Support for Laventille crime body

THE EDITOR: South East Port-of-Spain Youth Development Programme will like to record its full endorsement and support for the efforts of Mr Lennox Smith and the Ad Hoc Committee For The Eradication Of Crime in Laventille in attempting to meet the challenges of crime reduction in contemporary behind-the-bridge. No one can deny that this social problem is the most significant since the steelband riots of east Port-of-Spain. Surely the gang killings, the violent murders and the decaying moral value for life and property is a phenomenon Donald Stedmond, Spree Simon, Bertie Marshall and the Desperados Genius could not contemplate if they were alive

Yes, there was violence, but it was always tempered with an unwritten understanding that no one should die. In other words, the value on life was put at such a high value that the most violent outbreak/clashes would result in wounding rather than death. The choice of weapon then was a ‘3-cannal’. Today we see the proliferation of guns and a level of lawlessness never before experienced in behind-the-bridge communities. In many parts of Morvant and Laventille one is routinely awakened by menacing gun shots that punctuate the nights and arouse an anxiety that makes one wonder whether he or she will live to see daybreak. This is the challenge Mr Smith, Archbishop Burke and other dedicated Laventille souls face. It is nice to see that personalities such as Sean Francis, Rennie Paul and Sheldon Scott are lending assistance to the effort. Clearly we have much to lose as a community. No doubt the conference must not fail, since the future of our children and the community of behind-the-bridge depend on a successful outcome. You have our prayer and support for a better community.

STEPHENSON BROWNE
Chairman, South East
Port-of-Spain
Youth Development Programme