UNC’s shadow minister for National Security and MP for Oropouche East, Dr Roodal Moonilal, has voiced his opposition to the decision to move police officers to Tobago as a solution to combat crime on the island.
Following Tobago’s first-ever quadruple murder, Commissioner of Police Erla Harewood-Christopher announced various initiatives aimed at curbing the rising trend of violent crimes in the region.
These initiatives include deploying additional officers from the Guard and Emergency Branch, Inter-Agency Task Force, installing CCTV cameras, gathering intelligence from the cybercrime unit, and providing additional forensic resources.
During a media briefing on July 9, Prime Minister Keith Rowley urged Tobagonians to collaborate with the Trinidadian police officers being sent to assist in the fight against crime. He emphasized that while the majority of police officers in Tobago are locals, the presence of officers from Trinidad could provide fresh perspectives to tackle the issue.
Speaking at a media briefing the next day, Dr Moonilal expressed his skepticism about the effectiveness of transferring officers between the two islands. He argued that the police force needs more resources to carry out their duties efficiently.
Furthermore, Dr Moonilal criticized the government for failing to provide adequate resources in combating not only crime but also diseases such as dengue. He remarked, “This government is struggling even to protect people from mosquitoes, let alone safeguarding them against criminals.”
