PM Hon. Gaston Browne (photo by iWitness News)
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has conveyed his deep sadness over the tragic death of 16-year-old Tafari Joseph, who was shot and killed last night.
Tafari, a resident of Villa, was previously involved in gang activities. PM Browne and his team attempted to assist him by enrolling him in the Antigua and Barbuda Institute of Continuing Education (ABICE) and providing him with a job opportunity.
Tafari Joseph
“He was the first to drop out of ABICE,” Browne noted. “We tried with him and others who were engaged in gang warfare just over a year ago. We enrolled him at ABICE, supplied all his tools and uniforms. He and others had the opportunity to work on a cleaning crew; to learn and earn. Despite these opportunities, he was the first to drop out of ABICE.”
Expressing his condolences, Browne said, “We are saddened by his untimely demise and extend condolences to his family, who are my constituents.”
As the Member of Parliament for Villa, PM Browne hopes that this unfortunate event will act as a deterrent for repeat offenders who choose to engage in crime and violence.
“As I have repeatedly said; crime and violence will not pay, and those who engage in crime and violence will surely pay. A word to the wise is sufficient,” he added.
That’s true PM Browne. What you look for is what you get!
Sad he had a choice but I am so sorry it ended in this my condolences to his family such a young soul.
Condolences to the family and friends of this young man. Such a sad thing to happen
Mr. Prime Minister as the old saying goes ” you make your children ,but you donot make their minds”. Hope others who are planning on doing same open their eyes. Crime doesn’t pay.
Sad
Did this young man’s father ever try to work with him and guide him through life? Some of these young men in society need their fathers’ love, a hug, and spending time with them. Society and groups tried him. I know of several young men who started to rebel and hang out with bad influences, and once their fathers stepped in, they made the changes to a better path.
Blessed Love Are these young people being monitored for learning disabilities or emotional circumstance abused children etc.. ..just the wording he was the first to drop out? Please parents/ teachers ,”a village” please explain the performances of these children.. I am sensitive to the choices vocational vs academic or the arts music drama science practical learning not memorizing … are they limited to a encouraged education? try to make sense..I would point out the magnitude of a Prime Minister showing compassion should exemplify worth , but perhaps their evaluations were not realistic if dyslexia, autism etc easy to cry down but THE whole truth should be looked at. Big Brother Mentorship just LOVE…afforded Blessed Love
PM you did your best. Now rest. These people dont want to work and they dont want to be educated. I hope his peers learn from that. They may be next on the list if they cant keep their rass quiet
Amen. A word to the wise is indeed sufficient and time longer than rope. I’m sorry that I feel no remorse
If ‘we tried’ still results in such a tragic loss, then we need to intensify those efforts, and expand them. This isn’t just a police problem; it’s a community crisis. How can we, as everyday citizens, contribute to reaching at-risk youth?
Yea, children on the street all hear about the grave offense of the PM with the alpha nero scandal. That sets a bad president to the youths. They all think gangster like the smart PM. Sad anyway
Please note people speaking bady of persons doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the truth.