On this Independence Day, the Prime Minister would like the Judiciary to know that the population is waiting on the day when criminals in this country reap the consequences of their actions. Dr. Rowley also reminded the TTPS that there is no prize for second place, even as he raised a toast and thanked the police for their service. Rynessa Cutting reports.
00:00On this Independence Day, Prime Minister and head of the National Security Council, Dr. Keith Christopher Rowley is calling on the third arm of the state, along with the primary entity tasked with protecting the nation, to ensure that they both fulfil their mandates.
00:18And I want to say today to the Commissioner of Police that you and your officers, all almost 10,000 of you, are to relentlessly pursue criminal conduct, especially violent criminal conduct, because there is no prize for second place.
00:36And I want to say to the Chief Justice in your presence that the population is awaiting the day when the criminals will feel fearful to approach the court and be found guilty of criminal conduct.
00:52Dr. Rowley says while there is much to be celebrated as an independent nation, the reality is a majority of the citizenry is very concerned about crime. The Prime Minister believes, in theory, the TDPS has what it takes to better protect and serve the people of this country.
01:12If you look at the international yardstick, you would find that Trinidad and Tobago does have numerically a satisfactory amount of police officers on the payroll.
01:27However, what we have to work at is ensuring that those bodies are multiplied by police hours of work and the immeasurable effort of enthusiasm.
01:47Once that enthusiasm is there, once the integrity of officers is there, then we are sure that the number of officers in relation to the size of the population would eventually get the better of the criminal element.
02:06But the Prime Minister acknowledged that those with criminal mindsets are also many in number. He believes a cultural shift is needed.
02:15There are too many people who believe that when they get to the court, they can appeal to the empathy of the human race who sees them as unfortunates for whom you must hold out the easiest concerns and to say how unfortunate they are for having fallen into criminal life.
02:39That is not the reality. The reality is that many of these people are taking a deliberate decision to participate in dangerous, violent criminal conduct because they are not afraid of the consequences because all too often they do not see the consequences of their actions and in fact if they do see it, they don't see it in a timely manner.
03:03Despite the challenges however, the Prime Minister thanked the members of the TTPS for their service, resilience and sacrifice.
03:12To the police service of Trinidad and Tobago, the first responders, the rampart against criminal conduct, our hope against violent crime and murders in Trinidad and Tobago and asking you to ensure that you succeed in your duties because if you fail, Trinidad and Tobago cannot succeed in the face of violent criminal conduct.
03:34Raise a toast to the Trinidad and Tobago police service, all the men, all the women, all the family. Happy 62nd Independence. Thank you.
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