Therefore, that is not the issue we have with the possible 'implication' of the approach of the UTFAC.
Our deep concern is that the 'modus operandi' of the UTFAC lacks a 'bigger picture' approach in which the root-causes is also integral part of the solution.
Critically lacking for instance, is that while they talk about crime, such is done WITHOUT defining what is meant with 'crime'-'criminals' .
Consequently-, this approach is at best not effective- and at worst yet not genuine and/or fair to all and it possibly also contributes even more to the problem that anything else.
Reason, is that the 'implied' criminals-/crime are in fact mostly-, 'selectively' directed towards certain 'socio-economic' groups- in the process leaving out 'other'., perhaps more 'established' stakeholders A simple case in point.
It appears that only when members of 'certain sectors' of our community are affected, that some people, exclusively apply the term 'crime'- and 'criminals' on those perpetrators, who 'happen' to be mostly young-, Black boys from the 'hood- or the 'projects'.
In the process, it seems at best opportune to focus on these juvenile delinquents as the main 'culprits', forgetting the universal principle that; 'Every fish starts to rotten from the head down towards the tail'.
In other words.
How fair-, logical can it be to expect that our young people can be any better that those in the highest place within our community, who in fact create the conditions, in which only bad can come out ?
The number of examples is too large to even start mentioning here, but just to make our point-, and to shift the discussion in the 'other direction', to bring balance in the 'blame-game' against who are the real criminals.
What about those in high places, being Government selling out the island- its people and the future of our young St. Martiners, just to fill their own pockets- and enrich their family and their own elite circle ?
What about having allowed for Chinese supermarkets to 'infiltrate' deep into the 'hinterland' of the country, pushing out locals out of their traditional grocery businesses ?
Then what about employers, who abuse their employees, simply because many of them are undocumented and have no other choice then to accept ?
What about politicians 'bribing' immigrants to undermine local-, native St. Martiners What about the blatant discrimination taking place against many St. Martin- and Caribbean persons working in the white-south-African dominated marina-industry especially- at IGY in the Simpson-bay lagoon ?
What about the fact that there are many single-mother families, where the mother is underpaid-, and the children underfed and left up to the streets ?
And so, there are so many examples of exploitation and 'institutionalized' crime by the 'Haves against the have nots'.
So many people can express their own 'horror-stories'.
Unless-, we as a society have the courage to really attempt to define the notion of crime and its perpetrators and deal with their root-causes, I am afraid that NO task-force will ever be successful in fighting crime.
Focusing on the young perpetrators of the many violent forms of crime-, without also addressing the importers of the weapons- and those who make profit from the drugs-trade- and politicians, who condone this atmosphere of ired and supported, but so should also be the 'scope' of their work, including their definition of crime- and criminals.
Society must also go after the 'big guns' and those in Government-, who in fact create conditions conducive for asocial behavior- and crime.evil,- greed-, and corruption makes absolutely no sense in my humble opinion.
This is not to discourage those members of the task force, because they should be very much adm Our young delinquents-, as disgusting and appalling their violence is to any normal person, they are largely the product of neglect-, and bad examples by those in leadership position-, starting with Government, trickling down to law-enforcement officers-, churches-, educators-, parents etc.
Perhaps we can consider an initiative, I proposed on many occasions before, but which again was ignored by the media and the establishment.
Its premise is simple.
The only ones who REALLY know what 'drives them' to do what they are doing are the young people themselves.
We MUST therefore engage with them regardless the challenges.
That is what Greg ARRINDELL did a few weeks ago on his program 'It is about time', for which we highly recommend him.
And yes, it is time to conduct structural-, ongoing intensive secret polls among our young people in all schools, at the jobs etc. to find out what is 'in their heads', such as who and what pushes them into crime etc.
Only-, once we have that information-, can we possibly together with them design the right 'medication'.or solution Food for thought.
Leopold JAMES
First director HAVO/VWO of the Milton Peters College and still...
Proud-native indigenous St. Martiner without apologies
