THE crime situation in this country is worrying and is to be deplored, says British High Commissioner Eric Jenkinson.

’The security situation is worrying to all of us who live here, that is to be deplored, the number of killings, the kidnappings, all of those sort of things is something that we can all do without,’ Jenkinson said during an interview at a regular meeting of the Port of Spain Rotary Club in Port of Spain yesterday.

There have been some 422 murders in this country for the year so far, according to Express statistics.

However, despite the crime scourge, Jenkinson said he felt assured that the security of delegates visiting for next month’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) would not be compromised.

’In terms of the heads of government (meeting) and the heads of state who are coming here, I have complete faith in the security authorities,’ Jenkinson said.

The heads of government for the 53 countries that make up the Commonwealth are all expected here for the conference scheduled for November 27-29.

Among the delegates are the head of the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth II, and her husband, HRH Prince Phillip. See Page 23.

Jenkinson said, after the successful hosting of the Summit of the Americas earlier this year, he was certain that his faith in this country’s security forces was not misplaced.

’I was impressed at the arrangements that had been made (for the Summit of the Americas) and I think that the authorities learned from that experience...and they will improve on what was already a very creditable performance for the Summit of the Americas,’ he added.

In terms of the preparations for CHOGM, Jenkinson said he felt that this country was ahead of schedule.

’The preparations here in Trinidad and Tobago are if anything slightly ahead of the game so I’m extremely pleased with that of course, but we’ve still got a lot of negotiating to do on the practicalities,’ he said.

Among the outstanding circumstances that Jenkinson said he believed would be rectified before the summit is the construction of the Performing Arts Centre.

’The Performing Arts Centre will be ready in terms of the areas that will be necessary for the opening ceremony and for one or two other things that will happen around it...I know it might look far from ready when you drive past it everyday as I do but I do think the Government and particularly the Prime Minister have put their weight behind it and I think it will be ready on time,’ Jenkinson said.