photo ops

Thousands march on Trinidad crime

Protesters in white symbolised the number of murder victims this year At least 10,000 people have taken part in a march in Trinidad and Tobago to protest about a soaring crime rate and the government's failure to tackle it. The so-called Death March through the streets of the Caribbean capital, Port of Spain, lasted for seven hours. At one point, 305 people dressed in white lay down outside the parliament building to symbolise the number of people murdered so far this year. Courtesy the BBC, 23rd October, 2005 Twelve years ago to date my life partner and I sat on the porch thinking about tomorrow, 22nd October, 2005 and the staging of the Keith Noel 136 Committee's ' Death March'. The 136 Cmt had been planning this event for the past six weeks and here it was, crunch time. Social media as we know it today was now coming of age, FaceBook started in 2004 but had not yet migrated to the rock. Everything about the organizing was done the old fashioned way. People actually contacting people in the flesh, by phone and by media ads and other promotions.  We had 305 persons symbolize what would have been the estimated murder rate already for that year. Today in 2017 the murder toll is just shy of 400. Wrong direction! It is ridiculous that the issue of narco crime, illegal guns and just plain lawlessness is still the name of the game and the powers that be seem to be either complicit or completely clueless as to what to do.  I am like a stuck record with this issue. How can an island this size have a thriving narco business and no one knows? Why is it that drug blocks operate with impunity across the road from Police Stations? Why is it that there are zero seizures at sea, on our marine borders, of guns and ammunition? Why is it that we had drugs found in frozen chicken and the US$2.0M cash found in a shipment of plywood and not even a stray dog has been charged? Is another 'Death March' a good idea, probably not. The 'March' served its purpose to bring to the fore the issue of the day and people were ready for something to be done. The then administration simply went about their business and life continued on the rock. It did however change peoples minds about getting involved and voicing an opinion. People were standing up for what they thought was a just cause. Then came social media which has changed things completely and people can protest from the comfort of their homes. Nothing wrong with that. Maybe one day citizens can actually for people who will actually listen to them. I look at the devastation of the rock with the terrible floods citizens of this country have to endure. Year after year, decade after decade in many areas multiple times per year. How does one deal with this? Its fine for the politicians to be seen, or as with the PMOTT not seen, in their foul weather gear, floating in boats, and viewing the human tragedy playing out in front of them. It is another issue as to why has there not been a single leader that has made this annual suffering of the citizens a major issue. Instead of photo ops, where is the mandate to stop the flooding? Whether it is manmade or a true natural disaster there has to be a solution to the plight of people. Comments of 'lagoon' and 'irresponsible people' are not acceptable. There is a rainfall which will be experienced every single year and the infrastructure must be designed to accept the average and the above average including certain categories of tropical storms.  Once again we are hot to trot to build all things shiny and new and we cannot clear one drainage ditch.  The Government Campus constructed in downtown Port of Spain and not one red cent to fix and repair the old, dilapidated city drainage infrastructure.  The new highway to Pt Fortin and where is the drainage study for the entire route of the highway? The Town and Country approved development of the Chaguanas area, including encroachment on to the Caroni wetlands, where is the drainage study? The continued development of the Northern Range Valleys, any new drainage plan, no. When last was a study done of the Caroni River and its capacity to handle the additional volume of water created by the additional runoff? The Ortoire River and the Nariva wetlands. Remember the breeching of the Manzanilla Road, has any study been done as to why? The population has grown, people have to live somewhere so blaming the citizens for living in a particular area is not cutting it. The failure of successive administrations to deal with this flooding devastation on a comprehensive basis every year is where the problem lies. This lack of interest in a permanent fix is the disaster! My heart goes out to those affected by the floods and to the persons giving their time and resources to those in need but as always there is hope. There must be a new dispensation, a new order for the rock, a new way of doing the peoples business. More than ever we require responsible government and we the people need the power to dictate how we want to live. Photo ops, promises, food hampers are all well and good for the politicians, it however does nothing for a continued acceptable level of quality of life.  The politicians all have dry homes to go home to! It rained again today but the sun did come out. Let us hope that tomorrow will be the change in the weather and let the sun shine in! Good night and good luck!