Answer to crime rests with police

Being born here gives him that little bit more leeway regarding established diplomatic behaviour. TT is nothing like when he left home. Estrada is doing us a big favour and has nothing to lose. We have all to gain by heeding a few well intentioned words of wisdom.

Our police lack competence in some areas of policing. I agree totally that the answer to runaway crime rests with the police, not the army. That is the reason all countries have police.

They have to police. They have to transcend the corruption that resides in all organisations. The army can be important back-up but the powers of arrest must lie only with the police. The police appear unable to shoot in the arm or in the leg. Members of the public may have information but would not give it if they believe the perpetrator will end up dead. Regardless how bad the offender. These young men may be relatives and children of friends and neighbours of long standing. People want them to be corrected, not killed. Not youngsters they have known as innocent children.

It is my view that it is now important for the TT PS to increase entry qualifications and start career officer contingents.

These men/women should immediately, after basic training, be sent abroad for crime detection and related courses. A law degree is not the equivalent of specific knowledge in crime detection. It is understood that this officer class will have to be paid commensurate with superior qualifications.

Crime fighting in TT must be brought into the 21st century.

Not every super intelligent graduating student is attracted to law and medicine. Rome was not built in a day but let us start somewhere, now, today.

Lynette Joseph Diego Martin