CLINT CHAN TACK & GREGORY MCBURNIE

NATIONAL Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds says the State of Emergency (SoE) that was declared on December 30 has criminals on the run.

He made this comment during a radio interview on January 12, one day before the House of Representatives sits to debate a motion to extend the SoE.

The motion is filed in the Prime Minister’s name and if passed by simple majority vote, the SoE can be extended by a further three months.

Asked if he believed the SoE was working, Hinds said, “Well, I have to say, yes.”

He added, “I would like to see things move more quickly but I would have to say for the time being, yes.”

Hinds repeated that only people who had “cocoa in the sun” with respect to criminal activity were concerned about the SoE.

He said people who were conducting themselves in a lawful manner and had nothing to hide, could go about their business as usual.

He said that was why no curfew was attached to the SoE, although provision was made for it in the emergency powers regulations associated with the SoE.

At a news conference on December 30, then acting attorney general Stuart Young said no curfew was imposed with the SoE because government did not want to negatively impact the economy and believed the increased powers given to law enforcement were sufficient to help them achieve their objectives.

Hinds said, “What has been reported to me is that some of those who know they have cocoa in the sun...they flee and they go in other parts of the country.”

He urged citizens to report any suspicious activities to the authorities.

“If you living wherever you are living and you see strangers in your neighbourhood...in the house next door...you have to ask yourself some questions and you might ask others a few questions.”

Hinds said some criminals had “fled their normal terrain and they are hiding out in different parts of the country.”

He repeated the government’s approach to addressing crime as a public-health issue.

“Wherever they (criminals) are in the country, they have a virus and they intend to make their money wherever they are.”

DCP thanks public: SoE showing results

At a police media briefing on January 10, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Junior Benjamin said almost 600 priority offenders had been targeted with “at least” 500 individuals arrested.

“We have conducted 562 operations to date, involving 2,096 searches. These operations led to the seizure of at least 30 firearms, 937 rounds of ammunition and 106.7 kilogrammes of marijuana.

“We have carried out 416 traffic operations, resulting in the detection of 179 traffic offences.”

Speaking at the Police Administration Building in Port of Spain, Benjamin thanked citizens for their co-operation as he noted the “successes” by the police were largely a result of intelligence received from the public.

“We urge law-abiding citizens to continue providing information so that we can further disrupt the activities of those who threaten the safety and security of TT.

“What we are doing is sho