UNC lip service on crime fight

THE EDITOR: The UNC local government campaign recently took a very extreme turn with the Opposition Leader using incendiary language to promote her latest crime-fighting policy. This of course is the stand-your-ground law which she proposes to enact along with a proliferation of guns to the public through FULs.

This is a very concerning measure, especially considering her calls for citizens to “light them up,” “empty the clip” and “load up the ’matic.” This is all part of a hardline approach to home invasions which has gripped the public's attention. However, I would like to examine how we came to this extreme position since, in my view, the UNC was afforded ample opportunity to tackle this and other crime issues and failed to do so.

In 2021, the current Government sought to extend the life of the Anti-Gang Act which made it a criminal offence to be engaged in gang activities. It defined a gang as two or more people who conspire to or engage in criminal activities. Among the activities outlined were forcible entry, assault, murder and firearm offences.

Most home invasions perpetrated appear to fall under this definition and are often perpetrated by gangs. A law to strike at the heart of gang activity would have certainly impacted their home-invasion activities as well. However, the UNC rejected the bill, a bill which it had passed as government but then refused to extend it as opposition.

The Government again sought to extend the life of the Bail Act in 2022, which sought to restrict bail for certain serious offences including assault, firearm offences, gang activity, sexual assault and murder. The idea was that the system was replete with repeat offenders who simply commit a crime, get arrested, are granted bail and are out on the streets to commit the same crime again shortly after.

By denying bail for these serious offences, criminals are kept in jail and not allowed back on the streets to terrorise citizens. The Opposition called the law draconian and argued for the rights of the criminals to be granted bail. Needing a special majority, the UNC parliamentarians failed to support the Bail Amendment Bill once again and this important crime-fighting initiative was no more.

Let me paint a scenario for you that is all too real in this country in 2023. A gang is allowed to operate with impunity because there is no longer a specific law to target the members' activities. They can plan a home invasion, break-in with firearms, assault or even worse. If arrested and brought before the courts, bail is granted. Within a short time, they are out on the streets doing what they know to do best – home invasions again.

And so, this cycle can continue with citizens being terrorised over and over. All while the tools which the Government and even the then commissioner of police, who is now a politician, asked for were denied to them by the UNC opposition.

If the UNC is serious about tackling crime – it appears to have adopted a hardline, extremist stance on criminals – then I call on its officials to reject their “rights of criminals” arguments which allowed them to reject the Bail Amendment Bill and anti-gang legislation.

Instead, support the Government in providing real legislative teeth to keep criminals off our streets and out of our homes, while striking at the heart of gang activity, which is plaguing our society.

VYASH NANDLAL

Couva