The debate over whether the state of emergency worked or failed will rage over the next few days and weeks with some polarised positions. My view is that it worked because it brought all crime down significantly and for the first time in years citizens felt safe in their homes and their communities.
The opposition and its supporters insisted from day one that the measure was not necessary and would not work. With nothing more than political expediency to guide their position it is likely that they will continue to hold that view.
The opposition and its supporters insisted from day one that the measure was not necessary and would not work. With nothing more than political expediency to guide their position it is likely that they will continue to hold that view.
Others will likely have constructive explanations and data to show that it was not the resounding success that it might have been. However, the bottom line is this: crime was out of hand, the nation was under siege by criminals and the government had to act. And all through the emergency the authorities acted responsibly.
During the Patrick Manning administration from 2001 to 2010 crime - especially homicides - rose dramatically each year, crossing the 500 mark in 2009 and peaking at 550 in 2008. Yet Manning and his National Security Minister Martin Joseph failed to acknowledge that something drastic had to be done to deal with the problem.
One of Manning's solutions was to bring together gang leaders, whom he called "community leaders", to discuss a truce. And he rewarded them with lucrative contracts. The result was even more gang warfare with many of the "community leaders" getting killed in the crossfire.
Manning even ignored the advice of a committee led by Ken Gordon that recommended that a SoE be used in order to arrest the crime situation. He did not think it was necessary and considered the gang-on-gang killings to be collateral damage.
In fact PNM insiders have reported that Manning did not want to go after gangs because many of the members were PNM supporters.
The People's Partnership coalition led by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar campaigned on an anti-crime platform and won a landslide; within the first few months in office the crime rate began falling.
During the Patrick Manning administration from 2001 to 2010 crime - especially homicides - rose dramatically each year, crossing the 500 mark in 2009 and peaking at 550 in 2008. Yet Manning and his National Security Minister Martin Joseph failed to acknowledge that something drastic had to be done to deal with the problem.
One of Manning's solutions was to bring together gang leaders, whom he called "community leaders", to discuss a truce. And he rewarded them with lucrative contracts. The result was even more gang warfare with many of the "community leaders" getting killed in the crossfire.
Manning even ignored the advice of a committee led by Ken Gordon that recommended that a SoE be used in order to arrest the crime situation. He did not think it was necessary and considered the gang-on-gang killings to be collateral damage.
In fact PNM insiders have reported that Manning did not want to go after gangs because many of the members were PNM supporters.
The People's Partnership coalition led by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar campaigned on an anti-crime platform and won a landslide; within the first few months in office the crime rate began falling.
However regular policing was not enough and Persad-Bissessar acted on the best advice of the country's security and intelligence officials.
In declaring the emergency, the government's position appeared to be this: it is better to err on the side of caution. Just look at the figures. (Click on chart to see details in a new, larger window).
The State of Emergency allowed the Government to make available 5,000 soldiers and the intelligence of the Defence Force to join the battle against crime.
In declaring the emergency, the government's position appeared to be this: it is better to err on the side of caution. Just look at the figures. (Click on chart to see details in a new, larger window).
Further, with powers of search and arrest, and the relaxation of the need to get warrants, the task of making a tough assault on the gangsters and criminals was made easier.
Whatever the critics might say there are some clear facts that point to a measure of success in the fight against crime. First and foremost, citizens felt safe for the first time in a decade. All major crime was down from petty thefts to kidnappings, rapes and murders.
If you take murders alone you can conclude that the state of emergency was a success. There were 43 murders in 99 days. For the same 99 days in 2009 criminals killed 121 people and in 2010 the homicide numbers for the same period was 119.
The police statistics for the year from the beginning of 2011 to November 30 showed the number of murders at 306. For the same period the year before (the PP government took office on May 26) was 450. That's a drop of 144 or 32 per cent.
In addition, thousands were arrested and the security personnel had criminals at bay. In addition police and soldiers seized and destroyed illicit drugs valued at about $1.5 billion, took more than 200 illegal guns off the streets and seized thousands of rounds of ammunition.
These things were in the hands of people who were and continue to be a threat to the safety and security of the nation. The fact that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) failed to prosecute hundreds of people does not diminish that reality.
The test today and in the months and weeks ahead is to maintain a strong police presence to continue to send the signal that it cannot be business as usual for those who want to break the law. The PP government has already introduced other measures to deal with social issues that contribute to crime.
The security forces have to be ever vigilant. The nation is grateful for their work during the state of emergency.
It is clear that things have changed for the better. There is much work ahead and the government and protective services have demonstrated that they are up to the task. There is hope, despite what the naysayers will preach today and in the days ahead.
"The road is long with many a winding turn," the song said. "He aint heavy, he's my brother ... so on we go!"
Jai Parasram - 05 December 2011
Whatever the critics might say there are some clear facts that point to a measure of success in the fight against crime. First and foremost, citizens felt safe for the first time in a decade. All major crime was down from petty thefts to kidnappings, rapes and murders.
If you take murders alone you can conclude that the state of emergency was a success. There were 43 murders in 99 days. For the same 99 days in 2009 criminals killed 121 people and in 2010 the homicide numbers for the same period was 119.
The police statistics for the year from the beginning of 2011 to November 30 showed the number of murders at 306. For the same period the year before (the PP government took office on May 26) was 450. That's a drop of 144 or 32 per cent.
In addition, thousands were arrested and the security personnel had criminals at bay. In addition police and soldiers seized and destroyed illicit drugs valued at about $1.5 billion, took more than 200 illegal guns off the streets and seized thousands of rounds of ammunition.
These things were in the hands of people who were and continue to be a threat to the safety and security of the nation. The fact that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) failed to prosecute hundreds of people does not diminish that reality.
The test today and in the months and weeks ahead is to maintain a strong police presence to continue to send the signal that it cannot be business as usual for those who want to break the law. The PP government has already introduced other measures to deal with social issues that contribute to crime.
The security forces have to be ever vigilant. The nation is grateful for their work during the state of emergency.
It is clear that things have changed for the better. There is much work ahead and the government and protective services have demonstrated that they are up to the task. There is hope, despite what the naysayers will preach today and in the days ahead.
"The road is long with many a winding turn," the song said. "He aint heavy, he's my brother ... so on we go!"
Jai Parasram - 05 December 2011
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