Here we go again with this dysfunctional organisation simply referred to as "the police." (As a Sociologist, I'm of the view that referring to them as the Trinidad and Tobago Police Services (TTPS) is more of an embarrassment to this land than Jack Austin Warner.) This time they are seeking to justify information being passed to some criminal elements in the Chaguanas area, ahead of a lockdown, where residents make claims of being literally afraid for their lives. And while the Minister of National Security is seeking answers, my guess is that he will encounter what is commonly referred to as "the blue wall of silence" when it comes to dealing with the criminals in this organisation; a similar, frustrating experience he encountered earlier in dealing with their day of 'total policing.'
For years we have been told and reminded that this organisation has "several rogue elements." Yet during the same period, no effort, systematic or random, has ever been made to purge the ranks of such elements. For too long members of this organisation have been allowed to operate in a carte-blanche, manner allowing them to do as they "damn-well please" and "not a damn dog bark." Evidence can be obtained by a mere examination of the murder rate, which has been allowed to escalate over the past 15 years to the point where this tiny nation now ranks as one of the most murderous states in the world, while the preferred line parroted to us by the men and women in khaki is that "serious crime is down." Perhaps they are of the view that if this line is repeated enough, citizens will accept it as fact.
An eleven year old boy was shot while asleep, and a few minutes later his grandfather's house was also attacked by gunfire, yet, amazingly, the police "have no motive." The icing on the cake, however, or as I call it, the insult, comes when an "unidentified, senior officer," referring to the Central lockdown argued that in any big operation '"there will always be leaks." My mind immediately drifted back to the day of "total policing" and wondered how come there were no leaks regarding March 23, 2015? Not only were there no leaks, but after numerous investigations, this organisation still cannot ascertain the "mastermind" behind the day that shut down the entire country, disrupting the lives of the entire population–one way or the other.
It is irony of the highest order when Super Cop talks tough to "outsiders" of coming to Central to engage in criminal activity, while right under his straw-hat an entire community becomes fearful for their lives. It is irony of the highest order when the Acting CoP can boldly state the police alone can bring the situation under control, yet 24 hours later they roll in with the Regiment, dogs and all, to lockdown the entire neighbourhood.
Until someone at the helm of this dysfunctional organisation called "the police" can discover the testicular fortitude to clean up the ranks, the crime situation in this land will continue, unabated.
Rudy Chato Paul, Sr
D'Abadie