http://www.guardian.co.tt/beta/columnist/2011/01/02/there-crisis-facing-governance-security
Published: Sun, 2011-01-02 22:29
Richard Ramoutar
As we enter the dawn of another year .leading politicians continue their endless routine of optimistic speeches and fulfillment of pre-electoral promises of non-betrayal, service to the people and delivery.
While there have been some degree of accomplishments, the People’s Partnership (PP) Government is yet to solidly convince the population that they can effectively revive the economy and meaningfully attack the mushrooming activities of transnational organised crimes and its blurring boundaries on the national security landscape. As such, one wonders whether there is a looming crisis in national security and intelligence given the continuing saga of trends in the intelligence entities. Ministerial officials should be cautious in their pronouncements about making any premature statements for the New Year, as it may be more worthwhile to adopt a realistic approach, rather than use statements that can return to trouble their consciences.
Citizens are being murdered in the privacy of their homes with illegal guns. What concerted national efforts are being implemented to curb gun running activities across the porous borders of this twin-island state? Where is the intelligence for this aspect of illegal crimes, ministers in national security, and Madame Prime Minister, as Chairman of the National Security Council? How many lives are going to be taken away and how many families destroyed by bullets? Do we really care? Can your government deliver the goods promised in this serious matter or will fear continue to dominate the minds of nationals, foreign investors and tourists?
PP’s security doctrine
Without a clear and well-thought out national security doctrine and policy, the ministers appointed to national security would be challenged with a changed geo-political climate and increased sophistication of digital and wireless technology used by the criminal masterminds of transnational organised crimes since the post 1990-era. National security issues can make or break a government’s hold on power. The honourable Prime Minister would do well to consider the numerous challenges she has encountered as a result of inadequate national security advice dispensed to her that appears to make her government look very uncertain and inexperienced. This column has suggested certain types of intelligence restructuring to ensure governmental control and oversight, but there needs to a complete overhaul of many personnel at all levels of national security. The honourable Prime Minister and her Cabinet appear to be very challenged by the complex and mammoth task confronting national security. Stark reality is forcing her to admit that crime is indeed a challenge. The avatars and mandarins in national security have yet to show the type of intelligence doctrine and capability needed to (a) seize on arrival guns entering the country illegally, (b) knowing the internal movements of these weapons all over this country and why people are that brazenfaced walking at will and random in broad daylight to commit crime with these illegal guns, (c) restoring public confidence and enhanced community led intelligence and security of the people, local dons of the trade.
Seriousness of Threat
One would think that those offering advice to the honourable Prime Minister on national security issues, would have indicated the gravity of transnational organised crimes on the nation’s borders, the rule of law, the marination of the illicit economy into the licit economy, and the national security compromise that may occur as a result of corruption and bribery. These transnational offending crimes are still the major threats to our national security today. The fight against organised crime, corruption and trafficking in illicit drugs and human beings is too big for one country to tackle alone according to Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, October 6, 2010. While Trinidad and Tobago was among the Caribbean nations that signed a political declaration in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic to combat Illicit drug trafficking, organised crime , terrorism and other serious crime in the Caribbean on the February 19, 2009, complex issues of alleged bribery and corruption makes the national security landscape and intelligence very vulnerable.
Developing critical intelligence
Furthermore, the Government is yet to publicly disseminate any new Intelligence and national security strategy for the next five years. In formulating a new national security strategy, it must take into account the imperatives of the global geo-political environment and the ever increasing sophistication of transnational crimes. In this respect, the ability to forestall threats to national security often hinges on the timely availability of information. As such, intelligence must be the foundation of our ability to take effective measures to provide for the security and well-being of citizens of Trinidad and Tobago. To manage these risks effectively, one needs the best information about threats we face and about the intentions, capabilities and activities of those who would want to infiltrate and endanger our national security.
The best decisions regarding the scope and design of security programmes, the allocation of resources and the deployment of assets cannot be made unless decision makers are informed as possible. In this post 9/11 international security environment, the major external threats emanate from transnational offending, a trade encompassing multibillion dollar industries, and intelligence activities may be complex task. Some of those in positions of trust in these intelligence agencies may find it very alluring to maintain national security imperatives as the corrosive influence of the Almighty dollar and astronomical sums involved in bribery can be difficult to resist if one is not loyal and trustworthy.
If we appear to be lacking in intelligence, the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) maintains an office in T&T and will support the local infrastructure investigations by providing information as to who controls the drug trade, how the drugs are distributed and how the profits are laundered. It also provides information as to how the entire worldwide drug system operates at the source level, transportation level, whole sale and retail levels
