The blame for the serious crime problem that has developed in T&T goes from the Government to law enforcement, to poverty, down to greedy businessmen and then on to the laissez-faire attitude of the citizens as it relates to "assisting the police" in reporting crime.

However, in my humble view it goes much deeper than those factors mentioned above. 

There are several other factors I deem more practical than some. The Constitution offers way too much protection to criminals and decomposes the tools necessary which can empower citizens to effectively assist in identifying criminals, leading to their eventual arrest and prosecution. 

For example, not showing the names, photographs or video of suspects—whether arrested or wanted—is the most serious of those protections offered to criminals. A society is better able to defend, protect and cleanse itself of criminals if they know who these criminals are.

Currently, suspects and arrestees are referred to as "relatives"; how can a community protect or report known or wanted criminals if the community does not know who they are? 

How can citizens protect their children, their wives, their mothers, their old and their young if they cannot identify the murderer or the rapist that lurks among them? It is therefore imperative that constitutional changes be immediately made to allow the media and other public interest groups to publish and inform the country of those intent on killing, raping and robbing citizens. There is a saying the first step in winning a war is to "identify the enemy." If we cannot identify the enemy or the criminal, what and who do we defend against? 

The citizens are at the mercy of the police who abdicate their duty to protect, by failing to respond to calls for help in a timely manner... if they respond at all. There are officers who decide what "crime" is chargeable and who should be charged even though a crime has been committed. If the person committing, or who committed the crime, is a friend or a friend of a friend then charges are not preferred; or if a bribe is passed even better...the citizen is then left with a target on his or her back for making a report or calling for help. 

That said, severe changes to our system must be realised if crime is to be handled, and changing the Constitution to allow the publishing of criminals' or suspects' identities is a must. And taking down rogue police officers and anyone else in authority susceptible to corruption. 

IF these changes cannot be made to allow citizens to know the enemy and rid the service of "legal" criminals, then there is very little hope of dealing with the crime problem that is sinking our country. 

Syria, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia and other war-torn countries, lose tens of thousands of lives fighting for their freedom, and it appears we in T&T are giving our lives to lose the freedom we were once guaranteed. 

Felix Millien

via e-mail