By Sue-Ann Wayow
STOP protecting your relatives who are criminals.
This was the message of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley on Sunday.
Dr Rowley speaking on the issue of crime which he said was at an unacceptably high level said while the authorities can do much to find and arrest criminals, families can do a lot more by not covering for them.
The prime minister was addressing the People’s National Movement (PNM) National Women’s League annual general meeting and 48th annual women’s conference at Achievors Banquet Hall, Duncan Village, San Fernando.
Dr Rowley asked, “Where do these murderers come from? Who are they? Where do they live? Are they part of your family? Are you withholding information from the police? Do you know who has the guns and use them at will upon whom they choose?”
He continued, “What do you know that you keep a secret? The police can do so much. The defence force can do so much. The Government can do so much. But there is a lot to be done by the families who are covering up for the gunmen, covering up for these murderers.”
Public officials namely those in the Customs and Excise Division also do not assist the Government in its fight against crime, he said.
Dr ROwley said, “The Cabinet has absolutely no control over them because, in our constitution, they are the subjects of the Public Service Commission (PSC), over which the Cabinet has absolutely no control. Those are problems this country faces whether I am in or out of office. Those are difficulties you need to ponder upon.”
Dr Rowley added that the Cabinet also had no role in the appointment of the Police Service Commission (PolSC) which is done after consultation between the President and the Prime Minister.
He also said the office of Commissioner of Police was independent and the Cabinet also had no role to play regarding promotion, demotion and discipline.
Acting CoP McDonald Jacob was urged by Dr Rowley to point out and remove police officers from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) who also may be collaborating with criminals.
He is correct, in most cases when you watch the evening news where there is a situation on crime, you always here the relatives say that he/she is not like that, he/she is the best child full of love and cannot do those things. So the question now stands, if everyone is so loving and not into crime activities, then who are responsible for it?