Probe cash real estate purchases

1. Use the unit at the Board of Inland Revenue, trained to investigate things like sudden signs of wealth to identify many who are laundering money.

2. Respond immediately to reports from banks about suspiciously large cash deposits.

3. Investigate real estate and other purchases that are made with cash.

4. Bring the Forensic Science Centre up to par with the world’s latest technology.

5. Recruit and send abroad for training at the best institutions, bright young people as professional Crime Scene Investigators.

6. Use satellite GST technology which can monitor all of TT and which can identify the locations of police vehicles to be able to respond quickly to a crime scene.

7. Have 999 linked vehicles patrolling the country, dedicated to responding to emergency calls instead of having to rely on help from police stations.

8. Bring IT technology to the Police Service — with all police stations, vehicles, Licensing Office, everybody concerned, on line 24/7.

9. Surveillance cameras — in the city and at all main junctions with 24/7 monitoring.

10. Establish a Gun Court that will operate 24/7; bring harsher laws for persons caught with illegal guns and ammunition — no bail; minimum five years in jail for first offence and harsher sentences if a crime is committed with a gun.

11. And most important re-establish community policing. The Police Service needs to touch base with the people and to be seen as friend rather than adversary.

I may add that these recommendations have been proposed before by many others. But is anyone listening; is anyone doing anything about it? I honestly believe that unless the ideas come from within, they are discarded. As an example, the two things that were touted to be the answer have become total flops — eye in the sky and the blimp. Were those supposed to be brilliant ideas?

Crime is coming at us at 100 miles an hour and the Ministry of National Security is in reverse gear.

Personally, I think Dr Rowley would make a success as Minister of National Security, but then he may become a shining star. I don’t think that would please the maximum leader.

D JOHNSON

Cascade