By Sue-Ann Wayow
GOVERNMENT has forked out $80 million to purchase CCTV cameras as part of its crime-fighting efforts.
This was announced by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley on Tuesday night at a People’s National Movement (PNM) political meeting in Chaguanas.
Dr Rowley said his government was working in tangent with police officers with discussions on several solutions to the reduction in crime.
He said, “The Government has just spent $80 million to provide 2,500 cameras at various locations across this country and they are being installed as I speak to you now.”
The Prime Minister added that a further 2,500 cameras would also be installed.
Businesses and individuals will also stand to benefit from a tax break for the purchase of CCTV cameras.
Dr Rowley said, “We will give a tax uplift, a tax break. If you spend a $100, we will make it a $100 plus as a tax break for the corporate sector and for the individual homes or for the individuals to put cameras in and around your households.”
He said while there was no magic wand to get rid of crime completely, citizens needed to exercise personal responsibility.
Referring to the murder rate that has crossed 500 for the year, Dr Rowley said, “I want you to not give the government a pass in a situation where we all have to face up to the fact that 500 people have been killed for the year already. But I want you to identify that there are separate responsibilities for all of us. I mean all of us, because one of the problems we have in this country is taking responsibility for what our responsibility is.”
He also said there were 1,186 people in jail awaiting trial for murder.
