Bravo! People are commending with much gusto the increase in police exercises over the Yuletide season to protect law-abiding citizens from those with evil intent.The question which however begs an answer is how much of the crime situation has actually been solved by its root via these exercises?
Now, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has admitted that her Government intends to fight crime holistically via social programmes etc. What needs to be pointed out however is the fact that an entire sector (construction) has collapsed under her watch. It takes no degree in economics to see that this has played a major part in the crime scourge.
Further to this, in a September 9 interview with the Guardian, Finance Minister Winston Dookeran admitted that T&T has experienced an increase in unemployment (approximately 30,000 people) and seemingly in the same breath he quipped that it was just the outfall from the construction sector.
Number one, the figure is wrong; more than 30,000 people are unemployed. The Government may just be concerned with the direct employees of construction sites.But what about the indirect employees-the pie lady, drinks cart vendor, taxi drivers and the other entrepreneurs whose endeavours flourished due to the said workforce?
Secondly, just because those people come from the construction sector doesn't mean it can be brushed off. As a matter of fact, it is even more important.Prof Deosaran, correct me if I'm wrong but the construction sector does not only comprise engineers and technicians. The major and most integral part is that of the actual labourers-the steel benders, masons, bricklayers etc.
Madam Prime Minister, these are the hands which built the houses your Government is so enthusiastically handing out. These are the people who toiled in the sweltering heat to build a country and six months later their families are starving. I can tell you first hand of a man who has to feed his children rice and butter.He has been trying to get work for six months without success and trying to ride out this rough patch but one day the rice and butter his children lap up will finish.
Allow me to pose some questions:
Since the closure of the construction sector, have you noticed a proportionate increase in the number of Smart Card holders or Unemployment Relief Programme employees (as I am certain the private sector has not accommodated the 30,000)?
Was it not possible to filter off this workforce into the agriculture sector? I would have you know that the ghetto is also filled with people who are very willing to work; not everyone is lining up for your handouts. People want sustainable jobs.Do you have a plan for 2011 (as I fear there may be more university graduates-after years of sacrifice-selling doubles and washing cars)?
What will become of the thousands of students currently enrolled in the Faculty of Engineering at UWI and the thousands more at UTT?The fundamental purpose of a government has remained unchanged over the course of time and is to maintain basic security and public order.
Our Prime Minister has been heralded by an international fashion magazine for what it describes as her determination to tackle crime and poverty among other issues (from where did they get their statistics, the SIA?).After being coined the "local Indira Gandhi" it would be unfortunate to suffer the fallen fate of Egyptian Empress Nefertiti.