00:00With crime bosses calling hits from within the prison walls, newly minted
00:05National Security Minister Marvin Gonzalez is vowing to crack down on
00:09illicit activities in the prison system. When you confiscate, when you confiscate
00:16drugs and you confiscate mobile phones in the morning, by the evening they
00:22return to the prisons so that those criminals can continue wreaking havoc on
00:29our people. In this regard we would have given the head of the prison service the
00:37undertaking that we will do everything possible to eradicate all of the illegal
00:45activities in our prison so that when we lock up the murderers and we lock up the
00:51gun carriers they will not order their hits on innocent citizens in Trinidad
00:56and Tobago. But the minister is giving this commitment to all officers on the
01:00right side of the law. And we want to give the assurance to every single
01:05prison officer that we will provide you with all of the resources that you
01:11require to protect yourselves from all of the criminals inside and outside of
01:16the prison and we will ensure that every gang leader and every criminal that is
01:22incarcerated in our prison will not use the prison to wreak havoc on us on the
01:28outside. For years prison officers have been lobbying to carry arms between 2020
01:35and 2024. A total of six prison officers have been murdered. Contacted for comment
01:41head of the Prison Officers Association Gerard Gordon expressed cautious
01:46optimism on hearing the minister's statements noting that the country is
01:50weeks away from a general election. But he said the association would welcome a
01:56meeting with the minister once he retains office. We have the state in
02:00court for the last 10 years and that speaks specifically to the safety and
02:04security of officers. So that matter continues in the court. Certainly if we
02:12are able to achieve not only the resources but some of those things
02:20which we spoke to in the matter. We are hoping it doesn't have to go to trial
02:28but certainly we are prepared to follow through with the matter. Meantime the
02:33National Security Minister had some good news as it pertains to a maritime
02:38security. Two of our Cape class vessels have finally returned to the waters of
02:45Trinidad and Tobago to protect our borders. That not too far from now
02:50three new interceptors will also be on the waters of Trinidad and Tobago to
02:56secure our borders. Renessa Cutting TV6 News
Comments