The government of Trinidad and Tobago tables legislation to combat crime in that Caribbean republic.
The Trinidad and Tobago government tabled anti-gang legislation in the Parliament on Friday and is hoping for support from the opposition.
Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi told the proposed legislation is the same that had been in existence when the People’s Partnership government of then prime minister Kanla Persad Bissessar was in office between 2010-15.
Opposition has no excuse
Al-Rawi said the opposition now had no excuse for rejecting the anti-gang bill, driven by the demands of the police and the need for public safety.
“Nothing should stand in the way of passage. This bill was good enough for the Kamla Persad-Bissessar-led government. It was the law for the entire period when she was there, until it expired in August 2016,” he said.
“We cannot continue to allow the circulation of videos across social media platforms where identifiable Trinidad and Tobago personnel are involved in what appears to be gang activity or gang recruitment. The broad spectrum of the anti-gang law can capture this behavior,” Al-Rawi said, adding it would remedy cases where gangsters boasted online of their deeds, guns and gold chains, and would stymie unrest at hot spots such as Enterprise in Central Trinidad and the Beetham, east of the capital city.
Debate on the bill is expected to begin next week.
Al-Rawi said the bill was supported by better insights into gangs, improved police intelligence, better witness protection, and proclamation of the Strategic Services Agency Act.
He said the government had given details of the legislation to the opposition but they had been shifting the goal post by indicating they want the legislation to be brought to Parliament first before outlining their concerns.
Some2,500 suspected gang members
Earlier this week, the Attorney General told a news conference that there were approximately 2,459 suspected gang members island wide and their names, whereabouts and alleged activities are known to the authorities including the Organized Crime Intelligence Unit (OCIU). He said the information would be used to root out criminal elements if the anti-gang legislation, which expired in August last year, is passed.
“We cannot allow our country to be held hostage by criminals who routinely take to social media and advertise their gangs. What is Rasta City? What is Unruly ISIS? Each time they take to social media to express their gang affiliation is a confession of gang activity,” Al-Rawi said.
He said the government has also circulated for comment among the various stakeholders, the special zones law that would allow for limited states of emergency in specific areas, where police and other emergency authorities would be allowed to enter certain areas to carry out anti-crime exercises.
