Crime in T&T – what can be done?

Trinidad and Tobago is a nation under siege.

While we were once able to identify crime “hot spots”, we are now a nation with declining safe spaces. As citizens we do not feel safe in public, we cage our homes yet still live in fear and even our schoolyards have become crime scenes.

But what can we do about it?

During TV6’s Morning Edition programme today, I echoed my call for effective data-based interventions.

The National Budget is less than a week away and the Ministry of National Security will once again receive a significant allocation.

We can fairly say that money is not the problem, what we need is more effective management.

▪️ We need a well-resourced police force and judiciary so that we can move from intelligence to evidence and ultimately more convictions. Every day, criminals are becoming more emboldened because there is very little consequence for crime.

▪️ We need to foster trust in our institutions so that citizens feel safe to participate in the fight against crime.

▪️ We need to use the education system as an anti-crime tool, to safeguard future generations and help them turn away from a life of crime. E.g. curriculum interventions to introduce non-violent conflict resolution and anger management workshops, programmes targeting student dropouts and high absenteeism rates, increased support services to schools in need etc

▪️ We need to address socio-economic factors and increase outreach to at-risk youths

▪️ We need to monitor and evaluate strategy performance – keep and expand what works, revise or remove what does not

This is not at all an exhaustive list. Rather, this list illustrates that there are things that can be done in the short, medium and long term.

No one is expecting success overnight. What we are expecting, however, is action on the part of our leaders.

#Security #Safety #Crime #Solutions
#ConnectingTabaquite

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