Chamber: TT powerless in face of crime

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO as a nation “seems impotent and powerless at the moment to deal with the many problems that face us, chief among them being the issue of crime.” Speaking at the annual Christmas dinner of the Greater Chaguanas Chamber of Industry and Commerce, president Rudy Maharaj also noted that “the health care system is in total disarray and our education system is in dire need of reform.” The function, which was held at Kam Po Restaurant, Ramsaran Street, Chaguanas, was attended by Senator Christine Sahadeo, Minister in the Ministry of Finance, and Mayor of Chaguanas, Dr Suruj Rambachan.

The Chamber’s president added, “Criminal activities are increasing rapidly and our prison is exploding and one wonders whether there have been any significant changes in National Security since the breach of 1990.” Maharaj said that “the genesis of the problems emanate from our homes and communities since weak heads of families, weak spiritual leaders, and careless educators have contributed to our predicament in no small way. “We are not under any form of disillusionment as we believe that the police force, the legislators and the judiciary are all needed to make the situation right,” he added.  He admitted that the “Chamber has an important role to play in developing a comprehensive strategy to deal with our criminal problems.” Maharaj said that “we bear a collective responsibility in dealing with delinquency in the home, the church and learning institutions throughout the country.” He added, “Resources, money and manpower need to be allocated for the empowerment and development of parental skills if the nation is to move into the direction of becoming an improved nation by 2020.”

Maharaj emphasised the “role of businessmen in the overall scheme of things as we need to examine our lifestyles and philosophy that are openly expressed and displayed to the public.” He added: “What we exhibit is attracting the criminal element and in the process unwittingly making ourselves prey for predators. “Let us continue to assume our responsibilities to our communities, our families, our children and to the national good, and in doing so we will be playing our part in the comprehensive strategy to deal with low morality and lawlessness in the society,” he said. Some of the achievements of the Chamber over the past year included — strategic planning for 2003; crime and kidnapping forum; Caroni’s restructuring and its economic impact; street vending issue; meeting with the Pt Lisas Chamber of Commerce on crime; state of emergency proposals to Government; meeting with the Ministry of Finance; meeting with the commercial attache of the US Embassy on trade development; forum on the FTAA and proposals for the Chamber’s industrial park. Three businessmen received awards — Wilbur Balgobin, of Willie’s Ice Cream, Kewal Singh of Singh’s Auto Supplies and Harry Seetaram of West Indies Stock Brokers.