Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Kern Spencer noting points raised by students of the Bishop Gibson High School in Manchester, who participated in the Ministry's central regional youth forum, at the Kendal Camp and Conference in Manchester on Wednesday. - Michael Sloley /Freelance Photographer IF THE nation's crime problems are to be reduced, the Jamaica Constabulary Force hierarchy must swiftly 'weed out' corrupt police officers from the force.
That's the view of scores of youngsters from various community and youth organisations in central Jamaica. They were participating in a group discussion at the second regional Youth Forum of the Ministry of National Security at the Kendal Camp and Conference in Man-chester last Wednesday.
Paul Peart, a member of the Bethel Street Citizens Association in Manchester was among the participants. Citing an experience where he had provided the police with a lead into a crime, Mr. Peart said the information was leaked and according to him, as a result, he almost lost his life. He said that he had to flee the parish for several months to escape the wrath of the men who accused him of being a 'police informer'.
GETTING THE GUNS
Police Area Three Crime Chief, Deputy Superintendent Bertram Lee, who was the rapporteur for the group which discussed the topic, 'Getting the guns', described the case as 'very unfortunate' and pointed to several "safe" avenues to provide the police with information, among them he said was through the Crime Stop programme.
Participants in another workshop, which dealt with sexual offences, agreed that females, especially schoolgirls who were considered to be the most targeted, had a responsibility to guard themselves against sexual offences. According to one participant, too often schoolgirls put themselves in positions, which made them vulnerable to becoming the victims of sex crimes.
In his address, university lecturer, Dr. Kingsley 'Ragashanti' Stewart reminded the participants that among the most important ingredients for success were proper values and attitudes.
He recalled some terrifying moments he experienced while living in the ghetto and pointed to the fact that persons must always be responsible for their actions. Dr. Stewart who was arrested several times on criminal charges was a 'street boy' for many years. When he finally made a decision to change his lifestyle there was a great turn around for him and since then, he has made significant achievements, including becoming a university lecturer.
Quoting statistics, keynote speaker, Dr. Peter Phillips, Minister of National Security, said that persons aged 30 and under, represented a larger percentage of both those arrested and those who were victims of crimes. He said that for the past six years, the cumulative average number of persons aged 30 and below who were arrested for murder was 75 per cent, while an average 77 per cent of murder victims each year were of the same age group. According to Dr. Philips of the 85 per cent of rape victims aged 30 and below, 28 per cent were under the age of 15.
The National Security Minister identified peer pressure as one of the contributing factors for the youth's engagement in illegal activities. However, he cautioned that it was senseless to develop a culture which dictates that persons may settle differences in a violent manner "because the way in that style of life is death."
Dr. Phillips also noted that police youth clubs will be expanded islandwide in an attempt to further foster relationships between youngsters and the police.
Over 2,000 young men and women from the parishes of Manchester, St. Elizabeth and Clarendon participated in the forum, which was dubbed, "Youth united for a safe Jamaica."
