Good Bye 2024! Welcome 2025!

I am writing this column in the early afternoon of December 31, the last day of 2024. 2024 tried its best to top the record of murders set in 2023. This is a bold statement, for there are still about 10 hours left in the day. My hope is that it stays this way. It is unfortunate that I have to start my column for the new year this way. I was shortly before reading I Witness News’s account of a press conference held by Acting Commissioner of Police, Enville Williams. Some of his statements were frightening, “…and the level, type of firearm that is seen on our street continues to baffle me as an individual, and it ought to frighten or baffle you as a person too… today it might be somebody else, but tomorrow it might be you who is crying because of the violence that is perpetrated against you, or somebody close to you by these illegal, illicit firearms and ammunition.”

This led to his appeal to join with the police in getting rid “of these senseless murders and illegal, illicit firearms and ammunition.”

What however needs to be addressed is the reason why more members of the community are not more forthcoming in reporting on matters relevant to his appeal. The places and times when some of these crimes are committed suggest that more people must have knowledge that will be important to the police but are reluctant to do so.

The 54th homicide account identified the victim as a Vincentian/Canadian. His body was found in an SUV over an embankment with his wrists and feet bound and with a gunshot wound. Had he been a Canadian visitor coming to the country for a holiday, would this have involved the Canadian government getting involved and pressuring our government to come up with answers? I am not one in favour of having special arrangements for visitors. Any visitor should be able to come to our shores and enjoy themselves like a Vincentian. Whatever is put in place must first be for Vincentians, with visitors benefitting from what is in place. We welcome visitors, hoping they will utilise what we have to offer, spend their money and help to popularise the country.

Some of us continue to identify factors that we believe play a significant role in the rapid increase of crime. It is clear that they involve short-term and long-term factors. One of the areas that we neglect to pay significant attention to is that of conflict resolution. This is a long-term solution and should start in the schools, and in homes for that matter. In any little minor scuffle one of the first things, we hear being said is ‘I going kill you.” I remember sometime ago at the market on a Friday morning there was an argument between two van drivers about a parking spot. One of them rushed to his vehicle and came out with a revolver. He warned the other person that what he had was licensed. It was as if because it was licensed meant that he was free to use it on any occasion to settle any dispute regardless of how minor it was.

The police I am sure, are under a lot of pressure to identify and prosecute the perpetrators of these crimes. Let us hope that the pressure is not of such magnitude that they end up arresting and prosecuting alleged suspects even though there is little evidence to substantiate the position they have taken. To speak or write about matters related to criminal activity is not to suggest that the individuals are trying to belittle their country, but relates to what I quoted from the press conference of the acting COP. By the way why is there still an Acting Commissioner?

2025 is likely to be an interesting year. It will be the year of new elections. At stake is a government that has been exercising power for five terms of office seeking a sixth term. Long periods in charge of government in a democracy result in action that allows it to act as if it owns the country. A number of issues are at stake in any democracy. Of greatest importance is the question of accountability. Civil society should be an important part of any democracy. Dictators could emerge in any democratic society. We must rid ourselves of the belief that elections signify the existence of a democracy.

As we move toward a date for new elections there is much at stake, and much that must be discussed. This column is committing itself to be part of these discussions, highlighting matters as it sees them. We have to remember the words of Scakes Alleyne’s winning independence calypso “our people must not be election tools!”

• Dr Adrian Fraser is a social commentator and historian