Ramjattan: Deflating upsurge in crime will take time –says Administration doing all it can to arrest the situation
MINISTER of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan yesterday said that deflating the upsurge in crime will take time, as he pointed that the situation did not begin under the current Government, but under the former Administration.The Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has been very critical of Minister Ramjattan on the increase in crime.
But he suggested that the members on the Opposition benches have no moral authority to blame him.
Former Minister of Public Service Jennifer Westford, who is now a member of the Opposition, he said, has been charged with committing a crime — the fraudulent transfer of State vehicles to her family and friends.
Ramjattan told the House that the crime situation started in February, not long after the former Government stopped paying the some 2000 Amerindian Community Support Officers (CSOs) it is claiming that the Granger Administration dismissed.
This statement caused some uproar on the Opposition benches, with Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira saying that the claim by the minister is inaccurate and racist, and should be withdrawn.
The former Administration had not made any financial allocation for the CSOs beyond April 2015, and none were issued contracts outlining the terms and conditions of their work.
As such, Ramjattan said the claim by the Opposition that the Government fired the CSOs is false, just as their claim that crime began to increase when the new Government assumed power.
He said crime is fuelled by high unemployment, drug and alcohol abuse and illegal guns in the streets, among other factors. Violent crimes, he said, are committed by people who cannot find jobs, but also, he said, crime is caused by greed.
The desperation, he said, is a breeding ground pushing up the crime rate, but he said the Administration will be implementing social programmes to create employment, so as to address this worrying situation.
Not T20 Cricket
The Public Security Minister stressed that bringing the crime rate down will take time, contending that the situation is not “T20 Cricket,” but more of a “Test match” at hand.
And on this note, he said the Administration is committed to bringing the culture of greed to a halt, and would be working to build a strong Police Force which will have no place for rogue cops.
The administration of the Police Force, the minister said, will be strengthened, and this among other things will boost the morale of officers and encourage them to give of their best.
In the past, he said, retired officers had to go through a hassle to get their monies, including their gratuity; and certain officers, for some strange reason, were not allowed to go on overseas training.
This, he said, will stop, and strong emphasis will be placed on building capacity in the Police Force. Ramjattan also said the criminal justice system will be strengthened and a two-month amnesty will begin in September for illegal firearm holders to hand in their guns, pointing out that “there are too many out there.”
The 02:00hrs curfew, he also said, will help in reducing road accidents since many are caused by intoxicated persons.
But coming back to the Police Force, the minister said strong attention will be placed on strengthening the police administration, training and identifying crime hotspots and conducting regular patrols.
Ranks will also be deployed to areas most in need.
But the Force is faced with a challenge, he said, pointing out that it is short of some 1,500 to 2,000 ranks.
Nevertheless, the minister said more vehicles, bicycles, motorcycles, All Terrain Vehicles, and boats, among other facilities, will be given to the police to fight crime.
And added to this, over 100 surveillance cameras will be installed in and around the city to aid in crime-fighting there. Some 50 per cent of crimes are committed in the city.
By Tajeram Mohabir
