I wish to bring to the public’s attention that June 4, 2012 will mark six years since young Joann Lynch from Bartica, a mother of one, had her face disfigured by an ex-jealous lover of her then partner who threw acid in her face while she was at home. The perpetrator managed to escape, evade arrest and to leave the jurisdiction and is now purported to be living in Trinidad and Tobago.

From my conversation with Ms. Lynch, the name of the individual, his current place of residence in Trinidad and all the necessary information to facilitate the man’s arrest was presented to the police but still there is no tangible movement in solving this case.

This, like many other cases, begs the question of how effective is our INTERPOL and security bilateral cooperation are working. This young woman at her own expense and safety went to Trinidad to locate the perpetrator, contacted the Trinidad authorities who informed her of the protocols necessary for them to effect an arrest which was communicated to the local authorities; but today there is little or no action to bring this case to a speedy conclusion.

Even the local actors who aided this perpetrator to gain access to Ms. Lynch’s apartment and subsequently his escape from the community are yet to be arrested and charged.

I trust now that with the passage of time, the emergence of new personnel at the divisional and other levels of the Police Force, there will be a renewed interest and thinking to this case. This will definitely bring closure for this young woman and her family.