NATIONAL Transformation Alliance (NTA) political leader Gary Griffith and Patriotic Front political leader Mickela Panday have said the declaration of a state of emergency (SoE) will not solve crime.
They made their comments in separate statements on December 30 in response to a proclamation by President Christine Kangaloo declaring an SoE.
In his statement, Griffith (a former police commissioner and earlier national security minister) said, "This reliance on a SoE is particularly baffling given that there are other, more effective methods to address crime without infringing on civil liberties.
"A perfect example is from my tenure as minister of national security in 2014, when a member of law enforcement was tragically killed."
In response, Griffith said, "I directed the deployment of over 100 soldiers to work alongside the police in Laventille.
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"For three months, this sustained presence made Laventille arguably the safest it had ever been, with a dramatic decrease in violent crime. Crucially, this was achieved without declaring a SoE."
With government deciding to implement an SoE, Griffith said, "Complaining about it is futile. As a responsible society, our focus must now shift to ensuring its proper management for the benefit of Trinidad and Tobago."
He added there must be no repeat of the disastrous events of the 2011 SoE, under the then UNC-led People's Partnership coalition, "where incompetence within the police hierarchy led to hundreds of unlawful arrests, damaging the police service’s reputation and costing taxpayers significantly."
At that time Griffith was a national security adviser to then prime minister (now Opposition Leader) Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
In her statement, Panday said, "This move is a desperate admission by the government that they have lost control in the war against gangs."
For years, she said, "We have warned of the unchecked flow of high-powered weapons into our country, both illegally and through legal ports, and yet this government has done nothing to stop it."
Panday said government inaction has emboldened criminal elements and left law-abiding citizens living in fear.
The Patriotic Front, she added, stood ready with innovative, actionable solutions to address crime and restore order without trampling on the rights of people.
"Together, we will reclaim our communities and build a safer, stronger nation."
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