Mark and observe — my advice to citizens

The girl’s mother said to her, “Mark and observe.” My advice to the people of TT today is no different: mark and observe.

Observe that the track of the storms leaving Africa is now south of the traditional path and should the trend continue TT can very likely experience more tropical storms during this rainy season.

Observe that despite my letter weeks before the storm warning that we were likely to be affected by heavy rainfall and as such our waterways ought to be cleared, very little was done to prepare for heavy rainfall. Mark that there is need for a comprehensive emergency warning system.

Mark and observe that administration after administration give the impression they are serious about reducing criminal activity but are yet to conclude a comprehensive DNA legislative plan with appropriate structure.

Observe how the government boasts of being able to operationalise the structures to charge citizens exorbitant sums for traffic violations but was not as efficient in putting in place structures to assist in crime reduction.

Legislation and regulations to operationalise items like tamper-proof licence plates, modern driver’s permit with data strips or bar codes, a reliable and updated vehicle registration system that allows for tracing ownership from mobile computers and car titles that allow for easy transfer of vehicles remain elusive.

Observe that the easy things that bring relief to the population are ignored while those that place burdens on citizens are embraced. Things like restoring roads after digging them up, changing to a gravity feed system for equitable water distribution, making payment for government services possible through collection centres nationwide and accepting electronic payment are all difficult to operationalise.

Taxes, fines, fees, increases in prices for State-controlled items and burdensome regulations are quickly processed and made operable.

Mark and observe that these burdens and inefficiencies cross party lines. None of the political organisations have been able to do comprehensive local government reform.

They both continued the wastage and nepotism associated with Cepep and URP.

They both failed to enact laws to assist in protecting the population from criminals like access to firearms and non-lethal self-defence items like mace, pepper spray and tasers.

They both continue to hold on to thousands of houses rather than distribute them to a needy population.

They both depend largely on ethnicity as a factor for their election to office.

Observe that it is time to cast aside the obsession with politicians who exploit our differences and unite in service to TT .

STEVE ALVAREZ via email