By Sue-Ann Wayow
MINISTER of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds is attempting to clarify statements made on Saturday that as National Security Minister he was not responsible for the lives of citizens.
In a press release on Wednesday, the Ministry of National Security stated that Hinds noted the criticisms made by the Opposition in reference to comments that he made during an interview with TV6 host Fazeer Mohammed on the Morning Edition Programme on Monday.
On Monday night, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar during the United National Congress (UNC) virtual meeting again called on Hinds to resign following his statements.
The ministry stated, “The Minister takes this opportunity to clear the air on this issue. Mr Mohammed, in his usual aggressive and abrasive style, invited the minister to agree to his hypothesis that the minister had failed in his responsibility to ensure the safety and security of the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.
“Naturally, the Minister disagreed, since nothing could be further from the truth. Minister Hinds did not agree with Mr Mohammed’s ill-informed and contrived position, and therefore sought to clarify for Mr Mohammed, the role of the Minister of National Security, extends beyond mere “concern”, “anger” and “exasperation”, over the issue of crime and violence in this country.”
The release stated, “For any Minister of National Security, issues of safety, security and the wellbeing of all our citizens and visitors to our shores, as well as issues of natural disaster, must be paramount. This is why Minister Hinds also sought to clarify for Mr Mohammed that the role of a Minister of National Security does not involve operational aspects of law enforcement; that being the responsibility of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, of course supported by other operational arms of the Ministry of National Security.”
Hinds said that as a government minister, in a democracy, among his primary responsibilities, was the articulation of the Government’s National Security Policy as well as to ensure that law enforcement agencies were properly resourced and supported, in the fight against crime and other threats to this democracy, the ministry stated.
The minister reaffirmed in the release that it was the responsibility of the technical experts and officeholders, like the Commissioner of Police, the Chief of Defence Staff, and other leaders of the State’s security architecture, as well as their personnel to treat with strategic frameworks, that guide the implementation of the government’s policy on national security.
“These naturally are aimed at achieving optimum safety and security for, and on behalf of, all of the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago,” the ministry stated.
The ministry added that such a collaborative and cooperative approach, with the operational leaders of national security, backed by competence, mutual respect, and integrity in public office, is the model that will offer the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, the most effective approach to arresting the state of crime and criminality.
The ministry also stated that the ones who choose to criticise Hinds might themselves be guilty of not subscribing to, nor adhering to the principles outlined by the Minister, and rather choose to use their political and other influence to undermine the integrity of these enduring principles, essential to the goal of good governance in Trinidad and Tobago.
