Caribbean societies are having to face up to youths getting involved in gangs and crime

Dr Douglas says the spectre of youth crime has implications beyond the individuals and their gangs.

He appealed to families and to the police to "save the country from these misguided people."

According to St Kitts and Nevis government statistics although crime is down for the first three months of this year, as compared to the same period in 2007, there have already been eight murders.

Listen to Prime Minister Douglas's anguished plea

The worrying scourge of youth crime is not unique or limited to St Kitts and Nevis.

Political and community leaders across the region have been lamenting the descent of some young people into gangs and the related violence that comes with that lifestyle.

Across the Caribbean there are laments of "a small but significant minority" of young people getting caught up in the so-called 'gansta- culture' involving guns, knives and other weapons - sometimes with deadly consequences.

In Antigua the government recently organised a symposium involving law enforcement officials, youth groups and schools in an attempt steer youth there away from gangs and crime.

There have been reports of girls being raped as part of their initiation into gangs.

The country's Justice Minister Colin Derrick has said the government cannot ignore that it has a problem.

What should be done to prevent youths getting into gangs and crime in the first place?

What should be done to and for them, once they get involved?

It is extremely difficult for a single mother who has two or three jobs to have time with children. Ways must be sought to facilitate women to engage in income generating activities that allow them more time at home. Ideally the youth are raising themselves because grandmothers and mothers are away from home. Who in the family circle will sacrifice to spend time with children? If they do, how will they fight the cost of living? It is a complex issue. Round table dialogues are needed at all levels. With no adults at home, children, adolescents, youth must naturally seek an identity – gangs.
Waithera Mwangi
Charlestown, St. Kitts and Nevis

Apart from the breakdown in family relationships, children are exposed to too much too early in life. Things I got to know after my 18th birthday, children today at 3 already know. Because they grow too quickly, they are unable to cope with all the things rushing through their minds, especially the programs they see on TV and the electronic games they play. Most times, after the crime is committed, the youth expresses sadness over what happened. It's like saying “something outside of the real me caused me to do it.” In this regard, the youth needs all the moral and spiritual support they can get to help them cope with the added pressure on their fragile minds.
Clayton Florent
Guadeloupe

If Jamaica is to combat its problem with youth violence, which is responsible for the vast majority of crimes here we must follow through with plans to use social and economic interventions as well as, increased policing in troubled communities-especially those in Kingston, Spanish Town, St. James and May Pen.
We must act now or else the few educated among us will continue to leave in droves because we do not feel safe. So many of my classmates at UWI say they will leave because they do not feel safe and it hurts me because our country has invested so much in us and the security issue is driving us away.
Parents must also be held accountable.
Tyrone Hall
Kingston, Jamaica

Seemingly, crime is on the rise in all the Caribbean countries. Just earlier this week the local news in the Commonwealth of Dominica was blasting the youths of the nation for the recent increase in crime. Officials and host of the second town of Dominica - Portsmouth - were raising concerns about the drastic increase in crime in their community. They said that in the near future it may just affect investors interest in Portsmouth. It is believed that the main causes of crime in Dominica are poverty, unemployment, gangs and peer pressure and of course drugs. I say the solution to this problem is to generate more activities for the youth as it relates to things that they are actually interested in like, sports, music and things of the sort... one may look at provision of jobs that suits the qualifications of those isolated youths on the streets ...I always say the most efficient and effective way out of poverty is education... which is why I am of the view that the decrease in the cost of education will allow persons who are school dropouts and adults who were never given a second chance at education to have an opportunity to equipped themselves and boost their qualifications as far as education is concerned. Drugs... well I’m not sure what else is there to do other than raising the awareness which I’m sure we have attempted to do on numerous occasions and also we can seek the help of the police. Gangs and peer pressure can be eradicated through the use of common sense, motivation, standards and ethics which I think we all possess a few of, if not many.
N. Thomas
Roseau, Dominica

I grew up hearing the older folks saying, "All work and no play makes jack a dull boy", so to is a similar saying, "The devil find work for idle hands". Having said all that the real question is where does our priority lie? If the youths of today are to be our future leaders what are we doing to ensure that? I personally believe that we have failed our youths in a most disgusting way. When we were young men and women growing up we had our teachers, parents and grandparents, pastors, as a matter of fact, the whole village to help us and nurture us. What are we doing for them but just condemning them every opportunity we get. Not that I’m saying that there are not those of us who are really trying, or am I saying there are not those who are hell bent on doing wrong, but did anyone gave up on us? No, hence I can take part in this discussion. We need to provide more avenues for them to utilize the talent they have. Open doors as Caribbean leaders for our young people to have meaningful jobs. Too often our young children leave school and have nothing to do, except join with their groups and peers where they feel accepted and where they turn around and become our worst nightmares. Though we may not be able to totally eliminate all gang activities overnight, we can minimise their formation by giving our youths an opportunity to make more meaningful contribution, where they can feel proud of themselves. We need to introduce more youth programmes and policies that can benefit all in the future. Having said all that let me compliment the Government of Antigua and Barbuda for recently introducing a compact and workable youth policy, and the drive and enthusiasm of its Youth Minister Winston Williams.
Frankie Thomas
Antigua

It’s intriguing to see that most of the comments on this topic just refer to Youth Centers, sports and Music as remedies to the plague of gangster and gun problems.
In fact I believe these are striking well off the mark.
Most West Indians have had schooling and by default an education. Hence it is only fair to deduce that what we all need are real jobs and exposure to a wide verity of industries.
Instead what do we have:- Year after year, the West Indian Governments are failing to stimulate the growth of non traditional industry in the region, and instead just sit back and continue the same stupid reliance on Tourism and some Agriculture. Hence the schooling that the citizens get is largely wasted.
Consider that it is generally much easier in the West Indies to borrow money from banks to buy cars and other luxury goods than it is to secure funds to start or expand businesses.
Sure enough the influence or America (at present) plays a significant part in influencing the minds of young people. But what we see is just the symptom of the root problem. The root problem I believe is two fold:
1)Is a lack of meaningful jobs, and the absence of a climate that should reward and stimulates non traditional industry. Consider this, why on earth is St Lucia still wasting its time with the growth and export of Bananas?? It’s a dead industry and pays peanuts. Others are doing this much better that we ever can.

2) This pride we have in being a collection of independent nations, is a false blessing. In fact I will go as far as saying that it is a curse on us all. The opportunities that can be gained in numbers and from having a single unified government are squandered.
Indeed government and leaders can stop talking or sitting on their collective hands. Instead I think that future lies in the adoption of a wide range of modern technologies upon which we can build competitive business that truly stimulate our mental capacity.
So with this, I draw your attention to the island of Singapore as an example. There the government (plus a population of several million) of that country took charge of driving (and still do) forward technology based industrial growth.
Need I say more.
S. Francis (a St Lucian living in Holland)
The Hague, Holland

Maybe the other islands should look at the amazing success of the Grenada model in dealing with youth violence and youth gangs. Grenada has been able to squash close to 95% of the youth gangs in the country and reform the majority of participants.
S S
St. George, Grenada

Parents need to make time for their kids. They need to talk to them, learn about them, listen to them, find out what makes them tick. Then and only then, can the healing begin. It starts at home.
TMN
Grenada

Build youth-centers, cultural and technical academies, sport complexes. In short, enhance positive venues of which young people are generally fond of. Once such facilities are put in place the kids will certainly take them on.
Laurin Schaedle
Port Elizabeth, SVG

The gangster culture is coming from the music. Many Caribbean songs now glorify the gang culture and often describe gruesome and grotesque murders, mothers weeping for the dead sons and even the difficulties police would have in solving the murders. All in all, in my country, in 2007, there were 36 murders! A record high. The majority of those murders were gun/gang related. If one was to do a calculation, there was an average of 3 murders per month (in a country of population 110, 000). Government cannot stop/slow the murder rate if certain music is continuing to be played!
JK
Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines

As a Caribbean citizen, I believe that everyone should come together to stop this whole issue, because all of us are being hurt. The persons in authority should develop different groups so that the youth can participate in rather than using the time to engage in negative acts.
Fernel Degazon
Castries, St.Lucia

Disenfranchisement, macho culture, lack of opportunity, easy rewards of involvement in drug and other illegal trades, poverty, disempowerment, 'acceptance' of domestic violence, devaluing of 'female' traits such as compassion and kindness? The list is endless and, surely, applicable to each and every culture, not just the Caribbean.
Kitty Cambellville

Lots more pressure should be placed on the parents of young persons. This will be hitting the problem from the foundation. Something has to be done to make parents more accountable for the wrong doings of their children. I will say it and it will go through one ear and pass through the other. I am sure this is the root of all these problems.
Mark
St Lucia

Why is all things gone bad all of a sudden caused by America? Many Caribbean-born immigrants have filled US jails for many years. At one period here in NYC, ghettos were full of West Indian drug dealings. It became way larger than previous in these ghettos. I am very aware of situations that prevent successful lives for all of our children, here and abroad. Just be honest! We have neighbours who denounce crime in our neighbourhoods until it involves someone from their own circle. Like one (person) said, some of their parents did these things, so children watch and learn from them also.
HB
Brooklyn, USA

These same youth also have a lot of talent. Why don't we begin developing programs to tap into this talent: music, dancing, sports, art, talking... there are so many talents these youth have that governments don't promote because they may not seem entirely appropriate. The reality is that we need to recognize that cultures change over time, especially with today's rapidly changing world, and that we ought to provide resources for youth to use these talents for economic purposes. Once they're encouraged to do so, they will feel invested in them because it's an economic opportunity. So, I suggest creating large music, art, freestyle, dance, and other popular mentor/training centers in the largest Caribbean cities that would be open to all youth.
Carlos
La Romana, Dominican Republic

The youth of today in the Caribbean worship the American way of living. Sexy girls, fancy cars etc. They will do anything to mimic it.
The Caribbean must do all it can to promote, highlight, big-up the Caribbean way of life. Rich food, clean air, beautiful landscape. Our youth lack identity and purpose. If we instill this at an early age, they will understand that they will inherit Caribbean traditions, therefore they must defend it and themselves, against everything foreign and negative.
K C
Belize City, Belize

The issue of youth involvement in Gangs, Crime, Drugs, and Violence is something that must be addressed by everyone. It must first however start at the homes. There are some family members who themselves are involved in these activities, therefore the youth see an immediate role model. Once a parent is involved in these activities it would be very difficult for them to take a stand against them. The Police in my mind are doing a good job with the tools they have to fight these activities. Tools include laws, just to mention. Some of the laws that are inexistence are not sufficient to deal with today’s criminals and criminal activities. Therefore the governments have to step up to the times. They have to speak out more openly against these activities and show greater support for law enforcement, and not just mention something about the issue just for political mileage. Everyone in the community has to get involved rather than leaving it up to law enforcement, then sit back and criticize law enforcement. Addressing these issues must take on a collective approach. I must say also, that the business community must play an important role as well, since they too are at times become victims of these activities.
Curtis
St. Kitts and Nevis

As a Caribbean native who'll soon be returnibng home let me begin by saying the our leaders cannot do business as usual. The world is changing at a nano second pace. Immigration opportunities are on a steadfast decline for these youth. A VERY deliberate effort must be made to address the frustrations of youth: they need creative ways to disperse their mental and physical energy and they are confined to an island.
My suggestions are:
1. Appoint a Recreation and Youth Minister.
2.Build a national Youth Center at least two at different points of the island.(all this can be funded by grants from affluent countries) and have programs in place to engage youth.
3.Create Swim, Cricket,Soccer,Tennis, Cycling, Wind surfing, Boxing, competition/training and grant awards and scolarships to those who excel.
That's a start.. Stay in touch with youth and you will see the crime before it happens.
CVS, Barbados.

It's obvious that these gangs are following in the footsteps of the American gang culture. Therefore, tactics to curb this trend have to be implemented. It is best to use what the U.S already established as working effectively.
My recommendations include:
1. Counselling for kids at all school levels, especially at the age where they are most vulnerable to bad influence.
2. This trend is something that has to be stifled aggressively. Daily random searches of kids both male and female for weapons, especially the ones in groups.
3. There has to be extremely harsh punishments for weapons found, so that fear the consequences of being caught with a weapon.
Why aggressive harsh punishment? Simply because it will only be a matter of time before these gangs become out of control and start influencing kids exponentially. These kids will then be the representatives of tomorrow society. This breakdown in youth mentality is easier to fix in its early fazes, because when money and drugs become involved, they will be powerful bad influences without respect for anyone, but their gang members.
For example on how bad gangs can become, the MS-13 gang comes to mind because they are expanding like a plague and extorting people in their own neighbourhood, and shooting other gang members on sight.
Jay