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No let-up in crime situation
"Manning also said Government was as concerned about crime as the citizens of this country. If the solutions were easy, we would have solved the problem a long time ago,” he said, adding that it was not too late. “What we can commit ourselves to is this: If we try A and A does not work, we will try B; and if B doesn’t work, we would try C. We will try, and we will try, and we will try until we solve that (crime) problem in the interest of the people of Trinidad and Tobago."
The year 2010 has picked up where 2009 left off: 30 murders in 20 days.
The search for a Commissioner of Police kick-starts like an old car that will probably chug along as the murder rate gallops. Jerrold Maule was shot 18 times, because he dared to change and live a decent, honest life. Innocent children such as Tecia Henry are once again killed and maimed in the heat and hate of criminal gang warfare. Brent Jerome, hard-working farmer and father of three, was fatally shot for no apparent reason. As if to demonstrate open defiance and insult Martin Joseph, criminals got out of the blocks like they were running a 100 meters dash. Mr Joseph recently boasted that he had kept his promise to keep the murder rate for 2009 lower than 2008. Each year, his empty promises are repeated.
No one really bothers to call for his removal anymore, because PM Manning has made it plain that he will not move him. (Understandably so, for if under-performance was a reason for dismissal from Cabinet, Mr Manning himself might have had to resign). The Freedom Chambers network administrator has done a projection that is frightening. The graph below shows the steady rise in crime and its accelerated upwards trend since the PNM assumed office.
Blood is going to continue to flow like water, as young and old alike are gunned down like manicous. The bland attitude and approach of the Government to the No 1 problem facing us means that there is no hope for a safer T&T in 2010. This graph shows a country where the lawless and lawlessness seem set to prevail. T&T badly needs a rescue mission—and soon.
By Anand Ramlogan
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Everyone seems to comment on the murder situation, but as bad as that is, let us not forget the other statistics.
In the past 6 years for which statistics have been revealed (2002 to 2007) by the police, there have been 79,989 'serious' crimes. How these are categorised is immaterial at this point.
Coupled with this is an admission by the duncey service that they have approximately 7000 dunceys on the job. The arrest rate is 5000 per annum. No yuh ent blind, you read correctly. That is less than 1 arrest per duncey per year!
But getting back to the murder rate; Martin Joseph has admitted just weeks ago it is at 3.65%. Keep in mind this is inclusive of those in domestic situations where the culprit is caught at the scene, confesses or there are many witnesses. Also inclusive in this abysmal rate is the confessions beaten out of some fella who get picked up.
So what's the actual detection rate? More like less than 1%, despite all de pretty CSI fellas in they tidy white coveralls.
All this belies the statement of Martin Joseph:
"You are seeing some development with respect to arrestses, I don't want to specify them, that you have seen some arrestses both in terms of kidnappings and in some other areas where it is a result of the changes in technology and the greater use of technology that will bring the solution to the challenges that we face," said Joseph.
Yes, he actually used the word 'arrestses'.
In both graphs published on this site, please note the years that murders started to increase. It was following the ascension of the PNM into power that the madness began.
However, note clearly that the really meteoric rise began about the time P**rick held the meeting with the 'community leaders'. It is obvious that this was looked at as an open approval to be themselves, with support from 'the man' himself.
I liken Martin Joseph, the PNM and the duncey service reducing crime to me beating my head against a brick wall. It effectively does nothing but bring me more hurt.
The precise context of our graph, captioned in Mr Ramlogan's commentary, was to project from 5th December 2008 what could be expected to happen in 2009 and 2010. Our article "Homicide Rate Predicitons for 2009-10 - not looking good" made that clear. The figure appearing in Mr Ramlogan's Commentary, for 2009, will therefore appear 'inaccurate' because it was meant only as a projective estimate.
However, we had published an updated graph in our (click) Call for Order [10th Jan 2010] - which is gives the latest figure for 2009, and makes some projective adjustments for 2010. Both graphs had been communicated to Mr Ramlogan - and access to them were available. See graph as below:
However, this should not detract from the overall context and importance of crime and where crime is heading in Trinidad and Tobago. The trendlines highlight that the problem is very deep and has been festering for years. Short term fluctuations in Homicide Rates should not be cause for celebrations.