Since the Government of Trinidad and Tobago instituted a State of Emergency a few months ago, a lot of people have been faced with the restrictions placed by the curfew. With an initial curfew of 9pm to 5am, this was changed to 11pm to 4am. So after three months, they have decided to finally remove the curfew, although the SOE remains.

Many people at first hailed the SOE and the curfew as the greatest thing to happen against crime. Soon many of the people came to realise that nothing had changed. Many of the arrested were freed without being charged, murders still continued, and the police detection rate had actually decreased.

Yes, crime had fallen, but with an SOE and curfew, shouldn’t it have been almost zero. Added to that, nothing has been done to ensure that crime is tackled in a sustainable manner.

Still there are some who feel that the curfew should remain and that the SOE should continue indefinitely. These people are helpess and clueless, grabbing at straws hoping that something can save them, especially since they have no ideas of their own. I on the other hand have some ideas that I think can work if implemented.

• Consistent and persistent police patrols. Not just car patrols, but foot patrols too. And this is not a gang of police like what we have now, in groups of 4 or 5, but 1 or 2 police officers patrolling the streets. This not only gives citizens a sense of security, but makes it more likely to catch a criminal in the act.
• Act on all forms of lawlessness. Trinidad and Tobago has become a seriously lawless society. We see it everyday with the way we drive, carry on and perform. Private cars for hire (PH “taxis”), illegal vending, squatting, littering, are all forms of lawlessnes that we need to clamp down on. As long as a section of people feel that they can get away with a crime (and have no doubt that these are crimes), they will push the limits.
• For anyone caught breaking a law, even a misdemeanor, perform a background check and lookup for outstanding warrants. It is possible that the PH driver or illegal vendor may also have a warrant out for their arrest, due to the fact that those involved in one illegal activity, often are involved in other illegal activities.
• Get into communities and help them fix themselves. The current government is continuing the mistake of the past government in just giving away things to people – money, houses, jobs. These are things that should be earned, regardless of how destitute someone may be. There are times where charity is genuinely required, but we must scritinise the cases properly. Instead, we must ensure that communities are doing what they must to remain sustainable and productive, contibuting to building the nation and not just taking from it.
• Ensure a smooth and efficient judiciary. We have cases that take way too long to start and then even longer to complete. This is not only expensive, but also dulls the feeling that justice is being prevailed. The judiciary must be given the proper resources it needs to improve themselves. On top of that, laws need to be updated to remove those archaic requirements and use exisiting technology. We have no acts in place for computer forensics, and even video evidence is not admissible in our cours becuase the laws don’t allow for it. It is time to get with the times.
• Improved use of current technology. We’ve finally implemented the breathalyser, but still takes three police officers to catch someone speeding. We have cameras all over, but we are unsure if they are being used, or even if they work at all.

As I get more, I’ll add them in, but feel free to suggest some yourself.

After spending months in the back pocket of Prime Minister Manning (probably next to a dried up, unused condom pack), the country’s general election day has finally be announced as November 5th. About fucking time; I half expected that it would have been next year, but I’m glad it is sooner than that.

The question now is, who is going to win. I am leaning to the COP (also know as ‘the congress’), which, as the new party can hopefully offer something new. New isn’t necessarily better, however, given the other choices – PNM and UNC – I will take my chances.

My only peeve with COP is that they keep preaching about ‘new politics’, however, they are using the same old tactics – mud slinging. The opposition parties only giving one reason to vote for them – to get the PNM out – and as such just attacking them on every little fucking thing. What difference will you make? What are your policies? What are your opinions on the current issues of security, health and education?

Answer those questions and then we will have a clear race.

Crime in Trinidad and Tobago has gotten out of hand. Bandit kill grandparents during robbery.

Everyday things are getting worst. I wish that there did not exist stories like this, but there are.

We as a people have to stand up and unite against these atrocities that take place against other human beings. I say bring back the death penalty, not that it would detract crime, but it’s justice, and justice must be served.

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So on Thursday 25th and Friday 26th January 2006, Inshan Ishmael, attempted to get the country to unite against crime and the state of the country and shutdown all business and agencies. With little support from all sectors it could hardly be called a success. Even the rally at HCU conference centre was poorly attended in my opinion (about 3000 people).

Even with the arrest of Ishmael on Wednesday night by a contingent of police officers people have not risen up in protest to the action. Police said that he was being arrested in accordant to the Anti-Terrorism Act; however, he was later charged with a misdemeanor (Handbill Act, for failing to publish the printers name on the bill!). It is not the first time Ishmael was arrested; he was arrested back in April 2005 for insulting a police officer during a protest in Bamboo settlement No. 2.
The Government has released a statement yesterday to “reiterate its commitment to the democratic principles enshrined in Trinidad and Tobago’s Constitution, which emphatically provide for freedom of expression and freedom of assembly”. Bullshit if I ever heard more.

Ishmael has since then threatened to shut down the country for seven days. I cannot see this happening since he was unable to do so for two days, but hopefully the others in the country can take a united stand this time and finally do something.

Read the interview “Baboon Hunter” with Inshan Ishmael by B.C. Pires here.

In the papers today the headline reads “A BLOODY WARNING“. An entire family is gunned down including a Woman Police Officer. Suddenly the Police Commissioner, Trevor Paul, declares war on criminals; WTF was he doing all the time when the rest of the population was suffering and being attacked.

There are calls for a country-wide shutdown, but there seems to be little support. Big businesses are not supporting it (less money for them) with both the Chamber of Commerce and TTMA saying that it is business as usual and this form of action is not acceptable. The COC and TTMA says that they are working with law enforcement and the government to help alleviate crime. Let me ask, has that helped? All they do is talk and talk.

I say it is time for action, some real action. I too don’t believe that shutting down the country would help, besides I think it is more politically motivated than anything. We need something that would affect them politicians themselves. I say let we stop paying taxes, everybody. If we doh work, ent we doh get pay, so why we paying dem.

The next step is some serious civil disobedience, but let we not go there yet.