I was reading an article in the Express of August 21 where our Minister of National Security is saying that crime is not as grim as it seems and reported in the media.

Is this man for real? Innocent people are getting killed, an elderly woman was bludgeoned to death in her home last week and he wants to stand up and say confidently that crime isn't as grim? Try telling that to the families of those innocent people who were killed, raped, robbed etc.

Mr Warner continuously puts his foot in his mouth while our dear PM sits quietly and bestows on him posts such as Acting PM and Acting Sport Minister. He can barely handle one ministry much less two. He was so quick to exercise his power when he personally came down to the Highway Re-route's protest camp in Debe to ensure that the notorious "villain" Dr Kublalsingh and the re-routers felt the force of the law.

He couldn't even handle his ministry when he was Minister of Works, clearly demonstrated by the recent horrendous floods when he reportedly refused to act on warnings given by engineers and also by forcing an unnecessary segment of highway to destroy 13 communities without any consultation and calling the residents who spoke up "professional protesters". And the PM rewards him with an even more important portfolio of Minister of National Security? Is this a joke?

This Government fooled the people into believing they would be the change the nation so desperately needed. Instead, what the entire Government is doing is sugar-coating all the problems, hoping that in time the citizens would forgive and forget come next election. They are repeating and making even more mistakes than the previous regime. What I would like to know is if these ministers would feel the same way if it was their families affected, if one of their loved ones were killed, if their homes were destroyed by floods or if someone was going to destroy their homes for a highway to pass through?

Madame PM, the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago plead with you, on this our 50th anniversary of Independence.

Listen to the cries of the people and please get rid of all those incompetent ministers, especially Jack Warner.

Jessica Lalchan

Mon Desir