The findings of the first United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) survey into issues of crime and security in the Caribbean would be used to guide national security policy decisions.

That was the promise by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar as she delivered the feature address at the UNDP's report on citizens' security at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port of Spain yesterday.

"We have recently performed a comprehensive review of our draft national security policy," she said.

"As an outcome of this review, we have sought to synchronise the national security policy with a 2012-2017 Ministry of National Security strategic plan," she said.

She said the plan would focus the country's assets to fight the "scourge of crime", including an improvement to the country's court system to reduce backlogs in the criminal justice system.

"With emphasis on the protection for the rights of victims, witnesses and jurors," she said.

On Monday, Kevin Ellis, a witness who assisted police in identifying suspects in a murder was shot and killed. Police believe his killing is linked to his role in helping investigators in the death of his friend Sean Baptiste.

Persad-Bissessar said Bob Bland, of the United Kingdom, will be hired as a criminal justice adviser for a three-year period to assist with the re-balancing of the criminal system.

His position was sponsored by the Canadian and UK governments.

The UNPD report found from 1990-2000, the homicide rate in Trinidad and Tobago dropped but started climbing again by 2001.

In the major part of the world, the homicide rate averaged at 6.9 per 100,000 people, but in Latin America and the Caribbean it was as high as 20 people per 100,000.

"In Trinidad and Tobago, the murder rate increased five-fold over a decade," said Heraldo Munoz, assistant Secretary General of the United Nations.