If violent crime was as an infection, a public health emergency would have been declared 17 years ago. Violent crime should be so labeled because humans are injured, disabled, or killed, families disrupted, and the economy put at high risk of sustained downturn. Public Health has tried and true approaches to solutions such as comprehensive public communication, interruption of spread and source elimination. These measures are well-known to the agencies responsible for public security, public safety and public order.
The primary duty of government is to protect its people. Therefore, where there is a high level of citizen insecurity, the degree of political will (or lack thereof) must come under intense scrutiny.
On face value, allocating $72 million to National Security appears prudent. However, governing in a purely reactionary mode is neither effective nor efficient. Prevention is better than cure. Youth crime and violence are preventable provided Social Protection and Youth Capacity Building are optimally resourced. In 2017, the combined allocation to Community Development, Gender Affairs, Social Services, Youth, Sports and Culture was a paltry $14 million.
Many a Speech Day cliché is “The children of today are the leaders of tomorrow”. What are the prospects for a society where 17 year olds are shooters? Indeed, every kidnapped, tortured and killed 17 year old or other young person is a profound loss to family, community and a small country.
The Attorney General recently reported there are nine year olds in gangs proving (again) the existence of a “bad from me born” pipeline leading from toxic families. This should have been a wake-up call to the country’s leadership. The fierce urgency of now is the convening of the national will to decide countermeasures and resource their just and fearless implementation. External consultants do not substantially add to what local people know, have proposed or started.
The wherewithal to act resides in the Federation. A testament to this was the 1993 Four Seasons Accord – a homegrown attempt to settle political stalemate. The Federation now needs Civil Society leaders to force another attempt at political makeover.
Failure of mature adults to act is not an option. The gun insurgency needs to cease, now. Scores of children from infancy to 17 need to be liberated from calamitous families, now.
The following action lines are proposed as essential to forging “Our country where peace abounds”:
Strengthened application of the known tactics to suppress violent gangs
Abatement of derelict property
Rapid interception and correction of school bullies
Strengthening programs that correct or reduce learning disabilities
Blocking importation of violent television channels
Creation of foundations to support the development of sports, performing arts, and youth groups
Establishment of cooperatives focused on food and craft production
Upgrading PEP/STEP to a National Apprenticeship Program
Resource strengthening of Parenting Skills Training, Counselling Services, Child Protection, Foster Care, Sexual Offences Units, and Prosecutions
Accelerated adoption of best practices in correctional facilities
Legalization of spiritual and medical use of marijuana
A thought: Perhaps the deep, deep pain over Leanna’s tragic death may be eased somewhat by ending the disruption of the BHS. Judging from cleaning done to accommodate Music Festival activities, the reopening of the Victoria Road campus is doable in less than 17 weeks and at zero risk to the aquifer.
A fitting symbol of national resolve is to have Principia Non Homines return to its rightful home for September 2017.