Strategies, consultative and other collaborative work on anti-crime measures which were done towards building and establishing the Safe City Concept for Port-of-Spain and other high risk areas should be examined by Government, says former National Operations Centre (NOC) head Commander Garvin Heerah.
Government said in the Senate recently that it was time for debate on a national development plan for at risk youth in urban areas—especially Port-of-Spain hot spots. Opposition chief whip Ganga Singh subsequently called on Government to guard against a parochial approach since crime is nationwide and correspondingly apply any plan.
Heerah said: “The Safe City Concept is about solutions that will reduce crime in a city. It’s about subject matter experts and smart people utilising technology and intelligence in order to be better equipped to respond to some of the toughest challenges and questions a society may face.
“The situation requires consolidation of a team which wouldn’t give in to hopelessness over the city and community. Authorities should start listening to community leaders and leaders, studying problems, researching root causes and treating with the crisis with priority grounded in proactive enforcement and definitely, not reactive.”
Heerah said the public is fed up with reactive plans.
“Authorities must think outside of the box and find the best strategy to take back a city under siege by a handful (of people),” he said.
Leading businessman Peter George Jr said while army presence is a gutsy move, it has to be a short term solution and a more permanent one involving all aspects of community is needed. George described as “insensitive” certain comments from Laventille West MP Fitzgerald Hinds and Port of Spain Mayor Raymond Tim Kee which he said discourage residents.
“When you say ‘Laventille is hell on earth,’ while I understand what the mayor wants to say, you must recall Laventille has been a PNM seat for 55 years. Government is discrediting themselves in saying this. Many good people live in Laventille. You cannot lump them all with the negativity there,” he said.
Former Laventille West MP Nileung Hypolite said he hadn’t seen any significant impact yet arising from recently re-introduced joint army-police patrols.
“Such patrols cannot be a stand alone initiative,” he said. “It must be part of a multifaceted approach involving parents, schools, churches all working together toward crime reduction. Politicians must also implement legislation to assist law enforcement.
“Most reports of murder victims in these areas speak of many youths under 20,. The army could play a role with the CCC, cadet force, Mypart and Mylat programmes, including having a cadet unit in every school It may also be time to examine the last PNM administration’s mandatory service proposal.”
Hypolite said many of his former constituents are calling for jobs and safety.
“Three weeks ago I got calls from protective service members living in the area seeking assistance on residence relocation. But the area needs such personnel in their midst to provide guidance and build the community.”
Hypolite said gang warfare had been decreasing in Laventille West in recent years, but unless something is done T&T’s borders will facilitate inflow of ammunition, arms and drugs.