BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, November 13th 2009 (PAM Secretariat) - Member of Parliament and Deputy Political Leader of the People’s Action Movement (PAM), the Hon. Shawn Richards is of the firm view that the passing of legislation addressing a proposed amendment to the Firearms Act No 23 of 1967, which is being changed to reflect the policy of the Government to protect the citizens and to maintain peace, order, liberty and to promote public safety, is of paramount importance for the safety of the nation.
Richards expressed this view while making his presentation in Parliament yesterday, Thursday, November 12.
Richards, in an interview, said that he is of the firm view that the influx of women into the teaching service may be the main reason why there are so many young men in jail today.
“Whatever the precise causes of the problem, the harsh consequences are that as a Federation, St. Kitts and Nevis are losing our young males principally to a life of crime and, sadly, because almost all of the violent crime in St. Kitts and Nevis today are being carried out by young males through the use of guns,’ Richards said.
Richards stressed that laws should not be the only course of action in addressing the problem, noting that a more and innovative approach has to be taken. He noted that each year the murder rate continues to increase to alarming figures. He said that wearing the wrong colours or being in the wrong community could be the reason for someone being killed. This, he said, continues to place an enormous strain and challenges on the Federation and parents’ resources.
Richards noted that there is an urgent need for a study to be done, looking at the issue of being able to identify the root causes of the underachievement of boys. He said that being a young man himself he could readily appreciate it because of his own experience in St. itts and Nevis. He pointed out personal incidents involving family members, who he could vow for, noting that the crime situation has spiralled far and wide.
He suggested that looking at how boys were brought up and socialized may help in determining the causes, while giving ideas as to the solutions. He also said that there is an urgent need to examine the sort of values and norms that were being passed on to male children, while examining what they described to be the feminisation of the teaching service.
He however issued a passionate call for serious examination of the general concept of a father figure and the role it plays in creating a system of hard core masculine behavior. In the end, Richards said he strongly believe that while education and schooling do not rely on the norms of patriarchy, males limit themselves in society, making it difficult for young boys to have a role model.
“I must say that while I cannot express no expert view on this ... I am firmly of the view but I can say without fear of contradiction that looking at our prison system today, you can bet to see that there will be young, disadvantaged, poorly-educated males,’ the MP stressed.
Nevertheless, Richards called on parents and various stakeholders to recognize the challenge and seize the moment to make a positive change for the future of men and also the nation, thus helping to make the Federation a better place for one and all.
