Retreating on crime

If the National Security Ministry escaped in-depth scrutiny by the 26-member Cabinet at Government’s February retreat, the last three weeks has given the public ample opportunity for catch-up in examining the ministry’s performance.

So much so that the deteriorating crime situation may demand that the ministry come under the microscope when the second retreat session comes off soon, top PNM officials admitted Thursday.

Prime Minister Patrick Manning had said the February 28 retreat would continue at month-end. But a date hasn’t been set, Whitehall officials said Thursday.

“The Prime Minister may deal with it after returning from Spain. Month-end is Easter weekend, so it may be after,” they added.

Since the first retreat, ministers were mandated to make a personal presentation of their work programme to the Prime Minister and this has been ongoing, one minister said.

Some of the observations about delivery which were made at the session have apparently sunk in.

Two areas in which delivery was found lacking—Works and Health—were spotlighted at two post-Cabinet news briefings, with Ministers Franklin Khan and John Rahael detailing measures to improve traffic problems and health service.

But while the retreat’s focus fell on those ministries and Education, several PNMites believe the focus next round would be on National Security. One said Wednesday:

“It came up in the last retreat but not significantly. Even Housing wasn’t highlighted much since people felt it wasn’t critical and it was being addressed. Still (Keith) Rowley, who did the performance analysis, didn’t exclude his ministry. He said people will always want more houses no matter how many were built .

“But considering the spate of murders and kidnappings now, national security may be top of the agenda at our next retreat. Before we met, the problem wasn’t as fierce. That was probably why it wasn’t tackled more significantly. But it’s anticipated the situation may worsen after Easter.”

They may not be far off that mark. The last two years has revealed a cycle of crime/kidnapping spiking upwards after Easter, subsiding in mid-year vacation months, and rising again before Christmas.

National Security Minister Martin Joseph’s testy response to recent criticism was immediately seized upon by the Opposition as a cop-out. His flight from questions at a Piarco function did little to inspire confidence. Neither did a Thursday appearance—back to the wall—when he faced queries with earnest tones.

That day acting Prime Minister Lenny Saith could only allude to one of possible “initiatives” on crime to be examined by Cabinet next week. Neither details nor clarification whether this was a new or renewed effort.

Joseph, apart from his renown as a management expert, is a Manning loyalist of note. Even those of his colleagues who frown on Government’s performance in national security are uncertain who can do better. Or that Joseph might be replaced as easily as his luckless predecessor, Howard Chin Lee was.

After three years of the problem, T&T Chamber boss Christian Mouttet is blunt:

“Crime isn’t Government’s fault but the population expects them to deal with it. Government needs to be vocal on crime, to ensure the population is assured of concern from the highest level and that they will implement plans. For one, the police reform bills must be brought back to Parliament. Again and again if necessary, but problems in the Police Service must be dealt with.

“If T&T hadn’t enjoyed the last two years of productivity in energy—which to some extent has compensated for the problems—more people would have surrendered and left.”

He adds:

“Some of it has happened. Not on a wide scale but the fear remains. A time does come when someone will say they’re prepared to give up the economic benefits for peace of mind. Prior to the last three weeks there was a feeling of confidence in the business community that things were under control . Now you don’t know what to think—if it was due to circumstances or specific action.

“So there comes a time when people say, this is it. I don’t know if we’ve reached that point. Maybe we have, I can’t say . What I can say is crime will wreck a country and economy . And that’s a certainty.”

In synch with February’s retreat, Manning and Public Administration Minister Saith held a Whitehall session soon after, for communication officers to review and completely overhaul systems

Whitehall aides said the need to tighten up communications has arisen due to the Opposition’s strong scrutiny. Participants were given a document on communication functioning. Officers hold a second session with Government’s Information Service next week to formulate a position. This will form part of discussions at the next ministerial retreat, a spokesman said.

One of Minister Rowley’s references at the recent retreat—on UNC’s outbursts embarrassing the PNM in the Senate—returned to haunt Senators this week.

The Lower House is now on Easter recess until April 1 while the Senate takes a break after next week. But Tuesday’s run-in among UNC Senator Wade Mark, acting Senate President Rawle Titus, and the PNM provided enough drama for more than one day.

Even the image of UK High Commissioner Glenda Morean in full formal attire being borne by horse-drawn carriage through London to Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen was forgotten in the face-off.

(Foreign Affairs Minister Knowlson Gift brought the image to mind while detailing Morean’s presentation of credentials).

In the ensuing dispute, PNM Senator Danny Montano again emerged as the Government’s Senate trouble-shooter. An interesting foil to the Opposition where his brother Robin is regarded by the Government as the UNC’s chief trouble-maker.

PNM’s Montano did his indignant best to sway Titus against allowing use of the report. Finally, he employed a familiar Montano tone—one usually heard emanating from the UNC side—when he urged: “Put him (Mark) out the Senate!”

His brother Robin didn’t raise his voice against him. He reserved his acerbic tones for the Attorney General, whom he accused of trying to stifle the Opposition because they were “embarrassing” the PNM.

Whatever the Senate performance that day, however, the administration stands to be even more politically embarrassed by the crime question when others—other than the Opposition—finally weigh in.