Crime on the rise in Arima

Criminal activity is on the rise in Arima. There are several reports of houses broken into, cars stolen, robberies, aggravated assaults and now front page horror murders, and heartless killers in our midst.

It was not that long ago Arima was more like one big extended family, but the proliferation on the periphery of illegal settlements have been a heaven for the plotting miscreants with their vile murderous intent.

Recently the office of the mayor provided self-defence classes. The initiative speaks for itself. Are we clueless? We withdrew the Community Comfort Patrols, abandoned community policing and deployed fewer patrols in residential areas.

Who could forget the brutal beating of an elderly Chinese man into unconsciousness in Santa Rosa Heights, one house from the police post during the day.

The distinct instruction from former commissioner of police Dwayne Gibbs was for the police to make themselves more visible and interact with citizens. As for our ministers of national security and heads of the Security Council, they should all hang their heads in shame, for they were sworn to protect the people of this country. And note that “a man without honour is worse than dead” (Miguel Cervantes).

COLIN FORTUNE Arima