January 2009 has been the bloodiest in the history of Trinidad and Tobago with 49 murders. And the new month is starting the same way with two more killings, taking the toll for the year to 51.Last month National Security Minister Martin Joseph and acting Commissioner of Police James Philbert told the nation that the 2008 figure of 550 murders was unacceptable and promised that they would take measures to make sure crime is checked.
So far there is no sign of that happening and every indication that it would get worse. Based on the way the year started the homicide figure could reach 600 by the end of the year if the killings continue at the rate recorded for the month of January.
Murders have been climbing steadily over the past few years despite the government's expenditure of tens of millions on all manner of crime initiatives, yet no one in government has admitted failure.Prime Minister Patrick Manning said last year his government would keep trying different measures until one works. And when his national security minister admitted that he might have failed he quickly retracted the statement.
Opposition politicians, private organizations and citizens have all appealed to Manning to replace the current minister and the opposition has asked for a joint non-partisan task force to deal with crime.
The result so far is that Joseph remains minister, there is no task force and it's business as usual for the killers who are getting bolder than ever.
Last month two gunmen walked into the Carlton Centre in San Fernando at eight in the morning and shot and killed a businessman and robbed him. It happened in front of witnesses. The men were not even wearing masks and they simply left the scene. No arrests have been made.
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