The shooting death of Orlando ‘Bully’ Fredericks brings into sharp focus once again the involvement of young Guyanese in criminal acts. Like a number of these young men prior to this among the latest criminal fatality, Fredericks was not lucky enough to benefit from the proceeds of his ill-gotten gain; he lost his life in the process.

Unlike so many mothers, who, most naturally, perhaps overwhelmed with grief and emotion, would offer excuses for the particular son’s act and even his life of crime, if any, Fredericks’ mother did not.
She gave what can be described as an honest synopsis of her son’s conduct as a young man. Declaring that she had been prepared for such an eventuality, she said: “Nobody ain’t perfect.”
However, she was equally frank when she declared she was well aware that her son was not always the best of persons, and proceeded to offer her apology to those who may have suffered as a result of his unlawful acts. She also spoke of his ascent to fatherhood, and awareness of its responsibilities. Their inter-personal relationship was also described as good, in that he was “a good son” to her.
Mrs Fredericks should be commended for her candid brief of her son’s involvement with crime. Though distraught, as would be expected, she did not seek to paint a holy picture of her son’s life, even to the point of denying his more unsavoury activities, as so many mothers in such a tragic and embarrassing situation do.
She did not mince matters, and even quoted the well known adage, “You live by the sword; you die by the sword,” as she related the many instances of admonishing her son over his risky life.
This latest death of a young male adult as a result of being part of a criminal enterprise should serve as a reminder to those similarly inclined that such an occupation is extremely hazardous, and fraught with great danger because of the high risks that are involved.
Over the years, victims of crime, once in a position, have been known to retaliate, even supported by their friends, as appeared to have been the case on the night when Fredericks met his end. Many young robbers, also, have been felled by police fire.
But apart from the reminders, there is this seminal issue that has to be highlighted again. It is a matter of record that parenting in these times is challenging, particularly when it involves the bringing up of male offspring who may not have completed the scholastic journey.
Though many of this category, of their own accord, or guided by parental advice, do gravitate towards vocational training as a means of becoming marketable for employment, others are gradually drawn into anti-social activities, eventually becoming deeply involved in serious criminal activities. And there is also a peculiarity, in that whenever tragedy occurs, it is always the maternal side whose voice is heard.
Most of these young men are often from broken homes; often bereft of the crucial essentiality of joint parenting. Again, this is well documented and should not detain us here.
Thus, we emphasise in this editorial that stable homes are the ideal, and essential in the upbringing of our young, thereby providing the environment and influence for greater appreciation of education, and the benefits of its acquisition.
For parents have to be aware that when their children are not going to be inclined along the traditional learning path, then they need to be advised of alternatives, rather than being left to drift aimlessly. The results of such an approach are all too well known: Mostly disastrous!
We can only advise every parent with such child/children who may not have succeeded at the scholastic level, that there are many viable alternatives available as possibilities which can suffice for a decent, productive, and materially beneficial life.
Many would have benefited from such a dispensation. Why not others, since the opportunities are open to anyone. Why must young lives, so necessary for nation building, be wasted in such a manner as Orlando Fredericks’?