Naparima MP Rodney Charles says the incompetence of the Government has been costing taxpayers and the economy more than $10 billion annually to fight crime.
Charles made the statement as he delivered his contribution on a motion titled Failure to Diversify the Economy in Parliament yesterday.
He said Government had collapsed in managing the economy and businesses were struggling to keep afloat, stating that it was shocking to learn that 34 Tobago businesses had closed their doors due to a seabridge fiasco and a sharp decline in tourist arrivals.
“Deputy Speaker, the only growth industry in Trinidad is funeral homes. I would direct the Minister of Finance if he wants to raise money…tax the funeral homes because the murder rate is increasing. We dying and suffering and that there is money to be made there.”
He said the cost of crime in the country was in the tune of billions of dollars.
Calculating the costs, Charles said if on average there are 500 murders yearly, with each burial or cremation costing $20,000, this would amount to $10 million.
The other cost would be the national security budget of $6.2 billion, including collateral damage, loss of external investments, reduced tourist arrivals, retaining security guards, installing of security cameras, burglar proofing, Blink and GPS system on cars.
He said the cost of losing a breadwinner to criminals and the family’s psychological trauma could not be calculated.
“The incompetence of that Government is costing this economy more than $10 billion annually. Their policy is tax, tax, tax and waste. If I was spending my own money I would be more careful than this Government. Would I spent $400 million on a useless highway? Would I rent One Alexandra place at $700,000 a month when I have an office at the Ministry of Agriculture that is empty? At this stage it is immoral to be spending that kind of money.”
Charles became emotional when he told the House that he wrote Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat last August after a chicken farmer in his constituency suffered losses as a result of a river next to his business which needed dredging.
Charles said he got no reply from Rambharat, stating that there was a cry among the poor for help.
“But that Government would not even acknowledge the suffering people. I am almost in tears.”