders, kidnappings, fraud, general larceny, wounding and shootings have seen an increase according to TTPS data.
On the third day of January a family was tied up and assaulted in their own home, this seems to set the tone for the year. As the days passed, we saw a 41 year old man brutally stabbed, left with a punctured lung, a son killed and a father injured in Maraval, a couple kidnapped and a pharmacist gunned down near his home.
It is almost as if criminals have seen Hinds’ appointment as an opportunity for free reign, brazenness and an avenue to prove themselves to fellow lawbreakers, unopposed by policy makers.
Since his appointment, can he honestly say that he has come up with innovative, results oriented and effective crime fighting policies?
The methods of today seem to be the same old recycled ones used decades ago. What has Hinds brought to the table?
Under this clueless and inept Minister, not even doing a good deed is safe anymore. Just Sunday a good Samaritan offered a man a lift and was robbed at gunpoint in his own vehicle. This is the current state of affairs under this Government.
Whilst Minister Hinds holds press conferences to tell us all is well, our citizens are sitting in their cars watching a live action film on the Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway, as our officers chase and shoot at possible suspects.
With a disconnected, failing and weak Minister of National Security, crime and injustice will continue to erode TT.
Given that his position as Minister has had a disastrous impact, and that should a performance review be done he would be given failing grade, Minister Hinds ought to, in good conscience, resign forthwith.
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