Do we need Batman to intervene?

THE EDITOR: Fighting crime requires more efficient use of national security resources to achieve better results and correctly identify the need for political will, intelligence, competence and strategic alignment. However, the rhetorical question posed – Why isn’t this happening? – deserves a direct response.

The root of the issue lies in the chronic shortcomings of the PNM government, which has governed intermittently since 1956. The persistent crime problem is a reflection of PNM policies that have, over the decades, fostered discrimination, mismanagement and corruption.

Efforts to combat crime have been undermined by a lack of political will to address systemic issues, insufficient intelligence to pre-empt criminal activities and a pervasive incompetence in implementing effective strategies. The alignment of strategic objectives, often touted as necessary, has been glaringly absent in PNM governance.

It is happening because of the long-standing PNM governance failures.

"Enough is enough" is the statement and while addressing the crime wave and scandals under Keith Rowley's leadership, last week our nation was drenched in bloodshed, marking yet another horrific weekend where we lost many of our citizens to runaway crime.

The pervasive sense of fear and insecurity grows with each passing day, as we continue to see no meaningful response from Prime Minister Rowley and his PNM government.

In the midst of this crisis, Rowley has found time to rebuke critics over the so-called "Jindal scandal" while defending his administration's decision to restructure the former state-owned oil company, Petrotrin. At San Fernando West’s 51st annual constituency conference, Rowley claimed that the Government sought potential owners for the refinery due to the country’s lack of capacity to make it profitable.

However, this defence does little to address the daily reality of ordinary citizens who are grappling with the unrelenting wave of crime. The scandal surrounding his meeting with Indian businessman Naveen Jindal, chairman of Jindal Steel and Power Ltd, only adds fuel to the fire of public distrust. Rowley's assertion that he acted in the country’s best interest rings hollow against the backdrop of increasing violence and lawlessness.

The time for empty promises and deflections is over. We demand real solutions and decisive action to restore peace and order in our beloved nation.

In Arima, there is an area I will refer to as "the forgotten," where there is an unfinished and abandoned church from Patrick Manning's era within Cemetery Road, Heights of Guanapo, Arima, known as Dump Road.

In recent months, this area has witnessed numerous shooting incidents, resulting in the tragic deaths of eight individuals, including four children. Among these victims, one individual has been left paralysed, another person was shot and wounded, and a resident was shot at a local nightclub.

While such violence would typically instil fear in the community, it has regrettably become the norm. The impact on the affected families has been devastating. Nine families have been directly affected, with three forced to relocate immediately to avoid further retribution. People are suffering from life-changing injuries, and others have been threatened with death.

Despite the area's beautiful scenic view of Arima and its botanical environment, it is overshadowed by a surge in crime. The residents, known for their loving and peaceful nature, are struggling under the weight of overwhelming poverty, making it the number one hotspot on the east-west corridor.

The alarming rise in violence has been met with indifference from our representatives. Police patrols are now a thing of the past, and mayhem has become the new order of the day. Few residents know their councillor, and many have no access to their Member of Parliament. This dismal state has deterred community enhancement by investors, and as we survey the landscape the number of vacant and abandoned houses continues to rise.

This is the voice of the forgotten, pleading to be heard by those in authority. While I was writing this another resident was shot and killed at the landfill. We urgently need attention and intervention to restore peace and safety to our beloved community. Maybe we need to seek help from Batman.

NIGEL MOSES

via e-mail