(Trinidad Express) The country’s murder toll continues to rise steadily, and unsolicit ed remarks from the public seem to indicate that no one can discern any visible difference in the state of law enforcement, even amid a state of emergency (SoE).
This was the message yesterday from the Downtown Owners and Merchants Association (DOMA), which said, ‘High-profile and low-profile victims are being killed with the same freeness as before. Murderous home invasions and unexplained killings of all types of individuals continues whenever, wherever and at whatever time the murderers desire.’
It asked in a media release, ‘Surely this freeness to kill was not contemplated as a feature of an SoE?’ Surprise law enforcement initiatives do not seem to be taking place, DOMA opined.
‘Long-duration, monotonous roadblocks, whose only effect seems to be that criminals stay away from them or use mobile traffic applications to steer around them, are not working.
‘The fanfare of concern by ministers, commissioners and deputy commissioners for the safety of State prosecutors and the Judiciary is misplaced. It seems to portray another lack of regard for the common sense of the public,’ DOMA said.
It argued that ‘without exception, the most effective way of protecting State prosecutors and the Judiciary is to arrest, prosecute and convict whoever killed prosecutor (Randall) Hector. Solving and prosecuting crime is the best deterrent that exists for centuries.
‘Our inability to solve any crime has therefore convinced criminals of their freedom to commit crime.’
DOMA said ‘surely more hard work by the protective services must be a requirement of the state of emergency. It is impossible to feel any sense of hope when even under a state of emergency, the performance of law enforcement has remained unchanged.’
The business group added, ‘A disbelieving public is starting to grow more hopeless-hope can only be restored by action and results.’
