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gilly@tstt.net.tt
Taking
back control
In
this country we take everything for granted and treat nothing
as sacred.
Instead of fighting off criminals with a hard-line approach
of zero tolerance for those who commit serious violent crimes,
the administration in power adopted the unacceptable strategy
of open-door discussions with nefarious characters.
This sent the clear signal that those in authority were
incapable of dealing with the problem of escalating criminal
activity and the rest is history.
So that while we are grateful for the update on crime statistics
that show that the commission of serious crime has risen,
we would definitely be appreciative if the plans to reduce
criminal activity were implemented sooner rather than later.
There is really little to be gained by telling the public
what it already knows, namely, that crime is out of control.
At this point it would be advisable to focus on the methods
of crime fighting that will ensure that the present reign
of criminal terror will be over.
Into our hands
Law-abiding citizens, left with little choice, have resorted
to strengthening the bars of their caged homes, upgrading
house alarms and installing boom-gates at strategic points
of entry and exit in residential areas.
While these actions are not examples of taking the law into
their own hands, it does indicate that the Government has
failed to provide us with a safe and secure environment
in which to live.
It has become the norm to live in gated communities in which
spacious yards are of little relevance because no parent
or guardian feels safe leaving vulnerable children to explore
in open unattended areas.
The fact is that we have fundamentally changed our lifestyles
to the extent that we are home-bound introverts, constantly
living in the fear that we will be the next target or victim
of a vicious attack by cruel bandits.
For those who believe that living within the confines of
a house surrounded by high walls and razor-wire fences,
protected by 24-hour armed security guards and premises
monitored by CCTV cameras is a guarantee of personal safety,
think again.
In any event, that kind of cloistered, unhealthy living,
which has no respect for privacy or exciting spontaneity,
is no way to raise a family.
We are being made to operate under stressful conditions
and it is only a matter of time before we suffer the irreparable
harm of a massive human resource meltdown.
Of criminal minds
Criminals in this country have no fear of being caught and
even if arrested, feel confident that the system provides
sufficient opportunity to ensure that they are never brought
to justice.
Incidents of state witnesses being killed a few days before
their scheduled court appearances brings into question the
effectiveness of the witness protection programme.
Despite assurances that the programme is working well, it
is obvious that the safety of those upon whose testimony
the State relies, is still in jeopardy.
And yes, laws have been passed to enable witness statements
to be admitted as evidence but let the truth be told, if
criminals want to prevent a person from testifying in court
or giving a statement to the police, they will kill or injure
accordingly unless they are stopped in their tracks.
The situation is worse than we think and for those who are
prepared to do more than talk, let us fight to regain control
of our nation.
Act now
There are too many horror stories about a rogue element
within the Police Service and one would have thought that
the gravity of the situation would have been met with an
urgent strategy to weed out the corrupt officers.
Noble initiatives and talks of “things in place”
without short time lines being set for successful results,
all amount to nothing.
The Police Complaints Authority and an interim committee
similar to the US Internal Affairs Department should already
have met to decide an immediate approach to deal with allegations
of police impropriety.
We are always bombarded with what will be done in the near
future, when we want to be informed as to what action can
be taken right away to address the problem.
Thus the indication that the Government is planning to make
the Special Anti-Crime Unit (SAUTT) a body corporate will
not drive the problem away. At best, it is a long-term plan
that requires the passage of legislation and guess what—
the Parliament is yet to sit.
The short point is that it takes far too long in this country
to resolve matters of urgent public importance and so few
problems are ever nipped in the bud.
Instead, societal ills are allowed to spread until they
reach alarming proportions that cause chaos and panic.
Make a bold move
This administration must be prepared to make bold moves
in the interest of saving the nation from the criminal element
that currently holds us under siege.
There must be no apology for adopting stringent measures
that will give the phrase “criminals beware” real
meaning and allow the words, unlike the blimp, to take flight.
This can only be achieved by letting the criminals know
that their acts will not be tolerated.
There is no room for discussion or diplomacy with bandits,
much less the stroking of egos that allowed criminal gang
members to be promoted and referred to as community leaders.
This administration needs to embark promptly on a public
awareness drive to alert citizens about the immediate measures
that will be implemented to lock-down on criminals and to
restore public safety and security.
Confidentiality must not be used as an excuse for full accountability
to the country about the plans of action to regain control
of our paradise.
Warning citizens about men in black pretending to be police
officers is of little comfort when the population feels
that its reports of criminal activity fall on deaf ears.
The public believes that police stations lack the equipment,
personnel and resources to respond quickly to reports of
crime or to arrive at crime scenes in a timely fashion.
Telling citizens about the rise in crime and the current
methods used by criminals to perpetrate their activities,
without more, only causes increased public fear.
The nation wants a greater police presence on the streets
and in the communities.
The army must be part of joint patrols, especially in crime
“hot-spots,” because the police officers need
extra support and back-up.
The introduction of a night patrol with police officers
driving vehicles through streets and reporting to their
respective central commands about their observations is
an immediate measure that can be implemented to deter criminal
activity.
Criminals have to be put on the back foot and stopped from
further encroaching in our lives.
The problem of crime can be fixed.
All we need is the political will and believe me—the
rest will fall in line.
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