Small Islands Voice

Radio Panel Discussion

Is there a link between unemployment and crime and by extension youth violence?

March 17^th, 2004

Mr Fergurson introduced the speakers.

Panelists included:

Mr Kervin Lloyd, Probation Officer, Ministry of Probation and Child Protection Services

Mr Elvis Richardson, Principal, Verchilds High School

Mr Fadel Imo, Youth Parliamentarian

Topic: Is there a link between unemployment and crime and by extension youth violence?

Mr Fergurson questioned the type of crime that was being looked at in this particular forum.

Mr Lloyd explained that crime in its true sense is any wrongdoing that is contrary to any area of the law. In St Kitts at this moment, crimes are looked at as being associated with juveniles and young people and the illegal activities that are purported by them.

Mr Fergurson commented that if there was a scenario where someone exclaimed that there is a link between unemployment and crime where they felt that the persons associated with crime have no interest in being employed.

A lengthy discussion continued stating that persons do not necessarily want to be unemployed but that there is no opportunity for employment. Discussions continued exclaiming that there was some kind of opportunity because they are in a position to get something even though it is little.

Persons who commit crime it is found out are unemployed, but it is not a policy that unemployment causes persons to commit crimes.

Reference was made to the 1980s when the system taught you to be, then to do, then to have. In these present times, we want to have even before we can be or even before we have established ourselves. We need to resort back to that system.

When certain person who committed crimes were questioned as to their motive, most of them gave answers that they were influenced by their peers. They have expressed that they were influenced by strong negative peer influence. They would not have resorted to such violence if they were operating solo.

Mr Richardson cited examples of persons who have committed crimes and when their backgrounds were checked, it was found out that these persons were reported for a number of repeat offences in school even from as far as 2^nd Grade. He reported that maybe it was an indictment on teachers that these persons has slipped through.

Mr Lloyd added that the parents to were responsible for their child’s social interaction and play a vital role in helping these children to discover themselves. He thought that education should be looked at as a democracy and the Education Department is vigorously pursuing a program known as “Changing the culture of the classroom.” This is a UNESCO sponsored initiative. This program states that we must now move away from the classroom setting and look at the home because this is the first place of socialization for any child.

Email (A. Stevenson): Noted his disappointment that the Basketball League was opened and the Minister of Sports was invited and for the past 4 years she has not attended. He stressed the importance of basketball to create scholarships to the youths of this country.

Caller #1 (Mr Walford): Stressed his opinion that there is nothing in this world can be done by humans to stop crime. He expressed that crime was created by God as was good and evil. He spoke about Adam and Eve and their choice to eat of the fruit of evil. He questioned why the Christian churches did not make it clear that crime is unstoppable.

One of the panelists answered the caller’s concern and pointed out that he noted that Adam and Eve made a choice in eating the evil fruit. He made himself very clear in stating that each and every individual has a choice and crime is present, but it can never be a part of a person unless they make an internal and personal choice to whether they want to engage in activities that can be labeled as crime or whether they want to redirect their energies into finding other solutions that life will in fact present.

Caller #2: Pointed out that reactions flare mainly from respect and the examples that we are giving to our children. Our children are an image of who we are and we have to be very careful of the image we portray.

Caller #3: Thought that the Christian Council was very quiet in this whole matter of speaking out against crime. She thought that they were too closed- mouthed on the matter and need to come out.

One panelist quoted a very interesting acronym. It encouraged persons to THINK about anything before we do or say it.

T – Is it truthful, H – Is it helpful, I – Is it Inspiring, N – Is it necessary and K – Is it kind. It any or all of these answers are “no”, then don’t do and don’t say. If we develop this type of attitude, we would develop self respect. Everyone wants to stand for their rights but when the time is there to stand against the wrong, persons grow silent. It is our moral obligation, not only to stand up for right, but to stand against the wrong.

Caller #4: Discussed his belief. He stated the following. “If there are institutions in society who will strive to engender the values self esteem, self respect and self worth, then our entire society will go a long way in being a vibrant and harmonious society. The main problem with our youths of today is ignorance and the schools play a major role in shaping our youths against this sorry state of affairs.

It is amazing to see the simple things that result in large fights and then it escalates into ignorance because there is nothing inside the brain of these culprits. There is no value of self esteem.”

Mr Fergurson questioned whether the schools have a program in place to prepare the youths for the world of work. He made mention in his capacity as an employer about the attire and entire presentation of some of these young people when they are looking for jobs and attending interviews.

Mr Richardson stated that the school does have a program in place for such occurrences. Teachers have even gone to the extent of organizing a session known as Personal and Social Development where they invite different persons from the community who are business executives to come and present motivational speeches and business ethics.

He pointed out that the schools try to teach education in the effective domain but the ultimate change depends on the individual. The individual must want to be or to do in order to be successful.

Mr Fergurson posed a question to Mr Imo as a youth parliamentarian as to what his opinion was on Government finding a solution or if they can have any legislation that can be put in place to reduce the tendency for young people coming out of schools who are not empowered to commit crimes.

Mr Imo answered that firstly it is impractical to legislate direct behaviour. He continued on by explaining that there was a proposal written up called the National Youth Policy of St Kitts and Nevis 2002 with a section called Training and Empowerment of all young men and women. This section’s objectives were to provide the necessary skills young persons to enter into the labour market and to publicize training and employment in the local market while encouraging entrepreneurship.

He thought that this was a very good program but young persons fell short on the know-how and the skills needed for entrepreneurship. He made mention of SEDU and FND who are geared towards the development of small enterprises, so the financial backing is present. What is lacking however is that young persons do not posses the skills in what it takes to be a business person. They do not have the skills to monitor and evaluate or to measure returns on investments.

A lengthy discussion ensued regarding the emphasis that is placed on persons who are not in the areas to pass a number of CXC subjects. No interest is being placed on the technical students. The school focuses on the amount of academic passes to enhance the moral of the school and then the system judges you by the CXC passes and the other students on the lower level are ignored.

It was pointed out that at the end of each academic year, there are hundreds of students leaving school with the same subjects and seeking the same jobs. As a result of this, there were some jobs that were over subscribed while there are other fields where there is a great lack or shortage of persons. An example was made to the amount of students who leave school and go to study law in St Kitts therefore; we have a vast number of lawyers. On the other hand, we are in great need of Electrical Engineers, Social Workers and Legal Draftsmen. However, there is not a lot of interest paid to these areas in St Kitts.

Caller #4: Made a point that in Trinidad there was still a system of doing entry level exams in place. This system makes it impossible for some students to lose the opportunity to gain a least a secondary education. In St Kitts and Nevis, although our educational system could be more comprehensive, but we are the only country in the Caribbean except for The Bahamas that has done away with these entry level exams and has afforded everyone the opportunity to gain a secondary education.

Caller #5: Thought that yes there is a linkage between unemployment and crime. He explained that he is a victim in the system. He describes his position of being a heavy equipment driver which includes risk so therefore carries a high salary. He reasons that the young workers out of college who are placed in positions as your superiors, look at your salary and judge you by that salary and therefore will not properly represent you but envy you instead.

He complained that the Guyanese and Trinidadians were the ones who were getting these jobs over Kittitian persons who are experienced but do not have a degree.

Caller #6: St Kitts does not have level entry exams and we still do not have a comprehensive system. St Kitts needs to improve their system by looking at a comprehensive system and stop focusing solely on the academics and thereby allowing those students who are perceived as not being academically inclined to fall through the cracks. This also has to go back to parents and how we raise our children.

Caller #7:Thought that the emphasis is placed too much on the amount of subjects. He pointed out that if you choose a particular career and only needed five subjects to assist you with that career, then the other four would have been a waste of time.

Mr Fergurson questioned if it was not important to have person who have both academics and technical skills. We need well-rounded individuals who have a bit of both.