Full circle after 12 years

This march starts at Chacon Street, where Newsday’s original offices were located and to which we returned a few weeks ago. We see some irony in this since, 12 years ago, this newspaper began highlighting the issue of crime on its front pages. We made this editorial decision with great deliberation because, in the wake of the 1990 attempted coup, we perceived certain shifts in criminal acts and organisation. Violence seemed to be ascending, while organised crime appeared to be extending its tentacles into the very framework of the society. We felt then that an early warning to those who could hear might help draw the country back from a crumbling precipice.

But, while all could hear, few wanted to listen. This newspaper was roundly condemned from all quarters save one. Business organisations accused us of sensationalism, politicians accused us of lacking patriotism, and even other media criticised our focus. One media house even announced that it was taking crime off its front page as though that in itself would solve the problem.

The one quarter which seemed to agree with us were the newspaper readers, who supported us by buying our newspaper in ever-increasing numbers.

Now, 12 years later, our same critics have come full circle, all agreeing that crime is the most serious problem facing the country. Business organisations are calling on citizens to join the Death March, the politicians all acknowledge the seriousness of the problem, while one media house has even built its latest marketing strategy on citizens’ concern about crime. And we cannot help but think that, were there this same unity of purpose 12 years ago, we might never have come to this pass. Indeed, the question that now exercises us is whether all this is a case of too little too late.

There can be no doubt about the good intentions of businessman Keith Cadiz and his team. They have expended vast sums of money, time, and effort to highlighting the issue of crime. Their petition now has over 100,000 signatures, and their march tomorrow may turn out to be the biggest protest ever seen in this country. All this must be commended, especially since it reflects a new level of social conscience amongst the elite class of the society. But the question must be asked — could all this money and energy have been more effectively directed?

After all, the initial focus of the Keith Noel 136 Committee was, it turns out, wrong-headed.

Their plan had been to get a certain amount of signatures on their petition, present it to President Max Richards, who would then bring to bear his authority on the elected Members of Parliament to take action against crime. But that initiative fumbled over the fact — which could have been easily discovered beforehand — that the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago has no such power. The new initiative is this Death March. But what will be accomplished here? Can this march make what is already citizens’ number one concern more of a concern? Can this demonstration force the politicians into taking action that they would not take in any case? Consider the millions around the world who marched against the illegal invasion of Iraq by the US and its allies. Did these marches make the slightest difference? They did not. Neither do we think tomorrow’s march will make any difference.

We think that highlighting crime can now only be a secondary strategy. The real challenge is to find and implement concrete initiatives and solutions which can draw us back from the brink. Crime will not be beaten by people marching with or without rubber bracelets or arm bands and such gimmickry. It can only be beaten back by dedicated and good police work, surveillance and detection, and support from the courts in dealing with those charged and brought before the bar of justice.