The East Indian community of Trinidad and Tobago celebrated Indian Arrival Day last Monday, May 30 and from all reports, all of the events to mark the occasion were well attended.

Mr. Basdeo Panday, who remains the most powerful East Indian leader in this nation speaking at an Indian Arrival Day function said, "kidnapping for ransom has also become a new and diabolical dimension of criminal activity where Indians were the main targets."

At the same time, at a Caribbean Historical Society function to commemorate African Liberation Day, last week Saturday, one of the speakers lamented the fact that "African youths in the society have been inculcated with false values which had turned them into violent criminals and were waging war against each other."

It is now abundantly clear that both major races of our nation face very serious problems. The statistics will indicate that East Indians have been the target of kidnappings in the overwhelming majority, while the statistic will show that mostly African youths are being murdered by their own kind.

Whether we want to believe it or not, there is a culture of violence spreading throughout the society and the state authorities seem intent on responding to the upsurge in violence by counter violence.

More weaponry for the Police, more gunboats for the Coast Guards and more army patrols are some of the measures being pursued by the government of the day.

While these measures may well be needed, the government must be careful that its response does not further escalate to the extent where our society descends into a police state, where the rights of law-abiding citizens are stifled. This is why the sight of heavily armed police officers around the Parliament building last week Friday, apparently to enforce a ban from Parliament of an elected member of the Parliament was in the view of this columnist, a very disturbing sight.

This columnist holds the view that there must be serious thought and action to correct the direction of our society in terms of the values, which helps to create the culture of violence, which is now rampant in our nation.

For when we impose false values in the minds of our population, they would become psychologically disturbed and it is this disturbance of the mindset of human beings, which could lead to deviant behaviour and eventually to violent actions.

We must build a society based on truth and fair play. We cannot encourage those who lie, cheat and carry out acts of dishonesty in order to achieve material gain.

The nation cannot afford to promote those who use dishonest means to achieve power, authority and influence. For when such is done the society is being weakened and the consequences are often disastrous.

As a nation, it is essential that we use the natural resources that God has blessed us with to the benefit of all our people. When there is unfair distribution of the wealth of any nation, serious social problems develop. This is an age of information and everyone is aware that the price of a barrel of oil is around US$50.

This means that the expectations of the people for a better 'piece of the action' will be very high, and when they see some 'show boating' with the expressions of wealth, the mind begins to ponder and wonder 'what about me'.

Life for many African and Indians is very tough. Thousands of Indians were thrown on the breadline when Caroni (1975) Ltd was closed, and they are complaining that the portions of land promised them by the government has not been given to them. One does not need to be a rocket scientist to visualise that such a situation if left unattended could lead to negative social consequences.

Also, the meagre offerings of CEPEP and URP 'employment' in the densely populated African communities will in no way alleviate the poor conditions of life, which is a daily burden to the people in these areas.

Then there is the cost of the average person to live in Trinidad and Tobago. One proper pair of shoe costs well over $300. The costs of food and utility bills are always a pressure on those who are battling to make ends meet.

This columnist believes that the concept of a broad-based national government which unites all the political parties and economic interests could be a solution to dealing the national culture of crime which is now out of control.

In that way, we will be able to unite the human resources in a positive manner to deal with crime and poverty because if we continue to hold on to 'Mother England's' concept of politics, our nation will forever remain divided.

As a consequence, it will continue to fall apart with two halves of the nation battering against each other.

Unity is strength!