Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday on Wednesday called on Prime Minister Patrick Manning to fire his national security minister, saying Martin Joseph in not fit to hold the post. In a media release Panday noted that more than 2,700 persons have been murdered in the last seven years under the PNM administration, with 380 homicides for this year alone.
"Last year 550 people were murdered, and Minister Joseph remains silent on the grief facing every member of this nation on a daily basis. It is very clear to all of us that he just does not care and obviously does not know what to do,” Panday said.
"Is Minister Joseph living in denial? I read in the newspapers this morning that there were 15 killings in four days, and this government continues to dodge blame for the worsening situation, pretending that the issue does not exist.
"The government also refused every submission made by the Opposition, NGO’s and other groups to partner with them in finding a solution to the crime problem,” Panday said.
The former prime minister noted that the billions of dollars spent between 2002 to 2008 on National Security failed to improve safety for all in this country because the money has been squandered.
Panday said it is clear that the Manning administration cannot deal with the crime problem.
"The public has no confidence in the ability of the police to protect them and the criminals have no fear that the police would catch them. The Prime Minister has announced crime plan after crime plan and yet the murders continue unabated," he said.
"Whether it’s in the town or in the countryside, there is no sign of police patrols anyway, which is one of the most basic signs of curbing crime. This is the same government which wined and dined leaders of crime gangs, now renamed, community leaders,” he added.
“The Minister will never resign as he believes he is doing a good job. So the Prime Minister should do the right thing for once and fire the Minister of National Security immediately,” Panday said.
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