Assessing the link between crime and poverty, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley says he believes those who end up pursuing illegal activity make a choice to do so, and are not inevitably doomed because of their economic standing.

He backed up this theory by pointing to those who come from a background of poverty but have not become involved in nefarious activity.

“Some will tell you crime is the outcome of poverty- yes poverty could instill actions of crime from time to time. But if you take the position that crime is related to poverty then what about all those people who experience deficiencies and did not themselves become murderers? And what about those who use their intellect and their time and their physical strength to prey on others. And (it) has nothing to do with poverty- it has to do with a choice of living off the proceeds of high paying criminal activity,” he said.

The Prime Minister was speaking on a PNM political platform in Chaguanas on Tuesday night.