Work…and seeking divine intervention

Newly appointed Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher came into office promising a reduction in murders by June. But within days the Commissioner realised that the Police just can’t do it alone, as she urged the population to seek God’s intervention in whatever form we worship Him to help save Trinidad and Tobago from the wave of criminality sweeping the country. The Commissioner is right – we need the hand of God because the moral fabric of this society has broken down, and darkness is now stalking the land.

Commissioner Harewood-Christopher and the men and women of the police service need to go after the criminal element without fear or favour and to do so, they need God on their side.

But the Commissioner must also do some cleaning up within the TTPS. There are elements who facilitate the criminal elements because they are paid to look the other way while crimes are committed.

Trinidad and Tobago is in a dark place and daily things are getting worse with murders, criminality, human trafficking, home invasions and corruption at all levels.

And as if things aren’t bad enough, the country now has to endure the public bickering surrounding the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, which had its genesis in concerns raised by the DPP Roger Gaspard about the many woes his office face in ensuring that justice is served, not least of which is the shortage of staff.

The Prime Minister jumped in first with public criticisms of the DPP, followed by the Attorney General Reginald Armour, the AG and the DPP subsequently met in what was described as a ‘productive meeting.’ There seemed to be hope this would be resolved.

Not so. Enter the Chief Justice Ivor Archie, who accuses the DPP of being a poor manager. One can’t help but wonder if CJ Archie was concerned about poor management in the DPP’s office, should he have waited for this public furore to erupt?

Wouldn’t the CJ have been better placed to call in the DPP and discuss his concerns about his performance in private, mandate that the offending issues be addressed and not jump on a bandwagon and make the DPP a public bobolee?

If those in authority can’t resolve issues behind closed doors and instead resort to public name calling and shaming, is it any wonder that things are getting worse instead of better?

Is it any wonder the nation’s children believe that the way to resolve conflict is through fights in and out of schools?

As a nation, we cannot lose faith in the justice system nor can we just let the criminals take over the country. There is too much at stake.

Some leaders, sorry to say, are no examples to follow. They are like the scripture tells us to look at what they do, but do not follow them.

Many will scoff at the Commissioner’s call to seek God’s help, but without that divine intervention we are doomed.

This weekend’s gospel offers us a hope that no man can offer: “Have I not told you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?” (Jn 11:40).

We need that glory; we need that saving grace. Let us as a nation take stock of ourselves.

The criminals are not mightier than God, they are few but are wreaking havoc on society. We need to take back this land and to do so requires each of us to intercede through prayer.

God’s promise to us in 2 Chronicles 7:14 is, “If my people who bear my name humble themselves and pray and seek my presence and turn from their wicked ways, then I will listen from heaven and forgive their sins and restore their country.” We live in that hope.

There is work to be done. It starts with prayer. But the police must not rock back on their heels. Their job is to protect and serve and they must do what they are committed to do even while seeking God’s intervention.