On Sunday and Monday this week the spectre of youth violence reared its ugly head yet again. Two young men brutally murdered and their families, relatives and friends left to mourn and to ask the question, why? Why were young men with such promise, and in the prime of their lives, stabbed and gunned down with such inhumanity? How did our system produce such angry and vicious young people who seem to have little regard for the lives of other human beings? Where have we gone wrong as a society that such criminal elements can become the products of the system of training and development we have devised for our children? When will this cycle of violence among young people end? When will the culprits be brought to justice?
Let me take this opportunity to extend my sincere condolences to the families of Marcus and Jordel who must now be experiencing excruciating pain over the loss of their loved ones whose lives must seem to be most prematurely aborted given the expectations of the times in which we live. Yet we dare not ask the question why, given the assurances of our Christian faith that this is all apart of His divine plan. May their souls rest in peace!
A little over six weeks ago, we were saddened by Gustave’s brutal killing but we comforted ourselves, based on the response of the community, that this was probably the turning point in the fight against youth violence in our community. We felt strongly that people were sufficiently outraged, by the manner of his death, that they would be ready to adopt a more positive attitude towards bringing an end to this scourge in our community. And many of us were of the view that this was not going to be another “on again off again” approach to this serious issue. In fact, even one of the siblings in a poetic tribute resolved that revenge was not the answer but rather that we should do what is necessary to halt the spread of this “deadly pollution”in the environment.Needless to say six weeks later many persons are still in a state of despair.
One notable difference, that may be worrying, is that people have become so outraged that their behaviour has become extremely impatient and aggressive. InIslandHarbourthe response of the crowd to the stabbing incident was such that the police could not effectively manage them — to the extent that the crowd willfully and deliberately destroyed the property of the alleged victim. And whereas the incident on Monday night did not become so animated the spectators were considerably vocal. The atmosphere gave the impression that there was clear disrespect for the authority of the police and that a number of persons seem bent on taking matters into their own hands. This is by no account a good situation!
The recent “back to back killings” have led to the planning of protest marches and the circulation of a petition requesting that the crime situation be moved to the top of the agenda, and that technical expertise and additional resources be provided for the Royal Anguilla Police Force.
The view is widespread that the Police Force has been doing its best to handle these matters but it is badly in need of further capacity, preferably from overseas. This is a situation that has existed even in a number of the independent countries where the level of crime had escalated way beyond the ability of the local force to manage. These islands readily brought in expertise from overseas and improved the effectiveness of their organization. The past Government, likewise, had engaged the support of expertise from the London Metropolitan Police Force to assist them in dealing with a growing trend in violence during that period. With the support of their local counterparts they experienced considerable success. Many Anguillians believe that the time has come to revisit this approach and make this suggestion without any malice towards the present Commissioner and his Senior Officers. I believe that there is great merit in this suggestion.
Another negative development that has come as a result of the latest killings is that the code of silence has become solidified. There is a much stronger reluctance to give information to the Police because many citizens feel that the perpetrators of these crimes have become emboldened. Many of the acts that they are committing take place in the presence of witnesses and yet no proper leads or information is forthcoming. The resolution of this issue is critical to improving the investigatory role of Government.
I have pledged in a letter to the Chief Minister and in a press release: “that we have resolved to put aside any discussion on all political issues that may have the tendency to distract from the important steps required to eradicate this dangerous trend towards crime and violence in our country. We will also make available, very shortly, our strategy document dealing with a response to the issues of crime and violence for consideration by Government and the community as a whole.” All of this is subject to a proper plan of action being agreed between us and a cordial relationship for collaboration being established. I consider this very brief article to be an indication of my commitment to that undertakingto keep politics out of the equation, as far as possible, and place the issue of Youth Violence the number one priority for the nation at this time. It is time for action!
