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Surrendering
our rights
By
Prakash persad
ppersad@eng.uwi.tt
Recently,
I cut down my avocado tree. Why? Because I could not get a
single one!
This was a tree that I had planted and nurtured for many years,
eagerly anticipating the day whence I could, on a regular
basis, enjoy roti, fried aloo and tasty buttery zaboca.
But that was not to be. They would be stolen, year after year,
before they even had a chance to fully mature.
I rationalised that if this avocado tree was the reason for
thieves entering my property, then I had better get rid of
it, for once they felt comfortable stealing zabocas, they
would grow bolder and then start stealing other things around
the house.
I gave up my right to enjoy the fruits of my labour for neither
the law nor the fence and barbwire proved to be effective
deterrents.
Some might say, “Marn, you still lucky, we had to give
up our livelihood.” They would then proceed to relate
how after backbreaking labour and big expenses they are forced
to spend their nights guarding their produce and crops, risking
their lives in the process, if they wanted to reap their produce
before the thieves did.
Praedial larceny, it would seem, has become an alternative
approach to agriculture, for the thieves, that is. We have
moved from subsistence farming to parasitic reaping. The hopeless
cries of the hapless farmers seem to neither serve nor protect
their interests. The situation with those who own small citrus
estates is no different.
No wonder then that so many estates are left to ruin and there
is a movement away from agriculture. Many have surrendered
their rights to a fulfilling pastime and livelihood through
agriculture, for they are not provided the security to which
they are entitled.
It does not require much maths to realise that no security
for the farmers means no food security for the country.
Weddings are most significant social occasions. It has been
the tradition, especially among the women folk, not only to
don their best threads but also to flaunt their jewelry at
these events. The heavy hands of the bandits have resulted
in this aspect of our culture being denied.
Most folks no longer keep jewelry at home and many are terrified
to wear it, even at private functions. The right to the enjoyment
of golden accoutrements, the right to savour the special feeling
endowed by being bedecked in ornate heirlooms have had to
be surrendered through fear for personal safety.
Over time we have continuously given ground to the initially
creeping but now raging barbarism that pervades society. We
have adjusted our lifestyles and modified our homes, at considerable
expense, only to find that the lawless want us to yield even
further.
Well, enough is enough. No more surrendering, no more retreating.
Citizen T&T must now assert the God-given right to live
free from fear and to enjoy the fruits of hard work. The rights
of the law-abiding, productive majority cannot and should
not be held hostage to the destructive few and their publicity-seeking
lawyers.
The public apathy and lethargy must be replaced by the determination
to reclaim our country and our freedoms. This will not be
achieved by the endless chatter on the electronic media, which
quickly becomes an end unto itself, if one were to judge from
the contents and contributors on the talk shows. As the saying
goes, talk is cheap.
God helps those who help themselves, so we need to both pray
and act. Every person, every neighbourhood, every village
and every community needs now to join the battle against the
lawless barbarians, their apologists and their supporters.
We must insist on a zero-tolerance policy on thieving and
banditry. The laissez-faire attitude of the Police Service
towards these offenders cannot continue.
The idea is not to bash the service but to point out the shortcomings
that not only undermine the public confidence but also embolden
the criminals, petty and otherwise.
By way of example, a little over 18 months ago, thieves broke
into one of our facilities and stole some equipment. Upon
discovering the loss, we made a quick survey of the surrounding
area and followed the trail of trampled grass and fallen pieces
of stolen equipment to a hangout.
All the information was reported to the police, including
who the likely suspects were. When after two weeks we enquired
if any investigation had been done, we received the following
incredible reply: “Did you all not catch the fellows?”
Naturally, we did not pursue the matter any further.
The tendency to treat small crimes like stealing fruits, etc
as non-issues has contributed to the present-day lack of respect
for the property of others. This, coupled with the advocates
of the rights of criminals, has resulted in the abrogation
of the rights of the law-abiding. Today we live in fear, under
siege from the criminal elements.
We must come together, irrespective of our political affiliations,
as a country to unite to free ourselves of this scourge. We
urge the Government to adopt a proactive and inclusive stance
in leading this effort.
Responsibility is the flip side of authority and hence those
in authority cannot dismiss or shirk their responsibilities.
Prakash Persad is Chairman of Swaha Inc
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