Demand a solution

THE EDITOR: Adjunct to the resurgence of kidnapping, recent reports suggest that the total number of murders for this year would surpass the unprecedented figure for 2003, given that the present murder rate is maintained. Adding insult to injury is the scandalous allegations made by police officers about their peers and seniors being allied with ruthless criminal elements.

Consequently, it seems that the citizenry is literally being held for ransom. But what exactly are we, the law abiders doing to get out of this quandary? We appeal to the Government via letters like this one, we complain to family, we complain to friends — we complain again and again. Clearly, this is an exercise in futility and is not the answer. The recent bombardment of advertisements telling us to take the “me” out of crime was another paradigm that revealed the authorities’ inability in controlling the menace.

Bandits saw the slogan as a joke while decent folks felt insulted. It’s indeed a guessing game for the so-called law enforcers who continue to flaunt their daftness with respect to the next step in the battle against crime. Simply put, nobody is convinced that the Ministry of National Security is working hard enough on the issue. Notwithstanding, the “800TIPS” initiative inviting anonymous callers to provide potential crime tips for a monetary award proved to be practical until frustrated by legal processes, technicalities and inadequate prisons — deficiencies that favour returning arrested villains back to society all too soon.

So how do we force the hand of authority to do more — to return TT to the safe and friendly twin-island state it used to be? The time for asking is over. We must now demand a solution to arrest spiraling lawlessness. Do I hear regular anti-crime marches — anybody?

DEXTER J RIGSBY
Mt Lambert