00:00Former member of the Police Service Commission, activist, and former temporary independent senator, Pastor Clive Dutton, tells the Morning Edition
00:09the country is confronting sophisticated criminal networks with narco trafficking and gang activity taking a serious toll on communities.
00:18So what I am saying is not just hot spots in the East West Corridor, you know, it's all over
00:24Trinidad now. So let's get out of our thinking. There are some areas that have been soaked, that have been
00:31soaked with cocaine in this country. And one of the areas is in South Trinidad.
00:36He says dismantling those networks would require a comprehensive strategy capable of penetrating the systems behind the violence and drug
00:45trade. He also weighs in on the government's crime-fighting strategies.
00:50I am saying that I supported the Zozo bill. My reason for supporting it, before they even came up with
00:58Zozo, I was supporting, I recommended that initiative because I saw it work in Jamaica.
01:03Now there are some differences. But generally, I believe it worked there. In fact, in fact, it almost, by almost
01:12half, they reduced the murder rate. So it was a success there.
01:16But would you have supported this bill?
01:18Now, I have not looked at this bill in its entirety, but I want to tell you, I would have
01:25been moved based on my operations on the Gron to give it support.
01:30However, Pastor Dottin is urging political leaders to be more measured in their public exchanges, warning that their words are
01:39being watched not only by the world, but by the country's young people.
01:43It appears to me, from where I sit and where I operate in the trenches, on the ground, that you
01:53have a challenge. Both sides have a challenge. And I just want to also caution politicians to watch their language.
02:03Because if you want to unite a society, and as only a united society could fight crime, you know.
02:08Nicole M. Romani, TV6 News.
02:15Nicole M. Romani, TV6 News.
02:16Nicole M. Romani, TV6 News.
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