Govt powerless against kidnappers

Stating that “no amount of public relations or glitzy campaigns can cover the fact that in this country, something is terribly wrong,” MP for Barataria/San Juan area, Dr Fuad Khan, yesterday said policies of the Manning administration had lent itself to the creation of a culture of dependency and gangster mentality. He accused Government of putting the issue of kidnapping on the back-burner in its continuous attempt to look good “rather than deal with the problem of crime through cause and effect.

“In fact, the policies and actions of this administration are actively promoting a culture of dependency and gangster mentality where one should just take what they want, no matter the consequences, and no matter the effect it has on other people,” continued Khan. Referring to the kidnapping and eventual murder yesterday of Ashmead Baksh, son of Naparima MP Nizam Baksh, Khan said “it was indeed a sad state of affairs when the family members of MPs are targeted.” In an attempt to do something positive about kidnapping with the creation of his group Guardian Angels, Khan claimed “this Government engaged in a propaganda campaign that was designed to alienate the group and reduce its effectiveness.” He is of the firm belief that if the Guardian Angels had been fully functional, it might have been able to prevent some of these crimes, as the unit was designed to provide surveillance and transmit information to appropriate authorities.

“It was obvious that the only reason the group was so vehemently opposed to by this administration was because it was an Opposition MP’s initiative,” he added. A view which he said demonstrated the “narrow-mindedness and serious lack of vision on the part of this administration.” Also commenting on the “serious lack of equipment and support given to the Anti-Kidnapping Squad,” Khan congratulated AKS officers for the work they have done so far, especially under the circumstances in which they are forced to work. Urging the Government to quickly implement a needs assessment study of the AKS, and to provide the necessary tools to get the job done, he stated “the time for lip service has come and gone.” He questioned whether “this administration was waiting on when the family member of one of its MPs is kidnapped.” Reiterating his commitment to the national community, Khan concluded by calling for the revival of the Guardian Angels, and asked Government to begin exercising “discretion rather than pursue strategies that are politically expedient.”