TT Where Do We Go

January 2018:

A Month That Will Go Down in Infamy

As I prepare to take my rest for the night, I am drawn, almost compelled to record my comment on the dubious distinction that is now conferred on the current month, the first of 2018.

Today, the newspapers reported that after 2 overnight killings, the murder toll to date was now 59, a record for ANY MONTH in the history of our nation which is officially not at war.

When our history is written January 2018 will go down in infamy as the most murderous month ever in T&T’s history. Not even, slavery and indentureship, or the infamous brutal police and military attacks on protesting civilians in 1884, 1937, 1970, 1975 or otherwise were as brutal.

Our society is fast losing its humanity. Yet, we are invited to get ‘inside the festival’ enjoy the Carnival that is ‘Sweet fuh Days’ and wine and ‘splinters’ de place as a kind of mass narcotic to numb the horrific pain that engulfs our nation and society.

WHO WILL HALT THE SLAUGHTER?

I am hoping that in this 23^rd hour of the very day, that 59 has not turned into 60 or worse.

More importantly, like many others I am certain, I, too, must ask: Who will halt the slaughter?

Firstly, for a bit of perspective, I glance back at the murderous toll since 1997. In 21 years, we have lost 7,259 souls to an out-of-control homicidal tsunami that refuses to recede back into the ocean and leave our land in peace.

Yes, 7,259 people slaughtered in this nation which is not in Aleppo, Afghanistan, Yemen, Libya or any of the current theatres of war on the face of the globe.

In 2011, our tiny 2 rocks on the world map was ranked 13^th in the scale of countries with the highest murder rate per 100,000 population. Where are we ranked now? Who cares?

A few days ago, the Prime Minister of this country has said “We are at 48 murders and I said to my wife that is a hell of a thing that I have a job where I am held responsible for the things that I have absolutely no involvement in or control over”.

Our Head of Government, who just over 2 years ago said in his party’s manifesto “crime remains the most serious problem affecting our citizens today…” blamed the” UNC-led regime” and their “record on crime” for this most serious problem affecting citizens.

Now, he declares the he has “absolutely no involvement in or control over” halting the slaughter.

In 2015, his PNM was promising all that “The new PNM Government will move swiftly” to do “unlike the incompetent UNC-led regime...”.

He had the answers then. His party promised that their new PNM Government was going to do this and going to do that to halt crime.

Now, after 553 more murders in the last 12 months and 30 days, the same head of the ‘new’ PNM Government disclaims Responsibility, Involvement and Control.

Were this not so tragic, it would be the stuff for the Comedy Cool Down Tents of 2018.

But, despite Pilate washing his hands only days after this astonishing declaration, the headlines screamed “ TTPS division heads summoned to meeting with PM” when “the murder toll stood at 52, with five days remaining in the month”.

So, which is it Mr. PM. You not involved or are you too involved in directing the Police in their work?

Perhaps, when they figure out who really is responsible, someone will finally act to halt the slaughter.

Not a word about the detection rates despite the heaping of praises by the PM and the PNM chorus on the police following one or two arrests connected with a couple of murders earlier in the month.

Not a word about DETECTION RATES despite the bravado and gun-talk by the top National Security Minister following the killing of a 15-year old schoolboy, Joshua Andrews, in Laventille.

Most definitely NOT A WORD ABOUT CONVICTION RATES despite the Attorney-General’s Claim of 20 more on death row in the last 12 months.

No one, not even the Prime Minister, is accounting to the people of this country after a month that will go down in infamy, for the failure of the Government and the State to deal with what they described in September 2015 as “the most serious problem affecting our citizens”.

The Government and the State have failed to give any guarantee to the Right of Citizens to Safety and Security.

They must not be allowed to disclaim responsibility.

They must be made to account for this failure.

They must be made to take up their responsibility for guaranteeing the Rights of Citizens.

The slaughter of 7,259 of our Citizens demands it.