Crime stems from culture of disorder

THE EDITOR: Once again this country is being enticed into the simple importation of a foreign programme the Giuliani Crime Plan, as the solution for a local problem. Several times in our history, imported solutions have failed to deliver, yet we habitually succumb to the glib delivery and polished accents from the North. The country has become a graveyard for failed imported solutions, just because we ignore the simple fact that there are significant differences between the developed countries and TT. The laissez faire aspects of our culture, our attachment to traditional thinking, and government’s tendency to base decisions on political expediency, all work together to ensure that imported solutions will not work here.

I am sure that we have local intelligence capability to solve this crime problem. We can begin by recognising the forces that have brought us to this sorry condition. It is clear that lackadaisical institutions have turned blind eyes to infractions of the law, legitimising lawlessness, thereby nurturing a culture of disorder that has mushroomed into the present wave of crime and fear. Surely we can draw from the experiences of Giuliani and other foreign crime fighters without contracting anyone, the material is freely available to all, but the plan we use must be our own, tailored to our needs and our situation. However, there are no shortcuts, we will reduce crime when we can deal with PH drivers, drag racing on our highways, illegal vending, public urinating, littering, praedial larceny, noise pollution, obscene language, and the host of lawless acts which have now become entrenched into our norms of behaviour simply because perpetrators have no expectation of negative consequences.

When there is a commitment by government to take decisions that are consistent with discipline, tolerance and production, when our law enforcement agencies and the judiciary are motivated and committed to the realisation of an ordered society, then and only then we will steam this tide of crime.  If local businessmen are endeared with Giuliani’s plan let them pay as the businessmen of Mexico have paid (US$4 million), but leave TT taxpayers out of this folly.

DAVID SUBRAN
Chaguanas