Elite police, soldiers vital to battle crime

THE EDITOR: I waited with high expectations to hear what would be the dramatic intervention of Minister of National Security Stuart Young at what was obviously a hastily arranged Sunday media conference.

For once the minister was not his normal self-assured confident self. He mumbled and fumbled to announce that he would be very grateful if citizens would call Crime Stoppers to give information. This appears to be the highlight of his conference.

How different is this to the Commissioner of Police giving out his telephone number. The blatant truth is that people are afraid to give information because they are scared for their lives. Even the commissioner has noted that police are leaking out information to criminals.

The second plank announced by the minister is that the Government is willing to pay for guns. However, there was no announcement on policy and quantum of rewards. It appears to be a knee-jerk reaction. The minister should have come prepared with an aggressive plan and should have had the commissioner at his side.

I believe that CoP Gary Griffith is well intentioned and doing a great service to Trinidad. I believe he can’t do it alone. He is fighting criminals inside the Police Service and as well the criminals and gangs on the outside. He is trying very hard.

I think the CoP should seek to precept soldiers so that they are empowered. When the PP Government brought this legislation it was roundly rejected by the then Opposition and Independents. The time has come to revisit this piece of legislation. Griffith needs beyond SORT (Special Operations Response Team) an elite unit of Defence Force personnel and police to wrest control away from the criminals.

This is not your usual environment. This is not business as usual. The unusual situation calls for more determined action on the part of the security forces while respecting the law and the Constitution. To say we are in trouble is an understatement. Posted videos of criminals physically fighting with police confirm that there is a war taking place under our very noses.

The question must be asked as to why it took so long (almost four years) for Minister Young to get Cabinet approval to fix the radar in the south-west peninsula which, from all the evidence available, is the main source of illegal guns.

Where was the coast guard for the last four years? Is there any truth to the assertion that there was no money to buy fuel? The borders remained unsecured, creating a free-for-all with today’s consequences.

It now appears from the type of guns being seized that the criminals are on par with the security forces. The CoP should also consider an army base in Cedros, as well as Moruga and Los Iros.

Action is always greater than inaction. But action to be effective must be timely.

DR SURUJRATTAN RAMBACHAN

MP, Tabaquite

via e-mail