Trini-Chat.com » News » Who Is Really Winning The War On Crime?

Posted on Tue Aug 04, 2009 5:59 am by slick

The crime situation in this country is ridiculous. Daily our sense of security is assaulted by newspapers report of murders, robberies, automobile hijackings or kidnappings. If we could afford it we will all live behind intricately designed prison styled windows and doors. It is called burglar proofing but it can also be called self imposed incarceration. That’s not funny.
In Trinidad, insurance companies mandate that every new vehicle be equipped with latest anti-theft security device. Crime has really never been more pervasive in this country. According to figures supplied by the Police’s Crime and Problem Analysis Branch there were 6,941 serious crimes in 2008. Amazingly for the first six months in 2009 there have been 8,010 serious crimes with an average detection rate of .09%. Fingers points to the police.

A recent article in the Trinidad Express newspaper stated that “last year there were 710 vehicles stolen with arrest in 15 cases compared to 653 in 2009 with arrest in 40 cases… In all, the serious crime rate has gone up by 15.4% and the detection rate has gone down by more than 8%”. It is ironic that in a thriving economy like ours there are so many crimes for profits. There must be something systemically wrong.

Unless you live under a rock in the Tabaquite forest; you know. Too many known criminals walk out of court free. We call it “normal” when witnesses are killed or develop amnesia. Like it or not, we’re at war. Its law abiding citizens versus every criminal bent on screwing up our lives. The truth is that it’s really uncomfortable living under a rock in the Tabaquite forest. But sometimes it is the safest place to be.

Most of us have adopted the attitude of not getting involved, not reporting what we see; afraid of retaliation. Fortunately, self preservation makes us realize that our safety depends entirely on ourselves; on what we do. So we limit our activities and constantly look over our shoulders hoping we are not the next statistic. Who do you think is winning the war on crime?

Politically, crime is just another issue to capitalize on and pull votes. We spend billions on large buildings and smelter plants with little regard for the death of the eco-system and the communities surrounding these plants. The Prime Minister, stubbornly promises, even in the face of a court order, not one but 3 of these killer plants. All this, while the police service complains of dilapidated buildings and their inability to respond to serious life and death crimes; their reason, a lack of automobiles. Crime has woven itself into the very fabric of our nation, our tradition.

It steps into the home of 90% of Trinbagonians every night at 7 PM, (local news time). In the safety of our living rooms we “enjoy” real-time horror TV entertainment. We watch in amazement at a serial show with an implicit and unspoken guarantee that a few of us will be casted tomorrow to get our 15 second sound byte, to become a celebrity, a star; albeit posthumously.
Does being “Trini to D bone” mean that we are just sheep being led to slaughter while we baa-baa about how hard our leaders poke us. Maybe it’s because we did not shed blood for freedom from British rule. Maybe, just maybe the easy freedom we enjoyed has left us in a state of euphoria, a mandate to celebrate and host the biggest party in the world.

Our freedom has stimulated the invention of the only new musical instrument in the 20th century. Our Caribbean ingenuity has created a spectacle of colors and a pellau of foods with uniquely original delicacies potent memories that can cause wet palettes. Beneath it all, it is as if we collectively inherited a deep inner desire to get something for nothing. Life comes free but we must work for everything else. Our first order of business is self survival.

As a nation, a country born with a basic respect for human rights and the right to live in a peaceful community, something must be done, not individually but collectively. Trini to D Bone really means that you are willing to sacrifice something, to work for something to make your country a better place to live. Don’t dance and party while the ship we call a country is burning. Do something, anything, what you do can make a significant difference.

This article was contributed by founders of a socially innovative group “Brother’s Keeper Foundation of Trinidad and Tobago”. The Foundation is committed to making a difference in reducing crime in Trinidad and Tobago. You can help. Go to http://www.brotherskeepertt.net Sign the online petition.

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