Roget: Rowley should resign from National Security Council

Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) president Ancel Roget says the Prime Minister should resign as head of the National Security Council (NSC) as he has the blood of citizens on his hands.

At a media conference on August 21, Roget accused the government of failing in its responsibility to ensure the safety of citizens.

He said it did not appear to him that the government treats addressing crime as its primary responsibility.

“We have a situation where we have a runaway crime and murders. It’s as if (the government) doesn't care and it’s not their responsibility.

“It's the responsibility of everybody else. So it's the parents, it's the churches, it's the teachers and it's the man in the streets.

“It's everybody else’s (responsibility) except those whose job it is to protect us and to keep us safe.”

Roget suggested the recent announcement to replace Columbus’s ships with the steelpan on the coat of arms was a distraction.

Roget said, though, unfortunately, criminals do not care about “the politics of distraction.

“For the criminals, it’s not about the coat of arms, they don’t care about the coat of arms. What they boast about is that they have their own arms and ammunition. All of those politics of distraction will do the public no good.”

He said Rowley has proved himself to be incompetent and should accept responsibility for the current murder toll.

“Being a prime minister does not make you competent in terms of fighting crime and as head of the national security council. But once you are an incompetent prime minister, it makes the situation even worse.

He added, “Unless we tackle crime in a holistic way by competent people up to the task, we will continue to be in this problem day in and day out.”

Roget called on the government to consider measures he suggested two years ago, including a national discussion on crime.

At a media conference at the Communication Workers’ Union Hall, Henry Street, Port of Spain, on November 8, 2022, Roget put forward nine measures he said they believed could address the rising crime problem.

These included a national discussion on crime; an examination of the socio-economic factors influencing crime; the locking down of the borders; investigations into white collar criminals who finance illegal gun importation; more sporting activities for youth; increased jobs for youths; apprenticeship programmes; prison reform; and increased resources for police.

Roget said the government must increase the amount of resources available to the police as they are currently outmatched by criminals.

“We are confident the weapons in the hands of the criminals today totally outstrip those the police have to fight crime.”

He added he is aware of a number of police stations in dilapidated conditions.

“We ask our police to come to these stations and spend all these hours to protect the citizens in various communities but the facilities are lacking.

“I dare (the government) to show me any state-of-the-art facilities that police have across the country. Let them show me that and I will carry them and show them where the police stay and the sergeant who has a bucket collecting water because the roof is leaking and water is falling on his desk.”

He said the police have been reduced to being tax collectors for the government by ticketing drivers indiscriminately.

He accused police of using their resources to target the wrong people.

“You're driving down the road and you leave home with all your lights working but you drop in a big pothole on the road, your bulb shake in the socket and your light is out and it’s a ticket for you with demerit points and so on.

“Police are there to collect money for the shortfall that the government is making with respect to revenue in this country. So they have tax collectors instead of protectors and those who serve the citizens of this country.”

Roget said crime is also affecting the economy as businesses face extortion from gangs.

“Crime is so present and prominent, it's like it's viral. It (only) takes a phone call to extort money from legitimate, lawful business owners in this country. Why? Because crime is real and they are afraid.”

He said many of the issues stem from the country’s porous borders.

“Who are the importers of these sophisticated weapons? Who are those behind the scenes who are benefiting? Because it takes money to import those things.”

“The government has not been able to stop, slow down or eradicate the importation of arms and ammunition into our country.”

He said the number of guns in the country made it seem as though there are gun and ammunition factories in the country.

“For their fearful citizens who are victims, it is not porous borders. It is poor us because we are now the ones who are being targeted.”

He defended the union’s position, saying his comments are not intended to pressure the government in any ongoing labour negotiations or for wage increases.

“This is about the level of crime, the level of murders in the country and the incompetence of the government blaming everybody else but themselves.”