by Jermaine N. Edwards
As the clock strikes around 11:20 p.m., a palpable tension fills the air outside the local fire station.
Training officers stand ready, awaiting orders amid the chaos that has erupted during what was meant to be a festive carnival celebration. Just twenty minutes earlier, gunshots rang out—between five and six rounds echoing across the venue—transforming a day of joy into one filled with fear and confusion.
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Witnesses describe the scene as one of sheer panic, with revelers and onlookers scattering in every direction, desperately seeking safety. Among them, I stood, worried and concerned for my son, who I knew had been out enjoying the festivities nearby when the shots were fired. Gripped by fear, I frantically tried to call him, only to be met with the deafening silence of his unresponsive phone. In the aftermath of the gunfire, the atmosphere quickly shifted from celebration to survival.
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As the police attempted to manage the crowd, the situation escalated when officers deployed crowd control measures—likely pepper spray—which only added to the panic.
Their aim to defuse the situation inadvertently resulted in overwhelming difficulty breathing for many present, underscoring the chaos of the moment. Witnesses struggled to regain their composure as fear gripped their hearts.
This incident raises troubling questions about the underlying issues plaguing our society. The rampant availability of firearms is alarming, yet it is merely the surface of a deeper crisis.
Where are these weapons coming from? As violence continues to seep into the fabric of our communities, we must confront the reality that our youth grapple with an alarming mix of social malaise, substance abuse, and a disturbing lack of guidance.
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In the community of St. John’s Rural South on Tindale Road, chaos reigns. Fights erupt, and the streets resemble a battleground as young people engage in senseless violence.
The question remains: Why are we not seeing swift, effective policing in these volatile situations? How can we allow such lawlessness to occur? The absence of visible leadership from elected officials, the Attorney General, the police commissioner, and the Prime Minister is deeply troubling.
Where are the comprehensive policies designed to address the needs of at-risk youth?
There is a pressing need for rehabilitation centers to aid troubled adolescents and support systems for young women facing challenges. Why are we not demanding de-escalation training for law enforcement officers?
These are not just pressing issues; they are existential threats to our safety and society.
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The silence from our representatives is deafening. St. John’s Rural South residents deserve better than the chaos that surrounds them. Again, I ask: Where is Representative Daryl Matthew?
The community is in crisis, and the cost of inaction will be felt for generations. We, as a society, must unite to demand change and hold our leaders accountable for their roles in protecting the very fabric of our communities.
We, the citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, must rise, take to the streets, and voice our discontent with the current state of governance—one that seemingly turns a blind eye to the needs of its people.
If we continue to stand idly by, believing that someone else will take care of these issues, we risk becoming complicit in the decay of our society.
The time for action is now. The safety of our children, our families, and the future of our communities hangs in the balance. We cannot afford to wait any longer for the officials we elected to prioritize our safety and well-being. They must be held accountable; the future of our nation depends on it.
Jermaine N. Edwards
Community Advocate
St. John’s Rural South
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Just another day in Paradise. It is or soon will be the new norm. Run fu U life. Shat a fire.
HIGHLY COMMENDABLE – DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNT
GRAPHIC AND FACTUAL
‘…Chaos reigns: …Fights erupt: …Streets resemble a ‘…Battle Ground’ with ‘…Senseless violence’ [Paragraph 8].
RUTHLESS MOONLIGHTING POLICE INSPECTOR
Worst viewed was the ‘…VIOLENT CHUCKING DOWN’ to the ground of ‘a reported ‘…Visiting-Female- Paying-PATRON,’ at an event by a reported ‘…RUTHLESS-MOONLIGHTING-BURLY-PLAINCLOTHES POLICE INSPECTOR.’
Professionally speaking, these not only speak to apparent:
(i) ‘…Chronic public disorder:
(ii) …Impotence of Law enforcement,’ but also
(iii)’…Serious threats to:
(a) ‘…Public Order: and
(b) …Public Safety.’
CULTURALLY AND BEHAVIORALLY – SHEER BACCHANAL
Though not just in recent years, ‘…Culturally and Behaviorally,’ that is what ‘…Carnival’ has become- ‘…SHEER BACCHANAL.’
The ‘Author’ shall be ‘…Highly Commended’ for this awe-inspiring ‘…Descriptive Account’ of the unfolding events.
hope this “writer” is not the same opportunist that GLADYS POTTER say a try fu usurp she spot in that constituency!!! Anyway, that person is a “just come” and can’t beat GLADYS! de icecream lady!
anyway a de Man Cow Lipstick HAG have the final say since a fu SHE subben upp be! The writer can go live in Trinidad or Jamaica or Skn
It is sad that our community has become a place where as a parent I am afraid to let my child walk home from school unaccompanied for fear of being hurt.
The author has touched on pulse of what’s going on in the St. John’s Rural South community and to an extent Antigua.
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