Crime remains major platform issue

THE EDITOR: A major election platform promise made by the various political parties which have since occupied the corridors of power in our country was to solve the crime problem. However, in spite of the best efforts of the present administration citizens are still living in fear and this is so because the central question to be asked is – How much is being done with the tangible resources provided, to arrest the fears of these law-abiding citizens when so many of the crimes committed go unsolved?

The low rate of detection exists because the perpetrators of these heinous crimes dampen any gains claimed to have been made by the police such as the 50 per cent reduction in shootings and woundings as compared to last year, which does not translate to a 50 per cent reduction in homicides as pointed out by Police Commissioner Gary Griffith in a recent media conference.

Moreover, the startling revelation made by Police Commissioner Griffith of a $50 million burden being placed on the pockets of taxpayers every year for 300 police officers who are currently on suspension on disciplinary matters with pay and who should have had their matters cleared up in several months, but after ten years have not, is equally troublesome.

While the remedy for such an unacceptable situation lies in legislative reform as it pertains to the Police Service Act and the Special Reserve Police Act as pointed out in the media conference by head of the police service legal unit, Christian Chandler, this is easier said than done.

Such sweeping legislative reforms will certainly need the support of the parliamentary opposition who are usually inclined to oppose for opposing sake, usually on spurious grounds.

Its refusal to support the more recent Bail (Amendment) Bill which called for firearms offenders to be denied bail for 120 days is one such example.

Police Commissioner Griffith stated quite categorically in the media conference that “high-powered weapons like the AR-15 and AK-47 were becoming the popular weapons of choice for criminals.”

Yet the opposition refused to join ranks with the government and lend its support to this crucial piece of legislation which could help reduce, in particular, gang-related homicides in the country.

All of this coupled with the fact that police officers themselves are being charged with committing crimes, makes citizens feel hopeless and disenchanted thus leaving them bewildered.

The opposition must get its act together and help the government to return the country to a culture of life as the window to act is shrinking.

Rishi Lakhan

via e-mail