Garth Rattray
I DIDN'T expect that Dr. the Honourable Peter Phillips could have said everything during his 15-minute national broadcast, but a lot of the speech amounted to a report on the headway made in the fight against crime thus far. I suppose the minister felt the need to inform the general public that something was being done in light of the three or four murders per day, numerous gun crimes, rapes and robberies committed throughout the island. He spoke of plans to recruit more police and of putting more cops on active duty. He highlighted the successes of Kingfish and mentioned plans to rationalise police intelligence into one unit. He touched on legislative changes and alluded to the lack of immunity from prosecution in spite of political affiliation.
THE MINISTER'S TONE
This was all well and good, but there were a few aspects of the speech that bothered me. The minister's tone was far too measured and there were several important omissions. I would have loved to see something new and innovative.
The "new" measures appear to be the reworking of old ideas and techniques. All we seem to be doing is going for efficiency in the futile hope that this will eventually assure us victory. However, the corruption within society and the tainting of our public officials run much deeper than it seems even the minister realises.
I wanted to hear the promise of widespread, relentless sting operations to snag corrupt public officials. I wanted to see a fiery speech threatening hell and powder house to all transgressors. I wanted to hear the minister driving the fear of God into all criminals.
EFFECTIVE POLICING
The minister pointed out that, "More effective policing on its own will not automatically reduce crime to the levels desired". Well, first of all, we "desire" no crime at all and, Dr. Phillips is only the Minister of National Security while all crime stems from social issues. I was therefore hoping that the root cause of crime would be afforded more than a mere 77 out of a total 1776 words in the address. Only 4% of the speech was dedicated to the social development process.
What we need is a ministerial coalition against crime. I don't just mean ministerial co-operation, I mean an organised alliance, with an assigned coordinating team. Every ministry should be required to come up with a specific anti-crime programme. For instance, the Ministry of Health should use the opportunity to inculcate good parenting habits in women waiting at the pre-natal clinics at our various hospitals (especially the Victoria Jubilee) and clinics islandwide. This ministry should also follow these children for their physical and mental well-being and development. There should also be a programme of follow-up by the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Culture wherein the children are closely monitored with frequent visits from social workers and counsellors during their formative years. Their home environment must be scrutinised and the parents subjected to the laws (that already exist) regarding cruelty to children, neglect, abuse or reckless endangerment.
CULTURE OF ACRIMONY
Another example involves the Ministry of Water and Housing. As long as people are dehumanised by having to defecate in scandal bags, in the bushes or on the gully banks, there will be a culture of acrimony and a lack of respect for the lives of others. As long as people live pent up in ramshackle, veritable rat-holes for communities, tempers will run high and crime will get a foothold. We need far better amenities for our underprivileged.
Space does not permit me to bring in the roles that the Agriculture, Finance and Planning, Local Government and Community Development, Commerce, Science and Tech-nology (to name a few) ministries should play. Suffice it to say, without the direct and organised involvement of every government ministry and the private sector, we will never get a handle on crime.
No one political party, minister, ministry or Prime Minister can stop or even assuage the tidal wave of crime sweeping over the land. Until we combine our efforts, all the security measures, all the police (local and foreign) all the military might available to us will only be skimming the surface.
Dr. Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice.
