The St. Kitts and Nevis Cuban Alumni Association has answered the call by Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas to join the inititaive to assist the nation’s youths to change negative attitudes and become productive citizens.

PRO of the Association, Mr. Hollis Prentice telephoned Dr. Douglas who was hosting his weekly programme “Ask the Prime Minister” on Tuesday to inform him of plans by their members to go into the Mc Knight, where they were born and raised and sit down and talk to the young men.

“We want to talk to them and to tell them that we were born in the area and that despite being poor, we used the educational opportunities that were available to educate ourselves and become professionals and lift ourselves out of poverty,” said Prentice, adding: “Our message will be that there are other avenues to empower yourself through education, sports and skills and shun violence and crime.”

“We of the Cuba Alumni Association support the initiatives of the government and the community and we will get involved in the effort to eliminate gang violence,” said Mr. Prentice, who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics.

He also highlighted the achievements of Dr. Garfield Alexander, who is also from Mc Knight and who studied medicine in Cuba.

“I want to thank the St. Kitts and Nevis Cuban Alumni Association for taking that determined stand and go out into the Mc Knight area and try to harness the young men and women of the area and ask them to recognise that there is a different and better way rather than becoming involved in gang and gun violence,” said Prime Minister Douglas, who urged community groups and citizens who are concerned to do their part to tackle with the situation.

“If every single one of us can do a good deed every day that can impact the life of one person, we can make a difference in our effort to eliminate gang and gun violence in St. Kitts and Nevis,” said Prime Minister Douglas.