Head of The Men’s Affairs Bureau ,Diego Alphonso said much still needs to be done to tackle the growing incidents of youth involvement in crime; however, he offered no concrete solution to the scourge, but rather urged the repairing of the family structure.
Youth involvement in crime the world over, for some time now, has been aiding in the continued deterioration of society, and parents, especially mothers are hurting.
Close to two weeks ago, three teenage boys descended on the home of a Dazzell Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara family and carried out a daring daylight robbery. In defence, the owner of the home whipped out his licensed firearm and shot 15-year-old Leon McCurdy of Kitty, killing him almost instantly. Late last year, 28-year-old Delon Hawker of Alness Village on the Corentyne lost his life after being shot by police. He was at the time attempting to elude ranks after he and another accomplice ransacked the home of a Dundee, Mahaicony family. Hawker had left his home to attend the R Kelly show in Georgetown.
Alphonso said that the underlying issues are many. However, special attention needs to be given to parents and their method of “parenting”. “We believe in the whole issue of parenting and fatherhood, because what we are seeing in the young men could very well be a reflection of what is going on with the men that are already matured,” he told Guyana Times International in an exclusive interview recently.
Alphonso posited that the problem is further compounded with the lack of positive role models in the lives of the youth.
Role models
“If the young men do not have role models or persons they could emulate or if they are emulating the wrong role models in the men that already exist in terms of the fathers and the matured men, then it will be reflected in their behaviour.”
He said that the organisation, recognising the urgency of the situation, has been working with young boys in both private and public schools, since, according to him, if change must take place, it must be with those who are young.
“We initiated sessions with the New Opportunity Corps and secondary schools and we continue as well to have outreaches in the various communities because we try to connect with these boys. We constantly reach out to these young men and these are things that are ongoing,” he said.
According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Caribbean Human Development Report 2012 titled “Human Development and the Shift to Better Citizen Security”, organised crime and gangs are the source of major lethal violence in the region.
Vulnerable
Youths are inherently vulnerable in the Caribbean development process. Youth violence is an important challenge, particularly in the form of street gangs, contributing to popular perceptions of increasing insecurity, the report stated.
Inadequate and poor parenting, influence, high levels of unemployment, exposure to violence at home, in schools, in communities and the wider society, poor or inadequate educational opportunities, and social exclusion have been pinpointed as the key contributing factors to youth gangs and violence across the Caribbean.
Alphonso said while the organisation has not been able to “pinpoint any reason why that may be so”, it would be wise if special caution is exercised in the Afro-Guyanese community. Alphonso pointed out that no one individual or organisation can bring about the desired changes. It is his hope that entities, both private and public, work together.
Meanwhile, Pastor Patrick Findlay, who also serves as the deputy permanent secretary within the Labour, Human Services and Social Security Ministry, said the situation is troubling.
Young men, he said, are losing their lives and it needs to stop. Findlay expressed sentiments similar to Alphonso’s, pointing out that parents are partly to be blamed. He noted too that the situation is “just the tip of the iceberg”.
“I am not surprised,” he said, adding “Yes, we are hurting, but I am not surprised… we have now a broken society perpetuated basically by parents who have not taken the time to learn the rudiments of parenting. We have marriages now where people are getting involved and they do not have the requisite knowledge.”
Findlay said that the situation may appear hopeless, but it is not. “I don’t see it as a lost cause; I see it as an atmosphere where we have to, as religious leaders, become more involved in the lives of our young people. We just cannot wish for them to change because the kids are confused, we need to help.”
