And while Peyrefitte was holding it down for the UDP in the Senate, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Elodio Aragon was much more low key when he toured the National Forensics Services Headquarters in Ladyville. Aragon met with the staff of the forensics center and discussed what needs to be done to make the department more efficient and effective. Aragon told us what he was looking for...
Hon. Elodio Aragon - Minister of State, Home Affairs
"Well today, I am visiting the Forensic Center, looking at where we are. You know, where the forensic lab is in terms of the people that deal with the chemistry, the biology, and the people who are dealing with the firearms and crime. To see where we are. Definitely the forensic laboratory has a critical role to play if we are going to change this around in this country in terms of crime. My visit here, I feel is very important because I get to interact with the people who are working here, listening to their concerns, listening to the suggestions they have to improve this place. And I do think that we've had a very productive meeting this morning, and I've come to understand a lot more than when I first visited here a number of years ago when I was a police officer. I do think that especially with our strategic plan that we are trying to put in place, I think that the forensic laboratory, this department and an arm of the government, part of the police department, I do believe has a lot to contribute, especially the firearms department that is here. I do think they are doing great work, and I do think we need to focus on them to see how, what kind of support the forensic department needs in terms of investigations that surrounds the use of firearms. I think that is a critical role, and I am working with them closely to see how we can improve that they are doing, so that we could have the impact on the ground."
Alex Courtenay, 7News
"Minister we know that you also had a very lengthy discussion with a lot of the staff here, what were those discussions about. What were you guys speaking about?"
Hon. Elodio Aragon - Minister of State, Home Affairs
"We were talking about, you know, some of the issues that they have. Some of the good things that they are doing, some of the things that need to be improved. You know both at administrative and other wise. One thing I could tell you that our staff here is very enthusiastic, they love what they're doing here in the forensic lab, and I do think that we need to continue to build that team work, that spirit to move this department forward. I foresee the national forensic laboratory playing a crucial role within law enforcement and we need to build on this, and there's a lot of room for improvement. I see that we have the willpower of the personnel working here, and I think that we just at the ministry level need to support that."
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