Young tells youths: Please don't get into crime

MINISTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY Stuart Young pleaded with the nation’s youth not to get into a life of criminality, as he answered questions during a virtual PNM youth forum on Monday.

He had been asked by Noel Espinoza of the Arima Youth League about the implications for youth of the opposition refusal to support the anti-gang legislation in Parliament on Friday.

Young also said the government is doing everything it can to stop the scourge of gang violence despite the bill's defeat.

“I would like to plead with all the youth of TT: the life of criminality is not one that you should pursue. A lot of our young people have gone down that road. We’ve seen it time and time again. All that glitters is not gold.

“What we saw in the Parliament last Friday was nothing short of a disaster," he admitted. "But we will not be deterred. We will roll with the punches and continue to do the work.”

He said the Opposition took away “one of the most important tools” of the government’s fight against crime. He said every country in the world has legislation to deal with its gang problem.

Young expressed specific disappointment at seeing a young person – Saddam Hosein – being led astray by a leader – Kamla Persad-Bissessar – to say in Parliament that there was no need for the legislation. He said the statement was simply untrue.

“The anti-gang legislation is unique and specific to gangs. Harbouring gang members, threatening people who want to leave gangs, assisting gang members, being a gang leader – those are specific offences. The police have been driving a number of investigations. Police have been gathering evidence and laid charges –and now what happens?

“Let the UNC wannabe government now take responsibility for all the ills that we are now going to see take place.”

In 2018, government passed the amended Anti-Gang Bill, which had a two-year sunset clause. Last Friday last, Parliament debated the 2020 bill to extend it for two years. The Opposition abstained from the vote, saying that the bill was ineffective, and has refused to support the bill unless procurement legislation is implemented.