Tuesday, October 13 2009

OPPOSITION LEADER Basdeo Panday yesterday backed the San Juan Business Association’s (SJBA) appeal to Acting Police Commissioner James Philbert to approve firearms licences for its members. On Sunday, SJBA public relations officer Abraham Ali said this appeal to Philbert was based on the fact that there were over 700 crimes against business persons in the San Juan/Barataria area last month.

An unsigned statement issued by the Opposition Leader’s Office yesterday said Panday believes this appeal shows that businessmen have “lost faith in the ability of the Government, the Minister of National Security and the Police Service to protect them.”

“Instead of treating with what is obviously a serious problem, their applications are turned down without explanation,” the statement reads.

The statement concludes recent increases in utility rates and proposed increases in property rates, show “the Government has thrown the business community to the wolves.”