Govt to 'take control' with crime target
By
Camille Bethel
camille.bethel@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created:
Jul 20, 2012 at 11:59 PM ECT
Story Updated:
Jul 20, 2012 at 11:59 PM ECT
Government is aiming for a 25 per cent reduction in crime by next year, Minister of Planning and Sustainable Development Dr Bhoe Tewarie said yesterday.
Speaking at the ministry's conference aimed at Developing a National Diversification Strategy for this country, at the Hyatt Regency (Trinidad), Port of Spain, Tewarie said, "We have not gained control of the crime situation, but that is a fact. Everybody knows that.
The target for crime reduction is 25 per cent by 2013, so that is a target against which (serious) crime reduction will be measured. That is our target and we will measure that, and we will proceed with that."
He said the food import reduction target was $400 million, and the Ministry of Food Production has already achieved that target.
"And we are likely to take that target down. So what we measure is what the target is, if you have achieved it, fine."
Tewarie said the People's Partnership promised a transformed economy.
This included a national physical development plan and a land use plan which will be ready in September along with a planning and facilitation of development bill which will anchor these policies in new institutions.
Tewarie said Government has managed to reduce poverty from 18.9 per cent in 2009 to 14.7 per cent in 2011.
"And that is the focus that we have. How do you bring people out of poverty and how do you get people back into the work force and into productive endeavour. So people are central to this," he said.
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