Despite the country’s record murder count this year, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said the removal of the national security minister or a cabinet reshuffle would not be the solution.
He made the comment during his lengthy feature address at the People’s National Movement’s (PNM’s) 50th Convention, at the Queen’s Park Savannah on Sunday.
It follows fervent calls to replace National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds.
Rowley said: “I have seen it said that this can be rectified by simply rotating ministers or politicising the crime-fighting efforts.”
“All this will do, as it has been doing, is to embolden the criminals who believe that the rest of the country does not have what it takes to bring the lawlessness under control.”
He noted: “The police and other security agencies are permanently engaged in crime detection and suppression but clearly the current systems and methods are not sufficiently robust to bring the level of safety and security that the population demands and deserves.”
Rowley said that he and his Cabinet would continue to provide resources to law enforcement agencies and the Judiciary and he promised to continue to improve the education system and provide positive activities for vulnerable young people.
“We will continue to grow the economy so that job opportunities will continue to become available and we will encourage and support families to steer their siblings and progeny away from a life of crime and away from the clutches of the recruiters to a life of crime,” he said.
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