Please join the battle, Mr Hinds

THE EDITOR: Please allow us a little space in your popular column to register the Citizens for a Better Trinidad and Tobago’s agreement with the Prime Minister that the business of crime eradication is everybody’s business; and by this is meant the individual, the family, the neighbourhood, the church, the school, the protective services, the justice system, the health fraternity, the government and the law making institutions of the country. This fact was pungently elucidated in the recently concluded crime eradication seminar workshop hosted by the Ad Hoc Committee For The Eradication Of Crime In Laventille over a four-day stretch. Indeed, this gesture demonstrated that there is a lucid understanding that each one has a responsibility to address the problem in his or her respective sphere of life, occupation or disposition. Indeed too, this applies to the resolution of any social issue. No one can deny that crime, and the associated insecurity and anxiety, is the most pressing social issue engaging the attention of our beautiful twin island state today. We too were disappointed with the non-appearance of the parliamentary representatives for the constituencies which would be the major beneficiaries of the magnificently organised and executed exercise over the four days held at the Hilton Trinidad, the Hotel Normandie, the Despers facility in Laventille and at the Crowne Plaza on the final day. This event will long be remembered by the participants and I’m sure all of Laventille.

No doubt the parliamentary members must have had important things to do that prevented them from attending. However, the presence of Harvey Borris and former Senator Mo-hammed Shabbaz more than compensated as they made their lively and informative presentations on the last day of the seminar. I am certain that there will be plenty of time for the MPs to make their contribution since the process is a long term one. The excuse made by Mr Fitzgerald Hinds is however a very disturbing one. For he claims his absence was due to the presence of miscreants. But wasn’t that what the exercise was all about? To get the participation of all — miscreants, recidivists, the good, the bad and the indifferent? Mr Hinds’ utterance is without doubt ill-advised, counter productive and does not advance the cause of the collective effort in the fight against crime. The Honourable Prime Minister understood the importance of ‘all’ and he demonstrated this by meeting with even the perceived miscreants. So why not you Mr Hinds? You certainly do in your capacity as a criminal lawyer. Our advice to you sir is to get off that high horse and join the community in this great battle against the forces of crime that threaten to take over our communities.

VALARIE SANSAVOUIR
President
Citizens For A Better Trinidad and Tobago