[UPDATED] AG on 'army power of arrest' suggestion: 'Madmanism'

ATTORNEY GENERAL Faris Al-Rawi has dismissed the suggestion of giving the military powers of arrest, to help in the fight against crime, as insanity.

He was responding to UNC St Joseph candidate Ahloy Hunt, who spoke about the party’s anti-crime plans at a virtual UNC election campaign meeting on Thursday night. He said granting powers of arrest to the military would complement the work of the police.

In an interview with Newsday on Friday, Al-Rawi blasted the suggestion as unconstitutional and questioned the legal knowledge of Opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar in having her candidate suggest such a policy.

“For the UNC to be propagating this madmanism is in keeping with their DNA, and I caution TT in the strongest terms possible to reject the anarchy that system will bring.

“Clearly they have missed the boat, yet again, and I am alarmed that Senior Counsel Kamla Persad-Bissessar could be sitting on a stage with Mr Hunt and not immediately pull the microphone away from him. Clearly she has endorsed this policy and she stands as a constitutional danger to TT.”

Referring to the Defence Amendment Bill 2013, also called the Police-Soldier Bill, taken before Parliament by then prime minister Persad-Bissessar, Al-Rawi said the country has already judged such a policy unsound, and reasoned that a restructured police service is more capable of tackling aggressive criminal threats, therefore reducing dependence on the Defence Force (TTDF).

“It was rejected by the country because there is an inconsistency, if not radical difference, between the police and army training. And the powers of arrest to go into the TTDF, without a service commission backing, would be nothing short of dangerous, madman (sic), insanity.

“The Commissioner of Police, Gary Griffith, has demonstrated that a reorganised police service has all that is necessary to treat with the tackle against crime.

“One need only look at the recent orchestrated unrest in Port of Spain where, within minutes, the police were able to deal with and quell a situation without the assistance of the TTDF for the first time in the history of TT.”

He said while joint army-police patrols are effective in tackling crime, he felt the power of arrest should remain with the police as they will remain free of political interference.

Newsday also contacted former national security minister retired brigadier general Carl Alfonso, who said he did not agree with Hunt’s suggestion outside of a state of emergency.

“I don’t think it will be a good idea to give powers of arrest to soldiers. Everyone has powers of arrest in the form of a citizen’s arrest, but I don’t think we should go further than that, unless, of course, there’s a state of emergency.”

Contacted for comment,  Griffith said he did not want to speak on the issue, as it would be inappropriate for him to express views on possible policy or recommendations relating to national security.

Newsday also spoke to former UNC national security minister, leader of the Independent Liberal Party (ILP), Jack Warner, who said he could not give a response at the time as he was “about to go and walk.”

In 2018, the issue of giving soldiers the powers of arrest was raised by then opposition senator Wade Mark.

Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Clarence Rambharat responded to Mark that government was satisfied for the police alone to have powers of arrest.

He said none of the 82 recommendations in the police manpower audit suggested that be done.

At Thursday’s political meeting, Hunt – a retired lieutenant colonel– also outlined the UNC’s eight-point anti-crime plan, which included armoured patrol vehicles for the protective services, random polygraph testing for security personnel, improved privacy features for crime hotlines and enhanced surveillance systems.

This story been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi has dismissed the suggestion of giving members of the military powers of arrest to aid in the fight against crime as insanity.

He was responding to calls by the UNC's St Joseph candidate Ahloy Hunt in reference to the party's anti-crime plans.

Hunt made the remarks during his address at the UNC's virtual campaign meeting on Thursday night, in which he said granting powers of arrest to the military would complement the work of the police in crime-fighting.

Speaking with Newsday on Friday, Al-Rawi blasted the suggestion as unconstitutional and questioned the legal knowledge of Opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar in having her candidate suggest such a policy.

"For the UNC to be propagating this 'madmanism' is in keeping with their DNA, and I caution TT in the strongest terms possible to reject the anarchy that system will bring.

"Clearly they have missed the boat yet again and I am alarmed senior counsel Kamla Persad-Bissessar could be sitting on a stage with Mr Hunt and not immediately pull the microphone away from him. Clearly she has endorsed this policy and she stands as a constitutional danger to TT."

Referring to the Police-Soldier Bill brought before Parliament by then prime minister Persad-Bissessar in 2013, Al-Rawi said the country has already judged such a policy unsound, and reasoned that a restructured police service is more capable of tackling aggressive criminal threats reducing dependence on the Defence Force (TTDF).

"It was rejected by the country because there is an inconsistency, if not radical difference between the police and army training and the powers of arrest to go into the TTDF, without a service commission backing, would be nothing short of dangerous, madman (sic), insanity.

"The Commissioner of Police, Gary Griffith, has demonstrated that a reorganised police service has all that is necessary to treat with the tackle against crime.

"One need only look at the recent, orchestrated unrest in Port of Spain where within minutes the police were able to deal with and quell a situation, without the assistance of the TTDF, for the first time in the history of TT."

He said while joint army-police patrols are effective in tackling crime, he felt the power of arrest should remain with the police, as they will remain free of political interference.

During his address at the meeting, Hunt, a retired lieutenant colonel, also outlined the UNC's eight-point anti-crime plan, which included armoured patrol vehicles for the protective services, random polygraph testing for security personnel, improved privacy features for crime hotlines and enhanced surveillance systems.