tidings
Yvonne Webb
Saying that nowhere, not even in his own home, is he safe from criminals and gunmen, Oropouche West MP Davendranath Tancoo compared TT to the Wild and Wild West of yesteryear, where the only power rested in the barrel of the gun.
With at least five murders recorded over the weekend, including that of a policeman in Tobago, and the death toll reaching 530, Tancoo also wondered what it would take for the government to finally wake up and get a significant action against crime and violence.
“Yesterday (Saturday), on the doorstep of the Starbucks on Sun Plaza, Monroe Road, a man was killed in full view of families who went to buy coffee, or who went to buy bread at the Quikshoppe or chicken and fries at Royal Castle or to fill gas in the same compound.
“Yesterday in Movie Towne, families had to run in fear after violence broke out and a man was shot. We’ve become the wild, wild west,” Tancoo said at UNC’s weekly press conference Sunday. He was joined by Senator Wade Mark.
“Every day we see real-time video of criminals attacking, robbing and killing citizens.”
Painting a picture of the trauma that citizens of all ages are enduring due to the crime wave, Tancoo appealed to the people.
“Imagine your young son or daughter going to school and when they are supposed to be learning to count, read, write and draw, the first thing they have to learn to do is how to duck and dodge bullets. “
He said it was a sad indictment of a country where everywhere someone goes there is a risk of being killed.
“You are not safe at school, at the grocery store or at the salon, at the mall, at the Chinese restaurant, from the mattress or the coconut vendor. You are not even safe in your own home,” he said.
Tancoo said today’s criminals don’t care about race, gender or age.
“No one is safe anywhere in this country. Embassies are warning their citizens to travel to this country because the crime is so bad.” Last week the US State Department in its latest country advisory on TT, asked all Americans to reconsider TT’s visit.
He also criticized Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George for dismissing Barataria/San Juan MP Saddam Hosein’s call for the House to debate crime as an issue of urgent public importance.
“There shouldn’t have been any opposition, because everyone is affected by this tsunami of crime that is burying this country in blood.” Tancoo said he was sure the Speaker also knew someone directly affected by the scourge of crime.
Commenting on the Prime Minister posting photos on Facebook of himself with retired WI cricket legend Viv Richards on the golf course, Tancoo said he doesn’t mind Dr Rowley having fun.
“But when you put yourself to be elected to office, to represent and serve the people, for God’s sake, serve the people. If you are elected prime minister, for God’s sake become prime minister. Grow up! There is a crisis, drive or get out of the way.
“Corruption is now endemic under this PNM Government, as it was in every previous PNM Government. Crime is worse than ever. Then there are floods, infrastructural neglect, poverty, unemployment… this government is failing at every step”, he declared.
