(Trinidad Express) Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has proposed his team for anti-crime talks with the Opposition, to be chaired by Attorney General Reginald Armour, SC.
The Prime Minister yesterday responded via letter to Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, giving notice that the Government was prepared to meet on crime “immediately after the budget debate”.
The letter invited the United National Congress (UNC) leader to also name four MPs for the meeting.
The communication issued by the Office of the Prime Minister stated. “I write now to propose the Government’s Parliamentary Team and subject list for discussion, to address the safety and security of the population of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.”
According to the PM, the Government’s team will also comprise National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds, Energy Minister Stuart Young, Public Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales and Tourism Minister Randall Mitchell.
The PM invited Persad-Bissessar “to name your team of four Parliamentarians to join with the Government to enable the work to commence, immediately after the budget debate”.
Rowley listed several subjects on the matter, which the Government proposed to prioritise the following for discussion and “which I emphasise is not exhaustive”.
The PM listed:
• Firearms Control Bill 2023
• Bail
• Interception of Communications
• Cybercrime Bill
• Administration of Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions), to include amendments to the Supreme Court Act with reference to a Drug Treatment Court, the Sexual Offences Act, the Summary Courts and the Coroners Act
• Amendments to the Evidence Act, to include the Right to Silence
• Controlled Operations Bill, 2023
• Private Security
• Legislation for Polygraph Tests for Law Enforcement Officers
• Raising the retirement age for members of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force which “we are currently looking at this and the implications”.
“The Government proposes that the team will have the option (on a majority vote) to co-opt the input of citizens by way of memoranda and or consultation,” stated the letter, signed “Yours Sincerely” by the Prime Minister.
The Opposition Leader stated up to yesterday that the Opposition was concerned the Prime Minister had not responded to her letter and was putting off the talks, which she had called for last month.
