Attorney General Anand Ramlogan yesterday declared war on the criminal element in the country.
“I want to say to the bandits that the war is on,” Ramlogan said in response to questions from the media at the state of emergency briefing at the Ministry of National Security on Abercromby Street, Port of Spain, yesterday.
Ramlogan said in the last nine years the country was in an “undeclared state of emergency” and people have used self-imposed curfews to stay safe. He said this curfew system and joint army/police patrols was the same template initiated during the coup in 1990.
“If we are honest about it, after nine people do not feel free to leave their homes,” Ramlogan said.
“I am yet to see a single bandit put up a single stick of burglar proofing, but in the last nine years I have seen innocent law abiding citizens not just lose fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters but I have seen them barricade themselves as if they are imprisoned in their own homes.” he said.
“Time has come for action,” Ramlogan said.
Ramlogan said anyone arrested under the new curfew restrictions can be held for 24 hours in the first instance after which a magistrate or anyone above the rank of assistance superintendent can authorise a further detention “not exceeding seven days under the Emergency powers regulations”.
Ramlogan said the Anti-Gang Act will be enforced and if there is evidence or suspicion, it could lead to a charge under that Act which translates into further retention.
“The question of bail doesn’t arise under the detention period,” he warned.
Ramlogan said Chief Justice Ivor Archie was responsible for setting up a tribunal for anyone detained under the next 15 days. The detainees will be allowed to make their representation to the tribunal, which will be charged with dealing with those specific cases.
Ramlogan praised the police officers involved in the shootout in Arima yesterday where two bandits were killed and dismissed accusations of police brutality and use of excessive force in dealing with the criminal element.
“There are more allegations of human brutality that disproportionately outweigh police brutality,” he said.
“Law abiding citizens have absolutely nothing to fear by this declaration of a state of emergency,” Ramlogan said.
Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Kenrick Maharaj, seconded that statement.
Maharaj said despite the recent statements from the President calling for more patriotic soldiers and even statements of missing weapons from the armoury, the army was committed to assisting with the crime situation.
“The Defence Force comprises a membership that is highly professional, highly motivated and we have a long history of excellent collaboration,” he said.
“What this particular circumstance presents to us is that it allows the Defense Force to continue to operate in support of the police, but we have the added measure of being able to operate independently. It gives us the freedom action to engage and conduct seizures, searches and apprehend people accordingly,” Maharaj said.
He assured that soldiers will act professionally and will only engage in “sanctioned activities”.
