Pubdate: Thu, 03 Jan 2008
Source: Trinidad Express (Trinidad)
Copyright: 2008 Trinidad Express
Contact:  http://www.trinidadexpress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1093
Author: Ria Taitt, Political editor

IT WILL GET BETTER

Manning's Crime Pledge For 08:

'Measures In Place': Prime Minister Patrick Manning

Prime Minister Patrick Manning is confident that the  crime situation,
though difficult, will improve in  2008.

And Manning said his Government was moving to  "completely eradicate"
the drug problem, which was the  major source of crime and violence in
the country.

Speaking after a tour of the Hyatt Regency Hotel on the  Port of Spain
Waterfront yesterday, Manning expressed  confidence that Government
had put the correct measures  in place and that, given time, they
would bring about  the improvements that everyone wishes.

"In 2008, we continue to be in the period of  transition. I expect
improvements, but we are in a  period of transition. We are confident
that the  measures that we are putting in place will have the  desired
effect in due course," he said.

Manning, who said he was concerned about the crime  situation,
stressed that Government was making several  interventions to ensure
that Trinidad and Tobago is a  much safer place.

He said a recent study by two international agencies  concluded that
the drug trade was the major reason for  much of the crime and
violence in the country. "And  therefore it is to an eradication of
the drug trade  that we have first turned our attention. Remember
Scotland Yard since 1995 had made it clear that  Trinidad and Tobago
was small enough to completely  eradicate the drug trade. And that is
what we are  aiming to do," he said.

He added that toward this end, Government had  established a radar
system which is currently  operating, "so we can see exactly what is
going on  around our coastlines".

He added: "We are getting three OPV (offshore patrol  vessels), we are
buying six fast patrol boats, four  armed helicopters, interceptors...
It is a whole gamut,  all of those decisions are already taken."

Manning said the first metal for the first OPV would be  cut this
month and the finished product should be  delivered by mid-2009.

Manning had been adamant in the past about not  introducing any state
of emergency. And Government  sources yesterday maintained that a
state of emergency  is not the way to go.

A government source explained that there are foreign  policy
implications to countries declaring a state of  emergency, the
ramifications of which need to be fully  thought out before embracing
such a far-reaching  measure which might create more harm to the
national  interest.
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MAP posted-by: Steve Heath