What could have been done to stop this tragedy?

Nov 07, 2016 Letters

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Dear Editor;
Before I delve into the crux of my missive, amidst trying to digest a bevy of emotions, kindly permit me to offer condolences to the parents of Simon Elijah De Florimonte, who was shot dead last Tuesday by a licensed firearm holder, as he along with his accomplices attempted to gain unlawful entry into the alleged shooter’s home at Diamond Housing Scheme.
From time immemorial society has arbitrarily established certain things to which no parent should be subjected to, among them being, having to bury their child/ children.
The converse is held as the widely- accepted norm. Sadly, the father of the deceased found himself afoul of the decided order, in that not only has he to bury his offspring, but was forced to identify the bullet ridden body at the morgue, in addition to seeing the ghastly picture strewn across the media as the Police Force sought the assistance of the public in carrying out the identification.
Following this incident, the father has made an impassioned plea to youths to try to find some form of employment rather than having to resort to crime, and meeting a similar demise as that of his son. .
I am certain that death was not an intended outcome, although one of the robbers had a handgun, but nevertheless it is a foreseeable outcome, as is the death of any individual in such encounters.
And so a family is devastated, a home owner feels violated, and a nation / community enraged wondering when the crime will stop and what could have been done to stop this tragedy.  I intend to answer that question in typical Holmesian manner, Elementary, my dear people! Elementary! Yes, the answer is very simple.
Like it or leave it, do it or did, the truth can no longer be hidden. As a people we should have done better by those young men involved in the robbery, and so many others.
At some point in their lives something happened to those young men like so many of the others that caused them to “check out”.  By this I mean that something happened that caused them to no longer have any vested interest in their own future.
“Checking out” takes place when an individual becomes  so convinced that he or she has no future, no opportunity for a good life, no chance whatsoever to progress on their own merits, no sense whatsoever of self-worth that he/ she no longer cares what happens.
At this juncture I will insert excerpts from my article in Kaieteur News October 23, 2014- “Who speaks for the Youth?”
There has been a proliferation of such crime by these young perpetrators, demonstrating such levels of criminal proficiency, and who are totally unfazed by the risks that accompany their pursuits.  I am certain that like many others, shock and consternation eventually give way to the mind sobering question, “Who speaks for the youth? Who will send the message loud and clear for all concerned to hear?
Currently, the youths are trapped within their surroundings, unable to breathe, no viable options to idleness and its accompanying consequences, lack of constructive activities, negativity is all they see around and even far ahead, employment totally out of reach. What then? Tell the truth, who speaks for the youth?  What relief except to thief! Cannot find a job forces me to rob!
Please for one nano second, labour under the misapprehension that this big “check out” is a solitary event. No way! It creeps insidiously into the psyche of individuals by way of years of seeing hopelessness leading to worthlessness. Then comes the tipping point, the point of no return, when the youth simply stops caring for his/ her own life. However, in that moment they also stop caring for the lives of others as well.
Only, and I categorically state only, to a youth who has “checked out” of his own future is the risk of going to jail or being killed an acceptable option.  Youths who have checked out do not give a damn about consequences.  We must from this day forward resolve ourselves to preventing the “check out” from occurring in the first place.
A village must be built around these youths that will keep them off the streets, accounted for and supervised. If we keep the youths invested in their own future, with the passage of time it will dramatically change how they think about what they do to others. Yes, we have failed our youths as is evidenced by the current malaise that pervades the nation.
The government has certainly failed to offer satisfactory solutions, and has found itself competing with the options offered by crime. We have looked away far too long and now it’s time to change our song. Be it resolved that the nation has evolved and will invest resources and time towards eradicating youth crime.
Yvonne Sam

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