T&T Minister rules out state of emergency to battle crime

(Trinidad Guardian) National Security Minister Edmund Dillon admits he was “not comfortable with the results so far with regard to the murder rate,” and he wants police officers to “get out of the police station,” telling officers “your presence is what will act as a deterrent.”

The minister also dismissed calls for a limited state of emergency, saying it was not necessary as he trusts the “law enforcement agencies” to bring crime down.

Dillon said he understood the context in which the recent call by the Chaguanas, Couva/Pt Lisas and Penal/Debe Chambers was made for a limited state of emergency.

“I am very much conscious of the type of murders and crimes taking place right now. I am not undermining the state of affairs we are in right now. I am not saying there isn’t a reason, but what do they mean by a limited state of emergency?” He said he was not sure if they are talking about limited in terms of time or geography.

Dillon said section eight of the Constitution was clear on when a state of emergency should be imposed by the President. The country must be in a state of war, there must be a natural disaster or in a state where the country was under threat.

“A state of emergency,” he said, means, “you have exhausted all other methods.” But Dillon said, “I still have trust in the law enforcement agencies in bringing crime down.”

Asked the basis for his trust at a time when citizens are crying out for action in the face of spiralling crime, Dillon said, “My trust to a large extent is based on the large amount of persons within the agencies who continue to work day in and day out.”