This week the island witnessed the funeral services of two St. Lucians who were vastly different in age and who succumbed in distinctly differently circumstances.
On Friday St. Lucia buried Sir. Emmanuel Neville Cenac who was 86 at the time of his passing on June 2. He served as governor general of St. Lucia, after succeeding Dame Pearlette Louisy, from 2018 to 2021. He joined the political arena in 1968 with the St. Lucia Labour Party and served as the mayor of Castries from 1981 to 1982, when he resigned to become the leader of Labour Party and the Leader of the Opposition. He subsequently served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs with the United Workers Party from 1987 to 1992. So, it was fitting that nothing less than a state funeral would be adequate.
St. Lucia also witnessed the final farewell to Joy St. Omer, a 24-year-old mother who was brutally gunned down while sitting in her car after a long day at the office. St. Omer, who was gunned down on May 20, was an active youth organizer. It was understandable that the Anse la Raye church was packed to capacity, with almost similar numbers on the outside, as individuals came from all over the island donning pink in a massive show of support and a demonstration of outrage for the senseless murder.
Days after the unfortunate May 20 incident, voice notes emerged on social media seemingly condoning the gruesome murder and openly suggesting that there were more similar incidents to unfold. While we are careful not to give credence to such vile statements it begs the question when and how did we come to this?
A society that has over the years been known for “the community nurtures the child” concept, where it was possible to leave your house unlocked without concern, has now tumbled into an environment of fear with what looks like lightning speed. The violent nature of personal encounters now is unprecedented and has all the makings of a ticking time bomb.
We must be honest and understand that this did not just happen this year. The history of paying lip service to crime and playing world cup quality political football with criminality has gradually come back to bite us where it hurts.
As we have discussed in the past, there is no quick fix for this problem. It is an issue that involves behavioral change and the ability to adequately handle conflict resolution in a non-violent manner, something that takes a generation to reverse.
But what happens in the interim? Some experts suggest that we need to talk to our young people more through social media campaigns, and seminars, at schools, churches, etc. While that may prove to be of some value, are these the individuals we really want to reach?
It stands to reason that the rot is worse than what it appears to be particularly when one looks at the types of violent crimes that are committed and the involvement of entire families, on occasion, engulfed in criminality.
As for the individuals who appear to be promoting continued violence, particularly against women, the law must act swiftly in the strongest possible fashion to deter and discourage those who are emboldened enough to champion this abhorrent posture in our society.
“If you see something, say something” is a campaign made popular in the United States. Maybe that’s where we need to place more emphasis to affect the status quo immediately.