Call for government to re-visit September 2003 symposium on crime and violence

     Dr. Willan 'Para' Riviere issues a fresh call to government to revisit the September 2003 Symposium on Crime and Violence in an attempt to address as a matter of urgency crime and violence among youth. He pleads with the authorities to listen to the voices of the people and subordinate personal and party interests to that of the nation

     Government’s tardiness in taking a clear position on the growing crime and violence among our country’s young population is disturbing. Every other stakeholder has over the past two weeks taken a position in public. They have all expressed concern at recent and current trends and have noted the negative impact this might have on our nation’s development now and in the future. Some have pointed to what they perceive to be the root causes of the problem. Others have offered recommendations as to what might be done now to halt and reverse these causes. And the Catholic Church has set up its own Commission to diagnose the problem and prescribe remedial action. But all are agreed that the trend in youth crime, violence and general disrespect for authority is getting out of control. That it must be arrested. And that in the battle to do so we, everyone of us are stakeholders.

     It should be noted that this attitude on government’s part is a drastic departure from that of the Administration of the late Prime Minister Pierre Charles. The late Prime Minister had recognized the developing problem and had hosted a symposium of experts and stakeholders in September 2003 to study the phenomenon and chart a way forward. The symposium was chaired by the then Honourable Parliamentary Secretary, Rayburn Blackmore, now Minister of State in the present government with responsibility for security. The tone of the discussion was set by Dominican-born Criminologist, Dr. Peter St.Jean, who has developed a reputation in the United States Criminology circles as a leading action-oriented researcher on crime and violence, including among the downtrodden and less fortunate in Brazil. Addresses were delivered by Prime Minister Charles, the Commissioner of Police, the Honourable Attorney General and the Chairman of the CARICOM task force on crime. And papers were presented by Dr. St.Jean; the Commissioner of Police; the Director of Women’s Bureau; the Director of Prisons; the Director of Tourism; the Chairman, CARICOM Task Force; the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Marketing; and representatives of he DAIC and the Media Association.

     From all accounts the deliberations were a success. The meeting agreed to establish a Commission on Crime and to formulate a Master Plan. And a Steering Committee of named stakeholders was set up to map the way forward. Its chairman was Honourable Blackmore. He seemed pleased with the outcome and on behalf of the then government stated that “the hosting of he Symposium was a clear manifestation of the Government’s commitment to develop a national plan that supports a holistic and multi-sectoral approach to the management of crime in the country.”