I often hesitate to jump into debates on issues of national significance when many other knowledgeable and eminently-qualified minds are weighing in on such matters.
However, the national conversation on local crime has enveloped me. Partly because of the wisdom and carping criticisms – publicised over the past few days, by the President, the opposition and all and sundry concerned and affected. At a personal level I am one of those who feel vulnerable whenever I read or hear about the numerous criminal home invasions countrywide. Acting Commissioner Ramnarine’s police-friendly crime statistics can offer no comfort to the brutalized victims of everyday crime. But now I offer comment on the responses to this social issue from our President and the political opposition.
A security-conscious leader
I have to agree with the Stabroek News assessment that our Brigadier-President is “the most security-attuned President the country has ever had” given the scope of his professional background. But look at the reality of authority once one assumes the high office of control and strategy. President Granger knows what the crime situation must attract. But developmental priorities jostle for the array of resources available and all that law enforcement badly needs.
In his most recent analyses, the President, in a very brief summary, deftly outlined just what is needed, what is at stake: border control, transportation/equipment for hinterland police, marine and aviation capability, the need to confront and overcome narco-trafficking, gun-running, money laundering, murder by execution. A small under-million population such as ours now attracts the highest negative numbers proportionally.
So here is the national leader who knows the problem, likes to be guided by experts – the British are returning in a matter of days – and by scientific analyses and formulae, but struggles still to get on top of the situation. To me, whilst the President is surrounded by very experienced and qualified military minds and police personnel, the teenaged and young-adult criminals care not about various anti-drug, citizen security “strategic plans”.
They just access the guns, seemingly readily, invade and kill. And neither Granger nor Ramjattan can pre-empt or predict executions flowing from drug and turf wars. Which brings me to the opposition outpourings earlier this week.
Irrational Rohee, reasonable Ramotar
Every time my old schoolmate Clement Rohee sounds off on homeland security, policing and crime, I have to watch fluctuations of my blood pressure. Yes, there had to be some nominal improvements in the civilian security sector under his watch. But the politicization, the corruption, the undermining of police morale and (okay, compounded by judicial sloth) all indicate that Mr Rohee should modify his opposition rhetoric. Incidentally, Rohee’s valid questions surrounding the Dataram escape reveal how much he knows of the corruption obviously present in both the policing and criminal environment.
Mr Donald Rabindranath Ramotar who occupied the presidency recently, actually managed to be much more rational than his comrade Rohee a few days ago. Ramotar blamed unemployment (of course, under the APNU/AFC) and bemoaned the visible fact that very young bandits were assailing “soft targets” – residents and small businesses. He then called for more structured community-based police strategies to combat local criminal enterprise. Good for him!
I note a report about the very welcome “modernization” of 18 police stations, the training of police in domestic violence issues and plans for forensic laboratories. Oh that these projects would actually come to fruition. I leave the issue for now with two pleas: (1) Vice-President Ramjattan please encourage Acting Commissioner to have more staff and vehicles at village stations and (2) invite mass participation to fashion practical plans to get weapons off the streets. (Who teaches the youths to use guns?)
Junk-city GT?
I’ve boasted freely about this before: in 2004, I became an “expert” (of sorts) on solid waste management. No space here to repeat in detail but an IDB-funded pilot project to educate folks in two sections of Georgetown about accumulation and disposal resulted in me learning about cardboard recycling, types of waste, composting, sanitary landfills, education of every level of householder, requirements for business places, restaurants etc.
Mow read this actual occurrence: in December 2004, Guyenterprise Advertising Agency and Georgetown Municipality notified the residents of Lodge that a massive garbage removal from their yards would take place one Saturday morning. The M&CC provided a few garbage trucks. Perhaps, the residents were cynical, skeptical. They put out their normal waste as Christmas (Day) was looming. But when they experienced two/three trucks in one street, they then put out additional tons of garbage: from bed-springs, mattresses, old “fridges”, fabric, you name it.
Soon the M&CC trucks and workers were overwhelmed! From Hadfield to D’Urban to Lodge Housing Scheme to Norton and the north-south side streets – tons of junk. Vic Insanally went into his own pockets for a few more private trucks. Late into the following week garbage, waste junk were on the parapets.
My point? Perhaps (we old) people love save sentimental but useless junk. Yards are filled with disposable garbage. If there should be another such in-depth massive “clean-up”, what would come out of Kitty, Albouystown, Bourda, Bel Air, Campbelville and so on.
Ponder, reflect
Young criminals, through their invasions, have “succeeded” in closing down Sophia Health Centre. How should residents react?
Will Yupukari residents testify about the mystery plane?
Fifty years after “Independence” we have no local DNA lab and the Food and Drug folks can’t test the local juices properly.
Which of the following were untouched by any corruption recently: GPL. GECOM, Rice Board, CH&PA, CJIA, NICIL, NIS, NFMU?
Frank, I share your sentiments about lawyers (duty-bound) defending of self-avowed crooks. But the attorneys will “explain”.
Aha! The government is acquiring! So acquire the old Co-op Bank building in Stabroek and construct a modernized vendors mall!
’Til next week!
(comments? allanafenty@yahoo.com)
