I am at a loss here ---

In making his contribution to support a Case For Compulsory National Service, ACP Philbert points out that "2,500 young men have lost their lives to violence and gang warfare during the past four years". He further explains that young men at risk are ususlly repeat offenders, don't have a father or don't have a father figure in their lives, left school early or are school drop outs.

The PM on the other hand would attribute the loss of these young lives as a direct result of the regional 'loss of preferential treatment and access for bananas and sugar'.

What are we really to believe?

All 2500 under the PNM and the same Minister of National Security, and if the statistics are revealed, I'll bet 75 percent or more are Afro-Trinis. Yet there are still dumb black people in Trinidad who continue to vote race, to vote for a party which ain't done crap for the poor black man, which haven't provided a ray of hope for the black youth, and which continues to elect a leader who pats himself so much on his back, that when he's done he'll probably need a skin graft.

'How many more must die, How many more?' (Mighty Duke, calypsonian). Mr Commissioner, with total deference to you and your Office, what are you doing about these 25 hundred lost lives? And what about the 25 hundred more projected to be lost in the near future? Eh? How many more must die?
ajfyzabadbutlertown

ETHNIC CLEASING OF BLACKS-

Where are the black leaders. This is tantamount to Ethnic Cleansing among blacks. Where are the Black Doctors, Politicians, Educators. I only hear our so called black leaders outraged at,

1) Too many Indian Doctors.
2) Not enough scholarships for Africans.
3) Too many Indian Businesses.

But if the Blacks are killing out themselves soon there will be none to be Doctors, Scholarship Winners or Business Men. As a black man I feel betrayed.

So now Philly is not even going to say what he is doing to curb this? He just continues to say the statistics of his failure? I wonder if we could do that in our everyday jobs as well?

Like Mr Sat Maraj yesterday we seem to have lost the plot on this blog today of the issue being discussed.
Mr Maraj made turned that topic into race and politics and today we are making it all about Mr Philbert.
The issue was "Compulsry National Service", and it still is.

These numbers dont seem to add up. 2500 deaths in 4 years translates to over 600 a year. Given that last year's 547 murders represented a new record figure for us, the total is either inaccurate or the Acting Commissioner is alluding to the fact that far more people are dying in this country than we are officially being informed of. In any event this is a tragedy either of apocalyptic proportions or majestic design. Either way it is apparent that the present Government has done precious little to make anyone safer but themselves.

UNINSPIRED

Until trinis stop seeing everything in race coloured glasses and keep blaming the politicians for all the ills of the society and start addressing the problems facing all of us by offering solutions and objective critism. We should explore every positive solution. what is wrong with Mr Philbert's plan? maybe good maybe bad, we should engage in debate dont just condemn, do you really think a police commissioner likes to deal with crime, murder and mayhem under his watch,i think he is doing a good job with his limited resources(manpower,political ,judicial, business influence, race influence and the inability to get information from joe citizen when a crime is commited) . Those persons who feel comfortable by saying crime is centered around the east west corridor will sing a different song when it will be coming to a neighbourhood near you soon.

How come the number is 2,500 over four years? It is closer to 1,400 over the years 2005 to 2008. More insidiously, however, is it an attempt to indoctrinate young blacks with propaganda in the guise of crime reduction? Fascism in the making! Rik Hansel

National service?

At what age should this start? Everyone, including the girls, are carrying "schoolbags" from age five or less.

A lack of buying a belt, not getting into whether to loosen or tighten here, is nothing to do with being "exposed to half dirty underwear on the main streets of T&T". Take a walk 'on the wildside' and walk around the streets of Havana, Cuba. The people there may not have much (economically and by way of infrastructure ie. running water) but in the most part, they are tidy, clean and have a pride in their appearance (even if wearing second/third hand clothing) that would make the sharp suiters (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davies jr) look like boys playing dressup in their Daddies suits!

Mr Philbert said: We have to do something if we want the youth to go in the right direction

There are groups of people doing something without seemingly much support from the Government. I have commented before and will say it again. There seems to be various people/groups doing lots of good work but it appears there are no/few links to gain synergies from their efforts. Some of these very people/groups, I have read about here via the Guardian.

To be fair to the single Mums who rule their homes with an iron fist, I believe it is unfair to say some of the wayward young men (and women) are the way they are because they did not have "a father figure in their lives". Let us bear in mind a) some fathers are not around due to 'natural causes', rather than just running away from their parental duties and b) some youths do run amok, even though a father figure is/was around.

Let us also recognise the effort of single Dads out there who try their best for their children and have 'good' children, inspite of the lack of a female figure.

Let us not forget there were many children who grew up in single parent homes as a result of World War II (even if Trinbago was relatively unaffected) and those 'children' by no stretches of the imagination displayed what our youths of today are displaying. So, the reason(s) is a bit more complex than "lack of father figure".

This also brings me back to something I have said before... if we are what we eat, is it then that we are what we listen to?

Instead of just bringing in the doctors and nurses, we should look to see what places like Cuba and even Jamaica have done to engage the youth, (re)capture their imaginations and help them to find self-love and respect for themselves.

La Diva

Mr Philbert, today sir is the first day that you have been in office and have said something of importance, Good to see you know this, so what are you doing about it, are you still awaiting a new crime plan for Martin, I do not care what ethnicity are these statics, I is a loss to our nation as a hold, May God Bless Our Nation.

Ryan4Party

I guess blame cannot be placed upon any one person alone as we all have to share in it. Many fathers are not present in their children's development. The Ministry has banned teachers from flogging the errant child. Some mothers receive stolen money from their bandit sons knowingly and young girls say nothing when their boyfriends give them jewelry that they cannot account for. Further, the government has resisted the many suggestions offered to them and continue to spend money behind that which is not working. What about three strikes and you're out? What about 25 years in prison if found with a firearm for which you are not authorized to have? What about sending the petty offender to learn a trade and become productive rather than lumping him in a prison cell with hardened criminals? What about electronic sign boards to post information concerning stolen or getaway cars in robberies so that the public could be alerted to take the necessary action? What about removing these idlers from the streets into productive activities through Compulsory National Service? We sit by and are all scared that the world may think of us as being draconian if we implement the above. We have a choice - sit by and leave everything as is(400 murders to date)or implement the workable suggestions now. What is the problem? Are we serious about the state of our nation?