Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday described the latest anti-crime plans announced by the Government as plain “public relations”.
Persad-Bissessar panned announcements on the measures which were made on Wednesday by National Security Minister Edmund Dillon, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi and acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams.
They had revealed a mix of measures geared to stem the spiralling murder rate — 27 in the first 18 days of the new year — as the Carnival season begins heightening.
Measures included having extra army resources on the “ground”, doubling of manpower in the Homicide division and Director of Public Prosecutions’ office, and moves towards a DNA Register to assist tracing forensic evidence.
But Persad-Bissessar said, “Government continues to use public relations tactics to cover up its lack of plan to deal with crime. Nothing new was announced.
The latest announcement showed the Government is bereft of ideas to tackle crime head-on,” she said in a statement yesterday.
“The Government continues to fail citizens and chooses to use public relations and misdirection to mask their incompetence. The Prime Minister must stop trying to shift blame, and take tough action to protect the people and ensure their safety and security.”
“Under my government, we had a plan that was working, and the country saw a reduction in serious crime.
But this PNM government stopped many of the anti-crime measures implemented by my administration, and has failed to put forward any proposals or initiatives to deal with the problem. “ Saying “multiple efforts” were made to engage Government on the crime issue, Persad-Bissessar said her party continues to be willing to do so.