Below is a release from National Transformation Alliance
Media release
16th November, 2023
*Sorry Erla – these were the same parents just 2 years ago, so it’s a Cop Out to try to blame others for the crime situation.*
On the news last night, Commissioner of Police Erla Harewood-Christopher made unfortunate comments blaming parents for the present state of crime. Similar to what was said before by Stephen Williams and by some in the hierarchy of the TTPS before and after NTA Political Leader Gary Griffith’s tenure as CoP, it is an attempt to shirk responsibility, because no police service in the world should be using external elements to blame others for the enormous responsibility the police has in reducing crime.
And whilst we understand that there are many other elements that have a part to play in reducing crime, which includes good parental guidance and supervision, the police have to be the main catalyst for order in a country. This is why doing the norm of blaming parents, society, children, the community, lack of laws, and demanding more prayer etc., cannot be an excuse, and they should stop spending all their time trying to blame everyone else, and simply focus on what they can do to rescue us from the runaway crime, which has citizens living in mortal fear.
This is why just two years ago when Griffith led the TTPS, he was able to achieve record reductions in crime, and he did so with the same parents that exist today. It should also be noted that most of the same police officers who are in the service today, were greatly instrumental in causing the record reductions in crime. With the only difference being the policies and operational plans instituted by Griffith that guided their success.
Is it that the CoP is contending that in two years these parents became bad parents, and that the officers became poor performers?
It is clear that Griffith’s no excuses approach made the difference, as crime moved from the number 1 concern for citizens to number 4. And this is 100% proof that it is not parents to blame, and that it is an excuse that society must never accept. So doing a Milli Vanilli and saying, ‘Whatever you do, don’t put the blame on you’, is not the answer to our runaway crime situation.
Regrettably, this is in line with what we have seen for 8 years under the leadership of this Keith Rowley led PNM, as they are incapable of taking responsibility, and they constantly blame others for what they have been elected to do. The TTPS as an independent body cannot be seen to be towing a political line, and cannot be using excuses to deflect responsibility for the job they were hired to do. Citizens demand results, not excuses.
NTA Communications Unit
Email: ntaistheway@gmail.com
WhatsApp: 482-Gary [4279] / 483-Gary [4279]