When citizens suffer doubly

THE EDITOR: While we, the average citizens, try to cope with the disturbing rise in kidnappings and violence in our society, we are simultaneously being traumatised by the lack of emotional intelligence and gross irresponsibility on the part of our political leaders. Be it the arbitrary arrests of citizens for peacefully walking against crime in Chaguanas, the UTC scandal, the unprincipled incitement to civil disobedience, the convenient calls for constitutional reform in lieu of co-operating for a cause, racial this and racial that, the “you were in power so it’s your fault” foolishness etc ... indicates a total lack of understanding and empathy for the Trinbagonian people and the abusive nature inherent in our culture. This total disregard for others and preoccupation with self is no different in theory to that of the wife beater, child molester, kidnapper and substance abuser et al who would perpetrate their actions with little understanding or care of the actual damage that they are doing to all concerned. So while the public officials act out their dysfunctional patterns of behaviour we, the average citizens suffer double.

GREGORY SLOANE-SEALE