Keith Noel RIP

Today will always be remembered, as it is the anniversary of the last time I saw my good friend Keith Noel. On this day in 2005 at around 8.00pm, we told Keith goodbye after we had a lime at a local bar, the following day was Corpus Christi, a public holiday. The next morning at around 4.00am I received a phone call informing me of Keith's murder. My life changed, our lives changed as my life partner and I became heavily involved in trying to make a meaningful change as to how we lived here on the Rock. Our children were involved, our eldest son was Keith's good friend as were many co-workers and friends of Keith Noel. Keith's murder was classed as no. 136 on the police files.
During our awareness and petition campaign, we were called names by many people who obviously disagreed with what we were doing. I guess the success of the movement, then called the Keith Noel 136 Cmt, created quite a concern amongst those who should have been concerned. Keith would have been 55 years old this year.
We fast track to 2018 and the murder count today is 225, not counting today's killings. So what really was achieved by taking Keith's murder to the people. Based on the current murder rate not very much. Well, maybe a couple positive things did happen.

• We raised the awareness of the population but not necessarily the concern of the politicians.
•  Over 127,000 signatures were received on the petition which I believe was a record for the Rock.
• The media started to do a 'murder count' every day and still do today ensuring that people are made aware of what is happening.
• The President, during his address to a joint sitting of the Parliament, made mention of the work of a group of citizens dealing with crime and murders.
• Citizens had a way to express themselves, especially when signing the petition.
• The 136 Committee was awarded 'The Trinidad Express Community Group' for the year 2005.

It might not sound like much but the fact was that the people of the Rock were not simply turning a blind eye to what was going on.

Today, at a murder rate that may very well be the highest ever, the politicians continue to avoid the very large elephant in the room. If you do not deal with it you will be consumed by the electorate.
Yesterday there was a major upset in the General Election on the island of Barbados where the electorate simply said 'enough is enough,' 'if you cannot do, then 'buss it.' It was as simple as that. The electorate has matured, is not willing to roll over and just vote because of tradition, the electorate is prepared to examine what you have done, what you stand for and are not going to be fooled by the proverbial 'barber green'. The PMOTT, when in Opposition, would refer to me as the 'coffin dragger'. This is the level of contempt our current lot of politicians have for the people.

The political landscape is changing, I don't see anyone in the two traditional political parties being able to move away from the gutter politics, similar to the nastiness that was said on the election campaign platform of the now decimated former Government of Barbados, and recent remarks by a former PPG Minister about the 'demon child' hosting a political meeting. All have failed to recognize that people are better educated, children do not necessarily vote like their parents, people can think for themselves and most importantly, the 1956 style of politics is no longer relevant and that makes all of them irrelevant.

They could say what they want, they can continue with their 'coffin' remarks, none of them could ever start to fill the shoes of Keith Noel, if they only knew!

People, we will create a better Rock, for our children, and we will see the backs of the 1956 crew. Let us hope that we can deal with it once and for all. This is a beautiful place to be and we must preserve it!

Good night people of the Rock and good luck!