It's one thing if you suspect that someone is incompetent. It's quite another when they hold their hands up and admit it. Martin Joseph really needs to resign as the Minister of National Security on Trinidad and Tobago, because this article below implies to me that he is completely out of ideas. I've pasted the article below with my comments in (italics). The link to the original article is here.
Joseph on rising murder rate:
T&T between a rock and a hard place
Gail Alexander - Published: 19 Jun 2009- Trinidad Guardian
With the murder rate nearly doubling in two years, National Security Minister Martin Joseph yesterday admitted that T&T was “between a rock and a hard place” as far as trying to reduce the crime scourge (Well that's just fantastic, isn't it? You don't know what you're doing. Yet you're still in charge of the security of one and a half million people). Despite various anti-crime measures in recent years, T&T’s crime situation continues unabated (No, "continues unabated" implies a level of consistency. This is clearly an increasing trend) because the environment continues to change (What environment? Which environment? I'm not sure if Mr Joseph was being vague on purpose or if this is just bad reporting, but claiming crime on "the environment" is news to me), Joseph said at yesterday’s weekly media briefing.
He noted that the 2009 homicide rate now stands at 258, after the killing of Tecia Henry (258 is not a rate; 258 is a count. A rate involves two measurements, such as "a completely unacceptable number of kidnappings and murders per week, because you are clearly incompetent"). He said the rate stood at 237 for the corresponding period in 2008 and 130 for the same period in 2007. Joseph noted that the 2008 figure is 8.86 per cent ahead when compared with the same period last year. Largest homicide increases were in the southern, western, northern, central, south-western and Tobago divisions (So you're safe in the East apparently. Let's all move to Arima!), with the largest—100 per cent—change in the southern area. (Change? Would that be a positive change or a negative change? Wait, I think we can guess)
According to other statistics, gang related murders (112) were the highest probable cause of homicides between January and June 17, 2009. This was followed by robbery related homicides (36), revenge killings (30) (Can you really prove if something is a revenge killing? I mean you can definitely suspect, but I'm not sure I would make it a separate category. Nor am I sure we even need separate categories at all) and drug related homicides (26). Asked why the situation continues to worsen despite various measures and plans, Joseph said, “The environment continues to change.” (Ah, the environment. We meet again) Joseph said that on the morning Henry’s body was found in Laventille, he held talks with the Inter- Religious Organisation at a meeting which was scheduled since May.
He said one IRO member told him that until the Government treated efficiently with guns and drugs entering T&T, one would continue to see the current pattern (Let's recap: the man in charge of the security of one and a half million people is taking drug and crime advice from religious leaders. I'm not saying their advice isn't useful, but shouldn't it generally be the other way around?). Joseph said another meeting would be held with the IRO in two weeks to obtain the group’s proposals (sigh...) He revealed that legislation to curb guns and gangs would be part of omnibus legislation to be brought to Parliament. The package also includes an intercept (wire-tapping) bill and the Official Secrecy Act pertaining to matters concerning national security. (wait wait...something constructive in this article? I'm genuinely stunned)
These may be submitted to the National Security Council by month’s end, and will require Opposition support for passage, he added, Joseph assured that the “blimp” airship was providing police with valuable intelligence information and that all 500 CCTV cameras around the capital were working (More specifics...). On children increasingly becoming targets, Joseph said law enforcement would continue doing as much as they could (and back to the vagueness).
Ya. Pathetic. Very.
Posted by: ryan-1 | June 22, 2009 at 12:48 PM
The man has no shame. He can't get the job done but won't let someone else try. (who? btw). I was among a group of persons Mr Joseph met with a few years ago. The incumbent CoP was there too and other top ranking police officers. Mr Joseph took copious notes and listened intently to the suggestions offered. My offering was to have a bicycle brigade - policemen patrolling the small to medium sized communities (cheaper than cars). And he continues to meet with other parties. What does he take and implement from these meetings? The IRO didn't tell him anything he didn't know already. One has to ask why the PM keeps Mr Joseph in the position when he's obviously risen to the level of his incompetence.
Posted by: Fazeela | June 24, 2009 at 03:00 PM
Today's TT Guardian reports a newly trained crime busting unit of 250 policemen will hit the streets of Trinidad tomorrow on bicycles, motorcycles and on foot. These men and women have been culled from the SRP. Will wait to see if this makes a difference in the crime rate.
Posted by: Fazeela | June 28, 2009 at 06:06 PM
Let's hope so, Fazeela. I would love to see a positive change so I can give credit where it is due.
Posted by: gwto | July 04, 2009 at 01:01 PM