Anti-gang legislation not needed in SVG – Prime Minister

There is no need for anti-gang legislation.

So says Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, who earlier this week at a press briefing, explained that this country did not have as big a problem with gang rivalry when compared to countries like Trinidad or Jamaica.{{more}}

“The legal framework is adequate,” Gonsalves said on Tuesday.

The Prime Minister was speaking in the wake of the murders of two young men, in separate incidents in Kingstown last weekend.

“We have localized groups which may appear to have some loose kinds of relationships with each other,” he continued.

But most times, they are not structured gangs.

He said that what is needed is to ensure that all the social policies are in place.

According to the Prime Minister, there are some people who make a decision to live a life of crime.

“That is their economic activity – they have decided that that is just the way that they are going to make their living.”

And they are dragged into violence, which is associated with these crimes, Gonsalves explained.

There were other ways of making a living, however, he continued, but the money may not be as quick and fast.

Selling drugs may be quick and fast, but that person’s life is precarious, the Prime Minister said, whether it be they owe money, or have turf battles with rival drug dealers, or they may get arrested.

“It is not a safe life,” Gonsalves said.

But fighting crime was an ongoing war, he said, in that as one offender comes off the streets, others fill the spots.

His government was making all the relevant resources available to help in the fight against crime, however, the Prime Minister said. (DD)