Mayaro: Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar has announced that members of the protective forces and services who did yeoman service to the country over the 107 day period of the State of Emergency will be given medals of honour called the Public Emergency Service Medal.
Addressing a sod turning ceremony to mark the start of the construction of the new Mayaro fire station this afternoon, the prime minister said the country owes a debt of gratitude to these dedicated men and women in uniform who worked long hours and sacrificed much to defend citizens rights to safety and the democracy of the country.
The prime minister says during the recent State of Emergency the protective services demonstrated to the nation how capable and committed they are.
She says the successes were many with the confiscation of over 300 firearms, over $1 billion in illegal drugs destroyed, an over 50% decrease in the homicide rate, over 50% decrease in serious crimes and the suppression of the incidence of gang related homicides during period.
While many charged under the Anti Gang legislation were set free, she boasts of the successful dismantling of gangs during the period, allowing for law enforcement agencies to gather intelligenc through the establishment of the National Security Operational Centre, leading to a more coordinated approach amongst the various arms of national security the unearthing of a billion dollar illegal bunkering of diesel racket.
In the past year she says the homicide rate was at an average of 42 homicides per month while during the State of Emergency this figure was brought to an approximate of 14 homicides per month.
The prime minister says the details of the ceremony to honour the men and women of the protective services will be worked out with the Ministry of National Security.
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