Time to take back country from criminals

Undoubtedly crime is still the number one headache in T&T despite the best efforts of past administrations and the present People’s Partnership government to curb the heinous operations of the criminal element in our midst. Several initiatives were and are being undertaken but still the criminals seem to be getting the upper hand, especially with respect to the wanton killings of citizens, be they innocent persons or gangland hits.

Up to yesterday the murder toll was 18 and at this rate, more than one a day, it is safe to say that we are heading for another year of senseless bloodletting. No one can feel safe as these criminals have no compunction when pursuing their deadly trade, day or night, in the presence of men, women or children.

In many instances they do not even wear masks, so empowered they have become. To them human lives are of no value. They don’t even care for their own lives and you hear tales of these dregs of society purchasing their coffins in preparation of their eventual demise—a clear indication of their mindset: live fast and die young.

Prosecuting this war against the criminals is not an easy task and we as a people and the government in particular cannot throw our hands in the air and allow the evil ones to have their own way. We would do so at our own peril. Speaking of innocent people being taken out brings me to the killing of my good friend Junior Valentine, who just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Can you imagine in the porch of his home when he was mercilessly gunned down!

I always wonder what kind of a human being would simply watch another person and intentionally kill him for a few dollars. Faced with this dreadful situation, do we as a people give up and hand over this land to the criminals? Of course not and the authorities must explore all possible means to bring these people to book.

It is in this context I am supporting National Security Minister Austin Jack Warner’s latest initiative in his anti-crime efforts, which is giving soldiers the powers to arrest these heartless bandits. It is amazing the kind of views some opposed to this move are espousing to attack the proposal and the most silly of all is the charge that the move would lead to T&T becoming a military state.

Such garbage coming from supposedly intelligent people is bewildering. While we argue about anti-crime plans the criminals are ruthlessly practicing their deadly craft.

In making his announcement Mr Warner said the solders would be trained in order to undertake this new mission, as it were. Critics are saying soldiers were trained to kill and for this reason they should not be given this power. I do not buy that argument and it says that our soldiers are too dumb to be adapting to this new challenge.

The crime situation has gone way out of control and we have to take whatever measures required to treat with these criminals. We have to keep on trying and even if some measures fail at least it can be said we did not give up the struggle to make our country once again safe and secure for all citizens.

Another nonsensical statement in opposition to this plan is that of president of the Police Social and Welfare Association, one Anand Ramesar, who had the effrontery to say that he would instruct police officers not to co-operate with the soldiers if this measure is implemented. Can you imagine the tail wagging the dog?

And coming from someone who took an oath to protect citizens from the bandits, publicly disagreeing with a proposal to bring the crime situation under some sort of control? If this kind of threat could come from the head of the police union, what the hell is going in this place?

Instead of bumping his gum with this sort of nonsense he should be welcoming any moves to take back the country from the wicked hands of the criminals. I still cannot believe he could have uttered such a threat, which shows a callous attitude towards the overall crime problem. Even if he has a difficulty with the proposal he could channel that to the minister personally and not join the bandwagon in condemning the idea without even giving it at least a try.

Ramesar owes the nation who is paying his salary an apology.