Dear Editor:

How has it come that life now has little or no value in the Federation?

In the first 64 days of 2009 we have seen 7 murders, for those with a background in statistics this gives us a projected number of 40 murders for 2009. Last year with 23 murders we ranked amongst the highest per capita murder rate in the world. With the projected rate this year we will be the indisputable champion: number one; a distinction that no civilized nation would be proud of.

We can sell t-shirts to tourists inscribed I Spent the Night in the Murder Capital of the World and Survived.

Unfortunately, there will be no one to sell the t-shirts to. What fool wants to come to a country where murder is so common? And we think times are hard now, do these fools not realize that this level of violence will shut down foreign investment?

Now I have heard some proud fools pronounce “So what, we don’t want foreigners in our country”.

Fine, let’s ignore the impact that this violence will have on tourism and investors, let’s pretend that all any of us want out of life is a hut with a few square feet of land for a garden and a goat for a subsistence living. Let’s look at the violence for what it is in isolation. Young black men shooting young black men, it can be called a type of fratricide.

In days past when the white man took a black man’s life, when he wanted too, without fear of reprisal, it was considered in some quarters as an element of slavery. Today in St Kitts & Nevis black men are shooting black men because one is wearing a blue rather than a red ball cap.

The same person that is saying “Me no wan foreigners in me country” is the same fool claiming to be West Side Crip 4 Ever or East Coast Blood for life - both American street gangs with no history in the Federation. But for the number of lives being wasted this would be laughable.

Young men of the Federation, please grow up and actual start acting like men. Take those red and blue handkerchiefs that you so proudly wave and claim allegiance to and use them for their intended purpose, blow your noses in them. Then swear undying allegiance to something meaningful like your children, wives, girlfriends, mothers, fathers, brothers or sisters.

Lord only knows there are few people in this tough economic climate that could not use an extra couple of hands around the house to help out. And if you honestly feel there is no one in your life, then maybe look at the motto of the country “Country Above Self” and work to improving everyone’s lot in the Federation instead of wreaking havoc and committing genocide.

Has the black man not suffered enough at the hands of other races throughout history that they now have to turn on themselves?

Daniel MacMullin

Member of the Nevis Community

Anti-Crime Initiative.