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alexk
Guest
Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young yesterday lambasted the Opposition for not attending the launch of the National Crime Prevention Programme (NCPP), saying all they were interested in was politicising crime.
Young made the statement as he delivered the feature address on behalf of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, who also failed to attend the event at the Hilton Trinidad due to a “pressing matter.”
Young said while everyone is affected by crime, the PNM Government would “not bury its head in the sand pretending and believing that crime does not exist and things do not need to be done to deal directly with crime.”
In fulfilling one of Government’s promises in its 2015 manifesto - the NCPP - which became Government policy, Young said the only way to tackle crime head-on was the involvement of every patriot of T&T.
“So I must register a bit of disappointment this morning on behalf of the Government of T&T, that we invited every single member of the Opposition…as a Member of Parliament and as a Senator and unfortunately they have not turned up.”
Young said Chaguanas Mayor Gopaul Boodhan, who was listed as a speaker at the launch, also failed to show up.
“Citizens, crime is not about politics. And from the time we begin to politicise crime and the issues of crime and wish that the scourge of crime continues to develop in the hope that it mars a Government…and make a Government look bad you are failing your country and wider national community.”
He pleaded for all to come together to do whatever we can to tackle frontally the issue of crime.
“Don’t shirk that responsibility and duty.”
Asked after the launch if the Opposition gave a reason for not attending, Young replied, “Not that I am aware of. It’s quite unfortunate that none of them came here today on this national crime prevention programme.”
Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, who was also present, said the absence of Boodhan was startling “because the MPs for that area have been crying out for the attention and specific focus of taking Chaguanas as one of the pilot projects was very targeted and intended.”