Combating crime, a national concern

THE LATEST SPATE OF GUN VIOLENCE, of brazen public assassinations, must be of serious concern for the security services and all of us. This, especially at a time when we are entering the festive Vincymas celebrations; a time which means increased numbers of persons being out and about.

It must also be concerning to our security forces and all of us that criminals seem to feel emboldened to carry out their murderous activity in broad daylight without regard for the safety of bystanders.

We do know that the police each year set up checkpoints on the main arteries leading into Kingstown.We also applaud the fact that the police have already been increasing their random security checks.We would expect these to not only continue, but to be increased. This is a time when we expect the police to also coordinate, if that is not already being done, with businesses and residents in the use of security cameras. Monitoring criminal activity must be an all hands on deck affair.

Of particular concern is the attitude many of us too often display where we dismiss shootings as something which is alien to us as law abiding citizens directly, and being something amongst a particular subset of our society. The recent public executions around the Russell’s Mall, which saw a store owner becoming an innocent victim demonstrates that this should be a concern to every citizen.

Members of the public must also desist from attempting to place blame at the feet of politicians, and politicians must recognise that it suits no useful purpose to make crime a political football.

It cannot be a political victory for anyone that gun crime, which spiralled over the last decade, continues unabated. Counting and comparing numbers from the reign of this or that administration serves no real purpose. No political party- whether in government or in opposition can wave a magic wand and cause an end to criminal activity. The causes of criminality are myriad and will not disappear overnight. It also is no comfort to those of us in this multi-island nation to have references being made about things being just as bad or even worse elsewhere.