My gift to Rowley, Kamla

So please understand, if not forgive the intrusion, but I came on board, my way, with two ideas. In fact, it now seems as if both PM Dr Rowley and Opposition Leader Ms Kamla Persad-Bissessar have already welcomed one of the ideas – a bipartisan approach to crime, pleasing many. In these desperate times of justifiable pessimism, public safety needs citizen support – in different ways. These joint “peace talks” will not be easy.

Let me explain. This goodwill idea of a bipartisan approach to crime was offered last Tuesday when a reporter asked what I think should be done about the gangs, violence, murders and illegal guns.

There were widespread complaints over the country’s crime situation, especially over the murder rate and growing threats from gangs – concerns led by the business community with Downtown Owners and Merchants Association (DOMA) Gregory Aboud and Chaguanas Chamber of Commerce President Richie Sookhai gaining dramatic media coverage.

What to do now? I was asked.

There are several things to do - many of which were said before - increased detection rate, swift trials, improved police patrols and performance, an improved education system, better parenting, etc, etc. But a significant sustainable reduction in crime - from street to white collar crimes – will not happen with overnight “magical” solutions.

We tried that before.

I advised a genuine effort should now be made to kickstart a comprehensive review of the “crime situation” – from institutional structure to procedures - generating a set of prioritised benchmarked programmes and policies. It will require more than legislative and administrative changes. Tinkering will not do. As an Independence gift, I suggested a politically-bipartisan approach to help bring some public comfort.

So, briefly, in the interview, I said: “In the present circumstances, a public interest imperative now is for the government and opposition to hold a high-level emergency meeting to work out a national- policy consensus over the public safety threats from gangs, murders, terrorism and the required institutional responses required. After all, the challenges faced now are similar to the ones faced by the previous regime, the one before, and so on. The country cannot continue so.” (Guardian, August 23).

I noted the “joint talks on crime” some 20 years ago between the Manning-led Government and the Panday-led Opposition “did not work as well as hoped.” The failure of the Manning-Panday effort should therefore be honestly examined to avoid repetition. I added: “I well know the constitutional role of the Government and the Opposition, but with the country bleeding as it is now, there is still room for goodwill and statesmanship.” This “joint approach” idea gained some currency so much that Opposition Leader Ms Kamla Persad-Bissessar last Thursday sensibly wrote PM Dr Rowley “calling for an urgent meeting between the Government and Opposition to discuss a bipartisan approach to dealing with this crisis of crime.” In his post-cabinet press conference last Thursday evening, Dr Rowley dutifully agreed. Perhaps neither of them read my comments last Wednesday. However, in the end it doesn’t matter. What matters is to get the plan moving.

The second public safety gift is in a book I presented to both Manning and Panday administrations.

Entitled “The Dynamics of Community Policing,” the 220- page book contains 42 recommendations to engineer community policing into a scientific, national- wide, citizen-supported programme.

The book also serves as a “how to do it manual,” copies of which should still be in the Police Service library. A crime-prevention manual.

You see, the joint Govt-Opposition crime talks, quite useful, is a top-level exercise. Crime reduction will not reach far with law enforcement policies alone. You need strong sustainable community support and partnership at ground level. That was part of the failure of the Manning-Panday effort. So to Dr Rowley and Ms Pers ad- Bi s - sessar, this is another independence gift to help your noble effort.