HOW MANY MORE MUST DIE?

PRIME Minister Dr. Keith Rowley agonises over the unending stream of cold-blooded killings as if he is an average helpless citizen.

Rowley ignores the fact that as far back as 2015 he devoted an entire section of his general election manifesto to an “all-of-government” challenge to the crime epidemic.

He sidesteps the sober warning he received two years ago that Tren de Aragua, Venezuela’s most notorious criminal organisation, has a foothold in our land.

US President Joe Biden recently branded the dangerous gangsters “an emerging threat” to his country.

Landing strips from Erin to Cedros are still free-for-all for criminal mercenaries and other illegal migrants, who land at will.

Rowley has not utilised available sophisticated American resources and has disregarded critical advice provided at a straight-talking meeting at the US State Department last February.

He still saddles the country with gross incompetence at the National Security Ministry, to the point where his friend, UWI’s Dr. Hilary Beckles, speaking at Emancipation Day celebrations, pleaded for a “changing of the guard.”

While gangsters are better and better equipped, law enforcement is still powerless against free-flowing gun, drug, and human trafficking.

Citizens are defenceless against cruel home invasions and brazen extortions, and there are not even elementary sting and other undercover operations.

A besieged nation is on the run.

Small businesses are shutting down because of crippling fear and the high cost of security measures.

A hardworking doubles vendor fled last week after massive extortion demands and ominous threats to the lives of family members.

Others are seeking to hotfoot it out of the country, in a constant flight of human and financial capital.

Rowley’s response?

He utters periodic feeble and tired jargon about his frustration and hurt, secure that he will capture headlines.

A past master at commanding the national narrative, he occasionally sends the country down a rabbit hole with surreal and senseless talk.

Media commentators and keyboard warriors are consumed with sterile and absurd banter about the coat of arms – even as citizens are mercilessly slaughtered.

Rowley has skilfully also diverted national attention from the growing crises of malnutrition and mental health, the dengue emergency, a deficit economy, and other pressing issues.

But our hypercritical calamity is the relentless killings and accompanying terror, even if the validating elites and political flatterers stay mum.

Good God, how many more must die?