Capturing our terrorists

Police Commissioner Trevor Paul and PM Manning enjoyed a respite from public criticism over the appalling crime problem because of the arrest of ‘terror suspects’ wanted by the US. Lest we fall prey to the glib praise gushing from the US and UK ambassadors, perhaps we should remember our predicament where we face terrorism from criminals on daily basis.

In the midst of the unprecedented bombings in Port of Spain PM Manning confidently boasted that he knew who ‘Mr. Big’ was and hinted at an early arrest. To date not even a house fly has been arrested.

This - from the same man who on the eve of the last general election announced that he was going to hand over a lucrative and sizeable piece of State land to Abu Bakr’s Jamaat Al Muslimeen. This is the same land that the army had fenced and occupied in an effort to protect the State’s right of ownership and resist the bullying tactics of the Jamaat.

Of course, these facts must be neatly ignored or avoided by diplomats who must praise and thank the government for its cooperation in securing the arrest of the terror suspects who allegedly plotted a bomb attack on JFK International airport.

Over 6 years has elapsed since the costly importation high-tech spy equipment from Tel Aviv in Israel with no explanation as to why such sophisticated equipment which was supposed to be used in the fight against crime has failed.

Over 2 years ago National Security Minister Martin Joseph indicated that the country’s horrible crime wave was being caused by a mere 500 persons who belonged to mafia-style gangs. He promised they would be monitored, targeted, arrested and prosecuted. Despite the thankful drop in kidnappings and murder rate, the country could hardly be described as a safer place.

Sophisticated weapons have gone missing from the army and ended up in the hands of gang leaders who operate and control “crime hot-spots”. There was a lockdown and soldiers were prevented from leaving the base. The weapons were recovered but to date the entire affair remains shrouded on political and criminal mystery while our brigadiers attend cocktail parties and pose for pictures.

This of course, is not the first time a direct link was established between the nation’s protective services and the criminal underworld. Several police officers and soldiers are presently before the local and foreign courts on charges of kidnapping and murder. How many more undetected rotten eggs are in operation in the protective services?

State guns in the hands of criminals are not a new or recent phenomenon. There have been several instances of police guns mysteriously disappearing only to surface in the hands of bandits and murders. To date, no one has explained how a gun that was logged for safe keeping at the Arima Police Station ended up in the hands of the kidnappers that eventually murdered Uttamdeo Maharaj in Palo Seco. The laughable conspiracy theory about police officers renting their guns to young bandits for a fee is no longer a laughing matter.

As if to remind us of the ridiculous state of affairs, this week four revolvers mysteriously disappeared from the Morvant Police Station where they were secured in a police locker. Two of the fire arms along with several rounds of ammunition were recovered by the North Eastern Divisional Police.

Three young men were arrested but no explanation has been given as to how they were able to gain access to a secured locker and remove guns and ammunition in the full view and glare of police officers in charge of the station.

In keeping with our finest tradition no mention was made about any investigation into the police service itself with a view to disciplining the officers who were on duty at the material time.

There is no doubt that the major break-through in the crime in the crime situation occurred because of the invaluable involvement and assistance of the FBI and the Scotland Yard detectives. Had Balliram Maharaj not been a US war veteran his undiscovered dismembered body parts would have continued to melt and disappear into the earth. It is the results of the tests conducted by forensic experts in the UK that led to break-through in the Vindra Naipaul kidnapping and murder.

No local DNA lab as yet but hundreds of millions spent on a new residence for the PM and an unnecessary stadium in Tarouba the prognosis isn’t good.

Now that we have helped the US capture its terrorists perhaps it can return the favour and help us capture the criminals who have been terrorizing our people. We clearly need outside help.

By Anand Ramlogan  2007-06-08