Education and Community Hold the Key to Crime Reduction

Dec 31, 2007

The reality as we commence 2008 is that even though 2007 has probably been the most prosperous year on record for Trinidad and Tobago, it has also been the bloodiest year on record for Trinidad and Tobago.

In 2007 Trinidad and Tobago recorded approximately 30 murders per 100,000 citizens. That statistic will put Trinidad and Tobago in at least the top 5 of the table of the bloodiest countries in the world. A statistic no one can be proud of.

Just to put this in perspective, Canada had a murder rate in 2006 of 1.85 per 100,000 and incidentally 75% of perpetrators of homicides were caught by 2007.

As we "celebrate" another record year of criminal activity (murder) in Trinidad and Tobago it has become patently clear to me that we cannot and should not depend on Senator Martin Joseph or the Commissioner of Police to halt or reverse the trend of insecurity faced by citizens of Trinidad and Tobago despite the fact that these two gentlemen enjoy status and perks to fulfil this objective. They have not addressed themselves adequately to the task in the past and there is no reason or no indicator to believe or to suggest that this will change in the year ahead.

Neither can we depend on the Opposition who at close of play for the year 2007 were still fighting over who in the party has authority over the party whilst the leader spent Christmas in London.

The time has come for the intelligent, responsible and capable citizens in society to step up to the plate and show leadership in their own as well as their adjoining communities.

Gang violence seems to be the leading cause of murder in this country. So common sense would dictate that in order to curb the violence in our nation, we must provide an alternative to gang warfare.

A quick study of gangs will reveal that gangs are made up of disenfranchised male youth in the age group 14 to 25 years old. Many gang members do not live beyond the age of 25. Other similar characteristics include mediocre education, broken and abusive homes, learning disorders, cramped government housing as their living conditions (although other private low cost housing is also present), lack of social skills, a sense of hopelessness and resignation, and of course a desire to get rich overnight through the mismanagement of government social programmes, drug dealing and gun running combined with no sense of future.

Some of these problems can be tackled in a meaningful way with less effort than others. Our challenge as a nation and as citizens is to start tackling those problems that can be tackled.

Education is in my view the solution to many of the problems because education can reduce frustration, can give life purpose and can provide the tools for those who seek opportunity. Education of course cannot just be arithmetic and grammar, education must address the needs of the individual as well as the family and the community. 

There needs to be concerted effort on the part of society to show that the way of the gang lifestyle is not the way forward!

There needs to be recognition by all that disenfranchised youth are still human beings!

The government must understand that a gang murder is NOT an excuse that is tolerated by the citizens for the senseless loss of life of an individual!

There must be readily available education for coping within the family. In this little twin island republic there are too many abusive family situations that lead to family breakdown that could be avoided. Many of the gang members are the products of this breakdown. Young men (and women - which will be dealt with subsequently) leave these abusive situations and find solace with their comrades on the street or on the block as the adults in society fail them.

Some of these youth try to pursue their regular education but are instead ridiculed by the other members of the block who would prefer that others do not develop pass their own comfort zone BUT worst than that, they are even sometimes ridiculed by their parents. 

Those who go through hell to try to succeed are then ridiculed by their peers in school or by their teachers who make no attempt to understand what has to be gone through to even get to class on a daily basis.   

When faced with this cycle of frustration, many cannot be blamed for succumbing. But they are blamed by academics and postulating commentators who do so without any attempt at understanding.

Many of the children who find themselves on the streets are sexually abused or used by the very class of people who scold them in the media and other forums to carry out criminal agenda. As a community we need to clamp down on these sick and abhorrent adults. Society must play its part.

This behaviour cannot go on for much longer. The middle class will become prisoner to this tragic system if we do not fight back soon. Even those who now feel isolated and protected from this disease that we have created will not be isolated forever.

We need to educate the poor so that they can understand opportunity and seek it. We need to provide opportunity to those who seek it. We need to take care of those who are unable to understand or seek opportunity.

We need to rehabilitate instead of isolate.

We cannot expect to enjoy our food whilst our neighbours remain hungry.  

We must not absolve those in authority from their responsibility BUT we cannot and must not sit back and do nothing either.

I wish to urge you wherever you can to support the NGOs who at least make an attempt to help the family, or provide education and training to young people. Help set up or sponsor a needy child into pre-school care. Give a young person who is trying a job. Let the government know that all life is meaningful. Let us make a difference to our country in 2008.

Many of us have lost our way. The rich and the poor alike. There is too much greed and not enough compassion. Yes Trinidad and Tobago we are all to blame, because we have forgotten the greatest commandment - love your neighbour as yourself.

Happy New Year.

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