By Liz Rahaman
A senior police officer of the St. Christopher/Nevis Police Force has agreed that an establishment of a National Service Centre for errand youths may help to curb deviant behaviour in the nation’s future leaders.
Pointing to juveniles, especially first-time offenders, Inspector Ian Queeley opined that a positive change may result from community service under the supervision of trained professionals.
“There are persons trained to deal with them from a psychology point of view…there are positive reinforcements that can be had from such an establishment (of a national service centre) that can meaningfully be used by them to enhance their social status once they would have come out of that detention centre,” he posited.
His response was made to The Observer on whether it is feasible to incarcerate a first-time offender, who is below the age of 20 years old, where he is more exposed to harden criminals.
Queeley’s opinion was also supported by Chief Medical Officer Dr. Patrick Martin, who delivered a lecture to members of the security forces on Wednesday evening at the Frigate Bay Beach Resort.
The lecture was the sixth in the series initiated by the Minister of National Security Dwyer Astaphan and has been described as very effective.
“The lectures have been very impacting and interactive. I can say very emphatically that persons have benefited and gleaned much from the discussions. So far it has been good, it is a good initiative and I hope that the turn out can get even bigger because there is a lot they can learn,” Queeley said.
The resource persons used so far include Chief Medical Officer DR Patrick Martin, Chief of Security at the Ross University Leynell Nolan, Former Commissioner of Police Stanley Franks and Attorney Emile Ferdinand.
In his presentation themed, “Youth Behaviour and Society-Understanding the Challenges; Citizenship vs. Passa Passa and Thug Life,” Martin classified youths into three groups; teenagers aged between13 and 19; Adolescence, when there is maturing of the brain, thoughts, feelings and actions, all encompassing the behaviour of the individual, during the transition from childhood to adulthood.
And puberty, during which time, the body generally undergoes physical changes from age 10 (for girls) and 12 for boys. The process is completed by 17-years-old.
Some of the common social problems identified during these years are sexual activity, rape, experimenting with drugs/alcohol, and involvement with violent gangs, school dropout and carrying illegal weapons.
In this regard, he gave guidelines from which parents can adhere to for the upbringing of children and to avoid deviant behaviour.
“Be present at home. Pay visits to their school, playground and attend school functions. Give them space,” he said, but cautioned that freedom must be earned.
“Support their interests in music, sports, painting, carpentry, cookery youth groups and any other vocation that a child may express pleasure for.”
However, the CMO/Paediatrician further cautioned that children must be involved in compulsory activities including worshipping, household chores, schoolwork and volunteer work.
He stated that parents must impose a curfew during the school week on the hours spent viewing the television and playing of videos games and usage of the internet and cell phone.
Importantly, Dr. Martin stressed that there is no room and excuse for children being on the streets after 7 in the evening, at the dancehall, movies/shows and beach bash.
As it relates to sex, he called on parents to talk openly about the subject with their children. “Talk the truth,” get facts from Guidance Counsellors, doctors and nurses.”
On the sour matter of being involved with a gang, he informed that a gang is a family. “What they (children) miss at home they will find on the street,” he stressed and pointed to possible indicators such as tattoos, type of clothing worn, idols (pin-ups/pictures/posters) and the choice of music listened to on DVD/CDs.
The usage of illicit drugs, he explained, can be detected when money and possessions are missing. Ganja, he said makes the eyes yellow, leaves the lips and fingers black while there is a loss of interest in usual activities.
Crack Cocaine leads to violent behaviour and stealing while the intake of alcohol results in smelling, state of drunkenness and disorderly behaviour as is with cigarettes that also smell.
