A "PNM murder" is how National Security Minister Jack Warner has described the latest killing in Laventille.

I was driving along the Eastern Main Road on Tuesday evening with my eight-year-old daughter when we heard Warner on the news saying that this recent murder in Laventille was a PNM murder. My daughter then asked me if PNM murdered somebody and I was immediately embarrassed as an adult to have to explain the level of illiteracy that was being spoken by a prominent government official.

This is an irresponsible and careless accusation being made in public against an entire political party with hundreds of thousands of citizens as members. This attack on the PNM without providing any substantial evidence to levy this claim is distasteful and unacceptable.

The Police Complaints Authority must be commended for responding so swiftly to the nation, alerting us that the Minister of National Security does not have the authority to hide crime statistics and demand when and to whom they should be released.

This type of behaviour threatens the democracy of Trinidad and Tobago in reference to the Freedom of Information Act.

Public officials must be guided by their oath of office and their social and moral responsibilities to the nation. In this regard I would hope that the Minister of National Security would apologise to the nation and the PNM for this harsh and baseless accusation that is tied to a criminal act.

This does nothing positive for the family and nation that is mourning this young man's death.

We all want to see an end to the spiralling murder rate which affects all citizens of this country.

Crime is bigger than political preferences and therefore should not be treated as a loose political issue.

Our children are looking on as we the adults set the examples for them to follow. Let's be responsible and built a society where accountability and transparency are traits that the generation to come can inherit and embody.

Ronald Huggins

St Joseph