THE EDITOR:
I CERTAINLY hope that the government has taken note of a letter sent to your newspaper by a “fed-up employee” of British Gas Trinidad and Tobago (BG).

The government must take full responsibility for the poor treatment meted out to local employees of this British multinational because of the indiscriminate issuing of work permits to foreign personnel whose skills are readily available locally.

BG has strong linkages with the government, as at least two senior employees hold Board memberships with State organisations.

One of these persons recently returned to Trinidad.

However, since his return, he has not been supportive of local staff, who view him as an expatriate.

The government should let BG employees know that they are serious about nationals holding leadership positions in the oil and gas sector as this country must reap real benefits that go way beyond 2020.

The work permit committee, which is headed by the Minister of National Security, must become more vigilant in issuing work permits.

Imagine the person at the head of communications was allowed in from the UK to work in Trinidad, while several qualified locals had applied for the position and were turned down.

Some nationals have been posted abroad as part of what is called the understudy programme.

These national go to the UK, Houston, Texas or any other BG asset with the believe that they would replace the ex-pat on their return.

What in fact happens is the ex-pat is replaced by another and the local is carted off elsewhere, never getting the managerial position.

It is a straight case of mamaguy or as the fairer sex would say “always the bridesmaid and never the bride”.

The government has to change this position by letting multinationals know that their use of our valuable assets is dependent on the growth and development of our qualified locals.

THE EDITOR:
IN an LA Times article entitled the Rise in Bloodshed Beclouds Caribbean Paradise, dated April 4, 2006, it was stated that Trinidad and Tobago is a country not far behind Jamaica for being the homicide capital of the world, with suspects walking free because of ineffectual courts and corrupt law enforcement officers.

It further stated: “Trinidad and Tobago, with 386 homicides last year, or 35 per 100, 000, may have joined the list of the most violent countries in the world.”

Regrettably, the article does not present the multifaceted approach taken by government, and by extension, the Ministry of National Security, to battle the country’s crime problems and more specifically the crime of homicide.

Statistics from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service reveal that currently the vast majority of homicides are gang and drug-related. Measures have, therefore, been put in place to ensure that the agencies responsible for treating specifically with homicides have the requisite tools, equipment and manpower to carry out their duties effectively and efficiently.

This Homicide Bureau is currently the main focus of the ministry’s crime-fighting drive.

It has been expanded from 47 to 135 officers so as to better address the unacceptable high level of homicides.

Additionally, 100 of these officers have received specialised training in crime scene investigation that will enable them to detect and solve murders at a faster rate.

To further increase the effectiveness of police officers, government -- in collaboration with the United States Embassy and the FBI -- has introduced specialised in-country training in crisis negotiations during a kidnapping, crime scene investigation, and law enforcement safety and survival training for first respondents to crimes.

Central to our crime reduction strategy is the continuing transformation of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, initiated by the Ministry of National Security through Prof. Mastrofski and partners from George Mason University, USA.

A key component of this transformation programme is the formation of a Homicide Prevention-Working Group (HPWG) within the Police Service, to improve its effectiveness in the solving of homicides and cold cases.

This Working Group brings together all aspects of law enforcement, forensic, prisons and intelligence.

The collaboration and co-ordination fostered within this Working Group -- and the detailed intelligence developed by the HPWG feed directly into the operations of the Homicide Unit and several other units of the Police Service.

This will ensure that cases being brought before the courts will be accompanied with improved evidence presentations, which will better assist the courts in the decision-making process.

The Cold Case Squad, which has been established, is beginning to have success through improved review of existing evidence.

The Ministry of National Security, with the assistance of the British High Commission, entered into an agreement with the United Kingdom UK Forensic Science Services for the strengthening of staff capabilities through training and the institutional strengthening of the Forensic Science Centre (FSC).

Strengthening of the FSC and its personnel will contribute to improved evidence gathering and presentations, which will lend greater support to law enforcement agencies and ability to investigate and solve cases.

The International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), recently published by the US Department of State, clearly states: “The Government of Trinidad and Tobago (GOTT) continued to co-operate with the US on counter narcotics issues and allocated significant resources to the fight against illegal drugs.

Bilateral efforts in 2005 focused on the provision of technical assistance, training and material to help the Trinidad and Tobago Government strengthen all facets of its counter narcotics efforts.

The report further states that because of the efforts by the Trinidad and Tobago Government to stem the flow of illegal drugs at the sub-regional level, drug traffickers are now foregoing using Trinidad and Tobago as a transshipment point; “Some shipments are now bypassing Trinidad and Tobago, in favour of other islands, due in large part to the counter narcotics efforts of GOTT security forces.”

Future joint US and Trinidad and Tobago efforts will focus on strengthening Trinidad and Tobago’s ability to detect and interdict drug shipments, bring traffickers and other criminals to trial, attack money laundering, and counter narcotics related corruption.

The public may be wondering how reducing the flow of drugs can lead to a reduction in the homicide rate. The grim reality is that guns and ammunition enter the country with drug shipments.

However, while the drugs continue onward to their destination point, the guns remain in our country.

The war against crime in Trinidad and Tobago must be fought on two fronts: one against drugs and the other against guns.

Protecting our borders against the inflow of drugs, guns and ammunition will undoubtedly result in fewer guns reaching the hands of gang members. The unacceptable levels of homicides will be consequently reduced.

The ministry assures the nation that we are highly cognisant of the multifaceted nature of our country’s crime problem and we are waging the battle on all fronts.

We are not insensitive to the number of human lives being lost.

We stand committed to bringing an end to this country’s crime surge and strive wholeheartedly to restore a sense of national security to every law-abiding citizen.

THE EDITOR:
AN open letter to the Prime Minister and members of his Cabinet.

If you implemented half of what you promise to do every five years, we should be living in paradise!

Then how come we the taxpayers are getting poorer and poorer and all basic needs, schooling, health service, police service, fire service and roads are breaking down.

Meanwhile, all you politicians are getting richer and richer!