At one time not so long ago, our open coastline was thought to be the weak link in our security defences, against illegal activities involving people smuggling drugs and guns. Beaches have been side-stepped as they are now thought of as being too risky, due to countermeasures.
Our legitimate ports are now the preferred entry points of choice – seen as the soft, colourless underbelly of our nation. Commissioner of Police Tyrone Griffith was absolutely right when he declared these facts.
We are now being taken for a ride by all sorts of criminals. White collar, blue collar and even those wearing dog collars for that matter; but we are encouraged to keep on smiling and bragging about the numbers who visit and sing our praises.
Our frontline security elements are not getting the support necessary to combat the more determined and sophisticated young criminal mind, who now has a real cause of hopelessness, perceived or not, to drive his endeavours to earn a living.
Who do banks help in this area, though we hear that they are bursting at the seams with cash? Our future population seems not to care anymore. They don’t even bother to rob banks. People selling pigstails and fish cakes are easier.
I am puzzled that a leading foreign newspaper could find nothing more worthwhile to write about than the fact that this region has now made the top ten in serious crime around the world, and with a serious sewage problem on the south side of the island. What a load of crap.
For some reason, we continue to shoot ourselves in the foot. We boast some of the most highly educated people in the world yet, when we need advice, we send abroad to get it from people who do not know zulch about what obtains on the ground in Barbados or the region.
Some of us with the power to do better should make better use of our military and law enforcement personnel, past and present.
President Donald Trump surrounds himself, if for a while, with such people and only gets rid of them because they won’t bend to do nonsense.
Let’s use our head, not just to wear hats on it. Blaming Nelson statue and the lamp post opposite where he positioned himself is no help to us. We need to see the woods for the trees.
– CAPTAIN WILLOUGHBY KING, Security consultant. formerly of British army and BDF
