Get Mr Big now

THE EDITOR: Well the Death March certainly put some life into the Government, didn’t it? After all the ole talk about “planning to contact the FBI and Scotland Yard”, and “soon to request assistance form the FBI and SY” for months and months and even a recent statement from the US Ambassador to the effect that “recent approaches have been made for assistance from the FBI” - miracle of miracles, two days after the Death March, no lesser person than the Head of the FBI arrives in Trinidad.

I am pretty certain that one of the priority recommendations from the FBI, will be a fairly straight forward one that works in the USA and elsewhere, but seems to be unknown in TT, and it is for the Board of Inland Revenue to become more aggressive in investigating suddenly acquired wealth. We all know the stories about the difficulties in arresting and prosecuting mobsters in the old days. They were all “Mr Bigs” - everyone know who was calling the shots, but there was never enough evidence to convict. So the Government decided on the tactic of investigating all suddenly wealthy people who had no apparent visible source of income and who seemed to be feared “leaders” among the underworld class.

Whether it is extortion, kidnapping or illegal drugs - you have to spend the money one day. If you have no visible or historical means of regular income and suddenly become the owner of property, whether it is a house, vehicles, overseas shopping trips, jewelry, a piece of land, a sugar daddy - the money must eventually come out from the closet. Inland Revenue has the expertise and they know how to ask the right questions to get the right answers. They can do the job. I am happy at this turn of events. Ole talk has finally turned into action. Now the question is - will they have the backing of the law enforcement agencies and the Government’s permission to go after whomever they wish including Mr Big? Can I hold my breath?

D JOHNSON
Cascade