2 weeks ago
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Shastri Boodan
Crime was allowed to spiral out of control in Trinidad and Tobago over the past decade, declared Public Utilities Minister and Couva South MP Barry Padarath, as he defended the Government’s push for Stand Your Ground legislation.
Speaking on Wednesday at the United National Congress’s public consultation on the proposed law, held at the Caldrac Recreation Club in Dow Village, California, Padarath said crime had evolved far beyond murders and kidnappings.
“Now it’s home invasions, it’s extortion, and what we’re seeing is a consortium of all,” he said. “This has created a genuine fear among the population.”
He argued that the current legal framework contains serious loopholes that leave law-abiding citizens vulnerable. While householders have a right to defend themselves, he said, any use of force is subject to review by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who must determine whether that force was excessive.
“Desperate times call for drastic measures,” he said, repeating the phrase more than once during his remarks.
Padarath commended Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro for aligning law enforcement operations with the Government’s policy priorities and criticised the previous administration for political interference in policing.
“I want to congratulate the Commissioner for aligning the policy of the administration with the operations of the TTPS,” he said.
“The last administration spent a lot of time fighting commissioners of police—not just one, but two and three. During the last State of Emergency, former Commissioner Erla Harewood found herself in a situation where the whole country’s resources were gripped by confusion instead of being used to fight crime.”
Padarath added, “This UNC government has no time to engage in conflict with law enforcement over political grievances. We intend to work alongside the CoP and the TTPS.”
He also suggested that the Government would not publicly reveal crime-fighting strategies, especially while criminals continue to exploit state-funded programmes.
“When the CoP is telling us that it is those same contracts within these [URP and CEPEP] programmes that are providing the financing for criminals to invade your homes, to rape your daughters, to go into transnational crime, we have to use the data that is available to us to make informed decisions,” Padarath said.
“It’s not that we like this one or don’t like that one—it has nothing to do with that,” he continued. “It has to do with using the data and working alongside law enforcement. There are elements within the Opposition who want to parrot that for their own political currency.”
He insisted this Government’s approach was more assertive than previous UNC administrations. “This administration, with a tough-talking and tough-acting Prime Minister, is very different from 2010. That is when she [Kamla Persad-Bissessar] tell you, ‘Do not mistake my kindness for weakness.”
Responding to criticism from the Opposition, Padarath took aim at Opposition Leader Penelope Beckles.
“They parroting, ‘Why all yuh can’t say what is your crime plan?’—it’s because they had no plan for five and ten years,” he said. “These are the people who should be ashamed to talk about anything about crime in this country.”
“That same leader of the Opposition is asking if Mrs Persad-Bissessar is asleep. She wore her pyjamas for ten years. You were sitting in the Cabinet of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago with your hat and your nightgown, your nightie, and you had nothing to say. Not one thing to say about crime in T&T.”
Also speaking at the consultation was attorney Roshan Babwah, who chairs the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA). He argued that countries which adopted Stand Your Ground laws had seen measurable improvements in crime reduction.
Babwah cited Ireland’s 2011 Dwelling Act, which he said resulted in a 15 percent drop in homicides that same year. He also pointed to Italy’s 2019 Legitimate Defence Act, which saw 532 fewer intentional homicides over five years and a reduction of 1.8 million theft-related crimes.
He added that Florida’s 2010 Stand Your Ground law led to a decline in violent crimes and home invasions.
The Government is currently reviewing recommendations and feedback on the proposed legislation.
English (US) ·