I do not know of any one event or policy that can eradicate or lessen crime,but let me throw in my two cents.
In 1995-96 I was given a project to administrate where I had to refurbish primary schools and community centres (30 total) in Laventille, Morvant, John John and Sea Lots.
To do this I decided it should be a community thing, so I interviewed and hired men who were into building works as foremen, all of these men came from the communities.
These foremen in turn hired people that they new who could work from their own areas.
In addition I told people in the area that I will give selective contracts things like plumbing, electrical works, joinery etc.
This project was fast tracked because the government at the time was about to call an election and they wanted money to spread in these areas.
Well that was not my head, I saw the conditions the kids were exposed to and made sure that when we were finished some improvement to these conditions were made.
Now a funny thing happened, most of the guys on the project were accustomed to URP type projects that have and make no meaningful contributions to the environment and were initially upset that I demanded a full days work and also no stealing of materials.
In short time they recognised that they were doing something for their own kids or their sisters, brothers etc and there was a complete change of attitudes, these guys took money from their own pay and had Christmas parties for the kids etc.
What I should have said also , is that the community centers were used as daycare or nurseries for the children who were not old enough for primary school.
Me with my dougla so called middle class self became very good friends with people form all these communities and to this day I go to the Harpe, Maryland, Never Dirty, Picton, Sealots and look for the guys.
Now these are the communities that have the gang type murders and everybody is saying that most of the crime come from, some of the kids from the primary schools I refurbished could have probably been involved and be a statistic now (I sincerely hope not).
But when I spent everyday for six months all over this place I did not see 1 gun or cocaine, some weed of course.
These people are just like you and I but the difference is opportunity.
Opportunity to go to school everyday and opportunity to have meaningful employment.
I am not going to get into the education system thing but I am really distressed that we still have URP and now CEPEP.
I have a proposal that I have thought about long and hard but which I have never voiced anywhere so this is a SocaWarriors exclusive.
The government spends close to 1 billion dollars every year on URP and CEPEP, at the end of the year we have nicely painted stones and some meters of concrete pavement and drains.
Instead use that money and build factory shells (purpose built) in the communities, then invite foreign manufacturers , like spectacle frames, pens, clock makers etc , to set up shop in these factories, give them free trade zone status and the real clincher , help with payment of salaries. These people are already set up in countries where salaries are dirt cheap so we have to make it attractive to them and also guarantee that they are not sweat shops.
It is my belief that with this people will have proper jobs that will give them some stability that they can go to the banks for loans which could have an immediate impact on their children's lives (for education , health, new home building etc)
Also the spin off in the communities could be enormous, transport of materials rentals, building works, entertainment.
This could easily be achieved over a five year period but this project is a thirty year one and the government must keep contributing at the same level they do now.
Give people an opportunity to to build self esteem and things should change
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