Murder rates have skyrocketed in Trinidad

After several days of discussion, the two sides will cooperate to pass legislation and other measures to counter murders and kidnappings which have reached record levels.

The parties have also agreed that the Commissioner of Police will have more power to discipline errant police officers and better manage the service.

The Police Service Commission which has ultimate responsibility for hiring, firing and disciplining police officers will not become accountable to the parliament.

It has also been decided a new court will be established to deal with gun crimes and kidnapping cases to expedite criminal trials.

Agreement

Opposition leader Basdeo Panday, who has always said his party's cooperation with the government was based on wider constitutional reform, told the parliament this morning he is not easing pressure on the government.

"During our discussion, the government appeared to understand and appreciate this view. We are therefore very pleased that there was agreement that discussions with respect to constitutional reform continue on a parallel track," he said.

"It may be that the government is not serious about constitutional reform and they only agreed to put it on the agenda so that they could obtain our support on other matters, only time will tell."

Prime Minister Manning played down the prospect of any legislation being held up by the opposition when it gets to parliament.

"Even before legislation comes to the House, the process on which we have agreed is that there will be consultation and in fact there should be agreement before legislation is actually debated in the house," Mr Manning told BBC Caribbean Service.

The Trinidad and Tobago government has been harshly criticised for what people see as its inability to deal with the spiraling crime rate. The murder rate has crossed a record high of 330.