Maroc - NEWSDAY.CO.TT - A la Une - 30/Aug 08:11

Kamla fearmongering over progress

THE EDITOR: Kamla Persad-Bissessar's recent statements reflect a troubling departure from sound, forward-thinking policies that are essential to the socio-economic well-being of Trinidad and Tobago. It is imperative to rebut her propositions with clarity and force, revealing the superficiality and potential dangers of her approach. Persad-Bissessar’s suggestion of monetary rewards for police officers as a means to combat crime is both impractical and ill-conceived. While the idea of incentivising law enforcement is not new, the implementation of such a policy in TT’s context would be fraught with challenges. Crime-fighting is not a business transaction; it requires systemic reform, robust leadership, and accountability, not just financial carrots. The introduction of financial incentives could exacerbate existing corruption within the police force, rather than motivate ethical and effective policing. What would prevent officers from manipulating crime statistics to receive bonuses, ultimately eroding public trust in the police? TT faces its own challenges with police corruption, and introducing financial incentives could worsen the situation, diverting attention from the need for systemic reforms, such as those successfully implemented in countries like Georgia, where a complete overhaul of the police force resulted in a dramatic reduction in corruption. Furthermore, this proposal fails to address the root causes of crime, such as poverty, lack of education, and social inequality. Persad-Bissessar’s approach is a band-aid solution to a deep-seated problem that demands comprehensive strategies involving social services, community engagement, and judicial reform. The emphasis should be on holistic community safety plans rather than simplistic and potentially corruptible monetary incentives. Persad-Bissessar’s stark opposition to a cashless society is a regressive stance that misrepresents the realities and benefits of digital financial inclusion. Her argument that a cashless society would lead to government overreach and loss of privacy borders on fearmongering and distracts from the potential advantages of digital transformation. In an increasingly digital world, moving towards a cashless economy can help reduce crime, streamline transactions, and increase transparency in financial dealings. Persad-Bissessar’s stance against a cashless society reflects a regressive mindset that could hinder the nation’s economic progress. In contrast, countries like Sweden, which has embraced digital payments, have seen significant reductions in cash-related crimes and increased financial inclusion. Her fearmongering about government overreach in a cashless society disregards the potential benefits of transparency and efficiency that digital transactions bring. Furthermore, her suggestion to maintain a hybrid system of cash and digital payments fails to recognise the global shift towards digitalisation, which is crucial for economic modernisation and competitiveness. Her claim that this would lead to a "new level of dictatorship" is particularly unfounded. The creation of a cashless society does not equate to the erosion of democratic freedoms; rather, it opens opportunities for financial inclusion, particularly for the unbanked population. The alternative proposed by Persad-Bissessar – maintaining a hybrid system of cash and digital payments – fails to recognise the efficiency and security benefits of embracing full digitalisation, which many countries have successfully adopted. Instead, the political leader could spend better time advising UNC speakers from making ludicrous statements such as the UNC is the most popular political party in the Western Hemisphere. In light of these points, it is clear that Persad-Bissessar's current rhetoric and policy proposals lack the depth and foresight required to lead TT towards sustainable development and social stability. Her approach appears more focused on short-term political gains rather than the long-term welfare of the nation. The people of TT deserve leadership that is committed to pragmatic solutions, grounded in evidence-based policy, and oriented towards the future, not one that relies on populist rhetoric and unsubstantiated fears. In these critical times, responsible leadership must rise above divisive and reactionary politics to foster unity, progress, and true national security. DR DEVANT MAHARAJ Former UNC senator/minister The post Kamla fearmongering over progress appeared first on Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.