By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
YOUNG people called for a National Youth Policy to be implemented, while raising concerns about crime and the government’s handling of it during an “Operation Cease Fire: Let Your Voice Be Heard” crime forum on Monday night.
The forum was hosted by National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage and was the latest in a series allowing ordinary citizens to give their suggestions about how to deal with crime.
Receiving the lone standing ovation and the largest round applause of the night, a group of young people staged a short and unexpected demonstration by randomly surrounding the audience with large posters championing efforts to see a National Youth Policy implemented.
Their posters said such things as: “More funding for youth programmes”, “Speak with us on VAT”, and “Save young people from themselves with policy.”
Tavarrie Smith, the group’s spokesperson, told panellists he had an easy solution for solving crime: “Start with listening to young people.”
“The data is right there,” he said, adding that even though “80 per cent of crime is committed by young people,” more than a decade of attempts at getting a National Youth Policy implemented have proven fruitless because of the government’s failure to take action.
The latest National Youth Policy draft, he said, was formed after forums were held around the Bahamas and 4,000 young people offered their views.
Many of the night’s other speakers also did not mince words when criticising National Security officials over their failed attempts at addressing the crime problem.
One man said: “Crime is based on anger. People don’t know who they are. It sickens me to see grown men not know their purpose.”
After he was interrupted and told his speaking time was up, he said: “I got a lot more to say. Take my name down. I got a son home angry.
“They took his $2,500 and hand chain from him. Y’all ain’t no leaders. The mere fact that y’all are up here asking us what to do show that y’all ain’t no leaders.”
Another person said: “When the PLP campaigned they sold a vision that looked very well on paper. The system is broken that could be fixed in a matter of months.
“But it seems we have a leadership problem. Start talking about three strikes and you’re out. Stop letting repeat offenders back on the streets.”
Another said: “Our inner cities have a spirt of hopelessness. We have been let down not only by our law enforcers but our politicians have played with us in a way that has scarred us.”
Another person said: “We don’t need people who 80 sitting at the table saying this is what to do. Time to get young people involved.”
Referencing Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis’ Monday home robbery, Renaldo Collie, a customs officer, said: “It goes to show that criminals have no respect for the rule of law. We need to put in place more officers. We need more measures.”
Not everyone was critical of the government’s handling of crime, however. One said: “You cannot blame politicians for what your parents are doing. It start from home.”
Another said: “We keep blaming the government and we keep blaming the police. But we have to look at ourselves.”
And although the event was a crime forum, Sam Williams, the president of the Bahamas Loving Care Association, stood and shouted “Give me my building back!”
He said a building has been taken from him and the government has refused to help him get it back.
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