Poor turn out at peace rally, march

Despite a concerted effort by the National Commission on Crime Prevention (NCCP) and the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Force to bring out the crowds, there was a poor showing of residents of Campden Park at a peace rally held in that community on Sunday, October 9.{{more}}

The rally was planned following the shootings of Campden Park residents Ingrid Jack-Franklyn, 35, and Marva James, 48, who were killed in their homes on September 13. Two other persons were wounded in the same incident.

The small crowd marched through the streets of the village before converging at the Weslyean Holiness church.

Stating that violence is preventable, and not inevitable, Director of the NCCP Dionne John read out a checklist on how to prevent violence.

John said her organisation encourages parents to talk openly to their children regularly in order to get a clear view of what they are experiencing. She said the NCCP advocates that the responsibility of crime prevention rests not only in the hands of the police, but the individual, through adequate security and reasonable precaution.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the poor turn out of residents from Campden Park, Commissioner of Police Keith Miller said: “I am disappointed that I am not seeing more people from the community to come out and really send a strong message to condemn what has happened here and in other areas of SVG.”

Miller said for St Vincent and the Grenadines to have a productive society, we need “societal solidarity and cohesion”.

In imploring persons to practice tolerance and be less aggressive, Miller said the police force is prepared to work with the relevant agents to restore peace to SVG.

Delivering the keynote address, Supervisor of Elections Sylvia Findlay also expressed disappointment with the poor turnout.

Findlay urged persons to take time to reflect on their relationships with their neighbours and with members of the church community.

“In our efforts to reduce violence and crime, we have to ensure that our children are properly socialised from birth…,” Findlay noted.

Findlay said she has seen instances where parents wait far too late to guide and discipline their children. She also noted that violent homes are often breeding grounds for gang members.

Relatives of the victims in the September 13 shootings at Campden Park also attended the rally. Family members of Anthony “Brassy” Nero of Redemption Sharpes were also in attendance.

Nero’s decomposed body was found in a sewage hole in Redemption Sharpes after he had been missing for about a month.

The Lowmans Leeward Anglican school performed a special item, while the Police Drama club did a small skit on domestic violence.

Derron Samuel of the New Testament Church of God, Lowmans Hill, delivered the exhortation.(KW)