Lead Editor-Politics[email protected]Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles are clashing over the Government’s plan to establish 30 joint police and army posts across the country. Beckles said the announcement came just days after Persad-Bissessar claimed crime had declined considerably, arguing that the establishment of the posts appeared inconsistent with the Prime Minister’s assessment of the crime situation. Beckles also questioned the criteria used to select the locations for the security posts. She claimed PNM stronghold constituencies have some of the country’s highest murder rates and concentrations of violent gangs, while also suffering from high unemployment, poor infrastructure and limited opportunities. The Government maintains that the 30 joint police-army posts are intended to strengthen the presence of the protective services in communities as part of its wider strategy to tackle serious crime.