Newsday ( Trinidad and Tobago )
17 April 2023 ( Page 8 )
UNC: This cop-out won't save Rowley
....urresi7m • HIGHLY CRITICAL: Senator Wade Mark knocks Government's twoday Caricom crime symposium, which starts on Monday, during the UNC's weekly Sunday press conference. PHOTO BY AYANNA KINSALE NARISSA FRASER UNC senator Wade Mark believes the twoday Caricom symposium on crime is both a "copout" and "another brazen attempt" by Government to "buy time" to think of more excuses for failing to deal with rampant crime. The symposium will be held on Monday and Tuesday at the Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain. Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Dr Amery Browne has since said it is a step towards finding solutions to address crime on all fronts in the region. But speaking at a media conference in Port of Spain on Sunday, Mark said while he wishes other Caricom leaders all the best, the Prime Minister "has abandoned his post and is literally running for cover:' Mark said Dr Rowley is even ducking and running from the media. Last week, Rowley declined to answer questions about crime from the media when approached after a sodturning ceremony for a new solar energy plant in Couva. He told reporters, "You know I don't encourage that" before being hustled away by Special Branch police officers to his waiting SUV. "He's afraid of reporting on crime to the people and (is) hoping a regional symposium will save him:' Mark said, adding that Rowley has been "blaming everyone but himself. "It's a copout! Rather than face the people and bring solutions to this criminality and violence plaguing us, he ducks, runs and hides behind his regional colleagues?' Mark questioned how the symposium would lead to the protection of TT's borders, bring more efficiency and speed to the judiciary, improve the crimedetection rate, equip police with more body cameras, or provide hope and jobs to young people. He said there are university graduates working at gas stations and fast food restaurants to earn money. Asked if he sees any positives coming out of the symposium, he said, "Any decision taken by Caricom has to come before Parliament... We wish the leaders the best. We hope they will find solutions:' However, he said, Rowley cannot be attempting to find solutions to TT's problems when he is the problem. "No one is safe. Nowhere is safe —not your homes, not your businesses, not our communities, nor our streets, among other places. All are affected:' Mark said that after the symposium, government will keep telling the public it is waiting for Caricom to provide crime solutions. He added that the Opposition has always been open to discuss issues surrounding crime with the government.