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Chin Lee's war on crime
Posted: Tuesday, February 26, 2002
"War on Crime" was the title of the 30-minute address that National Security Minister Howard Chin Lee delivered at the Hilton yesterday. Chin Lee, 35, joked that although his youth was "fast fading" under the rigours of the post it might have helped "me somewhat because I came with no preconceived ideas." He described his "War on Crime" plan as "the most aggressive assualt ever on this affliction in our society" and claimed that it was the result of "a collaborative effort involving exhaustive research and discussions with several knowledgeable people and organisations". The following is an excerpt from the Minister's speech:
"Crime does not exist in a vacuum. It is the product of our society, the carefully planned result of things that have gone wrong. Most of the crime you hear about today is perpetrated by young people and 50 per cent of all criminal acts is drug related. Today's crime is the painful outcome of yesterday's failure to effectively deal with the causation of crime. It is the plaintiff (sic) cry of a nation asking for its real needs to be addressed.
We cannot seek solutions to crime and not examine family values, we cannot ask for crime to disappear without providing better education, job opportunities and recreational facilities for our nation's youth, we cannot attack crime by building higher barbed wire fences to surround homes and businesses, we cannot police social decay and so while the war on crime I will present today is the most aggressive assault ever on this affliction of our society with specific immediate actions to address the upsurge in crime, it also contains a long term view and a perspective of lasting solutions.
The preparation of our war on crime is a collaborative effort involving exhaustive research and discussions with several knowledgeable people and organisations. I spoke with the finest minds in criminology both locally and overseas, I met with technological experts in crime detection, I sat with religious leaders of all faiths, I took counsel from current and former police chiefs and senior members of the armed forces and fire services, I received advice from NGO's.
I shared ideas with those in the prison service even spending time with prisoners, I took time to empathise and learn of the experiences first hand from victims of crime. I embraced views from my Cabinet colleagues and those from other political sides as well.
I listened intently and read keenly the opinions of the business community and former ministers of national security who worked so hard at a job that is tough and thankless...
Today's action plan, therefore is a thoroughly researched collaboration of ideas and solutions. It represents in my view the best immediate and long term programme to aggressively attack crime wherever it exits. ....
... Desperate times call for drastic measures. This is a prolonged war but each day you will learn of the battles waged and the victories scored. I am committing every member of the police service, armed forces and coast guard in the largest joint operation ever conducted in Trinidad and Tobago. We will flush these perpetrators of crime wherever they are-in every back alley, inside each den of crime, on every street corner. On the ground and in the air we are equipping ourselves with the technology, equipment and manpower to wage and win this war...
A wave of undercover operations across the island has already begun to undermine the planning and development of organised crime. A series of mobile police/army patrol stations will be set up across Trinidad and Tobago. These stations can operate for short durations or longer periods and can be established or moved within minutes even into remote areas. The total effect of these efforts will be to frustrate those criminals and foil their plans. They are now up against every resource available to the Ministry of National Security.
War on crime is not just a bold sounding theme. Our nation is under attack by thugs and hooligans, by vicious, violent criminals bent on destruction, murder and mayhem. Well, they better be prepared for what is about to hit them, as every able-bodied member of our protective and armed services, numbering thousands, even as we speak now, are fanning out across the length and breadth of Trinidad and Tobago, in defense and protection of all decent minded law abiding citizens. I am going after the big fish as well-the white collar criminals who hide behind the cloak of what appears to be legitimate business but which are really money laundering operations...
.... When I announced a 30-day crime plan I did not intend anyone to expect that within one month we would solve the problem.
But, make no mistake about it. The 30-day crime plan means that over the next month several offensives will be introduced at various levels. Some will produce an immediate effect, others will set in motion a long term initiative. None of this means that we can anticipate there will be no more reports of crime of one sort or another. But the evidence of our success and on-going efforts will be there for all to see...
The old adage "it takes a village to raise a child" remains relevant today. The community policing concept is being strengthened as we seek to emphasise the importance of improving the relationship between police and the people they serve coming together to share resources and ideas for solving problems. Police youth clubs, or community clubs as they are now to be known, will be expanded across the island. These clubs will create an environment in which members of the police service join with young people of the neighbourhood to plan and participate in various sports, games and community related activities...
Police stations are to reflect a more customer friendly atmosphere. Beyond the aesthetics, members of the police service will continue to receive specialised training in community policing. Special emphasis is to be placed in the cases of domestic violence and child abuse. Counseling, mediation and support services will be offered as we seek lasting solutions...
We will be implementing a neighbourhood transformation programme called "weed and seed". This plan combines the aggressive weeding out of the criminal elements in a neighbourhood with the seeding o f new positive influences. Examples of such seeding are-taking young leaders who have gone through our youth programmes and integrating them into areas where criminal influences have been weeded out...
Civilised society is best measured by the way it treats its women, children and senior-citizens. And so even as we address the psychology and social aspects of the violence that erupts today, I am determined to impose the most stringent imposition of law and order. I have advised the police service of this government's new policy of aggressive order maintenance in which we target even minor offences. You cannot spit on a sidewalk, men cannot relieve themselves on the street, or verbally abuse our women-folk, you cannot throw garbage wherever and whenever you please, you cannot see a traffic light that has just turned red as a signal to speed through quickly, you cannot live without respect, law and order."
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