Re-establishing consequences for crime – 06th March 2011

By today’s standards, that 1960s classic “Man Family” would definitely not be politically correct.

A cuckolded Mighty Zandolie repeatedly threatened the philandering Millicent in song to “break yuh blasted jaw”. The only thing that stopped him was because he “didn’t want to tangle with the law.”  In fact, he had to keep reminding himself that although he was “getting tired and fed up” he’d better exercise self-control because he’d “reach the crazy house or the hangman cemetery.”  He assured her that “you must be saying to yourself you have me so, but is JAIL I don’t want to go!”

Clearly, however furious Zandolie was, he didn’t dare ‘take God out of his thoughts’ long enough to assault his lover, because he knew what the consequences would be!  Clearly too, the police would not view the crime lightly and he had to respect their authority.  So, trying to outwit Millicent, he demanded “I want you to write all yuh family name on a piece of paper for me!”

When Assistant Commissioner Jack Ewatski met Chamber members in February, he noted that society had changed, and so had criminals.  If there is no – or low – risk of being caught, criminals will not be deterred.  More importantly, if there are no meaningful consequences to getting caught, criminals will not be discouraged.

For many years, we in T&T have turned a blind eye to criminal acts, mistakenly seeing it as part of our tolerant and understanding culture.  Can you imagine someone calling, or the police intervening to make someone clean up a filthy, overgrown yard?  Yet, this is a crime.  If we see a woman being beaten, most of us decide ‘that is husband and wife business.’  The child molester is excused, because ‘dem young girls not easy, nuh, dey just like big women!’

What we have truly lost is the fear of consequences and respect for authority.  We do not care if we are caught as we do not believe there will be any serious consequences, especially at this time of year when crowds congregate, and petty crimes usually occur.

Unfortunately, we have grown tolerant of several breaches, such as   defacement of public and private property where masqueraders pass.    Even companies which put up Carnival fliers and banners leave them long after the festival is finished and nothing is done to compel these advertisers to remove their signs and other trappings. In short, there is no enforcement.

The country is now firmly in the grip of serious crime, but we must remember that this is not of recent making.  It is precisely this failure to enforce major AND minor laws, good conduct and respect that led us to the place in which we find ourselves today.

As we gear up for Carnival, let us remember that freedom is not absolute.  Without a doubt, the police must enforce the law and must further intervene to prevent crime wherever possible.  The public for its part, much as we complain about the service of police officers, as legitimate as these complaints might be, cannot expect the police to do it alone.  We must also exercise self-restraint, respect for authority and understand that our actions have consequences.  Let us enjoy the carnival and wake up on Ash Wednesday satisfied with our conduct.