00:00Crime and criminality continues to be a major thorn in the government's side.
00:04Faced with a mounting homicide rate nearing 500 for the year already, with
00:08guns accounted for a huge percentage of these homicides, Finance Minister
00:13Colm Imbert gave the assurance that the government was doing all in its power to
00:17continue its relentless fight against reducing all forms of crime. The ministry
00:22will focus on the following areas among others in its mission to reduce crime
00:26and criminality in Trinidad and Tobago. Enhanced border control and protection.
00:32Immigration. Social programs aimed at reducing criminal gang violence.
00:39Expansion of rehabilitation programs within the Trinidad and Tobago Prison
00:44Service aimed at reducing recidivism. Enhanced cyber security. Expansion of the
00:51electronic monitoring program and establishment of a national forensic
00:56DNA data bank. With respect to the Defense Force, in an ongoing effort to
01:03combat the illicit trafficking of guns, drugs and ammunition into Trinidad and
01:09Tobago, the Ministry of National Security continues to implement security
01:13measures committed to combating transnational crime. The minister
01:19acknowledged that to battle transatlantic crime, partnerships with
01:23regional and international partners will be crucial as we move to securing our
01:27borders. He said the government was moving to purchase four patrol launches
01:31and eight high-speed interceptors for the Coast Guard, already stricken with
01:35several non-functioning vessels and drones will also be purchased. Of
01:39critical importance is upgrades to immigration, which the minister pointed
01:43out could play a crucial role in detecting wanted criminals trying to
01:47enter Trinidad, as well as human trafficking and drug smuggling.
01:51Immigration will act as a bulwark for would-be criminals as a new system will
01:56be rolled out for travelers, Imbed said. An automated fingerprint identification
02:01system. In fiscal 2025, the Immigration Division will commence work on an
02:08automated fingerprint identification system to strengthen border management
02:13and improve national security. The upgrade aims to facilitate faster and
02:18more accurate fingerprint matching, allowing for the real-time monitoring of
02:24travelers and enhancing response times to potential threats. Imbed said for this
02:29system to take effect, there will be amendments needed in the legislation
02:33with the support of the opposition critical. He said they will also be
02:37rolling out e-passports and also spoke about the importance of the Forensic
02:41Science Center to be built that will allow this country to now have access to
02:45advanced forensic and pathology services with greater technical capabilities in
02:50assisting with evidence gathered at crime scenes. Apart from new cyber
02:55legislation to be introduced, Imbed said the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service
02:58will be provided with an additional 2,000 vehicles over the next two years
03:03with 500 expected in the first phase early next year. Mark Basant, TV6 News.
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