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alexk
Guest
Minister in the Office of the Attorney General Fitzgerald Hinds has described the failed process to find a commissioner of police by the Police Service Commission as a “national failure, we need a police commissioner.”
Speaking at a People’s National Movement public meeting in at the Barataria Community Centre, Hinds also dismissed claims that race played a part in Government’s rejection of Deodath Dulalchan as the PSC’s top nominee for the job.
Hinds said he was “perturbed “ to hear a citizen “who is a pundit” describe what happened in the Parliament as a “race” issue.
Hinds said in making the decision, Government did it because “we saw flaws that were fatal to the process and the PNM did what was right.”
The Government, he said, did what it had to do “with no consideration of race,” but in the best national interest.
He said the Parliament decided to send it back to the PSC “and we will review the order. We have seen best practice and we promise to review it in keeping with modern standards.”
What the PSC did, he said, “is a breach of the law.”
“What they did could never equate with best practice. We saw flaws where people who did not even apply ended up on the list,” Hinds said.
Hinds said the crime situation, which is “burdensome,” requires a motivated police force, but he said law enforcement also requires a more efficient and effective judiciary.
Referencing to a recent case where someone with millions worth of cocaine got a small fine, he said Government could not be passing stringent law and criminals were getting a “slap on the wrist.” He appealed to the judiciary “to have a better sentencing policy so criminals don’t just get a slap on the wrist.”
A magistrate, he said, could give up to ten years in jail for such offences but it not happening.
“We need swifter justice and harsher sentences,” he said.
Hinds also announced that legislation is being prepared to make it a criminal offence for people to occupy other people’s homes illegally.
“Senior citizens are victims of criminals who throw them out of their homes. I know where they fire-bomb homes and the persons flee and when persons go to the police to make a report the police ask for deed.”
It is because of these crimes that Hinds said legislation is coming.
“If you in somebody’s house and they arrest you and take you to court is jail,” he said.
Finance Minister Colm Imbert, who also addressed the meeting, meanwhile assured that pensioners will not have to pay Property Tax. The minimum tax, he said, is $40 a month.