BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ALTHOUGH words of commendation were issued to the public for generally-good behaviour during the J’Ouvert 2012 Jam, there were those who exhibited less than satisfactory behaviour and were taken into police custody.
Ivor Blake, who has the responsibility of heading the security regime for the Carnival and street activities, informed this publication that 44 individuals were taken into police custody during the event.
He explained that 28 were arrested for disorderly conduct, five for battery on police, five for carrying abroad offensive weapons, five for possession of cannabis and one for being armed with an offensive weapon.
While seven were charged and subsequently granted bail, four were still in police custody.
Members of the Security Forces (the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force and the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force) were out in their numbers during J’Ouvert and, notwithstanding brawls erupted, the officers were able to avert potential disaster and or bloodshed. And part of the aversion required that individuals who were believed to be breaking the law be removed from the streets and held in police custody.
J’Ouvert is seen by many as an opportunity for persons to forget – if only for a moment – the hassles of their everyday lives and enjoy the music and entertainment as well as the company of their friends while getting what some consider a “great workout”.
But if these are the premier motives behind participation in the J’Ouvert festivities, then several questions concerning the possible reasons for people’s conduct during these events come to mind.
Are persons’ illegal behaviour influenced by their excessive consumption of alcohol? Is it influenced by or affected by the music? Or is it influenced by possible misunderstandings and disagreements which may have existed between themselves and fellow revellers?
