Pastor Clive Dottin

A mission impossible

Some of the most ruthless monsters operate a thriving gun trade in this country. Some own the magical party card and with sycophantic arrogance wield enormous power in their communities.

What kind of power are we talking about? We are talking about power to hire and fire. We are talking about access to guns that are rented from the police service and the army.

This country can no longer be described as a tropical paradise. It is a land of brutality, deception and “politically sponsored crime.”

Let us look at a statement made by Franklin D Roosevelt in 1941:

“There are four essential freedoms. The first is freedom of speech...the second is the freedom of every person to worship God in his own way. The third is freedom from want...the fourth is freedom from fear.”

There is a massive degree of fear in this land. You only have to check the following headlines to understand why the detection rate is so low in T&T.

n “Easter violence— Murder toll climbs to 120.”

n “Home of witness in Sean Luke’s killing torched.”

n “Witness’ house burnt.”

n “Doctor shot at during break-in.”

Monsters in human form roam our streets. Brutish beasts, more cruel than the most vicious dinosaurs, dominate certain sections of government projects. They are empowered. They humiliate and threaten witnesses. Mothers and grandmothers shake violently when their sons and daughters and grandchildren are gunned down in the day and in the night.

Imagine, there was a bizarre revenge killing in a Port-of-Spain ghetto and after this serial killer had painted the streets red for the umpteenth time, he issued a stern warning—talk and die.

Can 39 Scotland Yard officers give courage to thousands of our police officers and citizens? Will the serial killers seek to embarrass the State by attempting to kill one of these officers? What will be the international repercussions?

Will Scotland Yard be given the authority to paralyse corrupt officers in the police service and the army?

When I examine the rotten state of affairs in this besieged country, I am forced to recall the words of Prof Ritchie Calder:

“The litany of hunger is expressed in a saying in the East:

“Better to walk than to run.

“Better to sit than to walk.

“Better to sleep than to sit.

“Better to die than to wake.

“It does not shout from the headlines like famines, nor scandalise us like the walking skeletons of Belsen. It is the creeping death of progressive malnutrition, of people dragging out the years of a stunted life, without the energy or will to help themselves.”

Is the Ministry of National Security aware of a particular development in the operations of the gun mafia?

Leaders of the gun mafia are selling their guns to addicted customers. After a few days, they will kill their customers, seize the guns and sell them to new customers. As soon as this is discovered, rival gangs sound the battle cry and demand revenge.

Who is pulling the strings of this occultic monster? Now we are receiving the shocking news by some community activists that certain politicians are refusing to co-operate in reconciliation efforts.

But should we be shocked? Some of us have warned different governments that we were in danger of following the example of countries such as Colombia, Italy, Russia and Jamaica. If you link a person’s survival to political support and you turn a blind eye to his criminal connections, then you are encouraging crime.

This is a sad turn of events. We may take long to act, we may love to postpone taking decisive action, but we must never allow parliamentarians to own gangs.

While there must be a constant analysis of the paralysis, one does not have to be a rocket scientist to appreciate the escalation of the murder rate and the increase of fear in our communities.

The brain drain has kicked in. Scores of our most brilliant citizens are leaving. They feel a sense of hopelessness and many more would follow their example if they had the opportunities and the resources. So the frustration is building because people who love their country feel trapped in the land of their birth.

We have to win the battle against fear. The limping blimp has not reduced our fears and tears, but we must develop the courage and the faith to believe that those with strong spiritual connections with God can still make a difference and participate in the transformation of our country.

But we must confess that with all the local terrorism engulfing the land, the event that was the “play of the season” was the destruction of the home in which a 16-year-old state witness in the Sean Luke killing lived. The house was destroyed by fire, compounding the agony that has gripped this nation since the revelation of the sadistic rape, torture and murder of six-year-old Sean.

As sure as sunrise follows sunset, the sword of Damocles is hanging over this nation. Even Colombia is offering to help us! Have mercy!

Let us not forget a significant factor that is responsible for the success in the battle against crime in Colombia. This is the courage displayed by its president, Alvaro Uribe Velez.

President Uribe Velez has developed a strategic plan that has resulted in a more efficient networking system, greater co-operation on the international front, an elaborate retraining programme for the security forces, increased protection for judicial officers, a consistent assault on local terrorists and the pursuit of the “untouchable” elements in the community.

Colombians believe that their president had divine protection. Why? He has survived scores of assassination attempts and his courage and determination have become hallmarks in his political career. He has made it abundantly clear that nobody will be allowed to intimidate him.

Courage is our greatest need and it comes only from a rich vein of faith in God.