Minister of Land and Legal Affairs Saddam Hosein has criticised the Opposition over efforts to halt construction of a police post at the Eddie Hart Grounds, Tacarigua, describing the move as “political sabotage”.
The Minister came out in defence of plans for the establishment of a police post at Eddie Hart Grounds, condemning efforts to halt construction and accusing the PNM of putting politics ahead of public safety.
“So for the Opposition to use a political tool by way of a Corporation that they have control of to stop a project, I would like to condemn that political act. That is sabotage, political sabotage in my respectful view.”
On Thursday, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar accused members of the PNM-controlled Tunapuna Piarco Regional Corporation of stopping workers from constructing the police post at the recreation ground.
Minister Hosein said he was surprised by the resistance to a project designed to improve security in an area frequented by many.
“That Eddie Hart Ground there, you have a lot of persons involved in recreational activities. You also have the food court in that particular area. It’s a major transport hub where the bus route and the Eastern Main Road are in close proximity to the highway also. So, therefore, it was a strategic location in which we have to place these posts.”
He also accused the Opposition of contradicting its stated concerns about crime by opposing measures aimed at improving law enforcement visibility.
“What I will say is that we as a government support this initiative to ensure that these police posts are placed for the benefit of the community. The Opposition opposed us in Parliament when we bring crime-fighting legislation. We are bringing now real boots on the ground. They are now opposing this. Why? Why are they opposing this? Is it that they are defending their owners? Are they defending the drug dealers? Are they defending the criminals? I’ll go as far as that this morning, because we right now are trying to bring back law and order to Trinidad and Tobago.”
Addressing concerns about the approval process, Minister Hosein said the placement of police posts is determined through recommendations.
“At the end of the day, we are guided through the intelligence that we would have received from all of our national security agencies and so on. As civilians, we don’t make the decision in terms of what goes where. These matters are always guided by the intelligence agencies and national security.”