Helicopters crucial in crime fight

THE EDITOR: Are there any government-run ministries, offices or agencies that do not have money worries? I am reading that two out of the ten helicopters under the police are functioning well, that cannot be good by any stretch of imagination.

Also what took me by surprise the staff at (NALIS) being told to bring their own toilet paper reading one of our dailies. Well if that is what it takes to keep your job you simply have to comply. Our police seem to be under a real tight squeeze in acquiring the relevant equipment to perform its daily duties, money most definitely a problem. Permit me to put a plug in here for the police, if we are serious about crime we will have to properly equip our protective service to deal with the type of sophisticated criminal operation in TT.

Air patrol (and all that goes with) it is an asset in the fight against crime, therefore, proper working helicopters is most definitely an asset. That bird's-eye view makes a world of difference and also puts our security service at an advantage with dealing with the criminal elements. While I fully understand that the cost is extensive it is important to get a few fully operating helicopters added to the service.

Let us reach out there with the same effort that was placed in the ferry service. The war against the growing crime problem must be intensified and in my personal opinion if we are going to see noticeable change in this area we must be willing to spend on upgrading the police. Remember crime affects all both internal and external we must all work together to rid our twin island of this type of behaviour.

Arnold Gopeesingh, San Juan