Basseterre, St. Kitts (November 2, 2005): In a proactive attempt at community outreach, the Ministry of National Security has called for social cohesion through open dialogue with youth.
According to a ministry spokesperson, the discussion scheduled for the Basseterre High School Auditorium on Monday 7th November at 8pm, is another "From the Heart" affair.
These forums give at-risk youths the opportunity to express their views about their society as well as to share their impressions on solutions to the problems of youth crime and exclusion.
The Ministry seeks to get rid of the ineffective "Big Stick Policy" and to provide an alternative which encourages every member of society to examine themselves to determine how they personally can change to bring about reform.
The ministry feels that the youth violence problem is a societal rather than a youth problem as it impacts the whole society. The discussion will give youths a voice on how the rest of society perceives them and what changes can be made to help them integrate into the society in a more productive manner.
The project is part of a comprehensive strategy of the Ministry of National Security geared at full participation of the society in its own security.
It aims at putting preventative measures in place to curtail youth crime and violence so that at-risk youths can be empowered before they resort to violence.
The general public is invited to be a part of the discussion at the Basseterre High School on Monday 7th November at 8:30p.m.
