We just had a war of words in Parliament.

We also have a continuing war against criminals that, given its roots, shows signs of lasting longer than we wish.

In fact, the war is not so much against criminals themselves but really against the widespread culture of criminality, which, with its deep roots, is likely to continue after the elections.

The 'hurt' and 'concerns' about crime shared by the PM, National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds and Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher are understandable, but certainly not enough to stem the rising tide.

This is an unprecedented struggle for the police and national security. In the circumstances, nothing less than a comprehensive overall and resetting of the policing and national security apparatus will do.

Congratulations to Snr Supt Roger Alexander and his team for 'discovering' the fearsome bunch of guns in the Santa Cruz bushes.

But what if a set-up stakeout had been used, patiently waiting to catch the crooks who would come to collect the guns?

Same thing with drugs in containers. The FBI will tell us that detection comes with patience, passion and technology.

Now the budget. Where in the world will you get an engineer-turned-Finance-Minister like Colm Imbert who could give such a stylish, entertaining yet robust budget reply, challenging Ms Kamla Persad-Bissessar's comprehensive address?

The UNC's well-researched Saddam Hosein facing the smart, articulate Faris Al-Rawi and keeping the AG, Reginald Armour, SC, on his toes, Dr Roodal Moonilal always 'bussing a mark,' Mayaro MP Rushton Paray with his scholarly presentation and Princes Town MP Barry Padarath with punchlines against Public Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales on water and electricity. In case Dr Rowley is too busy, or Mr Hinds wishes to do something else, the personable Mr Gonzales may do for now.

But will all this save citizens from crime? One young man, Kaveer Nandram, a music producer, was killed and his two friends severely wounded when they went to buy food last Tuesday in Woodbrook.

Lochan Nandram. Kaveer's father, said: 'Everywhere is unsafe in Trinidad. If anybody want to kill somebody, it can be anywhere. This country is not safe any more.'

Sorry for the 'negative' news, Faris, but that is the people's truth. The front-page 'negativity' Mr Al-Rawi points out reflects the gruesome crime landscape.

Last week too, Dr Rowley soberly explained, 'Nobody could be happy at the current crime situation.' Today, on the police side, he is 'damn annoyed' at bail and the courts, while revealing the 'weaknesses and $200 million-a-year waste' by the UNC's Community Comfort Patrols.

The crime figures are not in government's favour, the commissioner's appointment is now in court, public fear of crime is at a depressingly high level, the 'business-killing' episodes of extortion, a police service still being prepared for its purpose, the killing of and threats aagainst police and prison officers, the discovery of high-powered guns - all suggest lots of work to be d