Our island home is going through a period in our history where more and more questions are being asked as it relates to the reasons why this and that is happening.
Many want to know and understand the reason why all these changes are taking place. They ask why criminality is more rampant and why there is more delinquency, why the roads have become unsafe — and the “why” saga continues without end.
From an intellectual perspective, one would consider that there is or should be a solution to all problems, but if you do not know the problem, how do you deal with the issues?
Let us start with the killings. First, we all know that the age-group usually associated with such killing ranges from 16 to 40, we know that guns are readily available because it is big business and some invest is such a business, both locals and foreigners.
We also know that the majority of young men associated with criminal behavior are from the roots class, although they are being financed by the middle class – meaning, they have a problem with conflict resolution and management, as they distrust and rip-off each other. They are involved in bad deals and have devious means of doing business and have to take the law into their own hands to get justification. They value their employment or use in the thousands of dollars, they aspire to have the best and the most in everything material, plus they know that the level of crime detection on the island is very low.
So, with all that information they know that they can take chances and even if caught the penalties are like a slap on the wrist and their parents will come to their rescue and they will get sympathy from the rest of society on the basis that the system has failed them and because of unemployment or lack of social support they have no choice but to be who they have become.
As one social activist put it, “the government is not doing nothing for our young men.” And if they become hitmen or dabble in the drug trade or the black market or be paid by the job, they believe it is more profitable for them and they work for less hours, so, with no enforcement of the law and no commitment to anything or anyone, why not choose that lifestyle?
For our ladies, no more child-bearing because the men are not taking care of their children, more and more have to work to maintain themselves and in some cases day and night, to take care of themselves and their children. They have to supply their own homes, buy their own meals, deal with their beauty needs, also buy their rides and foot the bills for their entertainment.
So, in conclusion, because parental support is minimal, plus they have a lifestyle of glamour to contend with, now most of them flood the gambling outlets, drink and smoke their ‘hash’ like the boys and don’t need to cook because fast food is available at every street corner. So, as long as they have money, that they will earn by any means necessary – and they too have changed their way of life.
Most parents have a stand-off approach, lawlessness is considered a trend, no witnesses because if you snitch or bear witness to any crime your life is at stake — and the state has no witness protection system that you can trust.
This is a worldwide trend, so why should we not accept it considering that we are part of the world?
Now that we know some of the reasons and what the actual situation is and the how and the why, I ask: How did we become who we are today? Should we complain at all? Or, do we care to change things. After all, it is our children involved in all the negative social behavior.
As for the elderly, we are on our own and only have our morals to hold on to. The situation is not our problem to solve, and we are on the way out, one by one, and even though we may have suggestions or ideas, no one will listen to us. Why? Because we are the forgotten ones.