Prime Minister Gaston Browne
Prime Minister the Hon. Gaston Browne has called for greater focus on addressing the societal breakdown within the Caribbean while addressing CARICOM Heads at the 2nd Regional Symposium on Crime and Violence as a Public Health Issue in Georgetown, Guyana on Friday.
During his contribution to the debate, the Honourable Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda stated that “many of our youth are showing a lack of empathy and an overall disregard for authority. Therefore, we as leaders in the Community need to focus on a total re-culturing of our households and broader society”.
Additionally, Prime Minister Browne called for an increase in Public Education at an early stage to promote positive re-enforcement among youth, in an effort to assist in arresting the issue of crime and violence. He further spoke to the increase of gangs within schools, and the need for governments to act swiftly to prevent its penetration throughout society.
The Antigua and Barbuda leader also suggested that governments create pathways to rehabilitate youth involved in gang activities so that they could become productive members of society. Moreover, Prime Minister Browne emphasized that the issue of mental health must not be dismissed when speaking on criminal activities.
Also in his address to the Summit, Prime Minister Browne informed his Regional colleagues of the numerous legislation introduced by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda to address crime and violence.
The Heads are expected to issue a Communique on the outcome of the Symposium on Crime and Violence as a Public Health Issue.
It is my belief that at the heart of criminality is poverty. Let’s lift our people out of poverty by making sure every corporation local and otherwise pays its fair share of taxes, land etc. using those funds to employ our people and pay them liveable wages so that they can in turn house, feed and clothe themselves and their families. Let’s not compromise our humanity and love for each other for the cynism, calousness, greed and inhumanity that are pervasive in so called first class countries who make it seem that it is wrong to care about and for your fellow man -those who call it socialism and communisn just so they don’t have to pay their fair share.