No one wins playing the blame game

THE EDITOR: It never fails. When something of a negative nature turns up, the one thing that is guaranteed is is the blame game of our politicians. No one wants to be held accountable or is honest enough to say, "we did drop the ball, I am sorry, please forgive me."

Case in point – the Sabga report.

Everyone is saying it is the other person, or the other party. Our two major political parties are at it again while the population is the helpless audience. No disrespect meant, but over the years, I have seen behaviour that can leave you spellbound.

With the blame game in full flow, nothing will change as citizens wait to see if those responsible for these heinous acts against children will be held accountable. If anyone is found culpable, they ought to face the consequences for their actions.

It is quite clear that many of these homes were torture chambers for children, based on reports now in the public domain. I encourage all individuals and organisations charged with responsibility for dealing with issues raised in the Sabga and Justice Jones reports, to focus on getting justice for the victims and putting systems in place to prevent such abuse from taking place again.

Blaming each other solves nothing. Leaders, especially those elected to public office, are expected to lead and represent the interests of those who put them there and not just to bad-talk and cast blame.

While the blame game is being played out, Trinidad and Tobago is not better or a safer place for its inhabitants, including children. Action and not blame is what is needed.

In the meantime, we must continue praying for those victims of abuse, both in 1997 and those identified in the more recent Jones report. We must also pray that the Jones report does not suffer the same fate at the Sabga report – to be pushed aside and to gather dust while evil people remain free to prey on the weak and vulnerable.

ARNOLD GOPEESINGH

San Juan