NATIONAL SECURITY Minister Brigadier John Sandy has asked top cop Dwayne Gibbs to provide a report on the $900,000 contract between the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and Trinidad and Tobago Air Support Company for the use of a light aircraft for police surveillance.

It's ironic how we complain about each and every initiative implemented by the state to combat crime, yet we lose focus so easily on what really matters.

Opposition Member of Parliament Donna Cox first raised the issue of the $900,000 contract during Friday's sitting of the Lower House. What we have forgotten is that the PNM really did nothing highly significant or made any serious headway in the war on crime.

The Government tried by way of the State of Emergency. Although there were flaws, the SoE alleviated some of the crime but the buck does not stop there. Responsibility for dealing with the problem lies not only the Minister of National Security but also with our Police Commissioner. We must remember that the Commissioner of Police is the accounting officer for the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and as such he has the authority to use his judgement and if it is to reboot and revamp our surveillance system to better combat the crime issues facing us, then so be it!

Stop thinking in a vacuum and be less rigid. Be more open to change.

If the Government is trying their utmost best to make us more comfortable and balanced we should welcome the change. It is sad to have to see everything that is tried is undermined by the Opposition. They need to start putting themselves in our leaders' shoes.

Michael Carr

via e-mail