THE EDITOR:
BOTH the American ambassador and the head of the FBI said that every citizen must join in the fight against the crime situation, while the Canadian Ambassador said that crime is too sensationalised in this country.

Those were words coming from three very mature gentlemen. However, in this country, our print media especially, and to a lesser extent the electronic media, are having a field day with the crime situation.

DALE ENOCH

They take absolute pleasure in blaming the government for every murder and kidnapping that has happened from the day they took office, through their editorials and some columnists, who don’t seem to have any other choice.

At no time have they come up with a solution, at no time have they written a column speaking loudly and powerfully about the money laundering and the importation of drugs and guns into our beloved country.

At no time have they traded their guns against the people or the perpetrators of these wicked merciless crimes.

Never.

This country is made up of so many different races, Blacks, Whites, Indians, Chinese, Syrians etc.

Out of the 310 murders in the country so far, about 90 per cent of those killed are Black people, with probably a higher percentage of the same race responsible.

Why are my people the ones to be the most lawless out of all these racial groupings?

Why aren’t they using as an inspiration the fact that members of the other races are not fighting for the drug turf with the illegal guns, and are not before the courts, in prison or dead?

Where are the Black leaders in our community in the form of journalists, columnists, pastors (and other religious leaders), community leaders and activists?

Muhammad Shabazz was on TV6’s Morning Edition joining the anti-government cry against crime (simply because he wasn’t chosen to represent Lavantille in the last election) in support of Cadiz, claiming that they know who the bandits are.

As an activist and leader, what is he doing to turn around the criminal life of the Black youth in that area?

Who is telling them to look at themselves in the mirror and say to themselves, “that the power is within me to turn from my wicked ways?”

Who?

Just take a look at all the newspaper editorials, columns and talk show hosts (Dale Enoch and Toney Lee more than any other), see and hear how much they are gloating about the march as a “success” against the government, yes the same government that all of them are criticising for not being a part of the so called (political) “Death March”.

The question is, how do they measure success?

By numbers or results?

Are there any results, yet?

Certainly not, but hopefully all the measures taken so far and whatever will be implemented will bear fruit, which many despite their “concerns” will not be too happy with.

Fitzgerald Hinds made a point on radio over the weekend that the same TV6, which is running a “united campaign against crime” and played a very major role in the “Death March”, continues to show violent movies on their station on a weekly basis.

So here lies the hypocrisy.

During their news programme, they invite viewers to either call or e-mail them about their experiences with crime.

Most of whom they quote are nationals who migrated to “heaven” because of such experiences and vowed not to ever return to this country.

What point they are trying to achieve by airing the comments of these immigrants leaves me very confused.

Unless, they are sending a message encouraging local viewers to migrate, to these “safe havens”, as soon as they can.

We will never know of the crimes many of them experience there, (unless they were killed and it happened to make the news here). Or the amount of racism or second class treatment they receive. The fact is many of these people are living there just for the “Yankee dollar” and the “English pound”.

The Newsday editorial that commented negatively on the Express’ wristband as a “gimmick”, stated, “crime will not be beaten by people marching with or without rubber bracelets or arm bands and such gimmickry”.

Newsday even stated: “Consider the millions around the world who marched against the illegal invasion of Iraq by the US and its allies.

“Did these marches make the slightest difference?

“They did not.

“Neither do we think tomorrow’s march will make any difference.” But in its October 26 editorial, it was a totally different episode.

Martin Joseph and his PNM colleagues were pounded for being “notably absent, because his party ordered them not to show up”. This is the same march that was described as a gimmick and useless by the Newsday.

Everyone, regardless of their political preferences, supports all the newspapers in this country, hence they are all successful and jostle one another to be No. 1.

Therefore, there must be more honesty, balance and truthfulness to everyone including the reader.

We hear and we see all sorts of figures about the number of kidnappings for the year, but the only way to trust those figures is to publish the names of everyone kidnapped in each newspaper -- without collaborating -- to see if they correspond with each other.

I honestly believe there are not 190-plus kidnappings this year, so far.

I look forward to a media in this country that are free from any political agenda, allowing all different views whether political, for or against the media themselves and where a high level of maturity, “democracy” and a “freedom of expression” truly reign.

THE EDITOR:
THIS letter is in support of all the poor workers in Trinidad and Tobago who are not being paid their rightful wages.

Many of them are struggling to support their families.

Citizens for a Better Trinidad and Tobago (CBTT) and other caring groups in society may not have to distribute hampers to these workers if they are paid the wages they deserve.

These employees and their families complain regularly to CBTT with the hope that we may be able to influence the authorities to help them.

I pointed out at the preparatory meeting of key stakeholders on victims’ rights and welfare at the Crowne Plaza that security guards at a prestige school were paid $70 for a 12-hour shift.

There have been threats by the authorities to deal harshly with employers who refuse to pay their employees the minimum wage.

However, there is evidence that the threats are just talk with no action.

Over the past two years, I have reported the matter involving the security guards to the Labour Inspectorate and the previous Labour Minister, but they have so far failed to act on behalf of these affected workers.

I wonder what Prime Minister Patrick Manning has to say on this matter with the security guards.

The outcome of this case is important because there are many other workers in the country with the same problem.

Since the Labour Ministry cannot help, then the prime minister should intervene to ensure that these employees receive what is rightfully theirs.

I am also pleading with Manning to ensure that the security guards are paid retroactively.

When people are unable to support their families properly because they are paid under the minimum wage, then they are likely to become enraged and angry with their employer as well as all those in authority who fail to act on their behalf.

THE EDITOR:
WE the female officers of the Customs and Excise Department warmly congratulate Isha Babwah on her elevation to the vacant post as Acting Comptroller of Customs and Excise.

It is the very first time in the history of our department that a female officer has been given the top post in the department.

Previously, this was a male domain to which female officers could not have aspired.

The female officers agree that seniority was an important factor but we must not lose sight that this officer is quite knowledgeable and competent.

We look forward to her being confirmed in the top post, as this will be an example for others to emulate.

This will also get rid of that taboo that female officers cannot reach the top posts in the Public Service.