By Sue-Ann Wayow
CRIME cannot be solved with policing alone regardless of who may be involved in the process.
Founder and activist of the Progressive Empowerment Party (PEP) Phillip Edward Alexander said, “Crime is a function of societal dysfunction.”
In a voice note on Thursday, Alexander said that societal dysfunction included corruption, manufactured poverty, a failed education system, a billion-dollar drug trade and illegal guns.
Referring to political leader of the National Transformation Alliance (NTA) Gary Griffith, Alexander said not even he will be able to put a dent in criminal activities in Trinidad and Tobago and matters will only become worse.
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He claims that containers were not being checked in detail at the ports by the Customs and Excise Division.
“Until we get to the bottom as to why Customs and Excise does not stop 100% of the shipping containers on the port. As long as 50% of the containers come off ships and go into society without being checked, we will continue to have illegal arms, contraband, drugs, human trafficking, the works,” Alexander said.
There is no reason why the ports should not be functioning as they should he said.
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Alexander said, “From the moment you stop guns and bullets from coming into the country, you could remove the guns and the bullets that are in the country.”
He also said the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG) seemed to be incapable of properly guarding the borders which again was a transitional pathway for guns into the country.
Alexander is suggesting that police officers be rewarded for every illegal gun found and seized as an incentive.
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Poverty must also be dealt with.
“Trinidad is a criminal society because crime pays. We have legitimised crime,” Alexander said.
