Minawattie and Nankissoon

Why do I use those two names to comment, ever so briefly, on Minister Gajraj’s remarks? Well, I’ll illustrate soon enough.

On Monday, the doughty Minister responsible for our internal security as a nation, reported on his Ministry’s projections for 2003, in terms of the comprehensive programmes for the respective agencies under his portfolio. I do not envy this Minister his role and responsibilities. The Prison System, the Fire Service, the Police Force with its Immigration and Traffic Departments, to mention just two, all fall under the Minister’s purview. Now why would I, with weaker heart and timid disposition want such a job?

The Minister was obliged to enumerate the gory count of policemen maimed or murdered. He defended the performance of his troops under siege. He explained strategies, challenges, even delays, with regard to crime-fighting, still a priority on the government’s programme. As he has to do, the Minister gave the populace the usual assurances with respect to his Ministry’s concerns and initiatives regarding their collective safety and protection from the criminal enterprise. (“The police will continue to carry out its constitutional responsibility to protect and serve the citizens of this country”). I know of his constraints, both publicised and others, perhaps extant within the operational apparatus which are entrenched enough to sabotage even more effective and successful policing. Which brings me to Minawattie and Nankissoon.

You see, through no fault of their own, 68 year-old Minawattie, Nankissoon and many other residents of Vigilance, Annandale, Strathspey and other communities near to Buxton, ECD, will not at all appreciate the assurances from minister Gajraj. For on that same Monday he was giving assurances, this Stabroek was reporting on their fate. They were in the process of abandoning their homes and lives on the East Coast, because of the daily threats of robbery, arson and executions. Robberies by Buxton-based bandits were “normal” they reported. Disturbingly, they implied, based on visible evidence, that these criminals seem to have a certain level of immunity from arrest. They flaunt their weapons and loot in front of Security Forces, it is claimed.

Banditry, criminality has forced social disruption. The Minister’s police, themselves under siege, overworked and intimidated, cannot cope by themselves. Even when they want to! It was touching to hear of these people’s appeals to the young President of the Republic. What is the answer? Community Policing? By whom? Incidentally, it is now that phenomenon whereby teenaged criminals can rape, rob, maim or kill, but they must never be harmed. The courts and justice must do. If we are to remain intact as a civilised society (?)

But I have reason to suspect that this Minister a one-time soldier and grass-roots man himself - knows the score on the East Coast. He cannot properly divulge partly because there is still good reason to rely on his good troops. Besides the people’s own resolve for self preservation, what else is there besides the unreasonable expectation of 24-hour protection from the state? People say get to the “root causes”. I say the “causes” have changed! I will cautiously approach the Minister to comment on the implications when banditry forces the Minawatties and Nankissoons to flee their birthrights. The politics of banditry and bullyism might come into the discourse.