Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar SC has assured law-abiding citizens of Maloney that she will do “whatever it takes” to keep them safe, even if it means using Special Operations to target the gangs operating in their community.
In a social media post, one day after the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force, supported by the Strategic Services Agency, launched special operations in the Maloney area within District 2 in response to recent criminal activity, the Prime Minister said the UNC government is determined to protect all law-abiding citizens.
Referring to a video clip showing citizens fleeing as gunmen shot indiscriminately in the Maloney area earlier in the week, she said, “No man, woman or child should have to flee for their lives in their own community from rampaging gangs shooting indiscriminately.”
The Prime Minister applauded the work of the police and soldiers in keeping the peace in the community.
“Today the Maloney community saw firsthand the cowardice of the gangs operating in their community. These gangs only terrorise law-abiding citizens who don’t have the means to defend themselves. Not a single gang member had the courage to take on the brave men and women of the police and defence forces. Instead, they hid like the cowardly bullies they are because that is their true nature, weakness. That is what happens when fake bad man meet real bad man.”
She also took aim at the Opposition PNM and the sitting MP, accusing them of failing citizens.
“For years the PNM and the sitting MP did nothing to protect the people of Maloney from being terrorised by violent gangs and criminals. The PNM never cared about their supporters, whom they viewed as a vote bank at election time. They are only interested in doing the bidding of the one per cent owners of the PNM. The citizens of Maloney should be able to live happy lives in their community, free of fear and intimidation. If the PNM and their supporters don’t want the protection of the State security, so be it. But as long and there is one law-abiding citizen in any community who wants that protection, your Prime Minister and my Government will move to provide it.”
Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar thanked all the personnel involved in the operation and prayed that God would bless them with protection, strength and patience as they carry out their duty to protect the law-abiding citizens of Maloney.