Upon hearing that the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has recorded its first homicide for 2024, how did the news make you feel and/or what was your initial reaction? Everyone has an answer, idea or thought when it comes to crime and violence affecting our society.
A lot of talk usually surrounds implementing harsh penalties that would serve as a deterrent for those who choose to take that type of ‘broad road’ in life rather than walking the proverbial ‘straight and narrow’ which speaks to being guided by moral and ethics in living one’s life. Some people argue that ‘hanging’ should be the route to punish those who take lives through violent acts.
A lot of parents are placed on the receiving end of getting blamed because some individuals share the view that parents/ guardians must and should have an idea of what their children are up to while living under their roofs. Some people go further to express the view that parents and guardians of any accused juvenile must bear and share whatever penalties.
Instead of a blame game though, whatever our response or thought process is on the topic of crime and violence, there must be a collective call to action in arriving at resolutions linking to the well-known principles of ‘It takes a village to raise a children’. ‘Discipline starts at home’ and ‘Family is the first institution of learning’ are two common phrases that we are all familiar with and it is always an automatic topic of discussion when it comes to crime and violence. That popular 90’s ‘Mammy Don’t Bother To Come’ song by Trinidadian Calypsonian Franz “DeLamo” Lambkin comes to mind; a thought-provoking tune that created airwaves around the Caribbean which is still hitting on relevance today.
Powerful punching lyrics like: ‘Mammy this is your son Tony
writing you from death row, Prepare for the worst but don’t worry come please, ah want you to know me time is short but ah still have time before they hang me and take me down, Maybe my testimony could reach a deaf ear stop some young boy doing wrong. Me mind goes back to those early days when I was a little child, Nobody could correct me, I was you piece a coil you just left me to run wild…” “So mommy get de message…
Please listen to me and save your passage, Stay home and train Derrick and Andy because ah don’t want me little brothers to end up like me. I really love you mommy but understand where I’m coming from, there is nothing more you can do for me so mommy don’t bother to come…This is de wish of you vagabond son.” A common social-ill of a father’s absence is addressed when he belts out “Ah woulda like to blame me father but ah know me daddy…” In sharing regret of following bad company whom he had as “role models”, he mentions “but what a fool I was only because ah say dem fellas brave and mighty but it not de same in prison, Dey tame hiding behind dey lawyer panty.” The artiste also tells his mother “Prison make me realize de negativity you symbolize.” Of note however, love for his mother is repeated throughout the lyrics almost as frequently as he puts the distance between them in telling her not to visit him in prison.
“To go my PTA meetings in school was you biggest regret…Ah really love you mammy but you help create what I have become, Light a candle and say a prayer for me but mommy don’t bother come…This is the last wish of your ragamuffin son,” is what is he also tells his mom. The singer dishes apologetic melody to his school teacher expressing “Is now I appreciate what Ms.
Browne used you try to teach me in school, She cared enough to try correct me oh God I was such a fool…Too late I learn de lesson but find she and tell she sorry.” Despite his delinquency, ‘Tony’ points to seeking salvation for his the Almighty while also advising youngsters to keep away from a life of crime. “If I am to get salvation first I have to repent and confess, Admit I did wrong and from de Master seek my redress.
So tell all dem youth man in de country don’t carry cutlass to party and end up like me…tell dem seek first de kingdom of de Master, Play sports educate yourself and you will prosper. I really love you mammy, To me you are still the world’s greatest mom, May God protect you for me but mammy don’t bother to come…” A social dialogue song of this nature and theme contains critical insight into the importance of proper and responsible homely upbringing of childrenthe reality then and now, and guidance for the future.
