St. Maarten Private Eye

sxmlocalboy, you speak a lot of wisdom there.

The worrysome thing is how many will be around if this trend continue, I only learned about the stabbing of the young chap Brooks in Zagersgut in front of the supermarket. Obviously he spoke to the wrong "gyal" as they call it these days.

It is now like every 2 days someone is being brutally attacked or murdered.

However, I recall that there was a gentleman, if I recall correctly, his name is James of Cole Bay, who just returned from the USA Army and during his interview he did mention that he would like to work with the youth. Some serious booth camp time might not be a bad idea. I also cannot understand that we don;t have more psychiatrists on the Island, seeing the present situation. People, young and old, are just walking time bombs most with no mercy or regards for human life.

How could Mr. Stomp say that it was not the intention to murder, if you stop and fight with knives, machettes and guns, you must know that murder could be the result. You have to walk or drive to the victim, if you cannot cool off during that period then it is murder met voorbedachte rade.
While I agree that just locking up these young criminals is not the answer, for now, without any proper programs put into place, that is where they have to be, in jail with adult, hardcore criminals or ship them out to correctional facilities abroad for a logical time frame, don't wait for a second offense, tackle it one time. Give them a taste of what real life is about. I most certainly would not feel comfortable rehabilitating these youngsters, by hiring them, not knowing when I might say something that they do not like and decide to deal with me not intending to murder me.

One of the priorities have to be to picking up these "gang-members" off the public roads, the bloods especially are very active and have claimed numerous criminal actions. This is no time for joking. Public warnings should be given as to what to look for and how to i.d. a gangmember, type of dressing, colors, tattoos, etc.
If parents refuse to report the involvement or suspected involvement of their children in a gang they should at least be fined if one of their children are picked up and is clearly a gang-member. I do know that parent abuse is very much alive and real here on sxm also, therefore even more reason to report the crimes. As I said before, don't "literally" love your children to death. I am not just saying this, I honestly would have done this to my kids and they knew it. I love them, they are my world but I do not intend to take any nonsense.

There was an ad a few years ago on t.v. that said, it is 10 o'clock, do you know where your children are. I think this should be used on those sunami warning devices posted all over the Island. I see too many school age kids on the roads at night when they should be in their parents houses, resting for school in the morning. I cannot and will never understand that, how could this be happening. Kids have to understand that they are kids, instead they do as they please and by 15 their parents know that they will have to continue supporting them for as long as they see fit. I am perplexed at what is happening.

The police have to implement curfews for youngsters, stop them, have them i.d. themselfs, take them to the station and call their parents and deal with the parents. If there is an obvious loss of control situation, insist that they see a councilor (I know it is not common here) there are a few psychologists on the Island. Give these children time to grow up. I was never for the 18 year adult law, they are not wise enough to handle real life and mix being an adult with childishness that is now turning deadly. If they refuse to attend any counseling then immediately they should be put into booth camp counseling.

However this is not going to happen overnight so what now. I feel that the police have to take harsh measures and have us go through some unpleasant times but strict controls and harsh actions have to be taken. I am trying to post my findings/suggestions on using the VKS and if necessary security patrol and monitoring systems, since there is not enough police to do it all. And believe me my friends those suggestions will not just stay as posts here, I am one person who intend to help find possible solutions to the problem of crime in general, not just the youth but right now they are the biggest group of criminals be it petty or major.

Ref prosecutors/Justice system, the sentences applied are not harsh enough, it is a joke and on top of that criminals eat better than I do and protest if they feel the treatment is not "good" enough. So they take it as a joke, come out and repeat the crime.

ADV ;(