Govt has failed on crime, says JTUM boss

Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) president general Ancel Roget says the Government has failed miserably at protecting citizens against crime.

Speaking at a media conference at the Banking Insurance General Workers Union (BIGWU) head office at Eighth Street, Barataria, yesterday, Roget said the Government was blaming everyone else for the current crime situation, including parents, teachers and even the man on the street, when the real onus was on them to keep citizens safe.

“We have a situation where we have runaway crime and runaway murders and the Government, is as if they don’t care but it’s not their responsibility,” he said.

“Almost 400 persons who began the year with us but today are not here, that is because of them not living up to their responsibility.”

The president general said working-class citizens were soft targets and according to him, many of his members have been victims of crime. He revealed that members of his family were also victims of a home invasion.

He also made reference to an incident in which T&TEC workers were disconnecting an illegal connection and were ordered at gunpoint to reconnect it.

The General Secretary of the Trinidad and Tobago Postal Workers’ Union David Forbes chimed in and confirmed that his members were also robbed on the job.

Roget made it clear he was not excusing the actions of the criminals but rather highlighting how the current state of the economy can add to criminality.

He called for more relatable programmes for young people, as they had noticed a correlation/connection between inequality and crime.

Another issue raised by JTUM was the deplorable conditions of police stations in this country. He said for police officers to put their best foot forward, they need better working conditions.

“It’s not a joke, I can take you…where the police stay in the sergeant’s room he has a bucket collecting water, this is the police in T&T today, you know, who you asking to fight crime…roof leaking, water falling right on the man’s desk,” he said.

When asked which police stations he was referring to, Roget said it would be revealed later.

Calls to members of the T&T Police Service communications department to enquire if they were aware Roget’s claims went unanswered.

The post Govt has failed on crime, says JTUM boss first appeared on CNC3.