Crime problem cannot be fixed in two weeks

THE EDITOR: I have now been back in Trinidad 13 months. The last year I lived in Trinidad was 1989. Crime prevention seems to be viewed as something that the Government can fix in a two week or two month period. That is not going to happen. It is not realistic to think that “Walking Against Crime,” business shut-down against crime and other such talk will make any dent in the situation. The only thing a business shut-down will do is make Trinidadians look stupid as in the sense of the word “koonomoono.” The negatives of such action far outweigh the positives.

There is also much talk about CEPEP and URP being at the root of crime. Pray tell me who is going to feed the families of these thousands of people if these programmes are shut down? There certainly will be an upsurge in crime if this means of earning a livelihood is removed. As someone interested in politics, starvation of the masses is not considered a vote-catcher. We need to fix the “fine-print” on these programmes, not punish the needy. I presume that the applicants for these jobs have not other recourse for employment or else they would not be so jealously fought over.

Will the “business leaders’ offer employment?” Crime appears to have escalated in direct proportion to when the UNC left power and decided to take a stance of non-cooperation. Kidnappers being granted bail is so ridiculous it is hard to believe. It is only in Trinidad such a thing could happen and persons not see the direct correlation to the upsurge in kidnapping. Thanking you for the opportunity to express my thoughts.

LYNETTE JOSEPH
Port-of-Spain