Caption: Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander. AZP News/Azlan Mohammed
By Sue-Ann Wayow
PRIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bisssessar is confident that her newly appointed government will be able to reduce the crime rate within a timely manner.
She said on Saturday, “I am quite confident that we will be able to bring crime down. We may not be able to eradicate it completely but I do believe and we will give it every shot that we have to bring the crime levels down.”
Persad-Bissessar was speaking to the media after the swearing in ceremony for her Cabinet at the President’s House.
In her inaugural speech as Prime Minister, Persad-Bissessar promised that within six months, the country will be a safer place.
Her government did it before in from 2010 to 2015, she said and it can be done again, “one day at a time,” she said.
Roger Alexander was named Minister of Homeland Security – a new ministry -nand Wayne Sturge was given the portfolio of Minister of Defence.
Additionally, Devish Maharaj was named Minister of Justice and Saddam Hosein, Minister of Legal Affairs.
Persad-Bissessar said the ministries together with the Office of the Attorney General will work in tandem to bring the crime rate down.
She also said, “We do have a lot of other persons who have committed to work with us especially in the area of technology to help us in the fight against crime.”
@azpnews.com Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar speaks to the media after swearing in her Cabinet. Video: Prior Beharry @kamla.persad.bissessar @uncofficialtiktok@uncandproud@official.unc0@uncnationalyoutharm@uncfortt #UNC #KamlaPersadBissessar #primeminister #SwearinginCeremony #cabinet
Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander also spoke to the media afterwards.
He said citizens must be protected first.
When asked about home invasion laws spoken about on the campaign trail, he said, “Men may not want to ever enter a person’s home again. A home is a man’s castle and he must defend his castle by any lawful means necessary.”
Alexander also said that within the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) there was a mechanism to deal with rogue cops but it a needed to be backed by a proper judiciary system.
@azpnews.com Minister of Homeland, Security Roger Alexander first interview with media. Video: Prior Beharry @uncofficialtiktok @uncandproud @uncnationalyoutharm @uncfortt @official.unc0 #minister #homelandsecurity #rogeralexander #swearinginceremony #UNC #government
He said some officers may need to be re-motivated and reminded that they were needed by citizens for safety and security.
Alexander also promised to meet with the family of Pete Phillip, who went missing after a rig incident last year, and still has not been found.
He said some aspects may fall under Sturge’s ministry but he will start by meeting with the family members.
And Attorney General John Jeremie, SC, also said he will be looking into the payment to the family members of the four divers who died back in 2022 and $1 million payments promised by the previous administration.
