T&T Government Silence Fuels Rising Murder Toll

T&T Government Silence Fuels Rising Murder Toll

The United National Congress (UNC) has been in power for more than seventy days, but the country's murder toll has risen to 79—a terrible number that seems to elicit little more than a collective shrug. Thirteen murders in less than a week are hardly noteworthy, tucked away in the back pages of publications that used to feature such heinous acts in their headlines. There is more to this than just weariness; there is a troubling normalization of violent crime, and the public and media seem complicit in their silence.
Once enthusiastic watchdogs, the media now appear disinterested, and their coverage of violent crime is at best cursory. As if willful neglect could somehow hide the carnage, crime statistics are sometimes not even updated. Is it a tacit agreement with those in authority to downplay the crisis, or is this editorial exhaustion? Either way, journalism’s abdication of its duty to hold leaders accountable is glaring.

In the meantime, the UNC's campaign promises, most notably a daring plan to stop the crime wave, have turned into meaningless platitudes. The truth? Home invasions, auto thefts, and armed robberies have all increased along with the number of murders. Rather than confronting these shortcomings, the government's silence is deafening. There aren't any pressing press conferences, broad policy recommendations, or even a token show of concern from the business community. It is extremely disheartening that the chambers of commerce have not produced any editorials or statements for the front page.

It's obvious that leadership is lacking. At a time when his presence is most needed, the Homeland Security Minister is invisible, and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who was so outspoken during the campaign, now says nothing about the slaughter taking place under her leadership. The public is instead treated to the spectacle of high-profile dismissals—CEPEP employees, the governor of the Central Bank, and the CEO of WASA—which are obvious attempts to divert attention away from administrative ineptitude and policy paralysis.

Even the recently appointed police commissioner, whose arrival was greeted with pledges of a "tough stand," has fallen short of inspiring trust. Criminals become more daring every day, unfazed by idle threats. Reactive, indifferent, and devoid of any kind of strategic clarity have been the responses of the authorities. This betrays the public's trust and goes beyond simply failing to govern. Every citizen should be indignant at the blatant disregard, deception, and abdication of duty that are on exhibit.

In the face of growing violence and official inaction, we are instead left to wonder: Does anyone in a position of power have the courage or the will to take action?
Or has the state apparatus just decided that it no longer cares about public safety?

Sarge

In reply to sgtdjones

I am also surprised but still feel that too much went on under Rowley he was unable to do anything for 10 years so I'll give the UNC a little while longer.When I read of some of the crap that went on for 10 years.I read that there was $1.5 billion spent un-audited for 10 years,it makes you wonder what was going on,this was all to do wih CEPPEP.I could be wrong but you may know better.

In reply to granite

Believe it or not, many of these "10-days social programs" like URP, CEPEP etc have underlying "Gang Related" influences. Governments fear not funding these programs could lead to more trouble.

In reply to granite

CEPEP: A $500 Million Black Box with No Accountability

It’s astonishing—though sadly unsurprising—that the majority of government-owned entities in Trinidad and Tobago haven’t seen a proper audit in over eight years. The Community-Based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP) is notable among them not only for its enormous scale ($500 million a year), but also for the apparent ease and opacity with which public funds seem to vanish, unquestioned and unchecked.

Let’s be blunt about how CEPEP appears to function. A member of Parliament, wielding the power of patronage, receives a handful of contracts to distribute among close friends and loyalists—so-called “CEPEP contractors.” Each contract is worth approximately $23,000 a month. In turn, a contractor manages three gangs, each with ten workers. On paper, the arrangement appears to be aboveboard, but in reality, it is rife with accusations of outright corruption and cronyism.
Rumours, if not outright secrets, indicate that some ministers deliberately give these contracts to friends and relatives in order to profit from them by charging contractors an unofficial "fee" of roughly $5,000 per month. After expenses, a contractor clears about $15,000 monthly or $180,000 annually. That's a cool $540,000 over a typical three-year contract; some contracts are five or six years long. Multiply that by the number of contractors, and the sums become staggering. It’s a pity the public isn’t permitted to see just how much the top 100 contractors have hauled in over the past three years. Transparency, it seems, is the first casualty in this system.

Let’s not forget the origins: Launched in 1993, the Unemployment Relief Programme (URP) sought to reduce poverty by providing temporary employment to those in need. CEPEP, rolled out in 2002, was supposed to protect and beautify the environment. Yet anyone who has observed CEPEP workers on the job would hardly be convinced that these lofty goals are being met.

Take into account the official working hours, which are 6 a.m. to noon (or 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.). The majority of employees actually leave by 10 or 11 a.m. Frequently, the "beautification" consists of a man brandishing a weed whacker and two women holding up a blind. Is this truly the most efficient use of human resources and public funds? Are we improving the environment, or are we just figuring out how to keep up appearances while transferring funds to political allies?

The lack of audits is not just a bureaucratic oversight—it’s an invitation for waste, inefficiency, and corruption. With little to no public accounting or scrutiny, $500 million has been flowing into this "black box" every year for more than five years. Training, uplift, and value creation were the original goals, but the system has evolved into one that appears to be geared toward patronage and low productivity.

It is not only wise, but long overdue, to temporarily halt CEPEP in order to conduct a comprehensive investigation. The electorate supported change and innovative approaches. To imply otherwise would be to engage in the same backward thinking and crocodile tears that have kept Trinidad and Tobago in a downward spiral for decades. We must demand not just audits but a comprehensive reorganization of public programs and the people who actually benefit from them if we ever hope to rise above this low point.

Sarge

In reply to granite

UNC’s Deafening Silence: Time for Excuses Is Over

Let’s cut through the polite chatter. We’re now 70 days into the UNC’s reign, and what do we have to show for it? Nothing but a wall of silence. The public, who voted overwhelmingly for change, is being treated like a nuisance—kept in the dark while excuses pile up and old habits thrive.

UNC campaigned on a platform of difference, of transparency and reform. Yet, here we are: no explanations, no audits, no action. The government’s first and simplest task should be clear—every single state entity must face an immediate, comprehensive audit. But instead, we get stalling and hand-wringing while the clock ticks and taxpayers’ money continues to vanish.

Let’s not be naïve. When those long-overdue audits are finally forced into existence, the records will be gone. Years of financial mismanagement and corruption will be swept under the rug, and nobody will be held accountable. Is this what we voted for—a new set of faces playing the same tired game?

Why didn’t Imbert ever demand audits before blank-checking billions to state agencies? Why did Rowley’s office need $450 million? Why did he leave the Central Bank $45 billion in the red? And let’s talk about the mountain of debt—$143 billion and counting, not even including the secret deals with China that no one in the public is allowed to see.

This is not governance. This is a circus of incompetence and secrecy.

And while the politicians drag their feet, crime is back to its relentless normal. The so-called “honeymoon period” is over. Ministers have been appointed. There are no more excuses. Get to work.

I was one of the first to criticize the last administration after just 60 days, and I will not stop now. This new government must be held to its promises or be exposed as just another chapter in a long, miserable story of failure and betrayal.

Enough with the empty rhetoric. We demand transparency. We demand action. We demand results. If this administration can’t deliver, then they too deserve nothing but our scorn.

The time for patience is over. The time for accountability is now. The time is now for the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.

Sarge

In reply to granite

People still dedding and you my brother giving the UNC a lil while longer

Dem
Musbe
Special

In reply to granite


Cepep’s spending actually hasn’t been audited for 16 years(2009-2025) and the total unaudited expenditure is 4.1 billion, as bad as cepep in the last ten years was, that is just above 34% of the total expenditure, which means that the other 65.86 percent came within 2009-2015.

They really need to find a way to make that program revenue generating though. We can’t afford to be pelting out that kind of money every year.

I DONE WITH POLITICS IN TT COZ ME CYAH FIGURE OUT ANYTHING BUT MOST OF YALL CAN,ME GO KEEP ME TRAP SHUT,ME GO JUST LISTEN AND LEARN.

In reply to granite

Granite...

Staying engaged in discussions and seeking out multiple viewpoints is one of the most effective ways to help me learn and grow.
Silence—whether from oneself or others—can sometimes feel frustrating, especially when you're eager for deeper understanding or connection.

Conversation is a bit like weaving: each thread—each viewpoint—adds depth and strength to the fabric of understanding. When voices go quiet, that pattern can feel incomplete, and the opportunity for growth or empathy slips by.

Sometimes, silence comes from hesitation, uncertainty, or even fatigue. Other times, it’s a pause for thought—a chance to reflect before responding. But when genuine curiosity meets open dialogue, that’s where learning flourishes. It’s in the back-and-forth, the challenge and the response, that ideas are tested and wisdom is cultivated. It is how I learn.

Don't become silent.