Ex-soldiers leading the crime fight a mistake

Perhaps callously disregarding the serious effects of crime or being disconnected from its effects, siloed beneficiaries of 24-hour security details.

When one considers killing of Akiel Chambers, Keyana Cumberbatch, Asami Nagakiya and most recently Shannon Banfield and the numerous other morbid and terrifying stories that have littered the press over the years, it is clear that women and children are under siege from various predators.

While crime continues to spiral out of control, successive governments continue to use misfits to fill the position of Minister of National Security, failing to acknowledge the fluid, dynamic and evolving nature of crime; failing to see that it is not limited to gun and gang violence requiring a full frontal approach, but requiring a broad set of skills and collaboration, and overlooking the need for major social intervention, community policing, and profiling.

Only crazy people do the same things over and over again in anticipation of a varied outcome.

As a result, they keep coming up short, forever missing the bits that are important and focusing on items outside of their remit.

Strange that our Minister of National Security could find himself walking through Matelot and Grand Riviere, never once considering a walk to IAM on Charlotte Street, Port-of-Spain, mere blocks away from his Knox Street office.

Go figure.

Neal De Mills Barataria