EVEN THOUGH Stephen Pinker lays out a compelling case for how violence has decreased worldwide over time, it is still a difficult concept for most people to comprehend.

In The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined, Pinker presents a parade of statistics backing up his claim, and the numbers certainly contribute to his convincing argument.

There are many important points to consider in Pinker’s observations about crime and violence.

I’ll outline them below, but you really should read this book because it provides a more realistic look at crime and violence than the one we garner from the media.

The very nature of Internet and television news that endlessly loops stories about crime and terrorism for days at a time means that we perceive crime to be more prevalent than it really is.

The media heightens awareness and propels one incident into a whole new realm of existence where criminals and terrorists seem to lurk around every corner. That’s not making light of crime, it’s just understanding how to put crime and violence in perspective.

Crime and violence are certainly not figments of our imaginations.

They exist. So what does Pinkerton say we need to do to put a dent in crime? Here’s a list of considerations: 1. All citizens must feel part of a place: Without this feeling of having a vested interest in a place, marginal people — the disenfranchised and the disgruntled — will not buy into the legal system that is supposed to protect them.

They will circumvent the system; find their own means of survival; set up their own vigilante system of protection run by gangs; take chances that the rest of society that feels protected will not take and lash out against the system that they perceive to be unjust.

2. All citizens must perceive a sense of legitimacy in government and law enforcement: “Only a sample of criminal behaviour can ever be detected and punished, and the sampling should be fair enough that citizens perceive the entire regime to be legitimate,” Pinker writes.

The perception of a legitimate government includes the feeling that elected government officials have every stakeholder’s well-being at heart. People who perceive themselves to be on the periphery of society lose faith in government and that loss of faith makes them question the legitimacy of the government that is supposed to represent them.

3. All citizens must feel a sense of fairness and consistency: No democracy has the resources to swoop down on an area and wipe out crime completely. But it can put a dent in crime that makes people feel it’s not worth attempting a crime. This can only be achieved through fairness and consistency. Government — especially the police — can never be perceived as favouring any socio- economic class or race.

4. All citizens must feel they can’t get away with crime: The system must be set up in such a way that everyone — all stakeholders — feel that there is a constant chance of being caught if they break the law. The problem is most places have set up a system in which crime detection and punishment appear to be so “capricious”, as Pinker puts it, that too many people know the loopholes or feel they can create loopholes.

The Better Angels of Our Nature is indeed a long book — 844 pages — but most of the book can be boiled down to a few key themes: trust, consistency, legitimacy and fairness. The message is clear: Crime and violence cannot be eliminated, but it can be controlled.

N e x t week: What Pinker says about terrorism

A family friend told Newsday that at some time during the service at the house of mourning, the casket lid was opened up for the bereaved to have a final look at the deceased, prompting mourners to shed tears.

“Her brother went up and started to cry,” related the friend. “But then one or two people looked in and said that this is the wrong person.” Mourners noticed that the body was not that of Aysha Mohammed known as “Aunt Aysha”, but another woman dressed in an outfit resembling traditional Baptist attire.

While both women – Mohammed and the unknown woman – were of East Indian descent, Mohammed was of slim build and with curly hair, while the other woman was of a heavier build and had straight hair. “There was an uproar and outrage,” the source related.

“I was very distressed.” The funeral home’s hearse quickly took off with the stranger’s body.

It returned about an hour later with Mohammed’s body, accompanied by a police guard. “They then carried on the service with the correct person.” Newsday was told that Mohammed’s relatives have engaged two top attorneys to consider their options against the funeral agency, one of the country’s largest.

According to reports, an unidentified man was standing near a fruit stall on Henry Street at about 3.30 pm when another man grabbed him. They were then approached by a young woman who shot the man several times before running off.

The wounded man ran across the street and collapsed on the pavement. The police quickly responded and took the man to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where up to press time, he remained warded in critical condition. Police are continuing their investigations.

The offences allegedly took place last week Tuesday. Acting ASP Ali of the Princes Town Police Station laid the charges.

Antoine, who walked with a limp, informed the magistrate that police shot him “for nothing” in his right foot. The accused was unrepresented by counsel while attorney Cleyon Seedan prosecuted.

Dubay granted him $150,000 bail to be approved by a Clerk of the Peace and adjourned the matter to December 28.

Only on Wednesday, Deputy Chief Magistrate Nanette Forde- John, who presided over the same courtroom, granted him $75,000 bail with a surety when he appeared before her charged with armed robbery. Antoine had appeared alongside Jerron Gill and Zitari Newark jointly charged with the offence.

It is alleged that the three, armed with a firearm, robbed two people of their phones on November 22 at Nice Time Restaurant and Bar at Ben Lomond Village, Williamsville.

PC Lodher laid the charge.

Newark was also charged with robbing a woman of a cellular phone valued $2,000 at Pleasantville on November 17. Cpl Nanan laid the charge.

Reports are that PC Hakeem Blake of the Eastern Division Task Force was shot in both legs by two unknown assailants, who were in a grey Nissan Tiida car.

As the officer collapsed after being shot, the gunmen sped off in the car.

The vehicle which was later found abandoned in the Brazil area. Blake was taken to the Sangre Grande Hospital where he is currently receiving treatment.

A release from the TT Police Service revealed that an operation aimed at apprehending the assailants is underway and is being supervised by Acting Superintendent Robert Phillip and members of the Guard and Emergency Branch (GEB).

This even as members of the TT Defence Force (TTDF), the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) and the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation descended on Matelot in an attempt to provide much-needed assistance.

The collapsed bridge is the infrastructure connecting Matelot to Grande Riviere. Members of the 1st Battalion Engineering Corps are working to repair the bridge and restore mobility to villagers.

Newsday visited the Paria Main Road, Grand Riviere, one of the hardest hit areas, yesterday to look at the relief efforts that were under way. Councillor for the area and Chairman of the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation Martin ‘Terry’ Rondon was on the ground with the authorities and described the scene as “utter chaos.” “It was total chaos, it’s gotten better and I must commend the various authorities for the swift response and hard work at this time.

But I must say that this entire area should have been cleared up since yesterday (Wednesday).” Rondon added that he will continue to work closely with the ODPM and the Defense Force to ensure that debris is cleared and that residents are provided with the necessary supplies and also called on the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to carry out an assessment of crops lost by farmers during the landslide.

On entering Grand Riviere, from Sangre Grande, the damage incurred by the landslides was clear, as trees and electricity poles were felled – some covered by large quantities of earth. Technicians with the TT Electricity Company (TTEC), were working assiduously as they attempted to untangle cables from the leaves of trees and restore power to the nearby village.

Residents joined in the clean up effort as well as they cleared a path for passing vehicles.

Two stranded hikers were rescued yesterday by members of the Air Guard. Defence Force public affairs officer Lt Cmdr Kirk Jean-Baptiste stated that the TTDF continues to provide aid and assistance to the Toco Region. “As at 6.40 am (yesterday) the TT Regiment delivered relief supplies from ODPM to Grande Riviere as the Main Supply Road has not been completely cleared. Work too clearly the roads are continuing through the 1st Engineer Battalion in support of the Ministry of Works and Transport,” Jean-Baptiste said.

A TTDF release stated that TTDF is providing constant surveillance in conjunction with Air Unit of the National Operations Centre and Units from the Coast Guard remain on standby to assist, and is continuing to do its part to render all assistance necessary in the recovery efforts of the Toco Region.

The release said the Acting Commanding Officer of the Regiment is in constant liaison and working with MP Glenda Jennings-Smith, and Councillor Terry Rondon to have supplies sent and distributed to Matelot and Grande Riviere.

The release further stated that at about 1 pm (yesterday)the TT Regiment 1st Engineer Battalion delivered supplies from ODPM which were distributed by the MP Glenda Jennings-Smith, Councillor Terry Rondon and several Community Leaders in support of the Ministry of Works and Transport (MOWT) and the Regional Corporation.

Jean-Baptiste also noted that the TT Air Guard safely airlifted Police Officers from Toco to Matelot and other affected areas in order to maintain law and order and to assist in relief efforts.

Newsday yesterday reported that up to 3,000 villagers in these vulnerable rural areas are in desperate need of food, water, mattresses and in some cases shelter as heavy winds blew the roofs of an undetermined number of houses.

Up to late last night, many were without power, as electricity poles were pounded down by the wind and rain. Water lines were also broken, according to reports, and damage to the infrastructure has been described as extensive. Responding to a question on this issue at the post-Cabinet news conference at the Office of the Prime Minister in St Clair, the Prime Minister said, “Our immediate response is to bring relief to people trapped inside of Matelot as we are making our way from Toco, clearing the landslides in towards Matelot.” Rowley said he has been kept abreast of what is happening there from Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan, who went up to Matelot yesterday with other personnel from his ministry.

“We are aware of the hardships being experienced by that area and also that Tobago has suffered some damage as well,” Rowley said. Indicating that the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) is in charge of what is taking place in Tobago, Rowley stated, “With respect to Matelot, You know that there is one road into Matelot along the coast and there are 11 locations along the road where landslides have come down.” The Prime Minister said equipment is on site and the Defence Force is also rendering assistance to the affected communities in north-east Trinidad. “There is an access problem which by now I hope would have been cleared sufficiently,” Rowley said. He also said “some bridges (in the area) have been damaged significantly.” On Wednesday, Sinanan indicated his ministry would be taking two bailey bridges up to Matelot.

Reiterating that restoring access to Matelot was top priority at this time, Rowley said, “When the access is reopened. We will make an immediate assessment.” The Prime Minister said he has already spoke with Sinanan that, “we will make special efforts to ensure that we do some reconstructing so that the people of Matelot in very short order will have the access back and that the immediate personal and household needs are met.” He added, “So we are on top of that. Hopefully by the end of the day, all the immediate relief from the various agencies would have been brought to bear and the situation would be under control.” The Prime Minister also said he has directed Finance Minister Colm Imbert to, “make whatever short term interventions that are required to respond to this development, which fortunately is only confined to one small area in the country.” Rowley explained that once a post-mortem of the situation is done, consideration would be given to ideas such as a relief centre in the Toco area and the placing of resources in the area to deal with natural disaster

Explaining that TT and Venezuela have been engaging in very far reaching discussions on this matter for over a year, the Prime Minister disclosed, “We are now at the stage where we are in a position to sign the government to government agreement and the commercial structure which will open the door for commercial exploitation of the Dragon gas field in Venezuela which is to the north of us here, just beyond the Bocas.” During the visit of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to TT in May, Rowley and Maduro discussed the supply of natural gas from the Dragon field to TT amongst several other issues of mutual interest to both countries.

The Prime Minister continued, “That gas field will become the first major field that would supply gas from Venezuelan fields into TT pipelines towards Point Lisas to supply our facilities there. We have done this in the context of looking after the future of TT in the medium and the long term.” Indicating that the details of the arrangements would be made public later, after the signing, Rowley stated, “The whole intention is that our operations here in TT can have a much longer future and the gas shortage which has been plaguing us for the last few years, in the not too distant future, would be dealt with by a sustained and sufficient supply coming from the Venezuelan fields which will be processed here in TT and supply us with an export product into our current market and other markets.” He told reporters, “This is very good news for us in TT.’ The Prime Minister said energy multinational company Shell is partnering with Government in this exercise.

When the passenger exited the car, he shot Koon Koon in the head.

The injured Koon Koon was rushed to the Point Fortin Area Hospital and subsequently transferred to the San Fernando General Hospital.

“This is the first time this has happened and we are asking people to help us,” his mother Devika Sankar, 49, said.

“All I want is my son.

I just want to know where he is because I do not know.

On Sunday, he had lunch and walked out.

That was it.” Sankar, a crab-catcher, lives at Fifth Street Extension, Pranz Gardens, with relatives.

Sankar was last seen wearing a pair of grey long jeans and a black and blue stripe t-shirt.

“We asked around and no one seems to know what happened after he walked out the gates. Anil just disappeared.

He does not sleep out and normally if he goes out, he will call (telephone) his sister. He behaves good but if he drinks, he would use obscene language,” the mother added.

On Tuesday, relatives lodged a report at the Couva Police Station and yesterday police confirmed that a report was made.

The mother noted that her son is missing a front tooth on the left side. He is also missing all fingers on his right hand due to an accident in 2006.

PC Bharath of the Couva Police Station is investigating