Ramsamooj: Relationship between crime, politics in focus ahead of 2025 polls

In the coming months leading up to the 2025 general election, one political analyst believes the relationship between crime and politics will come under a microscope. But political analyst Derek Ramsamooj says, that while citizens should expect the state to play its part, crime should also be the focus of all members of the population, as well as, corporate Trinidad and Tobago.

“Just as we as citizens expect the state to play a role in putting policies and procedures, and institutions to deal with the criminality, one of the major challenges for every administration is that of the society, of the citizens taking their own sense of responsibility of what is happening with respect to different communities in our society.

Speaking on CNC’s The Morning Brew programme yesterday, Ramsamooj said the solution lies in different sectors working together.

“When you look at the restructuring of the society, it’s not an issue of more policemen only, it’s not an issue of technology, it’s an issue of citizens responsibility both as a private citizen, as well as the corporate citizens as well. If you look at the level of white collar criminality that exists in our society and the leadership that is required to use the resources of the State, I think that’s where the challenge is. How does the political leadership of this country, and here I mean both the official opposition and the official government forces, so to speak. How do they come together to basically hammer out an acceptable solution that can be implemented by central Government as well as the regional or the THA level of governance?” he asked.

Ramsamooj added that political will is required if his country is to see any serious reduction in crime.

“You have to debunk the politics of the criminality to see whether or not the leadership is doing what is required for that type of transition to be made. What we have unfortunately are people in politics who proclaim to be politicians who are self-serving in their personal interest as opposed to doing what is required for the country at large,” he added.

Ramsooj stressed that political parties must become relevant to the governance of the country. He added that the time required for consultations on constitutional reform should be expanded as more people involvement is needed.

The post Ramsamooj: Relationship between crime, politics in focus ahead of 2025 polls first appeared on CNC3.