Rules to prevent kidnapping

THE EDITOR: My brother is sixteen years old. Like thousands of others, he has just finished CXC and is looking forward to a summer of partying, much like I did five years ago. He believes he is invincible. He certainly is not — he is at risk every time he leaves the house. He has recently been banned from going to Club Coconuts, a course of action many parents are currently taking.

But my parents did not ban him because they are afraid that he may get in a car accident on the way home, as they did with me five years ago. Nor are they worried about him getting drunk and being involved in a fight as the parents of boys worried about five years ago. No... my parents worry that one night he won’t come home. That early one morning as he returns from Coconuts or Base or a lime at a friend’s home he will be pushed off the road or pulled over by “police” and taken from the car that he is in. My parents fear an empty bed and the dreaded but necessary phone call. “Your child will not be returned until we get money.” My parents fear that my sixteen-year-old brother may be victim number 123 or 124 or 125 or whatever number we have reached by the time this is printed. Having been away at school for most of the year I was not aware of the extent to which this kidnapping plague has reached. I was horrified to open the papers after last week’s splurge and realise that there has been one kidnapping for every two days of this year. Imagine the disgust I felt at realising that one has a better chance of getting kidnapped than being in a car accident.

I for one would like an explanation as to what is going on in this country. I am disappointed that there has been no official statement made by Mr Manning or any of his ministers to appease the nation. I am appalled that in addition to the burden of having a ridiculously high crime rate, our country is engaging in what is essentially a black market and trade in human bodies. Yes, there have been only four deaths from these kidnappings, and perhaps this is the excuse being used to justify the lack of action being taken, but how on earth does one justify the assault upon our freedom — in a democratic country no less? I myself have been an emotional victim of these kidnappings. I was recently driving home from a club when I saw a car stuck in a drain. Another car was parked behind and its occupants appeared to be assisting the stuck car. Three years ago I would not have thought twice about rolling down my window to see if I knew the person or to offer to call for help. Now, however, I drove on without even considering to stop. Imagine my horrific guilt when I discovered a day later that the car in the ditch belonged to a kidnap victim and the people who were “helping” were in fact the kidnappers.

What kind of state has our country reached when fear is so high that being a Good Samaritan is not even an option? Even more horrific, what state has our country reached when kidnappers are pretending to be undercover police officers in order to manipulate their victims. In the United States impersonating an officer is a federal offence with a sentence of life imprisonment, but here it will apparently turn you into a millionaire. Trinidad has fallen into a state of disgrace; one for which there seems to be no solution. I believe though, that there must be a solution. It is quite simple ... as a nation we must come together and not give into the kidnappers. We must not allow them to bully us into a state of emergency. It all begins with the individual.

As individuals we must protect ourselves and those close to us. As a person who drives at night I have made up a list of rules for myself.
1. Stop for nothing. If someone hits my car I will drive to the nearest police station. I will not get out of my car under any circumstances.
2. If I get pulled over by the police I will not roll down my window all the way, nor will I get out of my car. I will apologise profusely to the officer and hope that he understands my mistrust when I ask him to meet me at the nearest police station.
3. I will carry my cell phone with me at all times. I will make sure that it is charged and that there is money on it at all times.
4. Lastly, I will remember that I am not invincible. I will be constantly aware of my surroundings and the cars around me.

Yes, I am deeply saddened that I must live this way, but if it will keep my passengers and myself safe, then I will do it. As a country we like to blame the government for everything that goes wrong, and yes, while they do play a role it is also up to us as individuals to stop the madness. Promote awareness and safety in your family and community. If you see anything suspicious going on, call 800-TIPS (8477). I wish I had known about this number on my way home from that club, who knows, I may have prevented a kidnapping. Trinidad is our home; we have a right and a duty as its citizens to protect it. I love this country; I want one day to be able to raise my children here because I believe in its potential and its fundamental good. Let us come together as a nation to stop these kidnappings and stop the fear.

MICHELLE LOYOLA
St Ann’s