Crime worries in Central
Residents voice concerns at UNC consultation
Culture and the arts can be used as an avenue to steer the nation’s youth away from gangs and into productive lifestyles.
This according to Addelon “Banjela” Braveboy, the 2020 National Action Cultural Committee (NACC) Young Kings winner who shared his concerns about gang violence, particularly in the Enterprise area.
He was speaking at the United National Congress’ second round of budget consultations at the Chaguanas Borough Corporation on Wednesday.
Braveboy said it was imperative to recognise the positive impact of culture such as dance and music as a crime-fighting tool.
Arts and culture, he said, can promote economic growth, spur tourism and create a vibrant society.
He said the Government must pump funding into programmes and implement them in areas affected by crimes and gang-related activities.
Braveboy said there was also a need to collaborate with local artistes, cultural organisations and community leaders to develop and implement initiatives that empower young individuals through culture.
There is a need to establish partnerships with educational intuitions to integrate educational culture in the curriculum, he added.
Diana Panchoo from Edinburgh said crime was seeping into the school system.
“The current state of crime in this country is becoming unbearable. How long are we going to be living in fear?” she said.
Crime, she said, is trickling into the school system and parents are worried about sending their children to schools where there is violence. “Only the rich are surviving in this country. What about us who cannot afford personal security or a driver or a firearm?” she asked.
She said every day people were being murdered and robbed.
Dexter Orr, an Enterprise resident, said he believed the Dr Keith Rowley Government had no crime-fighting plan.
He said even while people were sleeping, they were uncomfortable because of the state of crime.
“You can’t afford food, fuel, nothing,” he said.
Another man said people were worried about the upcoming national budget because when people went to the grocery, they were getting just “two bags” of items for $500.
He said her daughter was recently a victim of crime as her vehicle was stolen and prior to that his sister’s car was stolen in Chickland.
His children are living in fear of crime and do not want to leave the house at night, he said.
Parsharam Balgobin from Felicity said his area has been plagued with water problems for the past four months and nothing is being done about it.
Crystal Dulchan from Cunupia said as a mother of four she is frustrated with the cost of living.
Food prices have skyrocketed to the point where it is extremely difficult to manage, she said.
She said the cost of housing, rent and mortgage payments have become so high that some people are on the verge of homelessness.
The majority of the consultation focused on hearing people’s views.
There were short addresses before that exercise from Chaguanas Mayor Faaiq Mohammed and Opposition MPs Dr Rishad Seecheran, Arnold Ram, Barry Padarath and Ravi Ratiram,
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