Our youth must be assured a positive life outside of crime

2026-03-19 - 01:44

There are the investigations, prosecution and punishment aspects of crime, then there are the causes, prevention and rehabilitation of those who have been caught in the web of criminality and adopted it as a way of life. It is fair to say that having not been able to first grasp the causes of and socialisation of the young into criminal activities, we as a society are being engulfed by crime and its effects. Fact is that the society — made up of parents, religious faiths, political players, Government and Opposition, teachers, the privileged society, the underclass and that element of the society which seek to live above criminality, insulated behind protective bars and security systems, including guard dogs — is forced to recognise that we are losing against the spread and deepening of the criminal culture. We are in this predicament because we have not given sufficient attention, if any at all, to creating a human culture, especially within our young people, in the home, school system and amongst teenage and casual gatherings, that nourishes positive learning and living between and amongst all sections of the national community. Indeed, we have created “communities” of people segregated into sections of the population which are hostile to each other and the whole. Having failed to understand all of the above and how this has contributed to our existing conditions, we have therefore found ourselves, and as an absolute requirement, battling to protect against the commission of crime. Further into the criminal culture, the institutional measures adopted to investigate, prosecute and punish the guilty, and to do so without adequate restorative efforts to end the always advancing cycle of criminality, have stood in the way of success. Having created the conditions in which our young people are socialised, our options are then pretty narrow: dump the convicted criminals in inhumane conditions in jails and make of them hardened criminals with a deep desire to get even with the society that has left them with the feeling that they have no option but to seek revenge on those they perceive to have caused them to live such wretched lives. At another level, there is failure to adequately investigate and prosecute criminals responsible for what is euphemistically called “white collar” crime – the “Mr Bigs” of this world – who continue to exploit weaknesses for their benefit. Without doubt, the investigation, prosecution and punishment for crime through the existing criminal justice system has to continue to be made more efficient and equitable amongst all sections of the society, and contain the right elements of restorative justice. The desperate need, however, is to find ways and means to stem the flow of criminals from the social factories which have been churning them out. There has to be a valiant attempt at creating the conditions for young people, especially those from deprived communities, to have equal access to all of the opportunities afforded to others, so that they begin to conceive of themselves as being of like humanity; the sporting field is one of the best environments. Until then, we will be fighting a rearguard battle.