Senior Reporter
kevon.felmine@guardian.co.tt
High Court judge Frank Seepersad has called for parents who push their children towards a life of crime to face prosecution. He also urged the church to come together and help take back T&T from criminals.
Speaking as a lay minister during a sermon at the harvest thanksgiving service of the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church in Claxton Bay, Seepersad stressed the importance of using wisdom and skills to combat those threatening the country’s peace and prosperity.
“Mothers cannot continue to protect truant children. Mammy does not have a ‘nice child’ if he maintains the household with the proceeds of crime. Serious thought should be given to enact legislation to prosecute the parents of child offenders who embolden, enable and encourage their children to pursue the path of criminality,” Seepersad said.
With daily reports of murders, robberies and assaults, Deputy Commissioner of Police Junior Benjamin recently said crime was not out of control.
While Seepersad did not mention Benjamin directly, he noted that while some claim serious crime is down, the cries of terror and grief from families tell a different story. He added that real solutions seem out of reach, leaving the nation covered in a blanket of fear and despair.
“Enough is enough, and we must rise up and act with unity and precision. Our voices must be heard and collectively, all right-minded citizens must say no to misinformation and agenda-driven manipulation. We must hold all persons in authority accountable for inefficiency, ineffectiveness, incompetence, and illegality.”
Seepersad also emphasised the need for citizens to become their “brother’s keeper,” reignite patriotism, form community watch groups and take action when they notice anything suspicious. He said it will take a collective effort, with people partnering with each other and law enforcement to share important information and help catch criminals. Until offenders are arrested and prosecuted quickly, he said the chaos will continue.
As a judicial officer, Seepersad acknowledged that the courts must still ensure the rights of both the accused and victims are balanced. He explained that while everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty, not everyone charged with a crime should automatically get bail.
“Judges must carefully consider the risks that releasing an accused person might pose to society. The decision to grant bail should be made with common sense and should take into account the potential harm to the public.”
On social issues, Seepersad said society must provide real support and guidance to disadvantaged youth who feel violence is their only option. He criticised the misuse of taxpayer money on large projects that do not benefit the public and said those funds should never end up in the hands of gang leaders.
Instead, he suggested investing in surveillance systems, so every major area in T&T has CCTV coverage.
Regarding law enforcement, Seepersad urged national security agencies to work together to improve monitoring along the southwestern coastline to stop the flow of guns and drugs into the country.
He also reminded citizens about the importance of voting wisely.
“Democracy is weakened when people do not take their right to vote seriously. No one owns your vote, and it is worth more than a jersey, a roti, or an envelope of money,” Seepersad said.