If, as per PNM culture, things are not being said in many words, it’s left to the public to make the connection that Prime Minister Keith Rowley’s appointment of Foreign Affairs Minister Dennis Moses in National Security is the second aspect of his Government’s move on crime, following last week’s injection of troops into “hotspots.”
Since troops aren’t a permanent solution internally—as businessman Peter George Jr, former National Operation Centre head Garvin Heerah, and ex—Laventille MP Nileung Hypolite agree—Rowley’s second tweaking of his initial Cabinet arrangement appears to be laying the foundation to externally track and reinforce local systems in the crime fight.
With Government facing a similar problem as the PP’s early days did—evidenced via a 2016 murder rate, now 46 in 30 days—George said, “A permanent solution is needed involving root causes of crime, community dialoguing, job creation and equality of treatment.
“In a depressed economy, social fallout is the greatest problem. Until Laventille moves forward for instance, T&T goes nowhere.”
Hypolite added, “Seek a multifaceted approach—parents, schools, churches, politicians. Parents must monitor kids, report misbehaviour.”
Heerah said nationally, gang members average age is 17-18 years old. “Data shows, this is moving toward 15-17. Local information indicates gang members can be as young as nine. Law enforcement data typically reflects older youth who are arrested. Social agencies’ surveys state gang members’ typical age is 12-24.”
“A gang member’s average length of time in a gang is less than 3-5 years. Average age of joining a gang is 13-14; research shows the most vulnerable age is 13 years. Key reasons for joining a gang is to embrace a new family/belonging, status, respect, protection. Key reason for staying is protection and money. Main reason for leaving is the personal impact of violence.”
Heerah recommends multidimensional strategy targetting 12-24 years exhibiting high-risk behaviours and gang involvement. “Some traits are first detected at school, however, some schools conceal information to safeguard ratings.”
Why youngsters? It’s a well chronicled fact by neuroscientists that the brain’s prefrontal cortex—behind the forehead—is responsible for complex decision making, judgment determination, mood control and related issues and is the last part of the brain to develop. Teens therefore aren’t capable of decision-making the way most adults (late 20s-30s) can. Consequently, the path away from crime starts with stable, consistent parental support/monitoring, and role model availability especially in low income environments.
While Moses’ appointment signals Minister Edmund Dillon needs help and the complexity and magnitude of T&T’s crime fight requires fortification, it confirms increased recourse to external help—confirmed by Government statements on use of Moses’s international relations skills concerning transnational crime.
Some may question why Laventille West MP/Works Minister Fitzgerald Hinds wasn’t added to National Security after being sent to Virgina in 2014 to study police handling of crime there.
The new arrangement tests the combination of Dillon’s Defence “ground” skill with Moses’ bureaucratic savvy in managing the bigger transnational crime picture fuelling T&T crime. This includes global terrorism, money laundering, drug/human trafficking, plus keeping his Caricom finger on regional movement/crime into T&T. Concerns within PNM circles that Moses has been an “ineffective” Foreign Affairs Minister will, however, make his (and PNM’s) test on crime urgent.
Prior to Moses’ National Security entry, Heerah said Government must attend to the fallout of transnational organised crime. “Hotspots within and on the city’s outskirts are war zones infested with gangs, drugs and fighting units that outnumber police patrols and sometime, out-gun them.”
“What are the underpinning reasons for the war between the Rasta City and the Muslims? If that’s fully explored, many questions would be answered. These gangs are operating within the tactics of urban terrorism. Authorities must halt this growing threat.
“Gangs are currently battling for turf. If the economy worsens, rivalry could escalate. They could easily start attacking anyone to secure lifestyle. Government needs comprehensive contingency to surgically to flush out gangsters, using intelligence architecture.”
Heerah questioned the whereabouts of strategies, consultative and collaborative, work that was done towards “The Safe City Concept for Port of Spain” and other high risk areas—something for Government to examine, perhaps.
