Manning permanently in denial over crime

THE EDITOR: Can there be a “permanent temporary”? It seems that that is what Prime Minister Patrick Manning will have the population believe with another of his “foot-in-the-mouth” statements when he suggested that “crime is temporary.” Mr Manning seems to be in a permanent state of psychological denial when coming to serious social issues that appear to defy the solutions his Government has prescribed. I can recall his almost dismissive attitude on kidnappings with his infamous quip “very curious.” Of course the intent at that time was to blame political opponents for the situation. When reality struck he began to propose crime plan after crime plan which, as we all know, has not worked to date.

His relentless extraction of political mileage on the “Police Reform Bills” has been exhausted and now he would have the population believe yet another twist to his inventions that crime is temporary. He says this at a time when party faithful are having a grand time under the obviously watchful eyes of the security forces at the Eddie Hart Ground at Tacarigua. Yes in a rum and roti atmosphere, he chose to give another of his inevitable “in denial” statements. Probably forgetting that most of the population were not at that PNM family day, and that we are intelligent enough to see beyond that smoke screen. I wonder as to who gives that type of advice to Mr Manning. What is more mind boggling is that he says these things in the physical presence and hearing of his party’s members and Cabinet and Parliamentary colleagues, who lap up these fantasies as “gospel.”

I suppose when you are beholden to an individual who is attempting to promote himself as the typical “optimum leader,” one simply must adopt the “herd mentality” if he/she would not like to be cut off or estranged. No conscientious or self-respecting citizen will take Mr Manning’s “crime is temporary” statement seriously. Certainly not the business community and certainly not the criminals as they continue to mutate and find new ways to ply their illegal trade. The fact of the matter is that the prevalence of guns and ammunition has created a very emboldened and vicious grouping of criminals.

This has been nourished by state sponsored projects over the years, that provided much of the financial resources to these criminals. This was so in spite of warnings from many in the very communities from which these elements are derived. They continue to survive to wreak havoc on the innocent and those they target. Yet Mr Manning elects to suggest that this social problem is temporary. No one, however, seems to be listening. Advisories to nationals of Europe and the United States appear with increasing frequency and gravity. No dedicated plan to address the source of the crime problem targeted at Laventille and communities like these are executed.

And the state appears to be bankrupt of ideas or the implementation know-how to find permanent solutions. I expect that more police, stupid statements and misdirected resources will continue to be the order of the day. The blame/diversion game will intensify right up till 2007. In the mean time capital flight, businessmen exodus and brain drain episodes will be downplayed to the optimum by Government. Wholesale panic and anxiety will be extinguished by expressions and delusive rhetoric. Frankly I feel sorry for the Government. They have themselves to blame. It is only the diehard and politically ignorant will hold breath for any of Mr Manning’s statements of crime resolution thus far!

WINSTON MC KENZIE
Laventille