Government has failed our border patrol

THE EDITOR: Prime Minister Manning should stand up and face the music. It is a cheap shot to put the blame on Hugo Chavez for opening the flood gate of guns to pour in to TT. But common sense would have meant that every island provide perimeter security or border patrol to prevent infiltration of unwanted elements. Given the current budget of $20 billion, I would imagine that PM Manning would have allotted a substantial amount of funds to protect and safeguard his citizens.

He failed. Prior to the elections, he had promised crime would not be tolerated nor would it be permitted to escalate nor would he affiliate himself with the Muslimeen. This all appeared to be “election ole talk”, for he has said there is no major crime issue but only collateral damage while the lives of innocent citizens are snuffed out. In New York practically every Trini knows that the capital of crime is on the hill. Laventille has earned its rightful place in the criminal archives. One could safely say that the police are incapable of making arrests as quickly as the crimes are committed. In an island of 1.3 million people approximately, the police has demonstrated their ineffectiveness to deal with the current criminal crisis. The common denominator is money and while money is not evenly distributed in the form of jobs and shelter, criminals who don’t engage in gainful employment will have no alternative but to continue the drug and kidnapping trade.

For the cocaine and cannabis trade, PM Manning would probably blame Columbia for the influx of drugs into TT, and so he would probably blame Libya for supplying guns and ammunition to the terrorist group that is part and parcel of the gang wars on the hill. I wouldn’t be surprised if he blames the US, Canada and the UK for criminal deportees dumping into TT. If this malignant cancer was dormant for a while, PM Manning would have pointed his finger at the UNC. Obviously during the UNC term in office crime was down considerably and was under control. In the final analysis it is the weighing of two elements alleged corruption and genocide. To lose a member of your family would definitely bring a devastating blow incorporated with long lasting pain and suffering. If he is a saint let him cast the first stone. PM Manning, you know for a fact that the blame reflects on the Commander in Chief, and who is the chief?

JAY R RAKHAR
New York