PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC:

Newly appointed National Security Minister Austin 'Jack' Warner is due to meet with the heads of the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment and the protective services even as he warned citizens not to expect an overnight solution to the crime situation in the oil-rich twin island republic.

Warner, whose appointment as the National Security Minister over the weekend has been heavily criticised by the main opposition People's National Movement (PNM), said that a new crime initiative by the Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs isn't the solution and suggested the reintroduction of a unit once considered by some to be a Òdeath squadÓ within the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service TTPS).

"Don't expect me tomorrow (come) and waive some magic wand - abracadabra - and Jack solve crime. It can't be done that way but I'll tell you something, if all of us put our shoulders to the wheel and realise we have a problem here and the problem is urban warfare," he said.

So far this year, more than 180 people have been murdered and Warner said that in order to win the 'urban warfare' which he insists is behind the increase in homicides since the end of the three month State of Emergency last year, there was need for all stakeholders to be involved in the effort to deal with the matter.

Warner said he wants to establish an upgraded version of a 'Flying Squad' within the TTPS that once struck fear in the hearts of criminals and many citizens several years ago.