The Line is Crossed

​Yesterday, a 15-year old schoolboy, Joshua Andrews, was killed when gunmen attacked the car in which he and 2 other students were travelling home after school.
While the other students were wounded and hospitalized, Joshua, was shot then burnt as the vehicle burnt on the street around 3:00 p.m.
The driver of the PH taxi was also killed and burnt.
National Security Minister, Dillon, reacted to this brutal murder declaring that “A line has been crossed”.

NOT THE FIRST TIME

Almost exactly 2 years ago, on 21 January 2016, 2 school boys were dragged out of a taxi and murdered, each being shot 5 times. The victims were Denilson Smith, 17, and Mark Richards, 15.
The Prime Minister, National Security Minister Dillon and other Ministers held a media conference and one headlined read: FULL FORCE - Schoolboys slain: Rowley announces permanent patrols by soldiers in Laventille, Enterprise, Diego Martin, Tobago and elsewhere.
Minster Dillon said “A strategy of offence and deterrence would be employed. We are going to take the fight to the criminals, those who feel that they can bear arms illegally in T&T,”
The PM declared “If there is anybody taking over the streets in Laventille, Enterprise, Tobago, Diego Martin, it will be security services of T&T,”. He also said said “The soldiers would also be stationed in other communities.”. “This time they will stay.” 
Addressing Laventille residents, Dr Rowley said  “While they mourn today they will soon complain there are too many soldiers on their streets, but, “I prefer to hear you say that than to watch your children being slaughtered in their school uniform,”.

MILITARY OCCUPATION NOT WORKING

Following this announcement of “permanent” military-police occupation of communities, we were led to believe that the killing of school children in uniform had crossed the line in 2016.
We were also led to believe that this show of police powers would make our communities safe.
However, in the same year, 2016, more teenaged students wer also killed.
In February, Daniel Hall, 16, of Tunapuna and Stephan Singh, 17, of Enterprise, Chaguanas, were shot to death on St. John’s Road, St. Augustine.
In September, 15 year old schoolboy, Mohammed Ali, was shot dead while playing cards in Chaguanas.
In 2017, the murder toll for the entire country reached the 3rd highest total since 1994 of 494.
So, the military occupation ordered 2 years ago in the wake of the killing of 2 schoolboys which ‘crossed the line’ has not done anything to make our communities safe.
Talk of crossing the line and actions based on police powers alone are not bringing any solution to the murderous criminal slaughter of our people including our student youth.
The state must do much more to being about a situation in which citizens’ Right to Safety and Security is guaranteed.

Tuesday, January 9, 2018
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