Battle begins at home

Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Jennifer Buccoo Blake, said yesterday that kidnappings between 2003 and 2004 decreased by 26.6 percent, fraud offences by 28.1 percent and woundings and shootings by 22.1 percent. She noted, however, that murders increased by 13.1 percent; narcotics offences by 10.4 percent and larceny at dwelling houses by 15.8 percent. Based on those statistics, Blake said, the strategies undertaken by government were bearing fruit. Blake was speaking at the opening of a seminar — “Strategies for Winning The Battle Against Crime and Violence” — organised by the Caribbean Union College (CUC) and held at Crowne Plaza yesterday.

According to Blake, government had adopted an integrated approach to fighting crime. In a bid to deal with crime, the Defence Force would be utilised to assist in the training of socially displaced people. She said the Anti-Kidnapping Squad and the Firearms Interdiction Unit would receive additional manpower and resources. The Ministry of National Security and the Ministry of Education were also working closely to deal with indiscipline in schools. In his address, CUC President Dr Trevor Gardner said it was the responsibility of every citizen of this country to assist in fighting crime. He added that fighting crime was not the sole responsibility of the police, but should start with the family.

Another feature speaker, lecturer Dr Eugenia Springer, said while everyone was focusing on fighting crime, she preferred to focus on God. According to Dr Springer, crime began in the mind of the child who was being disregarded and unloved. She said that in her interaction with schoolchildren, she discovered that the child who was the troublemaker at school, was the child who was not living a comfortable life at home. She said it was the responsibility of the parents to love their children, provide the necessary comfort and happiness and instil spiritual values, so that the child would grow up to be a model citizen. She pointed out that people were preaching spiritual and moral values, but not living them. She called on all families to wake up and realise that if the problems which existed in the family were not dealt with immediately, the country was heading for further disaster.