Basseterre, St. Kitts, February 2nd, 2012 -- Local efforts aimed at mitigating crime, violence, and delinquency on the Federation of St. Christopher and Nevis, are about to be strengthened with the assistance of a team of consultants assembled and headed by Dr. Peter K. B. St. Jean, a noted Dominica born and Chicago based criminologist and sociologist who is scheduled to visit the Federation from February 3-11, 2012.
The involvement of Dr. St. Jean and his team was initiated by an October 14th 2011 appeal from a concerned St. Kitts resident, Ayoub Peter Morancie. Concerned about patterns of crime and violence that were occurring on the Federation at that time, and being aware of the likely adverse effects of such events on the economic, social, cultural, and other foundations of the Federation, Mr. Morancie contacted Dr. St. Jean to assist with local efforts aimed at reducing such problems.
An example of Dr. St. Jean's work includes a 1996 intervention with the then troubled community of Grand Bay, Dominica to resolve police-community tensions and high crime. The collaborative work with members of that community and the police produced the 1997 implementation of Dominica's first community policing program.
The result was drastic reductions in crime and fear of crime, improved community-police relations, and reestablishment of Grand Bay's reputation as a more peaceful place to live, work, and visit. On the 10th year anniversary of the beginning of the intervention, Dr. St. Jean captured progress in Grand Bay in his first book entitled, Lessons from Grand Bay: Prospects for Maintaining Low Crime in Dominica, Nature Island of the Caribbean.
Also, during 2011, compared to 2010, Dominica realized a 60% decrease in homicides. This was attributed
in part, to timely intervention against murderous retaliations after escalating conflicts among high profile criminally involved rivals led to an apparent attempted murder which left one of those men sustaining 11 gunshot wounds.
As a result, a community was held under siege anticipating a rampage even before the victim fully recovered. In response, as part of a team of professionals organized by a then Dominica Magistrate, Dr. St. Jean played a direct and pivotal role to help the most bitter rivals commit to sustained peace.
That peace conference was successful in part because it was part of a chain of events promoting desires for peace in that community. Such events included Peace Intelligence Workshops conducted by Dr. St. Jean with different segments of the community, and a “Radical Jam for Peace” organized by a group of concerned Wesley residents and led by Athenia Benjamin.
Responding to Mr. Morancie's request for collaboration, on November 8th 2011, Dr. St. Jean and his team
provided him with a draft proposal to conduct a feasibility study on the Federation to ascertain prospects for implementing what is termed the “Peaceful St. Christopher and Nevis Initiative (PSNI).” Impressed with the contents of the proposal, Mr. Morancie secured personal funding to allow Dr. St. Jean to visit the Federation for this initial feasibility exploration.
The purpose is to further explain the proposal, facilitate discussions, and secure the necessary resources and access to conduct the feasibility study, should local stakeholders consider the proposed Initiative to be a good fit to help address issues of concern.
Stakeholders that are expected to meet with Dr. St. Jean during his visit include members of the New Mentality Team Club, criminally involved persons, the youth, Commissioner of Police C. G. Walwyn, other criminal justice officials, members of government, representatives from the private sector, civic society, the faith based community, and others.
A documentary entitled Lessons from Homicides: The Buffalo Story that Dr. St. Jean has directed and produced is also scheduled to be featured as part of the “Peace Jog” organized by the New Mentality Team Club. That event is scheduled for 10am to 6pm on Saturday, February 4th 2012 at Independence Square in St. Kitts.
For updates on Dr. St. Jean's trip to St. Christopher and Nevis, visit the website of the Peaceful World
Movement at www.peacefulworldmovement.org.
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