Our country is too complacent

THE EDITOR: Solving crime cannot be left only to the police and armed forces. Solving crime has to be corroborated with the efforts of social psychologists in a joint effort with the Ministry concerned. No effort by imported strategists can help our society. We are an educated people and this is not a circumstance where education would help us to fight crime. The situation is out of hand and more effective or rather drastic efforts must be made to put our country into a socially acceptable standard. Crime and corruption work in hand. The police are well aware of the hot spots of crime, where the caches of weapons are, who the people responsible are and yet they fail to constrain the increase in crime.

The government seems to be taking a back seat attitude to our situation. Maybe if someone in government were to be kidnapped then we would see the increase in security measures being put in place. I am in no way advocating lawlessness. My point here is that not until something drastic occurs would the government take the initiative required. This country is too complacent. I am looking to quit myself. Unfortunately, this is now only a dream because I cannot afford to leave. I do not have the funds to start a new life abroad. I am much poorer by the day when I think that my assets have not grown (in real terms) in the last 20 years. Before the series of devaluations of our currency I was worth almost US$200,000. Today, some 18 years later (sigh) I am still worth the same $200,000 US.

So, I am here in Trinidad with the joy that I am a millionaire! Imagine that! Because of this increase in value to us, I have gone from $480,000 dollars in worth to $1,200,000 all in 18 years! Wow, Trinidad sweet. Thank you Mr Prime Minister. Thank you and your government who has blessed us sweetly since 1962. Thank you for taking us out of colonialism and into independence. I am earnestly looking forward to the $1,000 TT in pension money that I will be due very soon. I can convert that when I go abroad to about 88 pounds and have a ball! My what a lovely government. So, I am a Trini to the bone by default of birth and I have no choice but to be buried here too.

The only good thing that we have going for us is the judiciary and even that, the government wants to interfere with its powers. We cannot solve crime, instability, social unrest, housing, traffic congestion, water and sewage problems and the list goes on and on. To the Honourable Prime Minister, if you love this country and would like to see it prosper, take the honourable stand. Take the measures to ensure that we win the war against drugs, arms and ammunition. Take a stand to stamp out rapes, murders and lawlessness. But please, please do something for us. Put your country above yourself, otherwise, please make way for someone else to do your job. You have to have the courage to stand up and do what is right for us all. I appeal to let your good sense prevail. You already know what to do and do it fast please!

R BABA
Westmoorings