Indarsingh: Griffith’s honeymoon over

SAYING a crime wave is currently sweeping through central Trinidad constituencies, Couva South MP Rudranath Indarsingh has called on Commissioner of Police (CoP) Gary Griffith to meet with divisional commanders to devise a plan to stem the crime.

“I am saying that this government has failed, and also the Commissioner of Police. His honeymoon is over. He must step up to the plate, as well as the other heads of law enforcement – immigration, Coast Guard, the army – and ensure that the coast, our borders are protected, the guns continue to be seized. And while we commend the commissioner for the initial successes that he has had in dealing with cases of kidnappings, the law-abiding citizens are continuing to cry out for safety and well-being.” He said the CoP must go to Couva and holds talks on instituting joint police army patrols, which he said were promised by the Prime Minister more than two and half years ago, and “get a feedback from his officers why is this crime wave, why is this surge in criminal activity continuing to occur and is causing much trauma and pain?” In a phone interview yesterday, Indarsingh said his Couva South constituency has been rocked by a series of crimes, including a robbery at a Phoenix Park mini-mart where the owner, who was retrenched from Arcelor Mittal, was shot several times in the head and shoulder.

He said a teacher and his 73-year-old mother of Dow village, California, were the victims of a violent robbery on Thursday night, and the woman, who had been married for 50 years, had her wedding ring “violently yanked” off her hand. The robbers reportedly also took two televisions and other items.

He said another robbery took place at a Basta Hall, Couva bar and the owners were reportedly robbed of over $10,000. In two separate incidents, he said, two MTS night shift security guards were robbed at work and he bandits reportedly took money and their cars.

“And in the community where I live, the eldest person, aged 92, on Monday, his entire house was robbed at 6 o’clock and relieved of jewellery and cash. And this tells me that government policies are not gathering the necessary results and law-abiding citizens continue to be hostages and prisoners in their own homes.”