Ramdeen criticises govt

OPPOSITION Senator Gerald Ramdeen yesterday lamented what he described as “gross incompetence” on the part of government and the police service for the lack of arrests made one month after the passing of anti-gang legislation.

Speaking at a press conference at his Cornelio Street, Woodbrook office, Ramdeen said despite reportedly having extensive knowledge of gang members throughout TT, no arrests have been made and questioned the effectiveness of the legislation in fighting crime.

Referring to remarks made by Rowley last December where he predicted more bloodshed due to opposition’s failure to support the legislation, Ramdeen said government must accept responsibility for the murder rate.

“Dr Rowley was telling the country that the blood of every person that is killed after we failed to support the anti-gang legislation, he said that blood is on the hands of the UNC.

“But today I want to tell Dr Rowley and his government that the blood is now on the hands of him and the PNM because they have brought absolutely no relief to the young people being killed every day. He was right, more are dying, 1400 people have been killed since September of 2015.”

Ramdeen said the failure of the government to implement a more robust witness protection system and legislation was part of the problem in addressing high crime. Citing to his own experience as a member of a Joint Select Committee, for national security, Ramdeen criticised government for having Cambridge Analytica data mining assume higher priority over witness protection and domestic violence and asserted that more children and women have been killed during the current government’s term than any other administration.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Opposition Senator Gerald Ramdeen this afternoon lamented what he described as "gross incompetence" on the part of government and the police service for the lack of arrests made one month after the passing of anti-gang legislation.

Speaking at a press conference at his Cornelio Street, Woodbrook office, Ramdeen said despite reportedly having extensive knowledge of gang members throughout TT, no arrests have been made.

Ramdeen also slammed Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley for saying, "more would die", when opposition failed to support the first draft of the legislation.

"How is it that in 2017, more than a year ago the Attorney General and the government has the information on every single gang member and three weeks after the (anti-gang) legislation has been proclaimed, there hasn't been a single arrest, one prosecution, but there are 30 murders they tell us is mostly gang related."