The threat is real he says

Acknowledging that TT was experiencing a “serious measure of crisis” including a moral, spiritual and educational crisis, MP for Morvant/Laventille East Fitzgerald Hinds yesterday said, “Crime and the frequency of kidnapping threatens and adversely affects all of us.” He added that “the threat is very real” right now.

Hinds made the admission as he delivered the feature address at the weekly Rotary luncheon hosted by the Port-of-Spain Rotary Club, at the Queen’s Park Savannah. Claiming that everyone only wanted to enjoy peace, good health and prosperity, he questioned how this could be achieved, in addition to restoring  a state of security and well-being again. “I am convinced that we all have to pray hard and sincerely,” he stated, adding that “only the power of God can resolve the troubles that we experience.” Calling on the members of the Rotary Club to redouble their efforts to help persons, Hinds adamantly declared, “It can no longer be business as usual. “The work to rebuild TT is very serious work,” he claimed, adding “it is very difficult to find any institution in this country that is working near perfectly or even well.”

Admitting that the quantity and quality of work to be done was largely underestimated by all, and though Government was trying its best to resolve the issues that are being encountered, Hinds confessed, “Sometimes I wonder as well, if even the Government has underestimated the expense or the quality of the work which is necessary to rebuild the country.” Although the constituency of Morvant/Laventille East contains beautiful, harmless people, the MP conceded that it also contained “the other elements causing major distraction or mayhem sometimes.” Stating that a great amount of hypocrisy existed in today’s society, he said this needed to be dealt with first, if other problems were to be tackled and handled efficiently.

Referring to idle, young persons who wanted a way out, Hinds stated, “We have to show them and I am sure it cannot be done via the URP, CEPEP and handouts.” Though these social programmes are necessary, they are not sufficient and instead need to administer a training component to the persons in these programmes so at the end of the period, they would have become semi-skilled and able to earn for themselves. Hinds revealed that he was currently involved in trying to launch a project in his community to train 1,000 persons of his constituency in various skills (300 in masonry, tiling and brick-laying; 200 in welding; 150 in plumbing; 150 electricians; 100 joiners and woodworkers; 100 landscapers). However, approximately $3.5 million is needed to get this project started, and as a result, Hinds implored the private sector to join hands with Government to embark on this venture. Speaking on the issue of the introduction of a military presence and the increase in police in crime afflicted areas, Hinds said though he welcomed their presence in Laventille, he was convinced “that a military solution cannot solve it all.”