As crime continues to spiral in T&T, citizens lament that the Christmas spirit is dying a slow death. Despite the authority's confidence that the war against crime can be won, criminals, with no regard for life or limb, seem to be running the show in this country. Statistics from the T&T Police Service reveal that crime continues, unabated. Last year ended with an unprecedented 509 murders and with the countdown on to 2011, criminals are working overtime. The murder toll for the year 2010 is fast approaching the 500 mark.
Police: Keep the faith
Still, the authorities are appealing to citizens to keep the faith. One police officer, who spoke to the Guardian said the population needed to "have a bit more confidence" in the nation's protective services, as they were working feverishly to bring crime under control. The officer said while the public "had a right" to be concerned about the rising crime rate, it took all hands on deck to effectively deal with the problem. "People want to blame the police for everything but they themselves are doing wrong. They are not reporting crimes when they see it...People don't know how that makes our work harder. A lot of criminals walk free because people do not come forward. It should be a partnership."
CrimeStoppers: Report crime
Meanwhile, Keith Subero, General Manager of CrimeStoppers T&T, is reiterating his call for citizens to report crimes they had witnessed. He said the police "cannot be everywhere, all the time." He asserted, "Individually, we must be more responsible and aware. The police can't solve all the crime, like a lot of these domestic cases, it's really up to the individuals involved." Subero also took the opportunity to encourage the public to utilise the CrimeStoppers 24 hour call centre at 800-Tips. "It is safe and it works," he stated.
Victims speak out
Victims of crime, however, are not as optimistic. According to Rachel, 25, the nation's crime scourge has ruined her Christmas season. Robbed in broad daylight more than two weeks ago, the mother of three remains shaken over the incident. "The man just came up behind me and cut the straps off my hand bag and ran off with it," she lamented. The brazen bandit made off with money she had only minutes earlier withdrawn from the bank, to purchase her son's Christmas gift. "He was finally going to get the Playstation he's been asking for. He did well in exams so I was going to reward him." Rachel's sentiments are echoed by Paul who recalls being robbed at his Diego Martin home last month. "All these murders and robberies killing the Christmas spirit man! When criminals could just come in your house without caring how hard you work for your thing and take them up just so, just so, you have to ask the question: What is the country coming to?"