By Sue-Ann Wayow

THE main purpose of the Stand Your Ground (SYG) legislation is to provide citizens with protection and not a licence to kill.

Attorney Gerald Ramdeen reminded citizens of this on Tuesday during a SYG legislation consultation in the constituency of Oropouche East.

In his closing remarks, he said, “The purpose of this legislation, we must not forget, it is to provide you with a form of protection.”

Ramdeen also told attendees, “It is not an opportunity for you to take the law into your own hands and take advantage of a situation…This is not legislation that gives you a licence to kill.”

He said there was a great responsibility when such legislation is passed on anyone to use force in a certain situation.

Sitting next to Ramdeen was Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander, a former member of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS).

Ramdeen said, “We will always find fault with the TTPS,” to which Alexander laughed.

He added, “We will always find things we can complain about. We will always find things that can be done better but the TTPS is what stands between us and the criminal element” to which Alexander nodded his head in agreement.

It did not matter where the TTPS faulted, the attorney called for support for the law enforcement agency, as well as the Ministries of Defence and Homeland Security and Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro.

Apart from support, placing confidence and information in the police’s hands will fight crime, he said.

“We must trust them and ask them to trust us,” Ramdeen said.

Ramdeen referred to the SYG legislation as one of the most evolutionary pieces of legislation to reach the Parliament.

Also speaking at the consultation was Senator Darrel Allahar.

He said, “You can use force if your property is threatened but the force must be proportionate to the threat. You not going to kill a man for five mangoes!”

Allahar said, “We have to contain our rage because you will be no better than the bandits coming into your yard.”

From the attendees’ points of view, several expressed concerns with the cost of crime, when to draw a firearm and other security concerns.

One man said residents would have to pay $100 per month per family to pay a private security firm to patrol areas in the night but many with the loss of jobs who worked at URP and CEPEP, could not now afford to pay for protection.

He asked that police patrols be made to take the financial burden off residents in Debe.

Member of Parliament for Oropouche East Dr Roodal Moonilal, giving statistics from the TTPS stated 500 home invasions were reported for last year.

He said the country has reached a stage where not only the home/castle was not safe but also religious activity curtailed because of crime.

“We are moving the balance in favour of citizens of Trinidad and Tobago,” Dr Moonilal said.

And Alexander said contrary to what some may think, home invasions were also organised crime with person giving out information about other persons.

“They know all who have guns and they know, all who have none,” he said.

Alexander gave an example, “On many occasions, the ladies that is, working in institutions, financial institutions and they can give information to anybody that Senator Anil Roberts have $100 in his account… When they give this information, persons are ready.”

He also said citizens need to be smart and not give out unnecessary information such as informing co-workers, “I am going to the bank.”

Also speaking on Tuesday night were attorneys Ganesh Saroop and Gobin Harrypersad.