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  • 3 months ago
Install panic buttons to trigger sirens in the event of a home invasion.

That was one piece of advice from Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar during a Stand Your Ground consultation in her constituency Tuesday night.

The Prime Minister says while the home invasion law is being crafted and the SOE continues, citizens can try alternative criminal deterrent measures.

Our reporter Cindy Raghubar-Teekersingh was in Penal for the meeting and tells us more.
Transcript
00:00Recognizing that not everyone may be able to afford expensive home security systems in their homes to deter criminals,
00:08Prime Minister Kamla Prasad-Bissessa is encouraging other, cheaper mechanisms that can have the same effect.
00:15Which is to put a panic button.
00:18So that is not as if you don't have the CCTV cameras, you don't have anything,
00:23any time you're worried, just press that button and it won't place.
00:26It's noise. It's like a siren blaring.
00:30We did that at our home, saying it is not something expensive to do.
00:37Maybe you can consider that until we can get the criminals safely locked away and behind bars.
00:43Speaking to constituents at a Stand Your Ground public consultation at her penal office on Tuesday night,
00:50she said the murder rate has gone down by 34% since the start of the SOE.
00:55She also encouraged people to submit concerns and suggestions to the government surrounding the proposed Stand Your Ground legislation
01:04as they hope to bring it to Parliament when the sitting resumes in September.
01:08On Tuesday, every resident who raised questions or concerns were hopeful the bill will offer greater protection to victims.
01:16When that bill becomes law, that legislation is going to be a valuable tool for victims of home invasion.
01:29When we whooped those invaders who come into our home, we wouldn't have to answer.
01:36We will be innocent victims rather than how the law has it presently.
01:44The draft suggests a penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a $500,000 fine or 25 years imprisonment and a $750,000 fine in most serious cases.
01:57These are actually higher than some of the drug and firearms offences.
02:04That's to tell you how serious we are in terms of these penalties.
02:08Very, very serious. We want to make them very, very serious crimes.
02:12We do not think that we would get, well, we hope we don't get any pushback on that.
02:17But then you never know. There are some who don't want these things to change.
02:22Senator Alaha says while the bill needs and they have a three-fifths majority in the lower house, the battle will be when it goes to the upper house.
02:32In the Senate, we have to work very hard because we need four more votes.
02:37We have to work very hard, but let's see how that goes.
02:41But that's why we want you to support us.
02:43The question is, should the home invasion, self-defense and defense of property bill 2025 be brought to parliament at the earliest possible opportunity?
02:51You all in favour?
02:56Any against?
02:58Prime Minister, I think the eyes have it.
03:00Cindy Raghuban, Tika Singh, TV6 News.
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