A New Democratic Party (NDP) government will fix the crime situation within its first term in office.
This was the bold promise made by leader of the NDP, Dr. Godwin Friday as he delivered the feature address at his party’s Hope rally held last Saturday, May 13, at Mount Young, Dr. Friday went on to say that he intends to assign the task of getting the job done. To St Clair ‘Major’ Leacock, Parliamentary Representative for Central Kingstown.
“And he will get it done,” Friday told party supporters.
Dr. Friday has been critical of the government’s handling of the crime situation here, and has been consistently calling on the government to step up its anti-crime activity.
According to the leader of the opposition, crime and violence were out of control.
Referring to the record homicide count, 22, recorded in 2022 , the Opposition Leader told his audience, “People don’t feel safe in their homes anymore, they don’t feel safe in public anymore,” adding that all the government did was blame everybody else for the problem.
“They blaming pretty girls who have high maintenance, they’re blaming the judges, the magistrates,” he said.
“But the people who are in control of the government, they don’t blame themselves. But I say this, if you don’t take responsibility, then you could never fix the problem because you’re saying it’s not your problem,” Dr. Friday reasoned.
“Well I believe that we can do better, and we will do better – I promise you that,” Dr. committed.
In his address at the rally, Leacock said that the task of dealing with crime started with someone who understood the issue.
“And one who understands the mission and purpose of this great institution, the New Democratic Party, that the first responsibility of any prime minister and any government was to secure the people,” he said.
“And in the NDP we hold that responsibility very close to our heart and we make a solemn promise we will protect you, we will defend you and we will take full responsibility for your safety and your security,” he promised.