Mr PM, fire Hinds...or help him

THE EDITOR: The entire country is aghast at the escalation of crime, as seen by 15 brutal murders over the weekend.

This is definitely an indication that the modus operandi of the Ministry of National Security in rendering assistance to the police in fighting the scourge of crime, especially murders, is inappropriate, if not obsolete.

It is quite obvious that the present minister is a square peg in a round hole and should be replaced!

If, for whatever political reason, the Prime Minister remains adamant that he will not remove Hinds as security minister, then the Prime Minister himself must either personally take over that ministry or assist Hinds, with three competent junior ministers who could guide him in performing his onerous duties. This may reduce the escalating violent crimes in TT.

I suspect the Prime Minister and his Cabinet are totally incapable of assisting in the abatement of violent crimes and hence Fitzgerald Hinds is and will continue to be used as a scapegoat.

It is my view, having regard to all the circumstances, that the Prime Minister and his Cabinet are doing reasonably well in the governance of the country as a whole, but for the controlling of violent crimes to a civilly acceptable level.

The majority of citizens would be willing to shut their eyes and close their ears to the protestations of the rising cost of living, dilapidated infrastructure of roads, bridges, buildings and no water for all; and they, like myself, will give praise to the government of the honest attempts by Cepep in keeping our country clean and attractive.

The majority would also accept that poverty exists all over the world and thus the impoverished must continue to band their bellies once they can eat “ah doubles” and drink a “sweet drink.” But no one, and I repeat, no one, in their right mind is going to excuse or forgive this Rowley government for the escalation of crimes which include daring home invasions and brazen and brutal murders.

We all know we are heading towards a precipice and an almighty plunge, given there seems to be no halt in crimes.

We the people: PNM 'til we dead, apaan jaat for the UNC's blind supporters, the one per cent, five per cent and ten per cent “floating voters”...we are all totally fed up with Prime Minister Rowley's weak excuses as to why he cannot offer the country the good and workable solutions it deserves to keep us all safe from the criminals.

I remind Dr Rowley that he was elected to protect and serve all the people, to keep all of us safe and secure. We are all his people, especially for the period he was elected to lead. So far, he has proven that he is totally inept, incompetent and unfit to lead this nation towards peace and safety for all.

So I say to the honourable Prime Minister, why don’t you step down from your exalted position of
primus inter pares (first among equals) and pass on the leadership of the government to someone else in your Cabinet? Or is it that you feel you can fool most of the people of this country all of the time, and thus slip back into Whitehall as head of the government once again?

I personally desire nothing from you and your Cabinet. It does not matter who is elected to govern.

I, like many others, will survive and continue to live decent and productive lives in this our country. But what we cannot really continue to do is live under the constant fear and reality that death is but a trigger away in this country.

For the love of country, if you cannot find workable solutions to keep us, your people, safe: please go! Or is it for you, as my grandmother used to say: “Saramna Ba” (you have no shame).

ISRAEL KHAN, SC

Head, Criminal Bar Association (CBA)