Parrots are useless on crime

THE EDITOR: Many of us go away with the belief that parrots speak, when all they really do is “mimic.” V S Naipaul our famous Nobel Prize novelist, referred to people in the region as “mimic-men.” As much as I resent the label, sometimes I am tempted to agree with him. We have a tendency, “to go with the flow”, much to our detriment. We are dieing for more “stand up guys” in TT. We need more exemplars. Let’s take the case of the increase in crime in TT. All that is thrown at the existing crime situation in TT is “ole-talk.” Our previous PM, who was also the Minister of National Security, looked up to high heavens, with the rhetoric; “the crime situation in TT cannot be solved,” or words to that effect, only to have him say now; the present Government is doing nothing to alleviate crime in TT.

The types of crimes that we are experiencing in TT are not “street crimes” but are violent crimes, which are more pathological in nature. Just to illustrate my point. Two days after hosting a tea party at her Cascade home, in a middle-class neighbourhood, Lynette Pearson’s body and that of two of her relatives, were found in the bathroom of her master bedroom, with their throats slit. This is one of our murder cases being tried in one of our courts today. In another instant; after the brutal slaying of Ashmead Baksh, the son of Nizam Baksh (MP) the 31-year-old brother of prominent fete producer Randy Glasgow, while having a drink at a popular cafe, was gunned down by a lone gunman who shot him from point blank range.

The victim died at Port-of-Spain General Hospital 15 minutes later. These noted crimes are all depraved, wanton acts of violence. No police service, no matter how efficient would be able to circumvent any such unprovoked acts of violence. What is the solution for these types of murders and who is to blame? The PM is calling on the leader of the Opposition Basdeo Panday, for the UNC support for legislation to assist in the curtailment of crime in TT, only to have the Opposition leader turn down his request, with the alleged remark that; “the safety and protection of the citizens of TT are the responsibilities of the Government. That is Manning’s job, not the Opposition’s job.” A society divided can never make progress. The members of the opposition still refuse to sit down and support the Police Service Bill and a kidnapping amendment with teeth, with a view of putting the would-be kidnappers on the run.

We are inundated with idle talk about the forming of vigilante groups and Guardian Angel groups.  How do we go about implementing such groups? Firstly, would our vigilante groups be confined to our middle/upper class gated communities? What effect would vigilante groups have on crime? Would they follow these people around in cars; on their way to and from restaurants, the shopping malls or shows at Queen’s Hall or parties at the Hilton and Crowne Plaza? Would they have the authority to challenge those persons suspected of any questionable acts, or those exhibiting probable cause. Would they be in a position to make citizen’s arrests? In the event of an arrest; the much maligned, allegedly corrupt, ineffective police service would be called in at this juncture.

The Guardian Angels groups would be faced with the same problems because of their function as their counterparts the vigilante groups. (Let it be known that the widely accepted categorisation of our police service, as being inept and ineffective go counter to my own). The parroting has taken on a life of its own, in that we throw blame around but lack the courage to take the necessary action and do what is required of us; as concerned, responsible citizens. We should all ask ourselves: Have we been passing on proper values to our children in our homes? Are we exemplary role models? Do we report all criminal activities taking place in our homes and in our communities to the police? Do we only talk about how difficult it is to live in TT, without trying to make things better? Are we holding our politicians accountable for the job they are being paid to do?

We leave our beautiful country because of the prevalence of crime. And go abroad and become civil-minded, responsible, hard-working citizens. We experience for more bizarre crimes in the countries of our choice but do not complain in the least. As long as it’s foreign, it is acceptable to us. The religiously inclined are saying, we should pray with which I have no problem, but let me share what the “good book” has to say; I must simply pray and wait, when there is work to do. God may want you to be the answer to your own prayer, but there are times when we should both “pray” and “act”. The story is told in a book called: Acts of the Apostles and not prayer of the Apostles.

ULRIC GUY
Point Fortin