69% increase in record murder rate

Aug 11, 2008

BY RICHARD LORD

National Security Minister Martin Joseph confirmed yesterday that there has been a 69-per-cent increase in the murder rate for the year—up to yesterday—when compared with the same period last year.

Joseph said there were 190 gang-related murders in T&T, also up to yesterday, and 91 for the corresponding period in 2007.

He said there were 16 drug-related killings for the year 2008 to date, while there were 23 for the same period last year.

Joseph made these revelations during yesterday’s post-Cabinet news conference at the Office of the Prime Minister at Whitehall.

He admitted that the Government was “dealing with what is historically the most difficult crime to detect: gang-related violence.”

“We are right now looking at what can we do to put a greater handle on gangs,” he said.

He said it was for this reason that the law enforcement agencies were “shifting into technology—DNA, forensic (testing) etc—is what is absolutely important.”

Joseph said based on the Government’s Vision 2020 initiative, as it relates to crime and violence, “we know that we are far away (from that vision). It is unfortunate that it is taking us a little while but we will get to the Vision 2020.”

Joseph admitted that “an increased number of guns are coming into the country” a development proving to be “the real challenge” in the fight against the record-high murder rate in the country.

He said the illegal guns on the nation’s streets were “the root cause of the unacceptable crime and violence” in T&T.

Joseph said the Government was looking at legislative measures to assist law enforcement officers in dealing with the issue of illegal guns on the nation’s streets.

Joseph said the Government was not in support of a gun amnesty.

“We do not believe that a gun amnesty is going to give us the kind of assistance necessary...My understanding of a gun amnesty is that (with it) you get money for your old guns to buy new guns,” he said.

Responding to questions on the safety of visiting dignitaries for the Summit of the Americas and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference being held in Port of Spain next year, Joseph said the National Security Council met last week and agreed to “aggressively address” the problem.

BREAKDOWN

National Security Minister Martin Joseph said yesterday there were 91 gang-related murders in the country between January and August 7 last year.

He said the figure for the same period this year was 190.

He gave additional statistics:

• Drug-related murders 23 (2007); 16 (2008)

• Altercation 18 (2007); 20 (2008)

• Robbery 24 (2007); 31 (2008)

• Domestic violence 13 (2007); 23 (2008)

• Revenge 15 (2007); 18 (2008)

• State witness 0 (2007) ; 1 (2008)

• Unclassified 6 (2007) ; 9 (2008)

All Position Statements