Crime does not pay

Dear editor,

EARLY in August the Jamaica Star reported, “Me talk to him. If you cyah hear you must feel.” Those were the words of 39-year old Shodia Blair, the mother of Fabian Fuller, 18, one of the six men shot and killed during a police-military operation in Buzzrock, Effortville, Clarendon, last Saturday. The crime rate in Jamaica is perhaps almost 10 times that of Guyana’s for this year. Blair told THE STAR that Fuller was her only child, and that she had tried relentlessly to steer him down a productive path, but he had different plans. A familiarity that is congruent in Guyana, many of the youths choose the assumed easy path, fast and furious, not curious about the good, old and straightforward way of making a decent living. “Me and him always have issues because of him stubbornness; sometimes a him grandmother him turn to. Sometimes if him want any little thing him come and say ‘Mommy, you cyah buy me this or that, but that’s it,” said the mother, Blair. Grandparents’ job is not to spoil the grandchild but to encourage and promote a goodliness and godliness within that personality. She said that their relationship was not the best as their personalities clashed. So many sociological and psychological elements are factored into this problematic issue that the home and  society are bombarded with challenges, trying to formulate answers to resolve this dangerous situation. “I see him move with everybody, so I can’t tell if it is good or bad company. Him get along with one and all,” she said. “Growing up he was an OK child, but since him mature now, I don’t really know. He was a brilliant child but him just nah hear. If you see the fire and say ‘Fabian, don’t go over that fire’, by you turn you back him in a the fire.” In Guyana, ole people say, “show me yuh company and I’ll  tell yu who yu are.” The influence of organised gangs is contagious and the unemployed and uneducated youth is quickly led astray. The working (single) parent struggles to make ends meet in Guyana and cannot “watchman” the child, 24/ seven. The past five years, an uncaring APNU+AFC government greatly contributed to many broken homes and allowed the criminal disease to ferment and spread without paying much care and attention and failed to address this disastrous issue. The mother, though saddened, said that she wasn’t shocked when she received a call from a friend about her son’s demise. All “good” things come to a sudden end and crime never pays. “These people here are menace to the society, they hold the community at ransom.” Only the conscientious Guyanese who are adept to integrity and abide with moral upbringing would confess with such a declaration. One officer on the scene told THE STAR that he believes the community feels relieved as the gang’s headquarters was vanquished. How many fearful and fearless Guyanese would conclude and applaud this consensus? Would there be feelings of remorse and sorrow in a Guyanese context, or would there be political capitalisation with racial insinuations?

Yesterday, a 19-year-old youth had finished working, making an honest living, was riding home when he was attacked and robbed by other young men, one of them presumed to be an ex- police officer. Tuesday night, four masked and armed men attacked and robbed a supermarket owner. The 21-year-old security guard was arrested and is being questioned by the police. On Monday morning, a 16-year-old lad, trying to make a decent living, was stabbed at his workplace by other youths of his age group; perhaps a gang-related incident. One of the suspects was arrested and is assisting the police with the investigation. On Sunday, a well- known 36-year-old bandit, branded as a high-profile convict, was finally arrested for multiple armed robberies and larcenies. During a scuffle with the police, he was shot in the altercation. The streets and neighbourhoods are riddled with criminal elements and only waiting on the least opportunity to pounce on the hard-working and innocent Guyanese. Many young people are making an impressive attempt to live by honest means and should be commended. The new PPP/C government has established many programmes to incorporate the youths of today. There is much more to be done, especially in sensitive areas. COVID-19’s prevalence is not harmonious for complete implementation and accessibility due to its practical constraints. But this should not deter the determined youths to comply with the wrong side of the law. There is an urgent need to provide more community services in establishing employment training facilities, along with recreational facilities in all villages. Social workers are desperately needed to assist; the government, the police and the respective churches to work along with youths in order to provide some relief measures and some semblance of order. But, “Charity begins at home,” and society’s leaders have to set the right example to shoulder this responsibility. It starts from the top and President Irfaan Ali and First Lady Arya Ali are doing exactly as required. Guyanese wish they can make the same claim for the APNU+AFC. What a pity!

Respectfully,
Jai Lall

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