PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC — Opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has called on Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to assume the mantle of the Ministry of National Security to deal with the fight against crime.

In a letter to the prime minister, Persad-Bissessar says there is need for an urgent meeting with the Government and members of the national security teams to engage in a non-partisan dialogue on a way forward to combat the serious crime situation which has gripped the country.

“I hope this meeting will blossom into a joint anti-crime initiative informed by representatives from both sides of the bench and with the key national security stakeholders.

“Despite your government’s best efforts to date, crime in our country is spiralling dangerously out of control. Like so many others, the opposition is very concerned about this escalation in criminal activity,” she noted.

The former prime minister said when in office, there were several joint “government-opposition meetings” that were held with the goal of developing and implementing anti-crime initiatives.

“The life, limb and property of everyone living in our country is imperilled as the criminals are merciless in their rampage even when it comes to snuffing out the lives of innocent children. Further, our international image is being sorely tarnished impacting adversely on economic/investment opportunities.

“I hope we can continue this spirit of cooperation in your term in office, especially with regard to such an urgent matter,” Persad-Bissessar said.

Since the start of the year, 290 people have been killed in the twin-island republic.