BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IN a commentary first aired on WINN FM, Charles Wilkin candidly spoke to the issue of violent crime in the Federation and posited that the political culture is one of the causative factors.
“The political culture also contributes. The problem of violent crime should not be politicised. It has been to too great an extent. That should not continue. The political parties should jointly recognise and commit to addressing the crisis. The police need this type of support.
“The time has come for our society to drop the politics from and to unify in addressing the deep and serious issues we face.”
The Queen’s Counsel emphatically declared that St. Kitts and Nevis is facing a serious crisis that could reverse all the advances made in the past 50 years, noting “we stand to lose more than a half of one percent of our population through homicide in 10 years”.
Wilkin intoned that if what is currently being experienced in the Federation is not a crisis, then “I don’t know what is”. And in reference to his assumption of population loss, he said it is the equivalent of the United States losing one and a half million of its residents to murder in 10 years.
The local Bar Association President also made reference to a book he wrote entitled ‘Breaking the Cycle – Politics, Constitutional Change and Governance in St. Kitts and Nevis’, within which he listed 20 underlying factors that contributed in varying degrees to the alarming increase in violent crime.
Wilkin however pointed out that although he would refer to some of them, the intent of his commentary was to focus on solutions.
Starting with the recent restructuring of the High Command of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, Wilkin said: “I am confident that the new Police High Command will redouble past efforts. I recognise the efforts that are being made to improve the response of law enforcement to the crisis. However, that alone will not solve it. There must be a unified, national effort to reverse the mistrust of the police that is prevalent in the communities. Unless that happens the police will, whatever resources are provided them, continue to fight crime with one hand tied behind their back.”
He also pointed to the appalling conditions that exist at Her Majesty’s Prison, recalling that his legal colleague Emile Ferdinand Q.C., on a past programme on WINN FM, had posited that the correctional facility is a university of crime.
Wilkin is of the strong view that improved policing, better prisons and prison conditions, as well as less politics would not be enough atorss solutions to the crisis in the long term.
“We must address the aggression and lack of discipline which prevail. These result in part from the negative attitudes which have evolved and which we see reflected on a daily basis on our streets and in our institutions. These attitudes have been exacerbated by the tribal politics,” he said.
According to Wilkin, bad parenting is also one of the factors that contribute to crime.
“We have to do a much better job at parenting and educating our children. Too many children are being brought up by television and video games and without role models while their so called parents go merrily about their business leaving the society to have to mop up the problem they create. Are you surprised that young men who have been brought up in this way find security in their peers in gangs?
“The way in which our people react to each other is also a contributing factor. Parents disrespecting and verbally assaulting teachers is the norm. The parent/child relationship is too often violent. The other day a mother passed by me with her child who was being disobedient. The mother shouted ‘A bet a bus you head.’ That child will grow up thinking that violence is the way to resolve disputes and to impose discipline. It is all too prevalent conduct. The young men have taken the aggression, social disorder and verbal violence they grow up seeing on a daily basis to another level using guns.”
In what could be termed a forensic analysis of the crisis, Wilkin intimated that changes in attitude, which are an essential ingredient of the solution, would not come easily.
“It will take time but the society must start collectively and without further delay to address them. We have the wherewithal to do so but we need the will and the leadership. I refer not only to political leadership but leadership within civil society which must play a key role in the solution. Too many members of civil Society are enjoying their cushy lives and are afraid to talk out and act on social issues. They should appreciate that their lives will no longer be so cushy if they become penned into their homes by fear of violent crime,” he added.
The Queen’s Counsel congratulated Ian Queeley on his appointment as Commissioner of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force and also the members of his High Command, noting that they have inherit a monumental but not insurmountable task and wished them every and early success.
