In the last decade and a half, as the scourge of crime grew in severity, the word ‘gang’ has become one of the more widely used words in the Trinbagonian vernacular. It’s a versatile word that’s read or heard in a multitude of ways eg, gang leaders, gang members, gang wars, gang-related activities, and so forth.
The stereotype is one that we are all too familiar with—males of African descent, whose ages range from late teens to early twenties, are probably raised in single parent households, and live in one of the socio-economically depressed neighbourhoods in and around the capital.
But not all gangs in T&T comprise murderers, rapists, and bandits. They may not personally steal your belongings, but they are thieves of other things. They may not be killers, but their actions destroy lives.
And they may not be underprivileged or wear old clothes, for some of them live very comfortably and wear designer suits, religious vestments, or uniforms. It seems that anywhere you look, from the lowest classes to the highest offices, ours is a country run by gangs.
Let’s take a moment and re-examine our notion of what a gang is and who they are. If the criminal aspect is ignored, what’s left is a collection of individuals who bound by shared interests are working towards the same goal, and, to that end, are willing to place their needs above those of the wider community to which they belong.
Time and time again, it’s this self-serving attitude that has negatively impacted our society, putting us at odds with each other and negating any real chance at progress.
In the last month alone, we’ve seen several examples of such behaviour from groups who, though claiming to have righteousness on their side, have continually sought to undermine T&T’s political, economic, and social well-being.
And they aren’t known by menacing names like ‘Never Dirty’ and ‘Rasta City’, but legitimate and respectable-sounding ones that occupy both civil and public services.
Let’s start at the very top of the social order—the political realm. It’s widely accepted that our democracy, as young as it may be, is deeply entrenched in the ethos of tribal politics.
As such, we have defined our parties as either African or Indian-centric, and describe their policies as being pro-Hindu or anti-Muslim etc. But these divisions aren’t only socially damaging but may serve a more insidious purpose. Because if the masses remain dedicated to the pre-conceived feelings of malice and mistrust, then they aren’t focused on how unproductive our elected officials really are.
Take the recent debate on the amendment to the marriage bill. Though the issue has had considerable public support, the opposition UNC made all attempts to politicise it in hopes of securing support among religious members of the electorate. For them, this is about power—acquiring it and then holding on to it.
The population has seen how both parties perform when in government; has our country gotten any better? Do their supporters ever enjoy any special benefits when ‘their people’ are in power? Ultimately we all still end up suffering from the same woes while those at the top receive salaries and protection that most Trinbagonians will never see in their lifetime.
Getting paid, regardless of productivity, is an omnipresent theme here in T&T, with public servants being among the worst offenders.
We’ve all grown accustomed to their schedule: arriving late, leaving early, and long lunches. And that’s even if they bother to show up to work at all! It’s ironic that so many must bend to the will of so few.
But that’s exactly what happened a few weeks ago when the entire country was held to ransom under the threat of a strike by Petrotrin employees.
Low oil prices and a shrinking economy didn’t stop the OWTU trade union leader, Ancel Roget, from making demands, stoking our fears of a gasoline shortage at the pumps.
Even when it came to light that salaries paid by the State-owned company are much higher when compared to the industry average, the union remained adamant that an increase was warranted and rightly deserved. Marathon negotiations were conducted in attempts to stave off an outcome in which mobility and transport would come grinding to a halt.
A settlement was eventually agreed to, one that may have been more about saving face than satisfying monetary expectations. But in the meantime, taxpayers are not only stuck with the added burden but the disconcerting knowledge that it was a combination of greed and pride that triumphed in the end.
Democracy is touted as the ‘voice of the people’. But for far too long, the concerns of average citizens have been ignored and sidelined just so that a privileged class could maintain their position. Until that stranglehold on power is broken, we remain at their mercy and subject to machinations that affect our lives. Never forget that not all gangs commit violent crimes or get their hands dirty. And though they may claim to have noble aims, their actions prove that they’re not working for us, but for themselves.
Ryan Hadeed
