Surge in Youth Violence a ‘National Emergency’ – Acting Police Chief

1. Thank you for this mr commissioner… i keep elaborating on the fact that a lot of the people in this country are so angry and ready to snap at any giving moment of conflict…. We are totally responsible for our environment we should practice the change we want to see in our country…. We should learn how to defuse conflict, teach out children to do the same and try to lift each other up… we are in a crisis the devil is in full steam we must use the same aggression … let’s do this Antiguans let’s put love first… God bless you all….

2. Police Commissioner Everton Jeffers sadly isn’t addressing the elephant in the room with the correlation between the relaxation of the laws of marijuana use by this government a few years ago and the growth of youth violence in the country.

   Without a shadow of a doubt, this is no coincidence that both these issues have grown around the same time.

   Now that the ‘criminal and drug horse’ have bolted, Antigua now finds itself in a difficult dilemma, whereas many of us could see that years down the line that drug use (where you can now smell its use in open public).and criminality was going to bo on the verge of getting out of control – if not not tackled with strength and vigour by the police and government.

   Acting Commissioner Jeffers cannot – or will not – place any blame on this ABLP government, because he knows he won’t get this position on a full-time or permanent basis.

   AND ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS CRIME ISN’T BEING ADDRESSED PROPERLY HERE …

3. Heaven help us. Jesus take the wheel.

4. We need to get the fathers for these young criminals involved in their lives. It’s not too late for a change. Mothers alone cannot handle them. Too much of our men/fathers are just sperm donators instead of stepping up, take responsibility tans be a positive father figures, especially to boys children. We are losing a generation of young boys/men because of absentees fathers. We are not seeing much fathers in our society today taking their sons to a sport game, a movie, to church, for a talk, or even for a drive. A lot of our fathers are hanging out in bars, on the streets corners, or chancing another skirts.

5. Some of these same farthers you speak have been force out of their children life by the mothers…..and the sad reality is a woman can only teach her son how to treat a woman but not how to be a man

6. You need to put more of your officers on the streets of these communities patrolling day and night, looking for suspicious activities and periodically approaching these hangout spots.
   You talk about teaching these youths respect, empathy and conflict resolution, but to me it seems as if you just joined the force. Mr Commissioner you should know you can’t teach the kids of today respect, plus respect isn’t so much of a teaching, growing up as a youngster respecting your elders and teachers comes naturally, but in todays society the actions and personality of most elders and some teachers makes it hard.
   Mr Commissioner I know you grew up with blows from your parents, after school you may have to go home and wash dishes, get a bucket go to pipe and full that drum with water, plus you had a certain time to be inside your bed at night, today because of you guys telling parents they can’t beat their own kids and over looking the weed smoking and even alcohol used especially around the carnival times, our youths are now totally out of control.
   The Ghetto where mostly the poor and needy reside, believe deeply in their politics and looked up to their Government and other leaders for help and assistance but are often overlooked, so they find other means to survive and exist i.e gangs, drugs, quick easy money and keep your mouth shut.

7. We need to go back to the village. If there re fathers who chose to be absent, then the other fathers in the village needs to assist where and when they can. We need ALL grandparents, aunties, uncles, just society on a whole to.go back to being our brother’s keeper. We can do this.

8. Mr. Commissioner i endorse everything you have said. Even though you might not accept what I’m about to say, the lawlessness is in every level of society, even in the upper echelon of government. Shootings and disappearances are not only crimes. I’m sure you get my drift

9. Get the government to purchase solar powered LED streetlights with camera combination sim equipped to monitor crime.
   All the streetlights should be change, get them out of china.

10. @Brix.

    Well said sir.

    I commend this COP for at least addressing the concerns of the citizens, but I for one has spoken clear and wide about this youth problem before it even got this bad.

    I saw the desperation in the eyes of the youth on the first visit/flight to Antigua after the COVID lockdown lifted, and it was palpable.
    I have been coming back for years before that, but that’s the first time I saw the emptiness of the youth to such an alarming degree.

    It was sad, and I cried out on this forum over and over for this government to wake up quickly about it..but here we are today in this mess, and it’s now that they are showing some kind of concern.

    So you are absolutely correct @Brix. The cart has already galloped down the damn road.

    What a shame.

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