Holistic approach to crime problem vital

At best we have to be a bunch of naive people if we are to believe there would be a resumption of hanging.

Trinidad has become a lawless society. That putrid quality did not materialise overnight.

Modernity and its accompanying trappings, a lack of political will, self-serving individuals, raping of the Treasury, corruption in its many manifestations, and the obsolete systems and procedures are but few of the diverse contributing factors.

A service charged with the responsibility of maintaining law and order has become a disservice.

Love of justice has been perverted to revenge and spite. Are the opinions of two very senior, retired officers as to some possible reasons for the ineffectiveness of the Police Service to be treated with scant courtesy? Why is it so difficult to manage the criminal justice system, the very system that is vital to the implementation of law.

Is it that people in high positions have vested interests? Why are lawyers allowed to engage in procrastination/ delay of cases? Whatever happened to case management? How about our Chief Justice who has hotfooted it to all parts foreign with the objectives of bringing relief and upgrade to a moribund system? Why is it that in the US they can execute people even after ten years of the judgment but we in Trinidad are stuck with Pratt and Morgan? A prime minister is elected in a day, the Chief Justice and President are nominated and accepted within a very short time but to get a Commissioner of Police is like pulling teeth.

Why are we operating with these kinds of archaic systems? The wheels of justice need greasing and I do not mean bribery here. I know a quick fix is not possible but a holistic approach is required and not a piecemeal effort.

I attended a primary school, the motto of which was, “The will does it.” Can we turn around this frightening situation of lawlessness, especially murders, and reboot TT to its once glory days?

Sahadeo Ragoonanan via email