The SoE. Still required? - The Peter O'Connor column

In this column, commenting on the rising crime wave, I had thrice called for the declaration of a state of emergency. 

I did this in 2003, 2008 and 2009, well aware, in the latter instances, that the PNM, illegitimately appointed to govern in 2001, and “cemented” in place with the assistance of the thuggery of the Muslimeen in 2002, could have detained me for my writings. 

And indeed, most probably would have, given the revelations in parliament in October 2010, that I was a subject of their spy apparatus, as they tapped my telephones and computer.

But I had, quite early in the rising tide of violent crime, realised that the court system could not secure convictions against accused murderers and bandits, even when the police were able to arrest and charge people. 

Reading the news, and serving as a juror a few times, it was clear that eyewitnesses to violent crimes were either dying suddenly and violently, losing their memories, or finding “Gord” and forgiving the accused.

While the best police efforts were being thwarted by these strange incidents, the newly appointed, reinforced by thuggery PNM government actually began celebrating the very people who were leading the crime wave. 

Known gang leaders were feted at taxpayers’ expense, and rebranded as “community leaders”. And why not? These people were being handed hundreds of millions of dollars to suppress the legitimate, but smothered aspirations of the people of Laventille, Morvant, Cocorite, Pleasantville and other communities, under the guise of the Unemployment Relief Programme. 

This was a lot of money to kill for, and only Justice Carmona was speaking out against it, and naturally he was ignored by the government.

I saw, as did others, that only a state of emergency could stem the bloodshed, given the breakdown, through fear, of the court and justice system. When this was suggested by persons more influential than me, a senior PNM parliamentarian said that while he agreed, the “PNM would never move against its own support”. 

So now you know, folks, how and why this crime wave swept over our land: It was encouraged, feted, sponsored, financed by the PNM, and by the time Manning demitted office in order to hide (once again, the last time was in 1990!) from the whirlwind he had created, it was effectively out of hand, and the court system, in terms of serious crime, had become totally ineffective.

I have recounted the above to put into perspective where we are today, and to acknowledge that all of the opinion polls taken supported the SoE, reflecting the genuine desperation of a population weary with bloodshed and fear. And many positives were achieved, and we all know these, so I do not need to use up my 800 words to list them.

One thing concerned me, though. That was the arresting of alleged gang members rather than detaining them under the SoE. I always thought that the so-called “Anti-Gang Laws” were farcical and unenforceable.

And this proved to have been the case. Had these same gang members been detained without charges instead of being charged under “bad law”, they would have had to convince the Tribunal that they should be released. 

The onus of proof, or of convincing, would have shifted to them, as opposed to the State bearing that burden. 

The videos, showing those same “wronged”, “innocent” characters bold facedly robbing motorists, would, in my view, have been admissible before the Tribunal to show that these men were, in fact, a threat to society and deserving of continued detention. I find it strange that no legal minds have addressed this.

So these “wronged” men were freed, and the crimes which had ceased while they were incarcerated, began again. But we are not making that link, so I ask, why not?

Having supported the need for the SoE, I now feel that it has run its course, that it is no longer, in the present circumstances, fulfilling its purpose, and it should be brought to an end. And, indeed, the sooner the better, for business, for labour, and for our vibrant night life and entertainment sectors.

And should this come to pass, I know every barking dog will claim that their noise caused the Government to end the SoE. And that does not matter. What matters is that, under the SoE, violent crime was reduced, people felt more secure and loyal police served our nation magnificently, even as wrongdoers in their ranks were brought to justice.

And did the results justify the declaration? I leave with the words of “no less a person” than the self-appointed Father of the Nation: “… the SoE is no longer necessary… (there is) no further justification…”

Thank you Mr Manning for finally acknowledging that it was obviously necessary and justified.