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04th
Feburary 2010
Pertinent
Comments on the Crime Situation
These
days, we cannot help but be preoccupied
with the prevalence of crime that is being
committed in the country; and we believe
that every voice that opposes the rise
in the incidence of crime – and
which try to put forward solutions and
proffer advice – should be heard.
What follows is an account of remarks
made by the President of Saint Lucia’s
Chamber of Commerce Chester Hinkson, who
called on the government and the private
sector to embark on a serious job creation
campaign as part of strategy in the fight
against crime.
He rapped the judiciary by calling on
them to make sure that the fine suits
the crime, especially with drug dealers.
Hinkson made the call at his organization’s
awards ceremony at Sandals Grande.
“How can you impose a fine on a
drug dealer of $10,000 or $20,000 when
you claim that the street value of the
seizure is in the region of $3 million
to $4 million? It makes no sense. The
fine must suit the crime.
“Might I add that invariably, the
dealer gets off on a technicality and
his fine which must be returned to him
is paid by way of a government cheque. |
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What
you have done here is to wash his money for
him.
“We also need to embark on a serious job
creation campaign. There are opportunities for
employment out there, particularly in the construction
industry. Contractors have to resort to seeking
semi-skilled employees from Canaries and Choiseul
as the young men, particularly those in the
Castries basin, refuse to work.”
In agreement with Mr. Hinkson, The VOICE reiterates
the proposition that means be found to occupy
our young people, who form, in recent times,
the majority of offenders participating in the
perpetration of crime and seem to be responsible
for most of the violence presently taking place
in St. Lucia.
(The above was gleaned and adapted from
a report filed by VOICE reporter Micah G. George)
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