If we cannot lead by example, then we cannot lead. Our society is chronically riddled with the belief that “important people” do not have to follow the rules, or be subjected to the inconveniences which make up our codes of behaviour.
Two examples of persons declaring that they are too “important” to follow our societal rules have been in the recent news.
The first was the appalling behaviour of Chairman of the Police Service Commission refusing to obey a simple instruction from two police officers directing traffic. And to compound his arrogance, Mr. Nizam Mohammed telephoned senior officers to “report” the two who had apparently only asked him to follow the flow of traffic.
The second example was the declaration of Commissioner of Prisons, John Rougier, that “only junior prisoners are corrupt”, and that “his” Senior Officers, whom he trusts, shall not be required to pass through scanners before taking up duty in the prison system.
These examples underscore the reason why we have a scourge of crime in society today: Some of us are clearly above the requirements of the law. And this being so, we can expect that friends of PSC Chairman Mohammed, or of Commissioner Rougier believe that they do not need to obey police officers, or be searched when entering certain premises.
We need to change this mind-set immediately. I totally support the call of Fixing T&T for Nizam Mohammed to apologize for his behaviour and resign. I call on Mr. Rougier to ensure full scanning of every person entering the prisons: his senior officers, himself, and the Minister of National Security as well should the Minister visit. By what standard can someone be excused from passing through the scanners?
We can only hope that Mr. Rougier ‘s excusing his trusted senior officers from being scanned stems solely from his sense of pomposity and “office”. Any other motive ascribed to his announcement could only suggest protection for known wrongdoing.
While I have supported the advent of our still new, and still struggling government, I must join the growing chorus which is telling them that they need to begin to govern more, condemn less, and set the standards which are required of them, previous wrong examples notwithstanding.
The areas requiring immediate meaningful action instead of rhetoric and public relations sessions are Crime and Justice, Infrastructure, Health Care and the provision of potable water for all citizens. I will try to show, over the next few weeks, how the government can begin to perform effectively in each of these areas. I will show that they will need to set the proper examples in their words and in their work, so that we can trust them and follow them.
So today we are going to start with Crime and Justice. However, before we look at some of the things which the police and the courts must do, we are going to “set the stage” for dealing with crime by ensuring that all who are charged will face the courts, and make sure that some do not have the privilege-- because of presumed “office”-- to be excused from charges or searches.
So, if President Maxwell Richards has not spoken to Nizam Mohammed about his resignation as yet, he should do so now, and follow the example of Subhas Panday who instructed John Rougier to scan his senior officers.
And moving on, to set the example on crime, we must ensure one standard of justice for all. Therefore the government and the court system need to ensure that the following all be put in train without delay:
Finalize the court process on the extradition of Galbaransingh and Fergusson, and get them to the US courts with the same dispatch as the several accused in the Balo Maharaj matter.
Accelerate the court process regarding Basdeo Panday’s retrial, so that he can either be acquitted or sent to prison.
Accelerate the investigations into Patrick Manning’s role regarding the financing and construction of the church in Guanapo, his role in the spying scandal and his purported promise to the Muslimeen, so that he can be brought to trial, and if found guilty.
Investigate, with the goal of prosecution, the collapse of CLICO, and send to trial those who benefitted from their insider knowledge in this.
And do the same for the whole UDECOTT-Calder Hart scandal, and bring all concerned for trial.
I am not asking for a witch hunt, or the hounding down of previous political office holders. I am asking that persons who appear to have been involved in wrongdoing be brought speedily to trial so that justice can be seen to have prevailed.
When our presumed exemplars have set the right examples, then we can move fearlessly on the other aspects of crime in our society.
Two examples of persons declaring that they are too “important” to follow our societal rules have been in the recent news.
The first was the appalling behaviour of Chairman of the Police Service Commission refusing to obey a simple instruction from two police officers directing traffic. And to compound his arrogance, Mr. Nizam Mohammed telephoned senior officers to “report” the two who had apparently only asked him to follow the flow of traffic.
The second example was the declaration of Commissioner of Prisons, John Rougier, that “only junior prisoners are corrupt”, and that “his” Senior Officers, whom he trusts, shall not be required to pass through scanners before taking up duty in the prison system.
These examples underscore the reason why we have a scourge of crime in society today: Some of us are clearly above the requirements of the law. And this being so, we can expect that friends of PSC Chairman Mohammed, or of Commissioner Rougier believe that they do not need to obey police officers, or be searched when entering certain premises.
We need to change this mind-set immediately. I totally support the call of Fixing T&T for Nizam Mohammed to apologize for his behaviour and resign. I call on Mr. Rougier to ensure full scanning of every person entering the prisons: his senior officers, himself, and the Minister of National Security as well should the Minister visit. By what standard can someone be excused from passing through the scanners?
We can only hope that Mr. Rougier ‘s excusing his trusted senior officers from being scanned stems solely from his sense of pomposity and “office”. Any other motive ascribed to his announcement could only suggest protection for known wrongdoing.
While I have supported the advent of our still new, and still struggling government, I must join the growing chorus which is telling them that they need to begin to govern more, condemn less, and set the standards which are required of them, previous wrong examples notwithstanding.
The areas requiring immediate meaningful action instead of rhetoric and public relations sessions are Crime and Justice, Infrastructure, Health Care and the provision of potable water for all citizens. I will try to show, over the next few weeks, how the government can begin to perform effectively in each of these areas. I will show that they will need to set the proper examples in their words and in their work, so that we can trust them and follow them.
So today we are going to start with Crime and Justice. However, before we look at some of the things which the police and the courts must do, we are going to “set the stage” for dealing with crime by ensuring that all who are charged will face the courts, and make sure that some do not have the privilege-- because of presumed “office”-- to be excused from charges or searches.
So, if President Maxwell Richards has not spoken to Nizam Mohammed about his resignation as yet, he should do so now, and follow the example of Subhas Panday who instructed John Rougier to scan his senior officers.
And moving on, to set the example on crime, we must ensure one standard of justice for all. Therefore the government and the court system need to ensure that the following all be put in train without delay:
Finalize the court process on the extradition of Galbaransingh and Fergusson, and get them to the US courts with the same dispatch as the several accused in the Balo Maharaj matter.
Accelerate the court process regarding Basdeo Panday’s retrial, so that he can either be acquitted or sent to prison.
Accelerate the investigations into Patrick Manning’s role regarding the financing and construction of the church in Guanapo, his role in the spying scandal and his purported promise to the Muslimeen, so that he can be brought to trial, and if found guilty.
Investigate, with the goal of prosecution, the collapse of CLICO, and send to trial those who benefitted from their insider knowledge in this.
And do the same for the whole UDECOTT-Calder Hart scandal, and bring all concerned for trial.
I am not asking for a witch hunt, or the hounding down of previous political office holders. I am asking that persons who appear to have been involved in wrongdoing be brought speedily to trial so that justice can be seen to have prevailed.
When our presumed exemplars have set the right examples, then we can move fearlessly on the other aspects of crime in our society.
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