Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley on Friday night met to discuss the upsurge in criminality across the country, and have agreed to collaborate on anti-crime initiatives.
The following is the full statement from the Office of the Prime Minister –
In a meeting held at the Diplomatic (Friday night), Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, MP, and Leader of the Oppos ition, Dr Keith Rowley, MP, discussed the upsurge in crime and criminality facing the nation. This meeting came on the heels of the Prime Minister’s visit to residents of Duncan Street, Port of Spain on Thursday and a meeting which Dr Rowley held with affected residents at his Diego Martin East constituency office and subsequently made an urgent request for a meeting with the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar and Dr Rowley and their support teams will meet on Thursday 22nd August at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s with a view to taking immediate, responsive action to treat with the causative factors specially related to the problems that have arisen in the last week.
The Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition have also agreed to collaborate on any amendment or adjustment to any existing, or new laws with respect to the challenges posed by the crime situation. There was agreement to implement legislative measures to deal with the issues of: gangs, witness protection and witness tampering. Additionally, it was agreed that the Government and Opposition will work together to untangle the hurdles which would give effect to the death penalty.
Consideration will also be given to new laws, such as creating a new offence regarding the displacement of residents by criminals.
Both Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar and Dr Rowley said that “on this issue we have common cause and we have agreed to approach the challenge that crime presents in a collaborative way.”
