Quality of police service must be paramount

THE EDITOR: In a bid to win political kudos no one wants to further follow the Jamaican example which is receiving world attention, as highlighted by a recent article in The UK Guardian (29/08/03) under the banner “We don’t have police, we have gunmen.”

According to Amnesty International, “Jamaica has the highest number of police killings per capita in the world: an annual average of 140 civilians over the past 10 years in a population of 2.6m.” Our politicking history is now close enough to Jamaica to be clear warning that that is a path down which we must avoid travelling at all cost. There are altogether too many instances of killed in “gunfight,” “resisting arrest” and even more suspiciously, as is the case with the most recent in San Fernando, “in the course of or subsequent to arrest” where an autopsy has revealed that the victim, an unarmed (inebriated — perhaps) young man, with no stated previous criminal record even, has died as a result of a blow to the head with a blunt instrument (gun) — clearly excessive utilisation of brawn, if not brutality, before brain.

We cannot afford to be apathetic about matters these days until the “average” citizen has to take to the Savannah in protest. As evidenced by the crime spree, like cancer, it spreads regardless — unless treated (dealt with) correctly and expeditiously. This is a matter that needs be addressed with despatch. “The wrong place” can sometimes shift, causing one of your own loved ones to be one of the “wrong ones.” A helicopter for our Minister of National Security (plus 1,000 more men) is all well and good, but how is this going to assist a police service lacking the requisite modern requirements of their trade, or the necessary training required to fight crime in today’s world? I notice that Mr Chin Lee was not buzzing about assisting in locating the floating “coke” recently — where was the helicopter? That would have been an ideal time to utilise the same — and his keen eye. The Police (and Army) must be kept accountable for their actions.

In conjunction with this, it is imperative of course that our Police Service be properly equipped (and trained) to deal with crime and police work in this day and age. Inducting 1,000, or 2,000 more even, to the Police Service cannot be the answer to fighting crime unless the quality of service offered is made a matter of paramount importance. Should there be poor example to follow, it is only natural that the new inductees will follow suit also; and as Mr Ramlogan points out, the better educated just get out — and on — as so many of today’s “average” Trinis seem to be doing. If things continue on their present course we may have to resort to asking the Cubans et al to assist in policing, if not running, our country too! This is what democracy and good governance is all about, fellow citizens, We must demand Quality (and transparency) from all, including Government — just as you do from the merchants and suppliers. The alternative is further degeneration.

VIRGINIA VERITY
Port-of-Spain