Towards solving the rising crime problem

But nothing seems to be working, so I might as well give it a go myself.

That was my thought processes anyway, particularly since, notwithstanding all the new criminal legislation passed in Parliament — stiffer penalties, changing of National Security Ministers, and even changing of governments — there still hasn’t been any abatement in the crime situation.

Rather, what we have continued to witness over the years is a rising crime rate with even more brutal and senseless murders, including the recent killing of a 13-year-old boy and his caregiver, and the abuse of a 22-monthold baby. Not even our churches have been spared, with Fr Clyde Harvey being robbed and tiedup, barely escaping death himself.

And then came reports of a 30-year-old Chaguanas man being charged with committing sexual offences against a six-yearold boy at a popular church.

Well, in my search for answers, I very deliberately viewed the recent sitting of the Parliament’s Joint Select Committee on National Security, as all the national security “top brass” were either present or well represented.

Certainly, therefore, the answers to this crime epidemic would be flushed out by these well paid and respected professionals, and sure enough before long there were answers.

Originating from a two-part question posed by the committee’s chairman, Fitzgerald Hinds, each representative casually conceded that insufficient earnest, energy and effort were being placed by their organisations into the “gun trade epidemic” facing TT . Further, they noted their inability to vouch for the integrity of their officers.

While this casual and complacent acknowledgement of the sad state of affairs was mind-blowing, making me wonder if they or their families live here or are affected by the crime situation, it also elucidated some key solutions.

That is, the clear need for not just suitably qualified people at the helm of these key national security agencies, but managers who are anxious, result-oriented and committed to ensuring that their officers, charged with our safety and security, understand the importance of providing the required earnest energy and effort if there is to be any abatement in the current crime situation, along with the routine and random “integrity test” (polygraph) as suggested by the chairman.

ANDRE PHILLIP via email