I do not know where to start. It is high time that people from all walks of life face the reality and take steps to stem the violence and unruliness in the country. One is at a loss for words.This country of ours is blessed with all that one could ask for–fertile land, plenty of fresh water, petrol and gas and the rest.The citizens are well informed and literate by all accounts. This country of ours is a paradise. Unfortunately we refuse to see this; none are so blind as those who refuse to see!
With all this, whom do have for governing the country? A bunch of politicians whose hearts, by and large, are in the right place–to govern and deliver the best for its citizens.I said by and large very deliberately, since most of these people get sidetracked along the way when it comes to good governance.
Good governance is all about personal integrity, honesty and above all, a sense of duty to do the right things by the people and for the people. We have seen that all the successive governments since independence have, one way or the other, been playing the race cards.
I am not a constitutional expert. In recent times people have got on the bandwagon to say that constitutional changes will bring in the utopia. I am not so sure whether the first past the post system is the best form for T&T, or the PR system. I leave it the experts. However, what I am convinced of is that the current state of affairs in the country is not doing anybody any favours. Our immediate concern should be to root out sources of crime.
Enough is enough. Tackling the crime must be one of the prime priorities of the Government. Is the recently announced Rapid Response Unit (RRU), the answer? This RRU alone is not the panacea.How many similar initiatives over the years, by different administrations have yielded positive results? None is the answer. All had been expensive, hyped up and unsuccessful adventures.
These units should not only be target-driven but also be accountable for every dollar spent. Unless we as a nation attempt to eliminate or least minimise the root causes crime, we wouldn't go far.Culture and climate of crimes and more so, violent crimes resulting in deaths in T&T, have far-reaching consequences as far the nation is concerned.
People are scared to travel to T&T. Investors, especially the foreign direct Investors, will all shy away from this place. Let all parties join hands devoid of party politics, to tackle ever growing crime in the land. Enough is not enough.
Ratnam Nadarajah,
Sussex,
United Kingdom