– 4, 000 persons to be trained in 20 communities in ‘grass root attempt’ to reduce crime

By Svetlana Marshall

OVER the next four years, the Ministry of Public Security and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will attempt to transform the lives of 4,000 at-risk youths in 20 communities as a way of reducing crime and violence.On Wednesday, the Ministry and the IDB launched the “Community Crime and Violence Prevention” component of the programme at the cost of US$5.7M, which represents 38.2 percent of US$15M budgeted for the Citizen Security Strengthening initiative.

Delivering the feature address at the Shopping Plaza Tarmac in South Ruimveldt, Vice-President and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, said this aspect of the programme is a “grass-root attempt” designed to address crime and violence within communities by reducing the contributing factors and simultaneously strengthening the protective factors.

Cognizant of the short and long-term impact of crime and violence on human development and the economic well-being of the country, Minister Ramjattan said the Public Security Ministry with local and international support will continue to find solutions to the problems affecting youths – a percentage of whom are considered to be both perpetrators and victims of crime and violence.

Government, he said, is aware that there is a link between illiteracy and unemployment, and unemployment and crime, and as such will be fostering youth development with the emphasis on education.

Through this component of the Citizen Security Strengthening Programme, he said at-risk youths will be empowered.

“We will be spending some US$3M on providing technical and vocational education and training to cover all costs associated with re-enrolling youths in skills training and entrepreneurship training.”

Minister within the Ministry of Education, Nicolette Henry, who was also present at the launch along with the Minister of Finance Winston Jordan, said the Government regards crime prevention a national priority.

But government, she said, cannot do it alone as she called for a collaborative movement.

“Crime Prevention cannot be tackled by the Government alone or by the Ministry of Public Security alone. It requires an integrated, multi-agency approach where all relevant departments view crime prevention as a shared responsibility and collective priority,” she told those present.

Minister Henry said it is time to reclaim communities that are constantly plagued by crime and violence.

“We have to reclaim our communities, child by child, family by family, community by community. Every community can become a safe place, but for this to happen, every citizen must play a role,” Minister Henry posited.

According to the Junior Education Minister, the issue of crime and violence must be addressed at the root, noting that children from an early age must be taught how to cope with and deal with conflicts and problems without using force.

While the Government is playing its part through the implementation of projects, programmes and policies such as the Citizen Security Strengthening Programme, Minister Henry emphasized that parents must also play their part in positively affecting the lives of their children.

One of the Citizen Security Strengthening Programme Community Action Specialists, Mark Ross, explained that the 20 communities being targeted were selected following an intense study based on a two-stage methodology.

“In the first stage, crime data at the community level for murder (2010, 2011 and 2013) and domestic violence, robberies, breaking and entering and larceny (2011-2013) were used to identify 25 communities with the highest crime rates in Guyana,” he further explained.

According to him, the shortlisted communities were then ranked in terms of suitability for intervention, based on a range of additional criteria including the percentage of youths and young adults, the percentage of persons who have primary or lower education, the percentage of persons who have no formal qualifications, the percentage of unemployed persons, the population size within each community and the ethnic composition of each community.

In the end, Vreed-en-Hoop in Region Three, Albouystown, Charlestown, Sophia, South Ruimveldt, Alberttown, Kingston, La Penitence, McDoom, Providence, Annandale, Buxton/Friendship and Enmore in Region Four, Rosignol in Region Five, Friendship, Albion, Port Mourant, Adelphi Village and Angoy’s Avenue in Region Six and Wismar in Region 10, were the 20 communities selected.

“The specific objective of this component is to improve behaviours for non-violent conflict resolution in target communities, which will contribute to the overall aim of the programme which is to contribute to a reduction in crime and violence in Guyana, especially in the targeted communities and among youths,” he noted.

This component, Community Crime and Violence Prevention, is therefore designed to address the high incidence of violent behaviour at the level of the community, which is a result of the prevalence of social norms that tolerate the use of violence within interpersonal relationships, low employment and education levels and low participation of community members in resolving community problems.

“This component aims to address community crime and violence vulnerability through differentiated social-prevention interventions focused on developing a common core of skills and capabilities among community members to allow them to cope with violence, unemployment, and counterproductive behaviour risk factors and stimulate protective factors,” Ross said.

Three types of interventions will be carried out in existing community facilities, targeting individuals, families, and the community. These are the behaviour change and awareness-raising campaigns, socio-educational and employment-related activities to create opportunities for economic integration and productive use of time to reduce probability of involvement in criminal activities; and mechanisms to help community members to identify problems and develop bottom-up solutions to prevent crime and violence through Community Action Councils (CAC).

IDB Country Representative Sophie Makonnen, the Public Security Ministry Permanent Secretary Daniella McCalmon and Deputy Mayor of Georgetown Sherod Duncan were among other officials present at the launching ceremony.