Global worry

January 11, 2003

There have been some rather interesting responses to the last column titled "Taking down the cowboys", in which an argument was made for frontal attacks on the "dons" who arm little boys in the streets and encourage them to kill each other and break the laws of society with impunity.

In addition, the call was made to remove the "intrinsic value" of drugs through legalisation across the board since the drug trade was identified as the underlying basis for what may appear to us as senseless murders but which in fact to others are merely the logical result of "doing business".

Lastly, the column advocated a review of the Shiprider Agreement which the USA had manipulated the UNC government to sign on the pretext of mutually fighting the drug trade on sea and land but which in fact has only served to open up the carte-blanche dumping into T&T of US-bred criminal elements who were born here.

One comment under the title "Deja-Vu?" quoted a 1999 Independent newspaper report, the intention being to remove the sanctimonious smirk of UNC leaders today who are fighting to distance themselves from the present situation and give the impression that they had crime levels under control. The report says as follows:

"...Housing and Settlements Minister, Sadiq Baksh, barely escaped a shootout recently when a gang opened fire on the Harmonites Morvant Junction panyard shortly after the Minister's departure.

"...Two cars swung into the driveway of Harmonites panyard, and the occupants alighted, simultaneously opening fire with automatic weapons on a crowd of men, women and children who had gathered to honour successful UNC San Fernando West candidate Baksh.

"...People had to dive for cover and scale walls to escape. By the grace of God we were able to come out unhurt, one 'community leader' told the Independent..."

One university graduate e-mailed supporting the call for legalisation of all drugs. In part, this is what he said:

"...There was a time when I, too, was for only legalising marijuana. One day, in 1991, from the University of Florida, I phoned my father, the late... (name withheld) and expressed to him that I thought marijuana should be legalised. He replied that cocaine, et al, should also be legalised! 'But those drugs are so dangerous,' thought I, and, 'What are you talking about, Daddy?'

"Well, it took me a few months (and one or two drug-centred university courses) to come around to his opinion. So it's my view now to legalise all those drugs.

"I've tried to get 'my views' on the matter printed in T&T newspapers, but none of them are brave enough to do so..."

One regular reader of this column who lives in Canada reported on what has actually happened to date up there with the legalisation process:

"...Canada recently decriminalised marijuana, although that's being tested in the courts. It will be interesting to see the result of that as time passes. The US raised severe objections to that action, as it would mean additional challenges to their border patrol – if marijuana is freely available in Canada, then those people living near the border will come north in search of it.

"One of the strongest arguments in favour of decriminalising marijuana was the same as you've used – removing its 'intrinsic value'. (Incidentally, the province of Ontario now has licensed growers who will supply marijuana to buyers.)

"I also agree that the Shiprider has to be re-evaluated. The habit of rolling over and playing dead when Uncle Sam speaks is one that needs to be broken – there as much as here. As much as I think that a federated world state is a goal for humanity, I don't believe that the US is really a 'free world' leader. (Just my opinion)..."

However the response that really cut to the quick and revealed the extent of our global worry read as follows:

"...I realised that honest people had lost the battle about 1980 when I went to a bank in the USA and cashed a check. Later that evening, my bedroom reeked of marijuana, to which I am allergic. I followed the smell to my handbag. It was the money I had withdrawn from the bank...

"...Drug dealing holds such big profits for the entrepreneurs so involved that any government, worldwide, that legitimised it, would fall because of financial losses. What other private company can secretly build and man a submarine that made journeys from Columbia to Puerto Rico as drug runs?

"The gun manufacturers and runners of the world would also turn against the governments for cutting into their profits, with possible deadly results. Car dealerships, and manufacturers of high-priced clothing would suffer major recessions. The official economies and GNPs float on a cushion of drug money.

"...Who do you think (that company) expects to purchase its new $300,000 plus car, shown at the car shows this week? We talking US dollars here. Who has the need for that flash but a drug lord with a private army?

"...The world needs drug dealing. Governments will not ban it, unless the people demand it worldwide, in a concerted effort, but with half the population using it, that's not going to happen.

"...The situation may well be hopeless. However, do not give up advocating it."