Scotland hopes to restore confidence in police

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Recently appointed National Security Minister Keith Scotland, SC, said his two main goals as minister were to reduce crime and restore confidence in the police.

He made the statement while answering questions from the media shortly after his letter of appointment was handed over to him by President Christine Kangaloo at the Presidential House in Port of Spain on Friday.

“The biggest gap or the biggest problem was the lack of trust that the public had in the police. That has a spin-off effect, because it can lead to apathy.

“In other words, people who should come forward and say something to the police may not do so if they don’t have trust. So the first thing we need to do is address that lack of trust.”

In 2023, a report by the Police Service Commission said that only eight per cent of the population trusted the police. The report also said that 77 per cent feared being the victim of a mugging, home invasion or burglary. Some 73 per cent felt unsafe leaving their door open when they were at home.

In an exclusive Newsday report earlier this week, residents of St Paul Street said they felt more protected by gangs than by police, adding that gang members in the area were not afraid of police officers.

On Thursday, after the Prime Minister announced his appointment, Scotland told media he would “get to work straight away.”

At the President’s House on Friday, Scotland said he would begin meeting stakeholders on Saturday morning, including civil society, the police, the Police Social and Welfare Association (PSWA) and other stakeholders.

“There is a plan in place, and it will be rolled out and implemented with them shortly.”

He said that while he would have to step down as chairman of the Joint Select Committee on National Security, he would remain MP for Port of Spain South.

He said his role as a minister at the ministry would allow him to engage with stakeholders in a different way than in his role as a member of parliament.

“It’s different in the sense that when I meet certain people in the community, I can maybe talk to them from a different angle.”

No Loss of Confidence in Hinds

Scotland received his letter of appointment in the presence of Dr Rowley, Minister for Planning and Development and Head of Government Affairs, Camille Robinson-Regis and Minister for National Security, Fitzgerald Hinds.

When asked by reporters whether Scotland’s appointment was a sign of the Prime Minister’s lack of confidence in Hinds, Regis replied that it was not.

“The point is that the Minister of National Security remains the Minister of National Security,” she said. “If he had lost confidence in the Minister, he would have removed him.”

She noted that during Stuart Young’s tenure as Minister for National Security there was a minister in the ministry dealing with immigration issues. She added that in her own ministry there were two ministers.

“Interestingly, it took a while for the Prime Minister to get the feeling that there needed to be a second minister in the Department of National Security, and that says a lot. There is a very high expectation of Minister Hinds and he (the Prime Minister) has certainly not lost confidence.”

Hinds also responded, saying, “I don’t think I could have said it more succinctly.”

Scotland is ‘up to the challenge’

At his swearing-in as Minister for National Security, Scotland read out his oath, in which he promised “to discharge his duties as Minister for National Security conscientiously, impartially and to the best of his ability, and to do justice to all classes of people, without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.”

He brought along his daughter, Krystianna Scotland, and a woman he said he “couldn’t live without,” Irma David.

Asked about his feelings about his appointment, Scotland said he felt “equal to the challenge.”

“I was a bit surprised because I was doing my daily activities and the leader of the house had given me some tasks (which I still have to do). But I feel ready.”

He said he felt his background in sociology, criminology and his experience as MP for Port of Spain South had prepared him for the role.

“From the top of John John to the end of Woodbrook you see the whole TT,” he said.

Scotland graduated from the Hugh Wooding Law School with a Certificate of Legal Education and was called to the Bar in 1996. He was Principal of Virtus Chambers and is a part-time lecturer at the University of the West Indies and the Hugh Wooding Law School.

Scotland has an extensive legal practice covering the civil, criminal and industrial courts. He has served on boards in the public and private sectors.

When he received the appointment, he was greeted by the Prime Minister, who shook his hand and spoke to him briefly.

Asked what the Prime Minister said to him when he congratulated him, Scotland replied: “I think I will keep that confidential.”