One letter writer has recommended that the Police Commissioner transfer to the crime fighting unit those police officers who are so diligently engaged in charging motorists for breaching the traffic laws. They are clearly contributing to no significant increase in road deaths.
If that diligence were employed in the fight against crime there would certainly be a reduction in the number of murders in our little island. The number may even be reduced to something approximating the number of road deaths.
The police have a responsibility to ensure that all lawbreaking is reduced but road accidents are caused by errors of judgment of basically law-abiding citizens. Murders are committed by criminals. Even where it is not the intention to kill the act which leads to murder is a criminal act.
This cannot be easily disregarded and must attract some sanction. Not every case of speeding is done with malicious intent.
The police, however, take great pleasure in picking the low-hanging fruit, aided and abetted by people who just want to be in the news. It is so much harder to go after the criminals who shoot back. And, of course, they can always blame the public for not risking their lives by becoming police informers.
Karan Mahabirsingh,
Chase Village, Carapichaima