Addressing the Root Causes of Crime: A Call for Prevention Over Reaction

For many weeks, the response to our increase in crime, especially homicide, has been singularly one track: “Increase law enforcement and strength of the law, and let the criminals know they will be dealt with”.

But as our grandmothers taught us: “Prevention is better and cheaper than cure”. And unless we work hard NOW at prevention, the crime wave will be with us for the next twenty years and will get worse. Surely this should be obvious?

The causes of our increase in crime are many, and there seems to be a reluctance to acknowledge the most obvious and most disturbing ones. By far the most important is the failure of our primary schools to produce more than 60 per cent of 11-year-olds who are literate and numerate, condemning the remaining 40 per cent to probable failure in secondary school, and unable to enter adulthood with either qualifications or a goal in life. This tragic situation is not being addressed by the Ministry of Education. Why not?

The second major cause of the problem is the cultural transition in our society, with too many children raised by a single mother, with no father in the home, and mother unable to play both roles effectively. Often mother is consumed by her work and economic struggles, and there is no time or opportunity to raise a child to read, or to understand the importance of the most basic human values of honesty, kindness, sympathy and so on.

The third major cause is the many challenges faced by primary school teachers especially, who feel unappreciated and underpaid. While many may be adequately skilled in the task of instruction and educational modalities, how many are skilled in mentoring and counselling?

The fourth major cause is the secular evolution of a society which undervalues human values , and indulges in entertainment of a violent, amoral and often abusive nature—on TV, radio, “concerts” with notorious singers, and ZR music.

The fifth major cause is the abandonment of religion and associated ethical values. The churches are attended largely by retirees and pensioners—there are few middle aged and younger people. Few children attend Sunday school. And to be honest, many people are disenchanted by church rituals (Anglican, Catholic etc.) and poor preachers and by the ones preaching “hell and damnation”.

And finally the sixth major cause is disenchantment with politics and the impression given by powerful politicians enjoying the fruits of being in power. So what can be done?

First, for goodness sake, let’s deal with the primary school problems. Support the teachers. Improve the training and the salaries and facilities and reading materials. They don’t need hotel standard buildings, but better basic facilities that are properly maintained. Likewise teachers should be encouraged to improve their skills, especially in psychology and counselling. Books must be made available, including children’s fiction. Literacy in primary schools is the Big, Big, Big Issue! Veteran educator Marc Andre’s literacy initiative R.E.A.D., for Reclaim Excellent Academic Dominance, as described in the Weekend Nation of Friday February 7th, is a good move, and his efforts should be integrated with a comprehensive energised literacy programme both in schools and outside.

The prolix and circumstantial discussion of Education Reform is usually nothing more than buzz words! Hopefully, the foolishness of “middle and senior schools of excellence” has been abandoned. By the same token, the talk of creating a huge number of brand new school buildings that we cannot afford is nonsense. The old buildings of Harrison College, The Lodge or St Michael’s have never impeded learning. It is the teachers, the philosophy and the practice that produces good results. What IS needed is to invest in the poorly equipped and poorly regarded newer secondary schools, giving them the best teachers and improving their facilities, so that all schools are similar, and so that the 11-plus can eventually be sensibly and realistically abolished.

Secondly, let the social services expand to support the struggling mother’s efforts. Expand or replicate PAREDOS, to give parents inspiration, training, help and support. The ex-principal of the Government Industrial School, Erwin Leacock, has good ideas on supporting parents in the role of good parenting, and he too should be involved in the national efforts at improving child development.

Thirdly, do NOT air or allow violent material on TV. Do not allow it on radio or ZR vans. Prosecute them and stop letting them off when they break the law. And do not import convicted felons to sing for our young people.

Fourthly, bring together church leaders for serious self-examination. Let priests make serious efforts, perhaps with continuing training to be better speakers. But let the churches wake up to the role they should play in reaching out both to those in need, whether neglected children or barely surviving families, or recalcitrant and deviant youth.

And finally, our leaders-politicians, priests, professionals, businessmen, sportsmen at every level must set examples to the youth—at work, at play, in school, in Parliament, in sports, on TV and in every encounter, if we are to create a safe, humane, civilised and successful society. It can be done—just look at the transformation that occurred in Medellín, Colombia, the deadliest city in world in 1991 with a homicide rate of 400 per 100 000, improving to 11 in 2024!

The person recognised as the catalyst in the metamorphosis of Medellín was the nonconformist mathematician and mayor of the city who later became the governor and was a presidential candidate, Sergio Fajardo. He was convinced that “education is the engine for social transformation” and he used architecture to “give the best of society to the poorest people”. He succeeded in convincing the youth to give up guns for education. Maybe we should invite him to Barbados and hear about his experiences of transforming Medellín, a violent and impoverished city to a model of social and urban development.

It is now the hour for us to commit as a nation to resolve our crime challenge. Let’s start now, with PREVENTION!

John Beale is a former diplomat and banker.