Bring in outsiders to solve crime

THE EDITOR: When the public began clamouring loudly enough last year for Mr Chin Lee’s removal from the position of Minister of National Security to be taken seriously by Mr. Manning, I don’t imagine any suspected that things could deteriorate as drastically as they have to date with absolutely no satisfaction to the public that the security of person, if not property, was being properly addressed. The individual replacing Mr Chin Lee as Minister of National Security has maintained such a low profile that I have difficulty even recalling his name eight months later. I believe it is Martin Joseph, but my apologies to anyone of that name if I am mistaken.  That goodly gentleman has, however, only recently acknowledged to us that crime control is indeed a problem, laying the responsibility for maintenance (or lack of same, no doubt) squarely on nine heads of department in the Police Service. 

May I remind him that he and Mr Manning are the two persons ultimately responsible and well enough recompensed by the Public Purse for us to expect better.  There is an old saying “heavy is the head that wears the crown” which in simple terms means accepting the responsibility of your position.  Additionally, the scapegoat of blaming the UNC can no longer pass the test - even a simpleton recognises by now that an efficient Government governing effectively would not be in this dilemma after 2-1/2 years in office. Upon first selection and then election to office in an election where the PNM surprisingly won basically all of the marginal seats and one  devoid of independent observers - a request denied Mr Panday - Mr Manning wasted no time in obtaining the best foreign expertise available to attack what he saw as the biggest problem facing the nation — “corruption”; together with inquiries.

We are still not completely privy to the actual cost of these inquiries or of Mr Lindquist’s services to date and to this will now be added those of the eminent British QC, Sir Timothy Cassel, who will be leading the prosecution team in the Airport trials. Therefore, money is obviously not a problem. What then could explain Mr Manning’s hesitation or reluctance to solicit or accept outside help in attacking the biggest problem now hanging, as he now acknowledges, like a “cloud” over the nation?  This is a problem which is becoming almost daily more serious, to the point where we now have been subjected to kidnapping of a three-year old infant.  

Unfortunately, the poor solution rate for such crimes by our local Police force, even with an upgraded AKS and new quasi Army unit as ineffectual as the new Ministry of National Security (not yet fully operational even, despite hefty pay increases on inception in Oct. 03) is not confidence inspiring to the public whilst acting no doubt as an incentive to the criminals to make hay while the sun shines (for them).  Surely, there could be no better use put to our hard earned tax dollars than in stemming the horror of murder and kidnap; those two most heinous crimes devouring our nation?  I am sure that none would take exception with Mr Manning for that expenditure.

Are our law abiding entrepreneurial contributors to the national coffers not worthy of that expense?  When one hears the hotel bill for a lady Minister from San Fernando for overnighting on occasion in POS one can but wonder what Mr Manning’s and his Government’s priorities are.  Unfortunately, the evidence available also bears witness to the fact that a particular race are more frequent targets - which is doing nothing to foster better interracial feelings either. Clearly Mr Manning does not have an answer to this problem bedevilling the nation. It is high time, therefore, that an outside Commission be put in place to investigate the entire scenario and make recommendations and even institute action, if necessary.  There have been too many rumours on the local front. It is time  to bring in outsiders - if they can’t solve it, no one can.

It is the future of our very babes who cannot yet voice their own demands that we now have to safeguard. Individual false pride, nor anything else, must not be allowed to stand in the way if we are ever to walk in the sunlight again. It is now up to Mr and Mrs or Ms TT to do so for them and believe me this cannot be achieved by following the advice of Mayor Ian Atherley to legislate against kidnap news being granted front page coverage! Does Mr Atherley not realise that the public can play an important role if they spot a kidnap victim or note suspicious activities?

Downgrading the news will not solve the problem - and I very much doubt whether the bandits are really interested in  press “coverage”;  they would probably prefer that it did not even make papers!.  Suppressing the facts from us will not work either. The answer? We must let it be known that we are not prepared to continue living this way. Honest, hard working citizens have rights too - and if the Government cannot fulfil their primary mandate they know the answer too. Let Government transcend the negative with something positive, if they can.

VIRGINIA VERITY
Port-of-Spain