Ramdeen: 133 per cent increase in kidnapping

OPPOSITION Senator Gerald Ramdeen says there has been a 133 per cent increase in kidnapping for ransom compared to last year and with police officers held for the recent kidnapping of Natalie Pollonais citizens are now afraid to stop for police.

He was contributing to Senate debate yesterday on the Miscellaneous Provisions (Supreme Court of Judicature and Children) Bill.

He said statistics from the office of the commissioner of police, COMPSTAT, in 2018 compared to 2017 showed: for murders there was a 13 per cent increase and 366 at the time; for rapes, incest and other sexual offences 29 per cent increase; serious indecency 50 per cent increase; kidnapping 32 per cent increase; robberies a 10 per cent increase; narcotics offences an eight per cent increase; and arms and ammunition a seven per cent increase. “This shows us that despite the legislative agenda of the Government, despite the money that has been put into national security, despite the support that the Independent bench and the Opposition has given to the Government over the past three years and going into the four the people of TT has gotten absolutely no relief as a country from the measures that have been taking place.”

He added there was no use in providing legislative measures for when people are detained “when you can’t catch them.”

Ramdeen said while everyone was smiling at the media conference to announce the “extraction” of Pollonais citizens were “gripped in fear.”

He said the 13 pieces of amendments in the bill would not change that and called for legislation to root out corruption in the police service and prison service.