The recent incident involving a Barrackpore family and bandits needs to be revisited in order to fully comprehend the Commissioner of Police's (CoP) statement that "citizens should not use excessive force" in defending themselves against dangerous bandits. Questions to the commissioner: How much is excessive force against a cutlass-wielding or gun-toting bandit? Did you first appeal to the bandits not to use excessive force when terrorising innocent citizens? Do you think that a bandit brandishes a cutlass or gun just to frighten their defenceless victims?
I would really like the commissioner to answer these questions publicly so that citizens could really understand where the police stand in this wave of terror now gripping T&T. It leaves one to wonder whether the newly appointed commissioner has a clear understanding as to the extent of this crime situation. Bandits here are ruthless, merciless and remorseless. Take the Greens incident in Tobago for instance. The elderly couple was chopped mercilessly and left for dead. Did the bandits use the right amount of force?
Angela Ali echoed the sentiments of all law-abiding citizens in T&T when she said, "If the police don't want to do their job, then they should allow other people to do it." The police are ineffective and inefficient where urgent and emergency situations are concerned. Response is always too slow and in many cases inadequate. In this incident it was not a case of alleged criminal activity or someone suspected of a crime. These criminals were actually caught red-handed. The residents of Barrackpore and indeed the entire nation must let their voices be heard on this one.
Can you imagine what was going through the minds of the daughter and grandchildren when they were locked in the bathroom while the bandits were having their way going through the family's belongings? The daughter was also beaten on the head with a cutlass and one of the children choked by these ruthless thugs. The man who was asleep never had a chance to defend himself. The bandits were wide awake when the male relative reversed the situation. Release the relative who came to the rescue of the family. He is a hero.
WKS Hosein
Chaguanas