Crime and Tobago’s autonomy

It is proper to focus on the level of detection in Trinidad. But we must also ask if enough has been done to adequately arm Tobago with the tools it needs to keep its house safe.

Undoubtedly, Trinidad has descended into a horrific situation whereby murders remain high, and the police and courts seem unable to keep up. However, the focus on the situation in Trinidad has perhaps allowed the alarming situation in Tobago to go unnoticed.

According to the chairman of the Tobago chapter of the Chamber of Commerce, Demi-John Cruickshank, the situation has become “an imminent threat to the business community and the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago overall.” His assessment of the situation came earlier this month after a closeddoor meeting with police officers of the Tobago Division. That meeting was called after various members of the business community in Tobago in recent weeks became the targets of crime, some of them by men with guns.

Cruickshank identified the longstanding issue of a lack of scanners at the ports of entry to Tobago as a major point of contention in attempting to stem crime on the island.

Holding a similar view was Tedd Grieg, member of the Chamber and president of the Tobago Hospitality and Tour Operators Association.

“I am of the belief that the perpetrators have knowledge that there are no scanners on the port and therefore it is an easy target to get the guns across,” he said. The Chamber has also called for increased police patrols at hotspots and more community engagement.

But there is some doubt that these kinds of measures are adequate.

For political leader of the Tobago Forwards, Christlyn Moore, the situation points to the underlying need for a radical reallocation of resources.

Speaking last Friday at a political rally ahead of the January 23 Tobago House of Assembly election, Moore called for a separate, dedicated police service for Tobago. She said Tobago’s robbery situation is so bad the island leads the country in robberies.

“All over the island, business people are giving up businesses because of crime,” Moore said. “When all the resources for solving crime, when all crime plans must be devised in Port-of-Spain, the Minister of National Security has his foot and toe and his hand in everything for Tobago. What this means is a Tobago that has been left behind because he is in Port-of-Spain and we are in Scarborough.” She further implored, “Cut the Police Service navel string. Cut off the navel string in Port-of-Spain and let us mind our own business, we big enough.” We find some merit in this argument.

Like any centralised system, efficiencies are lost when overall decision-making is done remotely by way of a central command.

However, it must be emphasised that the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service operates by divisions and the top cop, the Police Commissioner, does not micromanage each.

Rather, there is a chain of command and a line of accountability.

It is also true that crime is now global and inter-related. What happens in one district or country has repercussions all over and what is needed is not a system of independent silos, but collaboration.

Where Moore is likely to be more correct, however, is in the need for more specialised resources to be applied to the island.

A dedicated police force, operating within the specific cultural, social and historical context of Tobago, may enjoy advantages that the current system does not afford.

Therefore, it is time to discuss this option.