In Drastic Need of a Revolution

I've just spent the last few days reading articles by kidnapped victims published in local newspapers in Trinidad. It is beyond horrific, it's evil, it's wrong, wrong, wrong, what these people had to endure. The fact that in each case no one was ever caught is even more terrifying. As I can recall, kidnappings started back in 2002. And now, it seems to be a thriving business venture for anyone who wants to make a wealthy living. Never mind the means, the end is all that matters.

It seems that law and order have disappeared in T&T, those living at home who call for police service for any reason will know what I mean. I had a lecturer at University, a polish man, who asked our class 'how, in such a small country, with a population that's not growing, can no one catch these criminals? There are not that many places to hide!'

It's an insult to anyone who has ever been robbed of their belongings, anyone who has been kidnapped, anyone who has had to suffer at the hands of these devils; to know that their captors are still at large, spending THEIR money, while these victims suffer mentally, long after the ordeal is over, it now begins in their minds.

Yet, our corrupt, uneducated police servicemen continue complaining about salary increases, lack of vehicles, and lack of air condition in the office. Here's a question - has anyone ever entered a police station to make a report? Most stations look like they've been hit by a bomb or an air raid - everything's destroyed, furniture mangled, the walls unpainted. Police write statements in huge report logs (which take an ETERNITY), and they show no interest whatsoever.

Now, here's my own little story: I had some equipment stolen years ago, and I did my own investigations and found back my amplifier. Some spineless fraction of a human being still has my two guitars and another amp, but I was later told by the police that I was interfering with their job, by finding back MY OWN gear!!! I was told I should've waited at the pawn store on South Quay where I first saw my amp, called the police and they would've collected my gear for me. When I retrieved my amp, I called the station, at 11.00AM that Saturday morning after I reached home from the shop. I received a return call at 3.30 PM that evening! It's a good thing I took back my amp when I had the chance.

The Police are incompetent! Worse yet, from what the kidnapping articles imply - they are in bed with these kidnappers, getting a 'cut' of the earnings. If that is the case, who do you trust? Whether the kidnappers themselves are ex-pat criminals returning home, or policemen, or soldiers or members of the Jamaat (that lovely organization that STILL terrorizes our nation, 16 years and counting since July 1990!!!), whoever they are, I know one thing, these hooligans must be stopped.

If our dishonourable Government keeps on turning a blind eye and a deaf ear, maybe if they can't hear, they will feel? I'm not advocating widespread rioting, I'm not advocating vigilante activities, after all, you talk freedom, and you get arrested for mere words (case in point -Inshan - I heard he's a terrorist now?)

I am advocating taking back our country. To quote the late Malcolm X, 'BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY'. We have to be honest with ourselves, there is an element that exists in society, their only care is to survive at our cost, and now, they are killing, raping, stealing and kidnapping. So in a matter of life or death, will it be us, or them?

I'm not saying 'shoot first', but I'm saying 'stand up, stop denying what's happening and DO something!' Can you forget about the fete this weekend, and protest, march in the streets, stop the country, make a sign, start a petition, form a community watch-group, take to concerned citizens, write to the UN security council, Amnesty International (Tell them our rights as law-abiding citizens are being marginalised), stage a go-slow, a sit-in, a walk-out, and if all that fails - SHUT down the country! TALK TO ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN!

If we ALL know where the criminals live (and supposedly the police do too!!), why can't we as decent citizens march into their strongholds and meet them face to face, and TAKE BACK what they stole from us - OUR DIGNITY! After all, they can walk into our homes and take whatever they want, so why can't we do the same. Would we rather build our fence higher, hire another security guard (whose friends will kidnap you soon enough) and go to another “all-inclusive” and just laugh it all off?

An indian friend of mine, wait sorry, an Indo-Trinidadian friend of mine said 'It's ok, they only kidnapping Indians from Chaguanas with money'. But then I thought what if everyone in Chaguanas got up and left, wouldn't these vagabonds look elsewhere? This fight is in everyone's backyard. We all let the devil out of his cage. We have a chance to change things in the next election by voting this great Government out of office, once the die-hards are outnumbered at polling stations, but we also have to stand up, and take back our country.

You know what a patriot is? A patriot is someone who fights for the honour of his country, against all odds, against what the media and the politicians are saying, a patriot knows what's right, what has always been right. It's not that hard to understand right from wrong.

I'm not saying we must kill to get rid of these wicked men, I am saying that the Government, the police force, the regiment, the courts must listen to the voice of the people. And we must make them listen. We've tried various means, now we need to step up the pace, and raise “d heat” a bit. Maybe we should really see these officials as deaf and blind, because surely if they could see and hear, they wouldn't in all good consciousness let us - their own people suffer.

We need a Revolution, in our mind, in the streets, in our Land. We must act now!

Stand up my fellow Trinbagonians, stand straight, and let's take back what is rightfully ours. Stand up!

Francesco

A Trini Musician in Toronto