Death in the House

Can our politicians rise above the usual partisan slanging match to share their heartfelt views over the spate of murders in the country? This is the big question as the House of Representatives prepares to debate the crime situation on Friday. House Speaker, Barry Sinanan, last Friday ruled that the House would debate crime at its next sitting. He was responding to a motion by Pointe-a-Pierre MP, Gillian Lucky, to debate crime as a definite matter of urgent public importance in light of the recent kidnapping and murder of Ashmead Baksh, son of Naparima MP, Nizam Baksh. Sinanan ruled that the matter could be debated but not that day. He said any granting of such a motion would defer the House’s  regular business.

“Although in itself a serious and grievous concern to all of us, it does not qualify to be raised as a definite matter of urgent public importance.” He remarked that it was because the matter “touched all of us” and “we do indeed share the grief of the honourable member for Naparima and his family,” Sinanan said, after discussions with Lucky, he had directed that the matter be listed as a motion on the adjournment of the House at its next sitting. So, this Friday can the tragic death of Ashmead Baksh spur the Government and Opposition to unite to tackle the country’s crime-rate, long seen by many as far too high? This had been the call made by Naparima MP, Nizam Baksh, after the kidnapping and murder of his son last week. But so far Ashmead’s death became somewhat of a political football.

Leader of the Opposition, Basdeo Panday, aided by Siparia MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar, blamed the tragedy on the incompetence of the PNM Govern-ment. The Opposition used the tragedy to dub Manning uncaring, after he had declined to make comments to reporters to preempt his speech at last Sunday’s PNM Family Day in Arouca. In turn Prime Minister Patrick Manning at the event publicly urged Panday to stop playing the fool with crime. The Government has criticised the Opposition’s refusal, in the absence of constitutional reform, to support Government legislation like the Kidnapping Bill. Now, the politicians have many killings to mull over. As of yesterday the country’s murder tally for the year so far stood at 98 deaths. These include two killings on Friday — in Morvant and in Carenage — and the discovery of a body in Moruga. The country has seen a continuation of suspected gang-killings related to drug turf and the awarding of contracts for public works like the URP. Blade and bullet settle old scores. But also prevalent have been the killings of children and youth, innocent of any transgression.

Pretty deaf-mute Aneesher Rangoo (20) of California was murdered in January.  The young were not spared. In April two young brothers — Elton Delice (19) and Allan Sterling (21)  — were shot dead after leaving a baby-shower. Young men are increasingly being shot in  disputes over women. Then Arrindel Michael (16) was shot dead over a game of cards. Also in April  Canadian Professor, Robert McDonald (43),  visiting for a martial arts contest was shot dead by bandits. Most recently, in May, the country witnessed the murder of Mala Mohammed, wife of Princes Town supermarket owner, Uncle Khalid Mohammed. Two Venezuelan students were found murdered in a St Clair boutique with suggested motives ranging from drug-related to crime of passion. Sunday Newsday yesterday sought the views of Prime Minister Manning on how he would like to see Friday’s sitting proceed, but he was not taking questions. Gillian Lucky could not be reached either.