Young, armed and dangerous

Dec 21, 2015 Editorial

Statistics have shown that youths, as young as 15, are engaged in violent crimes, some involving the use of firearms, and yet others are in control of drugs and murder for hire gangs. It is a terrifying development.
The statistics have also indicated that the number of youths involved in violent crime is increasing rapidly, and many are participating at a younger age.
It is time for parents and guardians to ask themselves a series of questions. What has gone wrong in the household or in society? Is society letting youths down? Is the problem due to joblessness or poverty among the youths or that of poor parenting or the lack thereof?
These are important questions that demand answers. Decisive action must be taken to save the youths whose future has become a tangled mess, but extra-judicial should not be the answer.
This generation is in serious trouble, but if society allows it to be lost, the next generation will likely be even worse.
Since assuming office eight months ago, the government has not been able to deal with the vexing issues of crime and violence that have confronted many with the grim reality of how serious a problem it has become in the country.
Unfortunately, if a solution is not found quickly, the youths who are engaged in minor criminal activities will become involved in hard-core criminality and their effect on society will be worse.
The question, however, is how the government intends to deal with the problem which is getting out of hand?
Poor parenting has been identified as one of the root causes of youth crime and violence in the country.
The lawlessness being exhibited by some youths is a reflection of a general failure to instill discipline on them from an early age within the home.
This is a radical departure from the traditional approach in Guyana which emphasized “bending the tree while it is young.”
Youths who are exposed to discipline from an early age learn to accept responsibility for managing their behavior and are not likely to be involved in criminality activities.
If the family which is the bedrock of society is failing to discipline the youths, then the responsibility should fall to the state.
Delinquent parents must be held accountable and given more than a slap on the wrist when they fail in their responsibility.
Joblessness is another major cause of youth crime. In Guyana, many youths, but thankfully, not the majority, have lost their way; some have descended into cold, unfeeling, predatory monsters who have turned to crime as a means of survival.
In order to prevent youth crime, everyone must be involved—the home, the community and the authorities, to give hope to hopeless youths and prioritize opportunities for them to have a meaningful life.
Consideration should be given to the root causes of youth crime. Every available option must be explored in order to safeguard the peace and security of the people, and to make sure that youths are treated like human beings. Failing the youths is not an option.

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