THE EDITOR: TT is a very lawless country. For years most influential people (especially those in authority) have resisted admitting this glaring fact. However, over the last decade or so many have had no choice but to acquiesce. What troubles me though is that even while admitting this truism, many sheepishly ask, "How did we get this way?" Well let me explain how to all who claim ignorance.

After independence we entered a period of steady decline. Our policing standards became increasingly poor. If you called a station to report things like your neighbours disturbing you with raucous behaviour, you would be laughed at and treated like you were being unreasonable. If you tried to report a missing person you would be given stories about how they probably ran away with a man or woman, etc.

Also, if you ever tried to make a report and in your distressed state committed the crime of not saying good morning or good night, you ran the risk of being soundly bouffed. And let's not forget the most popular response of the boom days: "We have no vehicle."

Coupled with all of those, laws like littering, loitering, squatting, etc were rarely enforced. Road traffic infringements were addressed by "vaps," more for show than results. What has really changed? Has anyone noticed how driving habits have deteriorated over the years? There is a level of crudity on our roadways that is truly alarming. Motorists while being at fault don't hesitate to resort to obscene language or in some cases violence in a flash.

I recall when speed guns were introduced there was a hue and cry from thousands of citizens complaining that the speed limit of 80 km was too slow. So, like the good administrators that they are, the powers that be increased it to 100 km. It never occurred to anyone that due to poor enforcement over the years many motorists had no clue what the speed limit was. But this is governance and law enforcement Trini style.

The PH issue is another case in point, left to fester and then people who should know better making vacuous statements like, "Well you have to admit that they providing a service." Utter rubbish. Let's be clear, the pusher on the corner is "providing a service," the gang leader who is collecting monthly payments from the little neighbourhood mini-mart (extortion) is "providing a service."

Has it ever dawned on anyone that if the Government had to this day implemented an efficient, effective and reliable public transport service that many of the PH drivers could have been gainfully employed within this network? It seems that myopia and mediocrity have so engulfed this wretched place that even some so-called "educated" people are a danger.

We as law-abiding citizens need to be clear in our minds as to whether our country is to be managed like a parlour or as a serious nation. If we choose the latter, then the time is now to demand from our leaders at all levels that they start performing and stop playing us for idiots.

The police could engage in as much PR as they want. While they may impress