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| Applause for PM Kamla as she turns the sod for a new police station in Arima |
She was delivering an address at the sod turning for a new police station in Arima.
She said the government has sought to address the problem in a way that will have an immediate impact, noting that other measures will be implemented over the long term.
"We have redirected a lot of funds from large scale mega construction projects into the Ministry of National Security where it is deployed into recruitment of more law enforcement officers who are better equipped and trained," she said.
"We have implemented the use of modern crime fighting techniques and technology, we have sought to look at the top management of the Police Service and devise ways to improve the efficiency and communication down through the ranks and when necessary - such as the decision to impose a state of emergency and limited curfew - we have not shied away from making those tough calls."
Persad-Bissessar said she is committed to dealing with the problem of crime and pledged that she would not stand idly by "while the nation is held to ransom by those bent on creating havoc and mayhem sometimes with the support of those with their own devious agendas."
The Prime Minister added, "I intend to take the strongest, most aggressive approach possible to rid this country of the criminal elements and any of those who direct, fund, influence or otherwise support these nefarious activities.
"No one will be exempt from the action we take at any level of the society. I have committed myself and the government I lead towards the objective of cleaning up the streets and the offices from those involved in illegal activity.
"Lawlessness must become a thing of the past. We need to become a more disciplined society, traditional values must be restored, respect for authority starting in the schools must be rekindled."
She said while there is a strong determination by her government to achieve these goals citizens must also accept some responsibility.
"As a parent, as a mentor, as business leader, as a member of your community, in every sphere of life you are accountable to the society that you are a part of and what this country becomes depends largely upon your behaviour, your own moral standards, your own convictions, your own desire to see the country in which you live become the place you want it to be once more," she said.
She expressed pride in the protective service for the work they are doing. "There was a firm, well measured response to the situation they found wherever they went; nothing got out of hand, under pressure and in dangerous environments they carried out their duties with a level of professionalism that made us all proud."
She took the opportunity to touch on the salary issue which has been a sore point between government and the police, noting that while the government acknowledges the work of the police "we don’t always agree on what we can afford to pay under the strict local and global economic constraints we operate...
"None of what we offer nor what you get is at all a measure of the service you provide. Everyone recognizes that yours is a selfless, dedicated, patriotic service to the nation and we will always be indebted to you.
Persad-Bissessar said she is aware of the conditions under which police operate and pledged that it must change for the better.
"This sod turning ceremony marks the first of 18 new police stations which will be constructed over the next two and a half years across the country. These new police stations are long overdue and the communities they will serve can feel a great sense of comfort,' she said.
She spoke of the measures that have been put in place to deal with crime, including social programmes with greater accountability and measured success, developed new initiatives for youth, and a mentoring programmes drawing from experiences around the world.
"We are in the midst of an aggressive, decisive response to the crime surge fixing the other end of the problem...We will win this war on crime with your support," she said.
"For every illegal firearm removed, for every gang leader apprehended, for every bit of information gleaned, for every youth saved, for every new recruit to a gang redirected, for each citizen that now sleeps easier, for every measure of better control on the criminal elements achieved, the nation is safer and better off and the sacrifice well worth it."
She also had a message for critics who have suggested that the state of emergency has been damaging Trinidad & Toabgo's image in the international community.
"I am more concerned by the images of people dying, of mothers crying, of innocent citizens cowering in fear, of orphaned children, those are the images that concern me now. We cannot pretend away this problem, but we can take the tough decisions to bring about a solution and I will not shirk my responsibility to protect the people of Trinidad and Tobago."
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