THE Prime Minister says he has received reports of police stations being closed to the public because officers are afraid of being attacked by criminals.

He made this comment on January 13 as he opened debate on a motion in the House of Representatives to approve the grounds on which the state of emergency (SoE) was declared on December 30.

President Christine Kangaloo signed the proclamation on that day. Her statement outlining the reasons why she did so was laid in the House on January 13.

Kangaloo's statement was made pursuant to section 9 (1) of the Constitution, which provides that within three days of her making the proclamation of the SoE, a letter will be delivered to Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George, outlining the grounds on which the SoE was declared.

The signed letter from Kangaloo to Annisette-George was dated December 1.

Kangaloo said she was advised by Cabinet on December 30 there had been 61 murders that month and 623 murders for the year at that time.

Cabinet, she continued, also advised her that over the preceding 14 days there had been an increase in the level of violent crimes, "leading to the death of individuals via the use of illegal firearms and in particular, firearms of high calibre, including, but not limited to automatic firearms which have lead to over 20 homicides in the past seven days."

Kangaloo was advised that two days before December 30 of two serious criminal activities involving the use of illegal, high-powered firearms which endangered public safety.

The first was an attempt to kill a person suspected to be a criminal gang leader outside the Besson Street police station on December 28.

The second was the shooting of six people at Prizgar Lands, Laventille on December 29, with one person dying at the scene and four others later at hospital.

Kangaloo said police intelligence advised National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds, who in turn advised the National security Council that criminals in East Port of Spain, Laventille and environs throughout the country "were likely to increase their brazen acts of violence in reprisal shootings on a scale so extensive that it threatens persons and will endanger public safety."

The PM, as National Security Council chairman, advised Kangaloo about this.

Kangaloo said, "Having considered the information provided and given the above premises, I was satisfied that action has been taken, or is immediately threatened by a person, of such a nature and on so extensive a scale, as to be likely to endanger public safety, to the extent that warranted the declaration of a state of public emergency."

Dr Rowley referred to this information as he debated the reasons why the SoE was declared.

He said anyone familiar with Trinidad and Tobago over the last 20 years would be aware of a minority of people engaging in violent crime.

But he added this problem has become worse in recent years.

"Persons see opportunities for profit or revenge on a daily basis and all they seem to have done is improve their killing machine."

Rowle