00:00Hines related that he had been recently told that an investor did not want to do
00:04business in this country because of the number of reports of criminal activities.
00:08An investor spoke with him about investing money in Trinidad and Tobago
00:15and didn't want to do it because of the state of crime as it's coming
00:20internationally to his attention, didn't want to do it and that's unfortunate for
00:26Hines said that this should be a concern to all citizens of Trinidad and Tobago
00:32Anything that is done to tarnish our reputation internationally affects every
00:38one of you because that investment could have given more, created more jobs, grow
00:43the economy but we have a problem. He was asked if he was concerned about what
00:48crime was doing to the country's international reputation. I am absolutely
00:53concerned about that as I alluded to earlier because I have been an officer
00:59of the state now for over 40 years. I started out as a police officer, I've
01:04been a member of Parliament for many many years, I've been a Minister of
01:07Government and I'm mindful of the responsibility on my part and also as a
01:14man, as a person, as a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago who love this country like you
01:19do, to do whatever I can to promote it. So whether I'm home or I'm abroad it's
01:25about promoting the good and the beauty that is Trinidad and Tobago and there's
01:29a lot to be said good for us. So I am concerned when people act in ways or do
01:34anything or say anything to the detriment of the reputation of the
01:39nation and as a Minister of Government I know what that means in a direct way
01:44because I interface with some of our international partners. For example
01:48Trinidad and Tobago earned itself an international reputation as being a
01:53major exporter of foreign terrorist fighters during the time and the heyday
01:57of ISIS. That's a reputation that we earned and it went and it continues to
02:04go a very long way. It affects every one of you in very direct ways.
02:08Hines said that this is the reason why the government is seeking to treat with
02:12the reports of criminality and corruption not just for the sake of
02:16citizens but for the future of the country as a whole. We are trying to
02:21protect Trinidad and Tobago from a lot of that. This is the reason why we are
02:25taking action to improve our border security. This is the reason why we're
02:29taking action to root out of our ranks persons who demonstrate criminal
02:34tendencies. This is why we have to watch those who we elect in this country
02:40because countries in this world have had criminals in government. We have had
02:45criminals in all professions including the law in this country. As a result
02:52Hines called on citizens to work with the state and the police and to give
02:56information on criminal activities as the fight against crime required a
03:01whole-of-society approach. So it is no magic wand, it is no light switch. There's
03:08a whole lot to be done on an ongoing basis by all of us if we have to deal
03:14with this problem here. Alexander Brouzal, TV6 News.
Comments