Trinidad PM warns criminals to leave communities targeted for special operations
Key Points(5)
- Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has warned criminals to leave communities targeted for special police operations, saying her Government will use “hard policing measures” under newly enacted legislation.
- “I suggest they leave areas where the SO is going to be implemented.
- We are going to implement hard policing measures in these areas,” Persad-Bissessar told reporters on Wednesday.
- The legislation divides the country into seven policing districts and provides for targeted operations, including the designation of closed areas and enhanced powers for law enforcement.
- Persad-Bissessar, who chairs the National Security Council, said heads of special operations would soon be appointed across the seven districts.
Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has warned criminals to leave communities targeted for special police operations, saying her Government will use “hard policing measures” under newly enacted legislation.
“I suggest they leave areas where the SO is going to be implemented. We are going to implement hard policing measures in these areas,” Persad-Bissessar told reporters on Wednesday.
The legislation divides the country into seven policing districts and provides for targeted operations, including the designation of closed areas and enhanced powers for law enforcement.
Persad-Bissessar, who chairs the National Security Council, said heads of special operations would soon be appointed across the seven districts.
She also confirmed that operations would be conducted in communities controlled by her ruling United National Congress (UNC).
“I can say for certain that UNC-controlled areas will have special operations,” she said.
Asked whether the operations would be limited to Government-controlled communities or extend nationwide, Persad-Bissessar referred to her earlier position, saying she would not push to help political opponents who did not want assistance.
“If the PNM doesn’t want the brave men and women of the security services to protect their constituents and prefer violent criminals to terrorise them, that’s fine by me,” she said, referring to the opposition People’s National Movement (PNM).
Persad-Bissessar said the UNC supports the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force in tackling crime.
The Prime Minister did not directly address questions about how the permit system for closed areas would work or how residents would travel between designated and non-designated areas.
Her comments also came amid questions about the Government’s ability to pass legislation without support from Independent senators.
Persad-Bissessar said her administration had received a mandate from voters to enact legislation and intended to use that authority.
“The Government was given the power to pass legislation by the citizens in a democratic vote and we will use that power,” she said.
She also criticised Independent senators over their opposition to Government bills, calling them “unelected eat-a-food scumbags” and accusing them of attempting to derail the legislative agenda.
The dispute follows disagreements between the Government and Independent senators over legislation, including the Special Operations Bill and amendments to public procurement law.
