Dear Editor,
The many unsolved murders and robberies point to our inadequacy both in numbers, quality of detection, and other resources. The Minister of Home Affairs gives the nation strong words of assurance in his sincere wish that the nation will be no less vulnerable with the deportees, especially with the few who are criminally inclined.
We would have expected that as a first priority, there would have been some sort of induction procedure to register in their minds the need for adjusting their thinking, with some help from the Ministries of Human Services and Social Security and Housing, supporting with rehabilitation and finding accommodation primarily, since the best hope for their cessation of criminality is respectability and a new beginning that will make them fit in society normally.
Identifying them with their respective religious denominations should have also been done.
These words of assurance would mean that the nation's safety from robberies, mainly at nights, will be enhanced, also by the police force's alertness and vigilance with additional security measures implemented by citizens themselves.
Too many times ministerial statements have no real and practical back-up by the pertinent public service entities that fall under their aegis.
Yours faithfully,
S.M. Khan
Editor's note:
The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security said they had received no request from the Ministry of Home Affairs for assistance. We agree that a brief induction or familiarisation course for deportees by welfare officers could help them to find their feet and settle in. As it is, after checking in with the police they are sent on their way.
The American government has been asked for help. Perhaps they can consider helping to finance a one or two day induction course which could include advice on how to look for jobs and rental accommodation.