Giuliani can help us defeat crime

THE EDITOR: I have been a UNC (and Panday) supporter for several years, so when I told my close PNM friends at a function recently that I am now convinced that Panday does not want crime to be defeated in this country, they were shocked. His opposition to the Anti-Kidnapping Bill and CCJ were not enough to convince me.  Then, as if by the grace of God, CLICO somehow managed to influence Rudy Giuliani to come down here to assist us to defeat this menace of crime that has plagued our society.  I thought that our prayers were answered, since Rudy Giuliani has been recognised as the person with the most successful track record to defeat crime, not just in New York but worldwide. But to my utter disappointment, Panday then tries to throw cold water on this gold mine, and says that Giuliani’s “proposals” in Trinidad would not work because Trinidad is different to New York.

What utter rubbish. Giuliani has never even seen Trinidad, far less given a proposal to combat crime.  He has travelled to different countries, each with their varying laws, and crime trends, then and only then, does he give recommendations, that Governments have utilised to great effect.  Mexico City was the latest example, whereby their laws are totally different to New York, but Giuliani identified the problems, and Mexico City has now seen a drastic reduction in kidnappings and murders almost overnight. The Prime Minister mentioned that there were some Trinidadians in New York who were opposed to the idea of Giuliani reducing crime in this country.  I have had contact with a lot of my Trini friends up there, since I lived there for 14 years, and this is news to them.

In fact, Trinis in New York are fully aware of the results of Giuliani and the previous Commissioner of Police to rid the city of these criminals, and hope that he is given the opportunity to produce similar results in Trinidad and Tobago. Those who might oppose his input here, are probably families of some of the hardened criminals that Giuliani successfully removed from the streets of New York to make life safer for the law abiding folk. Basdeo Panday apparently wants crime to be at the forefront, since it is the one major weak link in the PNM staying in power, so if crime decreases, then the UNC stays in Opposition. I pray that political leaders are not so narrow minded, but I see very few alternates as to why Basdeo Panday is attempting to debunk probably the best opportunity that our citizens have to wrest control of the country from these criminals.

Dr ALI MOHAMMED
(Previous resident of
New York City)
St James