Dear Editor,
I read of a taxi driver, known to me for a long time, shot during a recent robbery while he was transporting a customer. In view of what I learned subsequently, citizens continue to make simple mistakes and render themselves into even more vulnerable targets.
On any occasion when members of the public travel from one commercial bank to another in a short span of time, the probability of exposure and criminal interest increases exponentially. As written before, perpetrators-in-waiting have the banks under surveillance both the outside and most likely the inside, too. The neighbouring customer inside the bank might be a pretender or a spotter. His or her job is simple: Who is collecting cash in bulk? That is easily ascertainable from the length of time spent before the teller’s window, and the duration of the very audible whir of the counting gadgets. The next step is to leave the bank, provide details to lurking henchmen, and close up shop for the day.
Also, citizens ought to be a bit more sensible than to place a firearm in the same bag where the withdrawn cash lies. This is not just double trouble, but virtually renders one defenceless.
On the other side of matters, there are the business establishments that demand cash at all costs. They have their reasons, some of which are not above board. I do not see a problem with a manager’s check, duly verified, other than it leaves a paper record. Cash can leave a different record for the same transaction, or none at all. Think GRA. Hence, there is that cash demand. I think that there can be a system where businesses can call a number and verify the authenticity of checks tendered, and the availability of funds, which are then locked for the benefit of the payee, and which accrues to the benefit and safety of all concerned.
Personally, I am not into much local buying, except for the basics; and wherever and whenever I can, I insist on payment by cheque. Along with the recipients of those cheques tendered, I am functioning on the old honour system; this is as good as my word and is my bond. Now I can appreciate that that is almost nonexistent on the domestic scene; that businesspeople have been burnt repeatedly, thus they refuse cheques; and that the level of distrust is high. I should mention also that I seize every opportunity to honour obligations (utilities) online as much as I can.
Having said all of this, the point is that unless this cash-intensive fetish, system, and way-of-life is minimized, citizens will continue to present themselves as targets of opportunity and get hurt, sometimes fatally, be they business folks, or cash-paying customers. Clearly, cash is contributing to the consistent killing that causes cowering and ongoing concern. There has to be a smarter, better, and safer way to do business.
Yours faithfully,
GHK Lall
