Dear Editor,
Guyana is not the only Caricom country reeling from crime. Our Caricom “neighbour” is also experiencing a crime wave with people up in arms against the government for its failure to control crime. Both countries need to get tough against criminals before people begin to take the law into their own hands.
According to the findings of the latest NACTA poll in Trinidad, crime is the number one concern among virtually every individual in Trinidad. Most Trinis lack faith in the current PNM government being successful in combating escalating crime. However, although there is widespread disillusionment with the government’s handling of the crime wave, the PNM’s base of support remains rock solid behind the party to win another term in office in elections likely in October.
The divided squabbling opposition in the form of either UNC or COP, a breakaway faction of the UNC, is not viewed as an alternative to the PNM. But COP, under the leadership of the former UNC leader, Winston Dookeran, a former Central Bank Governor, is pulling away enough votes from the UNC to enable the PNM to win by a landslide. COP supporters find the UNC under Basdeo Panday’s leadership to be repulsive because of Panday’s legal troubles relating to allegations of corruption.
According to the findings of the NACTA poll, people are deeply troubled by crime, poor governance, corruption, and rising cost of living, among other concerns.
But their priority is their personal safety from out of control crime and they are losing faith in the government’s ability to stem the flow of crime.
Voters feel the government has failed in taming runaway crime. Asked if they feel the government has done enough to combat crime, only 19% answered in the affirmative.
Almost every voter opposed to the PNM says the government is not doing enough to combat crime. But many of those supportive of the PNM says the government is doing its best to combat crime and blame the opposition for being an obstacle in the fight against crime. Supporters and opponents of the government feel the crime situation transcends politics and that everyone, regardless of political affiliation, should work together to find a solution to the rising crime rate because crime affect supporters of all parties.
Indeed a majority of voters express a fear for their personal safety with some indicating plans to migrate because they feel vulnerable to the worsening criminal situation. Businessmen in particular are worried about the impact of crime on business and express a fear they could become the next kidnap victim like Vindra-Naipaul Coolman. Everyone shares a concern for kidnap victim Vindra-Naipaul Coolman and urges the government to do more to find her. They feel tougher actions are needed to arrest the criminal lawlessness in the society.
Asked if they support Jack Warner’s initiative in bringing former NYC Police Commis-sioner Bernard Kerik to help fight crime, 51% say yes as against 27% who say no and 22% who offered no response. Opponents express concern about Kerik’s legal difficulties in New York. But overall, voters feel the government should follow up on Warner’s initiative to combat crime saying it could help to transform the police into an effective force to combat spiralling crime.
The survey’s findings show that the PNM’s low rating in battling crime is not having a disastrous effect on the party’s re-election chances against the divided opposition. The PNM is projected to easily win re-election in a three way contest but face a competitive race against a united opposition.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram