Death penalty high on agenda…as Govt, Opposition in more crime talks today

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Guardian - Crime remains the Government’s number one priority. So said Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Tuesday night, hours ahead of today’s talks on crime between the Government and Opposition teams. Speaking with reporters after commissioning lights at the Morne Diablo Recreation Ground, Penal, Persad-Bissessar said while crime was something the People’s Partnership inherited, it was moving to reduce the rate. She admitted her Government continued to be concerned that “we are not moving fast enough to bring down crime.” While she said the police must be acknowledged and thanked for reducing serious crimes by 34 per cent, Persad-Bissessar said: “The murder rate continues to be very, very high. “We will continue to put all our heads together, all our hearts together, all our minds together in that fight against crime. It remains the number one priority for my government.” She said the resumption of hangings would be among the top issues up for today’s discussion, the second instalment of talks on crime, which began last Thursday. She said discussions on the death penalty would be tabled today. “Many in the country, indeed, from polling done, the majority of citizens seem to be in favour of the death penalty. We go into the talks with an open mind and that is one of the issues on the table for discussion,” she added.