Stay away from them

The previous administration gave a person well known to the police for all the wrong reasons, a contract to build a police station.

It is well known on the ground that certain politicians were in the back pocket of suspicious people.

In 2007, when I asked any young man, age nine-13, what he aspired to be, nine out of 10 would tell me they want to be a police officer, a plumber or an electrician. Now when I ask this same age group what they aspire to be, they say they want to be “a gangster, a gunman.” In 2015, I questioned a young man of 13 with mother’s milk still on his face as to why he wants to be a gangster.

He answered very matter- of-factly, “I seeing (name called) getting government contracts that allow him to have cars, girls, gold and guns.” He added, “Miss, you know how many politicians they able to talk to and I see police drive up and have drinks with them — Hennessy and Moet. When I get big, I want to be like him.” I wasn’t surprised by his answer.

I was saddened that because of government policy, generations are aspiring to be like their hero — a murderer, a menace, a “community leader.” We call on police officers to do more, but in reality, what can they do? Police themselves feel demoralised, especially since these “community leaders” have just as much power as the politicians, and therefore become untouchable.

It is a moral imperative to ensure that, whichever political party is in power, a better job is done to separate it from “community leaders” — no contracts, no friendships.

This can be a first step in tackling the crime situation plaguing our society.

KELLI COOMBS via email