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SKN
Observer
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| Defense Force Cleans
Up Gang Graffiti |
| By Sheena Brooks |
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Graffiti
clean-up
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Members of the St. Kitts
Nevis Defense Force have launched a national clean-up
campaign to rid communities of gang and other types
of graffiti.
The initiative began on Saturday in the Russell Village
area, near to the JNF hospital, where very graphic depictions
of guns and gang names had been spray-painted on the
institution's generator wall. The wall was defaced with
writings which read "C-note", "Homicide"
"West Side" "RIP Chemist" and "Tek
Life" and more.
According to Sergeant Glen Williams, the soldiers also
painted over graffiti around the environs of the Tucker
Clarke Primary School in Newtown that same day.
"There was graffiti on the outside walls of the
paddock area next to the school with profanity and anti-police
vulgarity. We also had to paint over similar writings
on the nearby pedestrian crossing," he said.
He said the soldiers had volunteered their time to go
out into the communities on weekends to do their part
in the national beautification project.
"The soldiers took time out to do this and it's
something that will be continued. We have started in
the Basseterre area and will gradually work our way
through the rest of the country. We have already identified
the Dr. William Connor School as the next venue since
we observed graffiti on its outer walls. We weren't
able to paint it last Saturday because we did not have
matching paint," Sgt. Williams told this media
house.
Commander of the SKNDF Colonel Patrick Wallace told
The Observer that this was the military force's way
of contributing to the beautification of the nation.
He also asked the community members and business community
to get involved, support and contribute to the worthwhile
effort.
"Although this is an initiative undertaken by the
Defense Force we are asking the communities to get involved
by discouraging persons from defacing public property
and reporting persons seen carrying out the offence.
When people see it happening, report it, get the police
involved and legal action will be taken against the
perpetrators. The business community can assist the
effort by donating paint and painting materials. We
plan to do this on an island-wide scale and on a continual
basis," he said.
Col. Wallace said the effort of removing the graffiti,
especially those related to gangs, not only uplifted
communities but helped dispel certain negative perceptions.
"The gang graffiti in communities create a certain
perception; it indicates gang presence and that in itself
can intimidate people. When a person goes into a community
and sees these types of defacement, they might feel
that the gangs control that particular area and therefore
they avoid either visiting, living or setting up business
there," he opined.
"Also, this is not something we want the younger
ones exposed to, having to be bombarded with vulgarity,
depictions of guns and gang markings in their communities."
The SKNDF is also planning to launch a Drug Education
Program, taking the drug and fire-arm sniffing canines
to primary and high schools as well as the local college
where its members will lecture students on the effects
of drug use. |
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