The challenge facing Prime Minister Rowley and his administration is to come up, in a relatively short space of time, with a viable plan to reduce crime while simultaneously improving public confidence in T&T's law enforcement and justice systems. Over the terms of the past three or four governments the situation has gone from bad to worse.
Just over four months into its tenure, Dr Keith Rowley's PNM administration is yet to enunciate a clear, strategic approach to tackling T&T's crime problem. While these are still early days in the life of this Government, their election promise was to "move swiftly to rebuild our Coast Guard, restore confidence in the armed forces and protective services and reconstruct our anti-gang, forensic and criminal surveillance systems."
So far they don't seem to be anywhere near to a solid, sustainable plan for dealing with the country's biggest problem. If anything, particularly over the last few days following the brutal killings of schoolboys Denelson Smith and Mark Richards, all they have delivered are the usual reactionary responses that have never worked.
Dr Rowley's announcement of permanent joint army-police patrols in the hot spot areas of east Port-of-Spain and environs is a return to a measure that has been tried more than once before with no apparent results.
Then there was that surprising announcement from the Office of the Prime Minister on Wednesday of the appointment of Foreign Affairs Minister Dennis Moses as Minister in the National Security Ministry. This addition to his existing portfolio will see Mr Moses assisting National Security Minister Edmund Dillon as that minister "may specify from time-to-time."
On the face of it Mr Moses, a former career diplomat whose qualifications and experience are in agriculture and international affairs, does not look like a natural fit for a supporting role in national security and many questions are being asked about this appointment.
The other major move by the Government on the national security front has been to push for the permanent appointment of a Police Commissioner. As commendable as those legislative efforts may seem, ensuring security of tenure for the head of the T&T Police Service is merely one small step in dealing with a national problem that is crying out for a extensive range of solutions.
The challenge facing Prime Minister Rowley and his administration is to come up, in a relatively short space of time, with a viable plan to reduce crime while simultaneously improving public confidence in T&T's law enforcement and justice systems.
Over the terms of the past three or four governments the situation has gone from bad to worse.
It would be unfortunate if this government resorts to the tried and failed approach of community lock downs, road blocks and police exercises–although that seems to be their general direction so far.
The National Security Minister is yet to come up with a new, enlightened approach to his portfolio and the fact that he has now been assigned a junior minister does not suggest any confidence in his ability to manage such a crucial ministry. Bearing in mind that his appointment was justified by the fact of his military background, public perceptions about his effectiveness are not helped by this sudden appointment.
In the realm of foreign affairs Mr Moses is a respected, low-key figure, of whom not much is known. Security and law enforcement are not among his skill sets, so there must be a certain logic to his appointment.
The government needs to explain it. Is his keeping his original portfolio a sign that T&T will be engaging Caricom partners in sharing intelligence and stemming the flow of guns and criminals between them?
The government needs to deliver answers, and results, quickly.