Tobago off to flying murder start

For the entire 2016 in Tobago, there were six murders, seven in 2015, eight in 2014 and four in 2013. For this year so far the murder rate is at an unprecedented level, just as the January murder rate for TT (55 murders) and the rate for January 19 (seven murders on one day).

It seems as though Tobago is following closely the path that Trinidad is taking. This may turn out to be a murderous year in Tobago if things continue as they are going.

Tobago is in the infancy stage of the murder race so all efforts must be employed to reduce it as soon as possible. It is early so we can take a quick criminological look at the factors that are contributing to this type of crimes in the once peaceful island and institute the necessary interventions.

Tobago should not wait until it gets out of hand to tackle this problem.

It can benefit from many of the effective crime-fighting mechanisms available to nip this problem in the bud.

It should not be allowed to go down the road that Trinidad is going. But if not treated seriously, we can expect a ramping up of murders as well as associated violent crimes.

Tobago has an interesting dimension that must be considered, that is, the impact of these heinous crimes on its international tourism. Local tourism may not be affected too much – Trinidadians will continue to support the sister isle – unless it gets like some of the murder towns in Trinidad.

There are experts who can play their part if given the opportunity.

The THA and the central government must engage such people and not let Tobago become a mini-Trinidad. If so, it would have shown that we have not learnt a thing over the past few decades.