Zero respect for the law

THE EDITOR: The Ministry of National Security and the Government by extension have finally admitted what we already know — it needs help. This was indirectly communicated via reports of the hiring of US criminologist, Dr Stephen Mastrofski and his team to champion the seemingly insuperable task of revamping the police service. Undoubtedly, the rationale is that a more effective service would not only decrease outrageous crime statistics but should maintain criminal acts at acceptable levels.

However, I am forced to wonder why it was necessary to obtain foreign assistance when the relevant authorities realised that they could not handle the job. Could the mindset be that if they failed to develop a practical plan then no other local body/resource could possibly have the expertise? Were any local options explored at all? Is this some derivative of pride or just another paradigm of poor analysis and bad spending? Nonetheless, the foremost steps on the road to recovery for any alcoholic is for him to admit that he has a problem and needs help. The same analogy applies here. So I feel that kudos are in order for seeking help even though it was long overdue.

Meanwhile, serious crime takes no vacations in TT as is evident by the alarming figures of 54 murders in 59 days. And to add insult to injury, gangsters are executing their victims in the heart of the city, in broad daylight and in the presence of witnesses too. I refer to the recent “action movie” style killing on Frederick Street in Port-of-Spain. Clearly, criminals ridicule the motto of zero tolerance on crime, by showing zero respect for the law. There is merit, therefore, for the revamping process to be expedited. And even as the National Security Minister seeks aid, the populace waits anxiously for other ministries to follow suit.

DEXTER RIGSBY
Mt Lambert