Reactivate Chacachacare for vagrants

THE EDITOR: Sometime during the 1980’s when the vagrancy problem seemed to be getting out of hand, I wrote a letter to the editors of the daily newspapers offering my solution to a growing dilemma then. In the light of a recent announcement reportedly made by the Mayor of Port-of-Spain that he is planning to designate a building in the city to accommodate the vagrants, I have herewith enclosed a copy of my previous suggestion which I feel it would be opportune to publish again.

I really thought that the Mayor would have learned from the mistaken policies of his predecessors in their efforts to resolve this vagrant issue which has evidently got worse. Clearly the number of vagrants has increased exponentially — including some vagrants who were persuaded by their caring relatives to return to their families but later chose to return to the ranks of their vagrant friends. Indeed the vagrants have become more brazen showing little or no respect for citizens or the environment when they even defecate on the sidewalks and open spaces. Some are even observed with sores on their skins and are evidently in need of medical attention.  Moreover, they pose health hazards when they occupy benches in parks etc. My previous suggestions which would necessitate some funding and goodwill from the Government, corporate citizens and others, would not require elaborate or creative legislation to facilitate official action because the substantive law (The Summary Offences Act Ch 11:02) which deals with loitering and “sleeping in” under Section 45 is already on the books and might only need an amendment to empower the magistrates to commit the vagrant to the approved institution. In my view, all solutions need to be ventilated by our concerned citizens to help us come up with a positive solution. We cannot continue to ignore the increasing number of offensive vagrants we see moving around our capital and elsewhere, half-naked and in some cases virtually naked and exposing their private parts to passing women and children. Many of these people are said to be drug addicts whose brains are probably damaged; and while we sympathise with them, we need to go beyond this and address the situation which will not go away.

Many decent and responsible citizens quietly complain and are fed up with the lack of positive action by our Government to deal with this painful problem which, after all, affects our country in so many ways. It is both a social and an economic dilemma. Our womenfolk in particular are often petrified and disgusted at these spectacles of indecency which seem to threaten their person but the irony of it all is that we are actually inviting European and other visitors to Trinidad to promote tourism in an effort to earn much needed foreign exchange. Are we trying to be the laughing stock of the world? I am of the view that if persons cannot look after themselves to the extent that it is detrimental to the State, then the State has a moral obligation to look after the welfare of such persons even if it means the denial of some of their “rights” initially, for their ultimate good. Hence the Government must have the political will to do something positive and meaningful, even if it is not popular with those who are quick to conveniently close their eyes and open their mouths to shout “denial of human rights.”

However we should appreciate that this is a national problem and citizens with certain expertise and the business community should be willing to assist the Government by giving financial and other types of assistance to aid in the rehabilitation of these unfortunate citizens. The Government should therefore act now and reactivate Chacachacare Island by constructing some wooden buildings there for use as dormitories, medical service facilities and workshops where the vagrants can get accommodation, medical attention and be encouraged to regain some self-worth by learning a skill or some other legitimate pursuit to become productive. I am sure that the Alcohol and Narcotic Anonymous Associations would be willing to assist in this effort. Of course, security measures would have to be instituted for obvious reasons and the Defence Force immediately comes to mind to assist in this respect. Perhaps a board or committee of concerned persons skilled in management and other techniques could be established to manage the operation; and if the experts think that laws or regulations are necessary to resolve this situation let us do it now. Clearly the Government cannot continue to avoid the responsibility and should attack this matter immediately for the good of the vagrants and the well being of Trinidad and Tobago. These are my views but I trust that this letter will trigger comments or better suggestions from other concerned citizens.

HAROLD SQUIRES
Diego Martin