A friend recently described Trinidad and Tobago as “a failed state with a little bit of money.” What will happen when that money done is the burning question that we must all ponder. The country has slipped into a state of anarchy. There is absolutely no respect for the rule of law, and the will of the bandit now prevails. Disorder, chaos and confusion now characterise the national psyche, as the Government itself disrespects the law. Without batting an eyelid, Minister Enill indicated that the smelter project would continue, despite a landmark ruling by the High Court that the environmental clearance certificate was illegally granted.
Such disrespect for the Supreme Court is reminiscent of that delayed reaction of the Manning administration in the Maha Sabha radio licence case. It practically ignored the order of the Privy Council ordering the grant of a radio licence, and eventually capitulated due to public pressure and the threat of further litigation. Another example would be the slow response to set up the Equal Opportunities Commission, in response to the judgment of the Privy Council. As the abduction, rape and murder of innocents continue, PM Manning is dreaming of a front-page picture with him shaking the hand of the Queen of England, with First Lady Hazel at his side. Manning and Hazel see themselves as Barack and Michelle Obama, hosting, meeting, greeting and talking to world leaders and all.
Vacant offices
They are concerned with international issues affecting the world, and have no time for mundane matters affecting life, limb and property of our citizenry. Institutional pillars of support for a functioning democratic society, such as the Integrity Commission, the Police Complaints Authority and the Firearms Appeal Board cannot function because the Government has failed to appoint new members. Additionally, key offices that act as an important audit and check and balance on the abuse of power by public officials, such as the DPP, Solicitor General, Commissioner of Police and the Chief Parliamentary Counsel, among others, remain vacant.
Come next year, when the effect of all the artificial spending to facilitate the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference is over, the raw reality is going to sink in. The true effect of the economic crisis will be felt. The extent of the crisis is underscored by the angry reaction to the murder of Tecia Henry. Laventille has—not for the first time—vowed revenge on the police and possible culprits. This PNM heartland has long been transformed into the unmanageable Wild, Wild West. It is practically a separate mini-state governed by a different set of laws. Bullets fly, policemen are chased out, and the police are intimidated and harassed because of the perceived reluctance to take swift action in an area they fear to tread.
The fact is the police simply fear going into Laventille, because they come under heavy gunfire from a militant and aggressive community that bands together to hide and support the very criminals that took Baby Tecia. Allegations of police brutality are made, and the media spotlight unfairly amplifies one side of the story. If Manning was serious about saving this country, he would have accepted the recommendation by the Ken Gordon Crime Commission and declared a limited state of emergency in crime hot spots, and flushed out the criminal elements. Nothing reinforces the extent of our failed state like the statement made by Police Commissioner Philbert, while addressing the PoS Rotary Club, advising lawmen not to shoot at bandits during/after a car chase, because this could endanger the public.
Demotivate police
It seems as if the police must now simply “escort” armed bandits with kidnap victims in stolen cars and take a detour, if they are fired upon. Whatever happened to trained marksmen and sharpshooters in our Police Service? Philbert must clarify what he meant by this statement. It has de-motivated the entire Police Service. What, pray tell, did he expect officers to do if Tecia was spotted in the back of a stolen car, struggling with armed bandits who fired at the police while speeding towards a busy area, in the knowledge that Philbert told his men not to return fire during/after a car chase, to avoid hurting innocent members of the public?
To add insult to injury, Martin Joseph comforts us by telling us that he, as Minister of National Security, has begged Laventille not to take revenge by taking the law into its own hands. Moreover, due to the high levels of crime in the country, Joseph said that as a parent, he was “literally begging his children not to be out too late, and to change the way it is that they are now doing their business.” The message is clear: We cannot guarantee your safety, so there is an undeclared state of emergency with a curfew. It’s our little secret.
By Anand Ramlogan