00:00Opposition leader Palempie Beckels says that since assuming office, the government of Trinidad and Tobago has largely relied on reactive
00:07measures in its war on crime.
00:09In a statement on Sunday, opposition leader Beckels says a party has repeatedly asked the Homeland Security Minister, Roger Alexander,
00:19to outline new proactive strategies to combat crime.
00:23However, the opposition leader said no clear plan has yet been presented by the government.
00:28The Homeland Security Minister had said in November of last year, the state of emergency without a curfew or limitations
00:34on public gatherings, which ended last month on January 31st, was not its anti-crime plan.
00:41Opposition leader Beckels declared that Trinidad and Tobago must pursue strategic international partnerships to improve homicide detection and implement modern
00:51intelligence-driven policing methods.
00:53The opposition leader further said that these efforts must strengthen public safety while safeguarding the constitutional rights and freedoms of
01:02law-abiding citizens.
01:03The opposition leader was responding to the Homeland Security Minister's comments in the Sunday Express about the daylight slaughter of
01:11Amelia Hernandez and her husband, Devor Toussaint, in front of his child.
01:15The Express reported that Homeland Security Minister Alexander criticized both the People's National Movement, led by opposition leader Beckels and
01:23the independent bench in the Senate, for shutting down the zones of special operations legislation, which he said would have
01:30given police more effective powers to deal with criminal elements.
01:35Last month, on January 28th, the Homeland Security Minister told the media that the government had a plan B where
01:43its one crime is concerned.
01:44In her statement on Sunday, the opposition leader said,
01:47It is deeply troubling that instead of constructively addressing the situation before us, the minister has chosen to condemn the
01:55opposition and independent senators for not supporting the so-called Zozo bill.
02:01The Express quoted the Homeland Security Minister as having said that it looks like the opposition leader's team is supporting
02:08criminals.
02:08The opposition leader said that Minister Roger Alexander would do well to focus more intently on the responsibilities of his
02:15office, rather than taking time to advance what she called ridiculous and unfounded claims that she supports crime.
02:23Opposition leader Beckels further said,
02:25In fact, he should really be the last person to accuse anyone of that. His childish attempts at deflection are
02:33embarrassing, to say the least.
02:35End quote. The opposition leader said that her foremost concern remains with the children who were playing nearby when the
02:42gunshots rang out and added that their trauma and well-being must be at the center of our national response.
02:51Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
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