Earlier this week, the Caricom Secretary General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque revealed some shocking statistics when he disclosed that some 80 per cent of crimes in the Region are committed by youths. According to the SG, a recent study within the Region revealed that the majority of victims as well as perpetrators of crimes reported by the Police are young males 18 to 35 years old. More worrying is that the Ambassador also disclosed that according to a United Nations (UN) report, 80 per cent of prosecuted crimes are committed by youths between the ages of 19 and 29.
This figure now begs the question as to what are we doing as a region and more so, as individual countries to deter our youths from the criminal world.
Societies in general have taken pride in saying that children and youths are the future and possess the ability to redefine and change the socioeconomic dynamics of the modern world. While this is true – as a region, what kind of future will we have if 80 per cent of our young people are involved in criminal activities? This newspaper has always stated that there was doubt that young people possess the necessary creativity, talent, energy and drive, vision and outlook as well as transformational skills needed to confront some of the world’s most serious threats to existence as well as preservation of the environment.
Here in Guyana, there are many social ills affecting citizens, especially the younger segment of the population. Locally, a perusal of the headlines in the daily newspapers supports this contention and more so, reveals violence levels not only in criminal activities but also in the school system.
As Guyana Times has previously stated schools have been hard-pressed to find workable solutions to the various manifestations of violence among young people, which, for some time, have emerged as major detractions from the traditional business of schooling.
There have been numerous accounts of the level of deviant behaviour occurring in schools. Teachers have long voiced their concerns in relation to their sense of powerlessness in the face of the increasing number and severity of the incidents which are occurring. In Guyana, our teachers have noted that children at astonishingly low levels in the system are demonstrating unprecedented levels of anger and aggression. In consultations aimed at finding possible solutions, many teachers have attributed the new rules limiting the use of corporal punishment in schools as a major contributory factor. Others have cited the absence of guidance counsellors, school welfare officers, social workers and a male presence in school. Whatever the reasons, as society we have a responsibility to the younger generation to guide them as they will eventually take over the reins of power and leadership.
While the Government must play a crucial role in designing the relevant policies and putting in place the necessary legislative framework and other support mechanisms aimed at addressing crime and violence among young people, this burden must also be shared by other stakeholders too, inclusive of religious organisations, the Private Sector and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).
Some breath of hope for young people in the Region was also addressed by the Caricom Secretary General when he said that the Crime Prevention National Plan and the Caricom Youth Development Action Plan are two of the main policy frameworks, which will guide the design and implementation of policy and programmes in Member States to address crime and violence from a prevention perspective through addressing the underlined social factors. This is welcome news, but as a region, we have to be mindful of not reaffirming, redefining and recommitting to these policies in a timely matter, not realising that the very young people who are to benefit from these policies can become delinquent adults before regional Governments finalise a paper declaration if we do not act quickly. The matter of young people in crime needs urgent attention which requires a comprehensive and collective effort regionally.
