(Trinidad Guardian) National Security Minister Jack Warner believes that criminal elements are working with the Opposition PNM to get him out of office. During a town meeting held at Warner Village, Charlieville, in his Chaguanas West Constituency on Tuesday night, Warner said the local underworld bosses want to see him out as Minister of National Security so their illegal activities can prosper.
He said people at the top level involved in the drug trade, illegal guns and the importation of sex slaves want crime to run rampant in T&T. They are trying to get rid of me…they are trying to get me at that level, but the fact is that they would not succeed,” Warner said. He said Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has full confidence in him. “There are top, top, top, top people in this country who we have to flush out,” he said.
Warner said CCTV cameras would be installed throughout T&T and would involve surveillance of public places with the option of having householders connecting their cameras to a network which would be monitored by police. He said mobile police posts were also in the works with several to be placed in his Chaguanas West constituency. He also spoke briefly of a 30-day amnesty for holders of illegal guns and ammunition.
Warner said after the amnesty expires, anyone caught with illegal arms and ammunition would be tried before a gun court. He also said 5,000 Special Reserve policemen would be recruited in the continuing fight against crime and there would be the option of becoming full-time and part-time officers. Warner also encouraged teachers and public servants to apply to become SRPs.
On Tuesday, villagers gave Warner feedback on drainage and infrastructure projects undertaken in their community. He promised to look into complaints made by the residents regarding the standard of the work done. He said Warner Village had seen no development under the PNM and that many were quick to criticise the PP Government but failed to realise that the alternative was a PNM led by Dr Keith Rowley.
