Keith Scotland SC Joins Ministry of National Security to Address Policing Challenges

Port of Spain, July 26, 2024 – Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has appointed Member of Parliament for Port of Spain South, Keith Scotland SC, as a Minister with the Ministry of National Security in a bid to add capacity to the country’s national security operations, particularly issues of policing.

Speaking at a post-Cabinet briefing, Dr Rowley underscored that the addition was for the extensive portfolio of duties within the Ministry of National Security. “I have advised the President to add a Minister to the Ministry of National Security, and that Minister would focus, under the guidance of the existing Minister, Fitzgerald Hinds, specifically on police issues,” said Dr Rowley.

He informed, “MP, Keith Scotland has been assigned to the Police Service to attend to a number of urgent Police matters.”

“There are a lot of problems in the police service, not the least of which is a very simple one. Some of the more effective police officers have accumulated significant leave; some have to be brought back; there are specific issues that require their know-how, their expertise.” Dr Rowley went on to cite some areas which called for urgent attention: drug trafficking, offender management, management of illegal immigrants, money laundering, and drug enforcement.

He observed that these issues need special skills and experience, which in all probability would be brought in by Scotland.

Commenting on the status quo in the police service, Commissioner of Police Erla Harewood-Christopher expressed her concerns as well. She said,” the police were very active in trying to arrest the murder toll by doing a few road exercises and some other police operations.”

“Police service is putting heavy pressure on criminal elements,” Commissioner Harewood-Christopher said emphasising it to be a continuation of the efforts to keep law and order.

The Ministry of National Security is the centrepiece ministry as it has responsibility for law and order, public safety, race relations and defense at a time when the country faces growing crime rates above all else on its buoying security challenges. A central part of that is ensuring he works to tackle these and other issues, in order, to make the police service more effective at keeping people safe.