Kerik to work 'day and night' to fight crime
Guyana Chronicle
February 9, 2007
(TRINIDAD EXPRESS) - Former New York police commissioner Bernard Kerik was warned by several businessmen that his mission to fight crime in Trinidad and Tobago would be a daunting task.
But Kerik said he did not feel threatened and promised to work "day and night" to find solutions to the crime situation.
Kerick said his team recently signed an agreement with Opposition United National Congress financier, Jack Warner, and would be doing research and assessment of the crime situation during the next 11 to 12 months.
He was speaking at a town meeting hosted by Chaguanas Mayor, Suruj Rambachan, at the Chaguanas Borough Corporation on Tuesday night.
Kerik was introduced to several Chaguanas businessmen, including Harry Harnarine, president of the Hindu Credit Union.
Robert Ramsamooj, a businessman, said: "The laws in Trinidad and Tobago don't allow you to effect the changes that you will require to solve crime. The justice system is clogged in Trinidad and Tobago. If you have money you can buy justice."
Surajdaye Mohammed, another businessman, told Kerik that his first obstacle in fighting crime was the government. But Kerik insisted that he was not going to write the government off.
Kerik told the businessmen that during his tenure as police commissioner in New York City, violent crime was reduced by 70 per cent, and assured them that the same approach would be used in Trinidad and Tobago.
He blamed the government for not using the information they had gathered on crime to solve the problem.
He, however, praised the government for setting up crime hotlines, where citizens can call in anonymously and report any suspicious activities taking place in their communities.
Kerik, who was bought to Trinidad by Warner, would be operating out of an office in Woodbrook, to be formally opened on March 1.