Commentary: Trinidad and Tobago commissioner of police: Look higher still

By Akilah Holder

When, last year, news broke of a drug bust in Westmoorings, I was in shock. In fact, I was at work when it happened, and when I heard it, I called out to one of my co-workers 'A A! Michael (not his real name), you hearing 'dis?'

They busted some people in Westmoorings of all places for drug possession. Relative of a government minister.' He too, was in shock. I don't think either of us, or most of Trinidad and Tobago for that matter, thought it would happen. But it did. And we were both pleased and hopeful, that that drug bust meant that the laws of Trinidad and Tobago would finally apply to the elite as well.

I remain pleased and hopeful; however, there is one thing, one thought that lingers. One concern. The fact that one of the women in question, Kristiana Sankar, is the former step-daughter of this country's minister of national security, Stuart Young. Now, following her arrest, Young was very careful to distance himself from the situation, saying that she was his step-daughter, the child of his previous partner. Fair enough.

But I couldn't help but wonder how long ago they broke up and for how long Sankar was involved in the drug trade. Was she involved at the time that Young was with her mother? How close were she and her step-father and how much did he know? Was he at all, at any point, Sankar's protector, in other words kept her safe from being found out? Is anyone else thinking this way? Along these lines?

You see, when I was a child, my parents used this refrain whenever they advised us about what type of friends to keep. It went like this, 'Show me your friends, and I'll show you who you are.' So when I heard that Sankar was Young's former step-daughter, my mind began to work overtime. It went into overdrive. I became suspicious. How long was Sankar involved in this trade and how much, did Young possibly know?

You see, commissioner of police, Gary Griffith (and I'm sure you know this), so far, you are on the right track. You are, undoubtedly, on the right track. You even linked the Sankar case to a businessman in St Anns. That is fantastic! But I want you to look a bit higher. Yes, commissioner Griffith, look higher still.

In fact, Ecclesiastes 5:8 states unequivocally that 'if you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still. The increase in the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.'

In other words, commissioner Griffith, you may just want to check to see if some government ministers are involved in the drug trade. Even former ministers.

If any lesson, commissioner Griffith, is to be learned from the Sankar drug bust, it is that you may need to start looking at government ministers, present and former. For in the end, as I'm sure you yourself know, whether UNC, COP, People's Partnership or PNM, the people who form these parties are all part of the elite of Trinidad and Tobago. So the way I see it, in the end, they have common interests to protect.

Now I have to admit, commissioner Griffith, before I go on; when you were selected as the commissioner of police, I rolled my eyes, and thought, 'a former politician the commissioner of police? Steups! He is just a watchdog for the elite. Crime will continue as before.'

For you too, commissioner Griffith, 'rubbed shoulders' with these politicians. But so far, you've shown yourself a force to be reckoned with. So far, you have the support of the public. So far. So please keep along your current lines, just go a bit further. Look a bit higher. Don't leave the fact that Sankar is the former step-daughter of our present minister of national security, Young, there. Don't leave it there. Seek, ask, knock. Who knows what you will find.

Because in the end, commissioner Griffith, in the end, the 'poor little black boys' in depressed areas like Laventille and Sea Lots, as I am sure you yourself know, do not have the money or the resources to bring in the guns and the drugs.

Chances are, they are caddies for those who 'sit higher.' So don't leave that Sankar-Young connection there. Don't leave it there at all. 'Milk it' for all it's worth. Exploit it. Seek, ask, knock. Who knows what you will find.

Notably, a Trinidad Guardian article, Businessmen Blocking Million Dollar Drug Probes, asserts that three local businessmen have been involved in the drug trade, and have "political connections on both sides of the fence." So I guess my assertions aren't so far fetched at all.

Let's hope these investigations go somewhere.