The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

YOUTH Against Crime Bahamas, a youth anti-crime group, yesterday staged a silent protest in Rawson Square in memory of the 149 people murdered last year.

The organisation’s president, 16-year-old Tracy Nicole Sands, led a group of around 15 young people in a two-minute and 29-second “mass death reenactment” - one second for each life lost tragically last year.

Youth Against Crime (YAC) was formed by a group of high school students in reaction to the stabbing death of Adonai Wilson, 16, last December.

Wilson, who was a student of the Doris Johnson High School at the time of his death, was stabbed multiple times about the torso and abdomen during a fight with a group of schoolmates less than a mile away from the school’s campus.

Ms Sands said the homicide spurred her and her friends to connect with others their age who believed that uncontrollable acts of violence do not resolve issues, but only inspires more pain and despair.

Speaking to reporters after the protest, Ms Sands said crime has progressed to its current level as a result of the way the public has perceived criminal acts.

She said most of last year’s murder victims were not viewed as persons valued and loved by others, instead, she said they were seen as just parts of media stories and crime statistics.

Ms Sands said: “(We) humbly ask our government, the media and the general public to stop referring to all murdered victims as a number and to start calling them each by their names whenever referencing violent crimes in our country.”

Ms Sands said while many of her peers seem “lost,” proper guidance and mentorship can make them productive members of society.

“We also intend to be the form of change in youth in the Bahamas that stands firmly to our beliefs and morals. We say no to crime because enough is enough,” she said.

“YAC – the reform project – is a movement with one single goal in mind: the reduction of crime that is crippling our nation. We plan to use our voices, insight and unique perspective as the youth of the nation to begin to (effect) our generation through social media, peaceful protests, thoughtful suggestion and interactive ventures that engage and target people in our age bracket.”

Organisers told The Tribune that they are preparing a policy petition to present to the government in the coming weeks geared to steering youth away from violent crimes and toward quality development.

YAC is calling for a national curfew for youth; an end to social promotion policies in schools; the establishment of an anti-truancy programme; mandatory drug and alcohol screenings for high school students; heightened security measures in and around schools; establishment of an anti-gang task force to guard against gang activities on school campuses and mandatory periodic drug searches and raids within all high schools.