Trinidad considers pepper spray, tasers for women

Trinidad and Tobago is looking at arming its female citizens with pepper spray and tasers in a bid to stave off a rising tide of crime.

The country’s Prime Minister Keith Rowley announced recently that Acting Commissioner of Police, Stephen Williams, is actively considering the use of non-lethal weapons such as tasers and pepper spray for citizens, women and particularly the security services.

 

40 women murdered so far this year

He was responding to a question from Couva North MP Ramona Ramdial who asked about the use of such weapons as a measure of personal protection in the light of 40 women being murdered thus far this year.
Asked by Tabaquite MP Suruj Rambachan whether Williams had indicated how long he would take to make a decision “in the interest of women who continue to be brutally murdered”, Rowley said he did not know of any specific date, but knew the commissioner was giving the matter “active consideration and we anticipate a decision in the not too distant future”.

Asked by Tabaquite MP Suruj Rambachan whether Williams had indicated how long he would take to make a decision “in the interest of women who continue to be brutally murdered”, Rowley said he did not know of any specific date, but knew the commissioner was giving the matter “active consideration and we anticipate a decision in the not too distant future”.

 

Resumption of hanging

On the issue of the resumption of hangings of convicted murderers, the Prime Minister said pro bono advice had been obtained from Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj SC and had been forwarded to the Attorney General.