Gov't, Opposition accuse each other of hypocrisy in crime debate

Government senator Nigel DeFreitas and Opposition senator Wade Mark accused each other of politicising issues relation to crime and national security during Tuesday's Senate sitting.

The sitting dealt with a private motion brought by Opposition senator Saddam Hosein to condemn the government for it's failure to deal with crime.

DeFreitas, during his contribution, slammed the Opposition accusing them of hypocrisy by raising concerns over crime but failing to support the Bail Amendment Bill which collapsed in the House of Representatives last week. He said while the government had a crucial role in forming legislation and policy, the Opposition should also do its part in assisting the passage of such legislation.

"Just last week they abstained from (voting for) the Bail Amendment Bill. He (the Attorney General) spoke to the Gaming, Gambling and Betting Bill which would have treated with money laundering and corruption, not passed in the House of Representatives.

"When we pass legislation in this chamber and the Opposition supports that legislation, that is the bipartisan approach to which everyone is speaking to. Let's take the politics out of crime for a second."

DeFreitas said another area where the Opposition has failed to effectively contribute to improving crime-fighting initiatives was their inconsistency in appointing members to joint select committees on crime.

He said while government and independent senators on these committees have remained the same, the Opposition has not had a consistent presence.

During his contribution, Mark hit back at DeFreitas and in turn accused the Government of hypocrisy by blaming the Opposition for failing to support crime-fighting initiatives.

He accused the Government of disabling aerial surveillance capacities by reducing the fleet of helicopters available.

"The Government has been accusing us (the Opposition) of not being able to address crime in a serious way, but I want to tell you when the government of the PNM came into office, they met ten helicopters. Today we only have two. The government of this PNM regime grounded the air guard on the grounds of it's inability to pay for maintenance.

Mark also accused the government of failing to secure TT's borders by refusing to accept three offshore patrol vessels from the US Navy.

He called on the government to say why they refused the vessels which, he said, were offered at no cost.