A home-made pipe-gun, a spear gun, and Mace spray were some of the weapons proposed by ordinary people with which to defend themselves against home intruders, at a UNC public consultation on crime held by Minister of Legal Affairs Saddam Hosein in the Barataria/San Juan constituency he represents on July 22.

Joining him on-stage at the Barataria Community Centre, to hear suggestions around stand your ground legislation, was Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander who is the Tunapuna MP.

A woman elicited good-natured chuckles and apparent empathy from the audience when she admitted to not having a licence for the Mace spray that she carried on her for personal protection against attack. "I have Mace. Will I be charged, because I don't have a licence for the Mace?" she asked.