National Security Minister Martin Joseph has expressed his full confidence in acting Police Commissioner James Philbert despite the fact that there have been close to 300 homicides within the first seven months of this year alone. According to official police statistics Joseph provided to the media yesterday, there were 297 homicides in this country as of July 15, which shows an increase of 6.83 per cent over the 278 homicides that occurred between January 1 to July 15, last year.

Joseph then stressed that as far as the crime fighting initiatives were concerned, “progress was being made and you could expect in short order the population would be advised as to how we would be proceeding.” He stated also that legislation governing the operations of the Special Anti-Crime Unit of T&T (Sautt) should be brought to Parliament before the end of this year. On another matter, Joseph disclosed that Cabinet has extended the life of the Crime and Justice Commission by one year. He said the extension was approved because Government is trying to determine whether it should remain as a permanent entity or replaced by a new arrangement.

Under pressure. This is how National Security Minister Martin Joseph is describing his tenure in office as he faces an ever-increasing homicide rate and severe criticism from the Opposition, groups in civil society and many victims of crime about the way he is performing his job.