Jack wants gun court, pledges to tackle white collar crime

Jack Warner wants police to go after the 'big fish' in the fight against crime, noting that the petty criminals don't have the means to import guns, drugs or women for the local sex trade. "They are just pushers. It’s the guys at the top" who can do it he stated. 

The National Security Minister made the point at Friday's symposium on "Tackling the Crime Scourge" at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya, hosted by the Greater Tunapuna Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

The minister said the way to end the drug trade is to go "for the source" and try to bring in "the big fish" who always keep themselves out of sight. 

"White-collar crime is the engine behind the drug trade," Warner said, as he p[ledged to go after such criminals. "They are very powerful. Nobody is willing to touch them or say what they know," he said. He also suggested that these people want the present government to fail so they could continue to profit from crime.

Warner said he wants to enlist the public's support for this mission and called on citizens to stand up against crime and form watch groups in their communities. 

“We are coming with a measure which I don’t want to disclose before I go to Cabinet, which will give every home the safety it needs. Trust me, it’s coming. At the press of a button, you will, of course, have an answer to your problem," he promised. 

“These measures will protect your family, property and businesses,” Warner said. Warner said if the measures don’t work, he will know his time has come. “In my life, there is nothing called failure.”

The minister said people who aim to tear down society rather than build it up are enemies of the State and "they will be no friends of mine."

He acknowledged that there is no single magical remedy to end crime. "I keep saying, you could have instant coffee and chocolate. You cannot have instant solutions to fight crime," he stated. "I am saying to you don’t expect any miracle man. Jack Warner is not such a man who will come walking through the desert like Moses to wave his staff and zap...abracadabra and everything is alright,” he said.

Warner endorsed Stephen Williams, who will be acting Commissioner of Police from next Tuesday, August 7. 

He painted a picture of crime world. “We are seeing criminal elements forming gangs with generals, lieutenants and foot soldiers, as they fight for drug turf and mastermind crimes,” he said. And he pledged to provide the Police Service with the crime-fighting tools they need, including, cars, manpower and motivation.

He outlined some of these:

• An increase in the number of SRPs to 5,000
• A gun court in Remand Yard, which would save the country $32 million a month, which is what it currently costs to transport prisoners to and from courts 
• A 800-WARN number for distress calls
• Eight new police stations. Construction will begin immediately in Moruga, La Brea, Oropouche, Arima, Piarco, Cumuto, Maloney and Brasso