Dottin: Politics hindering unified fight against crime

There is a need to unify the country to address crime, says outspoken Seventh Day Adventist pastor Clive Dottin who is worried that the upcoming general election will further divide the country and cripple anti-crime efforts.

He shared that concern when he spoke with sporters at the Citizen’s Summit on Crime and Violence at the TML Hall, St Joseph yesterday.

“I am concerned that the election next year will divide us more than unite us at a time when we need to unite,” he said.

“Politics have a way of crippling any attempt at uniting the country. We have got to put country first and it has hurt us over the years. We’ve got to tell ourselves this is the last chance. We’ve got to do it differently.”

Dottin said the minute the country decides to become serious by addressing white and blue-collar crime, there will be a reduction.

“A divided, corrupt, indiscipline nation, cannot fight crime,” he said adding that there is a need for “courageous sacrificial action.”

Dottin said Caricom seems to be unable to tackle the regional crime syndicate.

“We have a networking narco alliance in the Caribbean and Caricom is dwarfed, dwarfed and rendered almost impotent in terms of dealing with criminality in our society,” he said. Adding that the time has come for religious organisations, businesses, state agencies and non-governmental organisations to come together to address crime.

Dottin said he was not satisfied with the state’s response to crime. While a lot is being done, there is a “courage bankruptcy” hindering the needed response.

The radical change Dottin envisions includes campaign finance legislation.

He explained, “I think that the godfathers that are buying out political parties and political groups across the globe and we are a small island state, and I think sometimes we feel we are incapable of really resolving this issue and paralysing the top of the mafia pyramid.”

He added, “I honestly think that over the years we have lost the battle, and we are continuing to lose the battle. In my mind, we are in a real crisis. Yesterday we had three murders in one hour, not one day but one hour and as a people, not just a church, we must never be satisfied with our efforts. We must see what we can do more to save the nation.”

In January, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar called for a state of emergency to address crime. Some opposition members repeated the call earlier this month saying crime was out of control.

Dottin said while he believes a state of emergency is needed, that is not enough.

“We’ve got to fix the legal and judicial system. While we call on the police to do more, we have to root out the rogue elements in the police service,” he said.

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