Crime group slams MPs; launches attack on crime

CONCERNED by the increasing level of crime in the country, the parishioners of the St Finbars RC Church in Diego Martin, who formed the nucleus of the six-month-old Communities Mobilising Against Crime (CMAC) have launched a four- pronged attack on crime, and is calling on other communities to follow suit. Fuelled by the recent murders of two of its members Christopher Aleong and Annette Farah, and their dissatisfaction with the representations of their Members of Parliament, the group not only presented a documented view of their approach to crime but also “a declaration of commitment” to be signed by all residents.

Four committees were outlined to deal with crime. They were Crime Prevention and Neighbourhood Protection headed by Conrad Aleong, Mobilisation and Pressure headed by Rawson Mouttet, Community Outreach headed by Jenny Dalla Costa and Prayers headed by Wendy Achim. In his discourse, Aleong explained that since CMAC’s launch last December several meetings were held with the Prime Minister, Commissioner of Police, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Minister of National Security, Government, Members of Parliament, Opposition MPs, reformed criminals, religious leaders, police officers and their association’s representatives, business associations, victims and their families, Crimestoppers and journalists.

“Much analysis and debate arose from these meetings and we found that several factors contribute to crime, which is affecting all levels of our society, some, more than others. “One of the most interesting factors we have found is that many in our own country are content to keep us divided for their own gain. This division has distracted us from demanding accountability of all our elected representatives.
“As a community, we have failed to respond because we forgot as a united nation there is no problem that we as Trinidadians and Tobagonians cannot solve. Until all our elected representatives become accountable for our safety, we must protect ourselves, hence the reason for the formation of CMAC,” said Aleong.

In his statement, Moutett, chairman of the Mobilisation and Pressure Committee, indicated his committee’s plan of action for its members’ protection included putting together a “Citizens guide book to Crime protection” taken off the Internet, an already existing monthly newsletter “Focus on Crime,” the mounting of TV surveillance cameras in strategic areas, anti-crime bumper stickers, fridge magnets and wallet-sized emergency numbers, enlisting support of all non-governmental organisations in the area and the identification of community leaders to regularly communicate with the police and MPs. The plan, he claimed, was not to replace the police, but to assist and to protect ourselves. “The criminal thinks of us, with us constantly becoming easy prey, so we have to think of them as often as they think about us. “We have not done enough. Every time the criminal strikes, it is because we have failed. If we do not protect ourselves, we will become statistics.

In her speech, Wendy Achim, while repeating that their elected representatives had failed them and it was up to the residents to protect themselves until the representatives did, she called for a return to a Community Outreach programme focusing on prayers, morals and values, development of parks, playgrounds, general sporting activities, development of youth camps, skills enhancement, cultural and community centres and support for existing NGOs. Achim also made a call for volunteers to assist in homework clubs, mentoring and career guidance, vocational programmes, basic business advice and babysitting.

In ending, Dalla Costa, who described the Police Service as ineffective in its present form, causing the criminals to control the lives of all citizens, called for both the Opposition and Government to come together and pass the Police Reform Bill as one of the measures to give the police more authority to deal with crime. Dalla Costa also called for the Bail Act to be reviewed, financing for additional magistrates and courts, CAT reporters and recording technology, proper salary packages for professionals in the DPP office and the inclusion of addition human resources to put an end to matters which sometimes take five years to be heard and humane prison conditions with rehabilitation programmes.