The best thing PNM has done in 50 years

The best thing PNM has done in 50 years
By Ryan Hamilton-Davis Thursday, February 4 2016

RESIDENTS of the Sogren Trace, Laventille community lauded the recent action by the Ministry of National Security, saying that the recent visits and the presence of Regiment and police was the best thing the PNM has done in 50 years.

The adulation was given to Minister of National Security when he visited the Sogren Trace community yesterday, weeks after two school boys were shot dead in the area.

“Since the police have come here, I feel happier,” said one concerned resident at the community meeting.

“If it weren’t for the police and the Regiment’s presence, I am sure that there would be more crime.

Before, some of the pan players might give some trouble, there might be some fights, or someone might get chopped, but nowadays everyone have guns.” “It has been 50 years that Laventille has been supporting the PNM” said the residents, “so far, this has been the best thing that they have done” While complimenting the Minister on his actions, the residents noted that there were still several problems that faced the Laventille area, and by extension Sogren Trace. Some residents pointed out the need for programmes that would provide employment for persons in the area, while others looked to the minister to deal with issues like repairing damaged drains. Mostly, residents pleaded with the minister to introduce and maintain several programmes that have been implemented in the past.

The minister assured that there would not only be a maintenance in current programmes, but there would be an introduction of new ones. Speaking to the media after the meeting Dillon said that the joint patrols between police officers and officers of the Defence Force would be able to protect the citizens from criminal elements.

“We will not sit by and allow those who are bent on committing illegal activities to own this country.” Dillon said. “So the message was strongly that we are going to be there, making life difficult for those who have illegal guns in TT. You cannot be living life comfortable, bearing illegal guns and so on, when normal, peaceful citizens are miserable and fearful.

Your life must be miserable. That is our mission, and that’s one of the things I am working towards so that some day you are prosecuted to the full brunt of the law.” The joint presence of Regiment officers and police was reintroduced into the Laventille area last month, after 16-year-old Mark Richards and 17-year-old Denilson Smith were gunned down near Sogren Trace in Laventille.