THE EDITOR:
IN this country (probably more than any other) the government, (especially this one, in particular) is being blamed for almost everything possible, more so murders, kidnappings and other crimes.

I am saying this with a very sober head, unlike those who are making their comments based purely on emotions, their political agenda or just pure hate for the government whose sin is being PNM, nothing else.

Under this government, everything must be perfect, flawless.

These comments come from newspaper editorials and columnists (mainly the Guardian, who I don’t even expect to publish this letter), talk show hosts, Opposition parties and groups and families of victims.

For the Opposition and others like them, I will never doubt that deep inside their minds and behind all the public utterances, they secretly or silently rejoice over the state of crime, for it is the only way they believe is the best way to see the PNM Government crumble and fall.

It is no surprise that suddenly all sorts of groups and organisations, with all sorts of catchy names, are appearing like vampires with the pretence that they are non-political.

It is no co-incidence; they all believe they stand a great chance for political power.

They are smelling blood, not that of murdered victims, but that of the PNM.

The reason why the PNM is so powerful, stable and very much alive today, is because when it was formed 49 years ago, it did not do so with the sole purpose of defeating some other political party for the sake of power, but to one day make us an independent State and to govern it to the best of their ability.

If it was such an evil, wicked, and racist government and political party, then they would have never existed for this long, with all various races in support.

The reason why all Opposition parties struggle to survive, whether in official Opposition or when given the chance to govern, (and coalition will never work) it is because of that lust for power, to defeat the PNM, by any means necessary.

But when given the chance, their true colours show, the infighting starts; it’s all about self and greed, no longer the ambition to “save” the country.

When one is on the outside looking in, he will always have the answers until reality steps in.

Give any of these people the chance (sometimes I really wish they get it) there will be no more murders or kidnappings, because every citizen will be protected from these murderous and wicked offenders. At least, that is what I will expect.

The blame game is so outrageous and ridiculous sometimes; I just cannot understand how Martin Joseph is responsible for the kidnap/murder of Khoury that he must resign, according to the Guardian and others.

How was he to prevent Khoury from being kidnapped, or the murders from happening?

Five people were held the same day for that kidnapping, yet, so far no one has complimented the police for their quick action because they are all too busy in trying to “skin Martin Joseph alive”.

Maybe Ramesh Maharaj should be made Minister of National Security, so that he can implement his “90-day magic”, the overnight success, so that he can “save” the country.

The Italian Mafia’s reign of terror in the United States went on for years before it was brought under control.

Then the Jamaican Posse took over during the late 80s, who was said to be more brutal than the Mafia because they would’ve killed anyone in their way, whereas the Mafia would just kill who they went for.

During a visit to Washington State in 1988, the Jamaican Posse were in full swing and I remember the news reporter saying then, after an alleged murder by the Posse, that the murder rate in Washington DC was the highest since the 60s and that nowhere in America is guaranteed a safe place anymore (a woman was killed by a stray bullet in her house).

It certainly didn’t take 90 days to arrest it, so to those of you who are impressed by Ramesh’s “crime plan”, I tip my hat.

Despite the continuing high murder rate in Jamaica, even with foreign police officers in high ranking positions, PJ Paterson was not voted out of office, simply because crime is not as politicised as it is in this naïve country as ours.

Instead, what we have is a lot of stupid emotional outbursts and comments from people in the electronic and print media, along with the political aspirants who believe they have some sort of influence on the thinking of the people.

If our people, especially those who are supposed to be educated, can display the kind of maturity shown in the States, we may probably get the job done.

The fact that the Government is spending so much millions on, weather it is called “bilmp” or “eye in the sky”, radar or the number of implementations or crime initiatives, the hiring of criminologist from the US and different types of equipment etc. is an indication that they are definitely trying their best and are not sitting idly by rejoicing and doing nothing, as the make-believe political vultures are trying to bestow on us.

To the government I say, stay focus.

THE EDITOR:
I WOULD like to congratulate the Sunday Mirror for a true and unbias report on the illegal activities in Marshall Trace, Cunupia, in its December 25, 2005 edition.

I left Trinidad in September, 1980.

I am originally from Marshall Trace in Cunupia.

On my visit in early October this year, I realised that not much has changed.

When we lived in Marshall Trace, there was one drug pusher with two locations.

I thought with all this talk about dealing with crime that Marshall Trace would be rid of these criminals.

However, to my surprise, these pushers are bigger and more popular than in the early 80s.

A simple fact is between 4 - 6 p.m., the place is like a highway, where people from all walks and classes stop to get their drugs.

Equally, everyone knows who the pushers are, and whenever the cops come to raid it’s always as if these criminals are aware of the impending raids and nothing is ever found.

How can these people be allowed to carry on these nefarious activities, God alone knows, but this could never happen in the US.

The area looks like the slums and to make it worse, the major pusher is now running a “legal” business.

And you know what is really strange?

Police cars can be seen regularly passing through Marshall Trace and not stopping, as if, well, passing is enough.

On investigating further, I was told that everytime a raid is planned, it’s almost as if the pushers have a premonition and are able to “hide” the stuff of their illicit trade.

In fact, the source told me that there is a guy who boasts that he has to pay a tax of $3,000 a month to corrupt police officers in order for this premonition to come to him.

However, as a Minister said, before it gets better it’s gonna get pretty bad and I believe it.

If the police are so deeply involved that they notify criminals of impending raids, then things in Trinidad are really on the edge.

Who can you trust?

But some simple surveillance would prove to be very useful.

I believe that drugs is the root of the problems in this country.

Kidnapping, banditry, murder all have some roots in the drug trade.

If the Government can eradicate drugs in Trinidad, it’ll be a better, safer place.

Anyone remembers when kidnapping started in Trinidad?

It started in a big way, when relatives of drug pushers were kidnapped for money.

Remember the “Tooks and Bulls” murder case, where one of the convicted killers said that “it have real money in kidnaping”.

In order for a problem to be solved, the root of the problem must be known.

This problem would persist, because it’s quick money.

There is no “quick fix” to kidnapping, because there are too many people involved.

If you take out two “big guns”, then in the morning there will be two more to take their place.

I wonder if the cops know that satellites track everyone’s movement.

Do they know that satellite photos are taken every second or so and can virtually retrace the steps of terrorists.

This is how the US track terrorists.

Trinidad needs to get foreign help in this matter.

The technology is too backward here.

When criminals are captured, all they need to do is hire some high-priced lawyer and these lawyers would spin rings around the police officers.

Come on Trinidad, if this continues, in five years or may be less you won’t have a country.

The result of what is happening, is that businessmen are leaving their businesses and running to the US and Canada.

And guess what?

All the profits are going abroad.

So when you see the price of oil get back down to $20 a barrel, brace for devaluation and more crime.

THE EDITOR:
VIS a vis your recent comments at the PNM party convention.

You said that there is a battle coming.

Well sir, there is a God Almighty battle in progress between law and order and the criminals, which the entire nation knows that your administration is losing.

Your administration has not even reached the bend on that one -- and we want peace, not war.

As for flattening your foe with a PNM political hurricane -- pleeease ... we are already being flattened by the criminals on a daily basis, and nature, every time it rains.

We don’t want any more flattening; we want things “straightened out”!

Does that tell you anything about where a lot of votes won’t be going?

Please, Sir, tell us something meaningful -- beyond promising 20,000 jobs in the energy sector and a whole new city for San Fernando.

The latter, after a new Parliament, new residence for the PM and the Tarouba Stadium, is insult to injury, while the nation goes to hell. And, believe me, Sir, nothing could be more absurd than what now pertains.

And please, stop focussing on the Opposition and get on with your job -- there’s a lot of room for improvement, even without the crime situation.

A fed-up citizen.