Turn things around before it’s too late

Those responsible for maintaining law and order are themselves becoming the lawbreakers.

Our Caroni lands are mostly uncultivated, our roadways congested and degenerating.

Vagrants are increasing, justice is woefully delayed and government service unreliable.

The structures we inherited were not understood by those upon whom independence was thrusted. Consequently, we find ourselves unable to understand the need for structure.

Perhaps it is pertinent to examine the structures and infrastructure we inherited.

When the red, white and black replaced the Union Jack, the Red House, President’s House and Whitehall were in immaculate condition. Our agricultural sector was integral to our food supply and foreign exchange earnings. We inherited 107 miles of rail and a railway system that connected Port-of-Spain with Arima, Sangre Grande, Couva, San Fernando, Tabaquite, Rio Claro and Siparia.

Driver’s permits recorded one’s driving record, permits were required for dogs and bicycles were inspected at the local police station before being given a tag to be used on the nation’s roadway. Forests were patrolled by forest rangers, water wastage and leaks were monitored and policed, sanitation inspectors visited homes and properties to ensure that the environment was kept clean.

Children’s health was monitored by health officers who visited the homes, and during school time it was an offence for schoolchildren to be away from school. Communities were maintained by a local government structure of counties and wards that ensured that drains were kept clean and street signs, bridges and roads were maintained.

One can go on and on, recalling the relationship between the police station, post office, magistrates court, library, health centre and warden’s office and the communities. But by now one ought to get the picture of a structured government that functioned well. The performance of these offices was not dependent on who was the Prime Minister; there were rules and regulations that governed how one performed.

Today most of what we inherited has fallen apart. We dismantled the rail system, destroyed our agricultural sector and put in place a local government structure that has no relation to the communities and totally lost as to what is required to build and sustain a community.

To stop the decay and decline in the quality of life for our citizens we must urgently put in place a pertinent structure of governance that meets specific objectives. Among them must be reduction of crime, rebuilding of communities, repair and renovation of our buildings and a traffic management plan that incorporates new roads and a rail system. We must define our agricultural plan and find a new model for economic growth and sustainability.

STEVE ALVAREZ via email